Image supplied by American School of Barcelona
There are 41 international schools in Barcelona and the surrounding areas, with a good mix of British schools, American schools, IB schools, French and German. Annual fees range from as little as €4,000 all the way up to €23,500 for the most exclusive American schools.
Apart from having one of the biggest football clubs in the world, Barcelona has so much to offer for expat families that move to Spain. Sitting right next to the Mediterranean it offers the kind of lifestyle that people living and working in more northern latitudes could only dream of. Summer by the sea, winter in the mountains only two hours away and historically important architecture in all directions. What’s not to like?
Since the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, it has grown to be one of the most important international cities in Europe. In recent years, concerns around political instability have caused some companies to think twice about relocating but the reality on the ground is that life hasn’t been greatly affected apart from the occasional protest or strike. Companies such as Amazon, Facebook, PepsiCo and more have ignored the noise and continued their investments in this beautiful city.
Language in and around Catalonia can be slightly complicated - Castellano is the accepted language across Spain and in Spanish-speaking countries around the world. However, Spain is more complicated than you would imagine before you live here! Regions around Spain have their own languages with around 8 other languages spoken in total. For those regions, they represent the uniqueness of the people there and their differences from the Spain of Madrid. Catalonia is no different where Catalan is the official language taught in schools; this can make life much more complicated for expats who may not see Catalan as a language that would benefit their children in the same way Castellano would. The reality is that something like 440 million people speak Castellano versus 10 million for Catalan.
International schools in and around Barcelona offer an alternative where children can be taught in English, French and German. The majority of schools are located close to Barcelona but some of the best known schools such as The British College of Gava, The British School of Barcelona or The Olive Tree School can be found in areas such as Castelldefels and Sitges just south of Barcelona.
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Find Out More >Before the ranking, check out our Featured Best Schools in Barcelona:
Amazing teachers. Excellent School Principal. It is a Great small international school.
Community in which perseverance, respect, empathy and discipline are highly valued.
Where Barcelona international schools are distributed (view our List of International Schools in Barcelona to see a live map):
Note: our rankings are based on parent, pupil and teacher reviews. If you think your Barcelona school should be in the top 20, get reviewing - we want to hear from real people with real experiences at schools so parents, teachers and pupils get the real story when they research their next school. You can find your school in the full List of International Schools in Barcelona, or search by name here.
American, IB, Spanish
English
3 to 18
20
Benjamin Franklin International School offers a differentiated American curriculum from Nursery to Grade 10 and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program in Grades 11 and 12. With near 700 students, BFIS is a truly international school in Barcelona with more than 50 different nationalities.
Instruction at BFIS is entirely in English, with language courses offered in Spanish, Catalan and French. Benjamin Franklin International School is a private, non-for-profit school located in the beautiful Sarrià -Sant Gervasi neighborhood, with many public transportation options nearby. Excellent International Baccalaureate Diploma Program results and university acceptances from some of the most prestigious colleges in the world.
IB
English
1 to 18
20
St. Peter's School Barcelona is the only school in Barcelona with the IB Continuum taught in English. We offer the three International Baccalaureate programmes: Early and Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programme. Is the only school with a Science Lab for Early Years, the first centre that has introduced subjects such as blockchain, nanoscience, neuroscience and artificial intelligence in their curriculum. St. Peter’s has a strong focus on Science, Technology, Critical Thinking and Change Making. St. Peter’s has been ranked as the best school in Spain by the prestigious magazine Forbes.
Not only do they give the children the academic excellence they need to enter the most prestigious universities around the world, but also, they encourage them to become well-informed, independent and open-minded individuals, ready to study, work or live wherever they wish.
English, IB
English
3 to 18
Oak House School Barcelona is a private, co-educational school, situated in Sarrià , in the north of Barcelona. The school is a Non-Profit Foundation with a Board of Governors. The Board is comprised of seven parents, elected through the Parents’ Association. The Oak House School teaching staff is composed of 106 educators (teachers and teaching assistants) and has a low turnover rate (2% per year in the previous two years). The average tenure is 11 years and in the last three years the staff has been increased by 13% due to the International Baccalaureate offer and more coverage of educational needs.
A considerable part of the whole-school budget is allocated to continual professional development. At Oak House information gleaned from an individual training course is cascaded to colleagues so that everyone benefits from the course. A key objective at Oak House School is to support and develop effective teaching and learning and help staff to improve their practice through self-reflection based on evidence, and high quality training and professional development opportunities.
We encourage our teachers to be reflective practitioners and engage in research which promotes excellence in teaching and learning. We also support Bachillerato and IB teachers in collaborating with universities and business schools because these enrich our knowledge, offer us updated content for our students and a different approach to many topics.
English
English
1 to 18
Highlands School Barcelona is a private, bilingual, catholic school with the mission of educating leaders of the future through academic excellence and integral formation, accompanied by personal guidance. Highlands was born with the idea of offering an innovation, vanguard, and distinctive catholic school, with a high level of English within the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona. That idea became reality in 2000.
Highlands has managed to make a name in Catalan society offering a quality service, looking towards the future but without forgetting it origins. Nowadays, Highlands School Barcelona is going through a period of remodeling, moving towards to an international projection, helped by a privileged location close to Barcelona and with a unique project in the city.
American
English
6 to 18
Learnlife is not just a school - we are a community of learning that prepares and empowers children and lifelong learners to thrive in the world of the future.
Our personal learning programmes, based on years of research and best practices of top educators from around the globe, guide learners through an individual journey of exploring their passions, skills, and needs, and take place at our physical Learnhubs in Barcelona and Castelldefels and online from anywhere in the world.
English
English
3 to 18
Kensington School Barcelona is one of the oldest British curriculum schools in the whole of Spain, being founded in 1966, and the values and ethos have changed little in almost fifty years.
Kensington School follows a ‘pure’ British curriculum and is able to dedicate all of its curriculum time to subjects within the National Curriculum for England and Wales. We remain very much a family run school, with the founder´s sons – all of whom were educated at Kensington – now ensuring we continue to thrive as a happy, purposeful and dynamic community.
We are fully authorised and regularly visited by Her Majesty's Inspectorate. Indeed we were very honoured that our splendid purpose-built school building was officially opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II herself.
IB
English
3 to 11
Anne Sullivan International School (ASISB) implements teaching methods that have proven successful in other countries. We discover the talent of our students by providing them with skills that strengthen their self-confidence and responsibility, which enable them to follow their own motivations.
Leading their life towards autonomy, critical reasoning, and the necessary training to achieve the freedom to choose. Building on the possibilities and strengths of each child’s personality. Developing self-awareness and leadership, empowering our students to become the agents of change.
A Demanding CurrÃculum that allows them to discover the world, recognize other perspectives, communicate their ideas and take action.
A Multicultural Vision that allows them to turn the world into their classroom and growth. We work within in a network of with schools all around the world.
American
English
12 to 18
8
Founded in 2020, Barcelona High School (BHS) is a non-traditional, innovative, American school academy start-up, located in the center of Barcelona Spain, easily accessible by all modes of transportation.
The academics consist of accredited US curriculum courses taught in native English. AP courses are also available if students want courses equivalent to International Baccalaureate (IB) or A levels, although they are not mandatory.
Academic learning is supplemented with STEAM education principles through social and creative activities, group projects, international speakers, coding techdegree certificate courses, and much more to help students increase their emotional intelligence while simultaneously expanding their opportunities and finding their passions in life.
Students receive an official American High School Diploma from USA when they complete 12th grade, which allows them to attend English speaking international universities throughout the world, including in Spain, the UK and throughout Europe, as well as in USA or Canada, through the BHS university placement program.
Also, many student athletes choose Barcelona High School due to its flexible school hours and to help them obtain athletic scholarships to universities in the US.
French
French
3 to 11
Founded in 1859 by  Ferdinand-de-Lesseps , former Consul General of France in Barcelona, our school is the oldest French school in the Iberian Peninsula. With a long history, the school continues to fulfill its mission of French education and openness to local and European culture.
English, IB
English
3 to 18
25
Welcome to The British College of Gavà , a leading international school in Barcelona providing first class education in a green and friendly environment, an IB World School where your children are encouraged to become empathetic, confident global citizens.
At the British College of Gavà (BCG) our mission is to foster an exciting, meaningful and lifelong passion for learning and academic curiosity. The BCG community is dedicated to providing students with every opportunity to fulfil their potential through the taught curriculum and in extra and co-curricular activities. All children at BCG are heard, noticed and given the opportunity to shine.
A strong academic culture permeates throughout the school: students appreciate the opportunities they have and take responsibility for their own learning.
We follow the highly-regarded British Curriculum and the well-known International Baccalaureate curriculum. The combination of both provide our students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their future careers.
American
English
6 to 18
22
ES American School offers an independent, private, co-educational American curriculum for 6 to 18 year olds (1st through 12th grades). It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, offers the Advanced Placement (AP) program in High School, and is approved as an International Baccalaureate (IB) school for the Primary Years Program (PYP), 1st through 5th grades only.
The school is located within the campus of the Emilio Sanchez Academy, a world-class tennis training center. Tennis and sports are an essential part of the school curriculum and the academic and athletic programs are coordinated so that students can achieve significant success, both in their sport and in their schooling, without compromising one for the other.
Swiss
German
2 to 16
The quality of our teaching at Zurich Schule Barcelona is based on a pedagogy based on collaboration and teamwork, in small groups and on an ongoing evaluation. We highlight the positive aspects of the learning process and trust in our students, valuing their opinions and prioritizing their human formation in a family atmosphere.
IB, Spanish
English
3 to 12
At Akua School Barcelona we firmly believe that education is the basis for creating new forms of coexistence, taking into account people and the planet as unique beings, with great potential still to be developed. The projects we work on are related to research and science in the field of education, entrepreneurship and training.
Akua School accompanies children and adolescents (3 to 18 years old) in the development of their own learning and talents. The school is approved and started in September 2016 with Infant and Primary. The Secondary and Baccalaureate stages will be created according to the organic growth of the school. It is the first educational project created by the Akua Foundation.
American,IB
English
3 to 18
American School of Barcelona (ASB) was established in 1962. The American School of Barcelona educates more than 890 students from many nationalities and backgrounds, offering the best of the American and IB curriculums. Our state-of-the-art campus and facilities allow our students and teachers to remain on the cutting edge of innovation and advanced learning. Our graduates go to the finest best-fit universities in the world to pursue their passions and serve their individual needs. Our experienced and dedicated faculty and administration provide a premier educational experience, bringing joy and expertise to the learning of our students. ASB is an English language based private international school, composed of a rich assortment of heritages, cultures, and languages. Â Our competitive IB results, and highly qualified native-English teachers, enable students to access elite universities globally. Our students are from more than 55 different nationalities and the school is renowned for its personal and familiar approach to our diverse community.
ASB's mission is to empower preschool through 12th grade students to become global citizens with the critical thinking skills, and self-confidence to maximize their potential.
ASB is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is recognized in Spain as a Centro Extranjero (foreign school) by the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Spanish Ministry of Education receives a grant from the US Department of State's Office of Overseas Schools belongs to the Mediterranean Association of International Schools (MAIS) and European Council of International Schools(ECIS) regional associations participates in the European Sports Conference (ESC), a regional sports league made up of schools from around the region leads the Barcelona International School Association (BISA) and has close ties with other international schools in Spain.
English
English
3 to 18
20
The International School of Catalunya (ISCAT) is a coeducational British Day School located in La Garriga, Barcelona. Through our personalised and authentic learning programmes, we provide students aged 3-18, from Nursery to Year 13, with a formal British education. We follow the British National Curriculum, the portal to study across the UK, USA, Spain and the rest of the world.
Learning to learn, learning to be, learning to think. At the International School of Catalunya (ISCAT), the personal growth of each student is at the heart of our educational programme. Our students prepare for the future through academic challenge and stimulation.
We fully believe that when the delicate balance between academic endeavor and emotional wellbeing is achieved, our students are most open to the entire learning experience. At ISCAT, we nurture the spirit of each and every one so that, armed with self-knowledge, a belief in themselves, and a solid academic record, they face the world fully prepared to shoulder responsibilities and give of their best.
English, Spanish
English
3 to 18
John Talabot School is a partially subsidised, secular and multicultural school that offers a solid education in academic, cultural and in human values, based on the curriculum established by the Generalitat of Catalonia and with an exclusive project in the English language that is backed up by 40 years of experience.
English
English
2 to 18
St. George Barcelona is a private British school, located in the upper side of Barcelona city, with classes from two years of age. We have students from more than 45 different nationalities who from the first day, learn English with native teachers.
We believe in helping each child reach their own maximum potential and giving them the tools they will need to excel in their personal and professional lives. Students follow the full British National Curriculum, as they would if they were in the UK.
St George Barcelona follows all the fundamental principles of British education while taking advantage of the richness of the local environment and culture. This multicultural context is what makes their education different as they complete their studies with compulsory subjects such as Castilian Language and Catalan and Social Studies which are taught weekly in different courses. Thanks to their complete training in both systems, they can choose whether their university studies are going abroad or whether they prefer to stay in Spain.
Spanish, IB
English
3 to 16
Princess Margaret International School is a private, innovative and international school founded in 1967 and located in the city of Barcelona. It is a one form entry school, and the number of children in every class is 25.
Princess Margaret International School was the first school in the city of Barcelona that implemented the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IB) programm, and also integrates the statutory National Curriculum designated by Generalitat de Catalunya. Our school is a one form entry primary and secondary school, for students aged 3 to 16.
The school undertakes the (PYP) Primary Years Programme from P3 to 6th of Primary, children aged 3 to 12, and the (MYP) Middle Years Programme for Secondary School students, aged 12 to 16. The IB curriculum is based on Units of Enquiry that allow children to question, explore, think and reflect on their own practice, leading them to master academical concepts and acquire an open mind to solve real context situations. The IB ethos aims to encourage all students to be actively involved in their learning in order to take action and ownership of their own inquiries. At Princess Margaret knowledge is obtained through the exploration of concepts, research and the development of competences that stimulate creativity and critical thought.
The school supports multilingualism and integrates three main languages which are taught to the highest standard. English immersion is set 100% in the first two years in school, P3 and P4, and from then onwards Catalan and Spanish is introduced and taught equally (25%/25%), keeping English as a 50% in every year group. Being a non-local language, English language is taught intensively in all year groups, which leads students to perform and obtain high results in the official English Cambridge exams.
Princess Margaret International school is an inclusive school where all students are welcomed and valued. Our vision sets out to ensure that all students reach their year level expectations and above, regardless of their initial skills. Every member of the staff team is committed to the success of all our children and our learning culture is strong. The offer involves a broad and engaging curriculum that provides enhancing opportunities for children to increase their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
Princess Margaret International School will take responsibility for nurturing every child’s interest and boost up their confidence to one day feel independent and capable to accomplish their dreams.
IB
English
3 to 16
The English School Barcelona is a unique, friendly international school which offers an exceptional level of linguistic and cultural education. Children here start their full English immersion at 3 years of age. The school has just one class per year group, with a limited number of pupils in each class. This limit on class size really sets us aside from other schools.
The English School Barcelona prides itself on the time and attention we dedicate to each of our students, time and attention that are simply not an option for most schools.
French, IB
French
3 to 18
The Bel Air French School was created in 1992. The French Air School Bel Air is a private center, not arranged and managed by an SL that ensures its management according to the Spanish accounting plan, with absolute respect for the Spanish limited companies law. The Bel Air French School, respecting the provisions of the law on education guidance of July 10, 1989, and the decree of September 9, 1993, provides a teaching according to French programs. The teachings are approved by the Ministère de l'Éducation Nationale Français  from the maternal school (P-3) to the Terminale class   (2nd year of Baccalaureate).
The French Air Bel School is registered in the register of foreign centers. Recognized and authorized by the competent authority in the field of education, it has the obligation, under the Franco-Spanish agreement, to dispense the teachings of language and culture, Spanish and Catalan. The center teaches integrated programs in these disciplines.
There are 21 other international schools in Barcelona that didn't make it into our Top 20, either because they didn't have enough reviews or its review rating was too low. If your school is one of those and you think it should make the Top 20, make sure you add your review and tell your story via the school links below.
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