International Schools in Barcelona

International schools in Barcelona

There is an assortment of bilingual and international schools in Barcelona. In fact, international educational standards are so commonplace that many of the schools that teach British, International Baccalaureate, French and American curricula have a student body predominantly made up of Spanish pupils.

International schools in Spain are legally obliged to teach either Spanish or a co-official regional language. In Catalonia, the best international schools in Barcelona will teach both Spanish and Catalan, as well as give additional focus to local content in subjects such as history and geography.

This gives expat children an opportunity to quickly overcome culture shock and fully immerse themselves in their new community while also engaging in cultural exchange. Most of the best international schools in Barcelona are located in affluent areas and suburbs. International schools in Barcelona are typically quite pricey, but parents will be delighted to know that these institutions offer excellent facilities, including STEM labs and a wide range of extracurricular activities to engage children.

Listed below are some of the top international schools in Barcelona.

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American School of Barcelona

The American School of Barcelona (ASB) prides itself on providing quality education and focusing on the holistic development of children. Founded in 1962, ASB was one of the first international schools in Spain to offer the International Baccalaureate qualification along with the US High School Diploma. 

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 3 to 18
Curriculum: American and International Baccalaureate
Website: www.asbarcelona.com

Barcelona High School

Barcelona High School officially opened its doors at the height of the pandemic in 2020 with a strong focus on student-centred learning rather than archaic teaching methods. The school has developed an engaging and innovative digital learning platform to ensure learning flexibility and quality education for the leaders of tomorrow. 

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 12 to 18
Curriculum: American (including Advanced Placement)
Website: www.barcelonahighschool.com

Benjamin Franklin International School

The Benjamin Franklin International School's mission is to ensure success for all students by offering differentiated curricula. As one of the best international schools in Barcelona, Benjamin Franklin International School offers a truly international and welcoming school community that drives academic excellence. 

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 3 to 18
Curriculum: American, Spanish and International Baccalaureate
Website: www.bfischool.org

British School of Barcelona

With more than 65 nationalities and four campuses across Barcelona, Sitges and Castelldefels, the British School of Barcelona (BSB) is home to excellent learning and sporting facilities. BSB aims to foster a love for lifelong learning and academic excellence through its rigorous British and International Baccalaureate curricula. 

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 3 to 18
Curriculum: British (Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels) and International Baccalaureate
Website: www.britishschoolbarcelona.com

Colegio Akua

Colegio Akua is an accredited and trilingual Montessori school that provides personalised education. The school's curriculum integrates the educational philosophies of María Montessori, Reggio Emilia and Pestalozzi while developing multiple intelligences and emotional awareness in students. 

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 3 to 12
Curriculum: Montessori
Website: www.colegioakua.com

European International School of Barcelona

Catering to more than 1,400 students, the European International School of Barcelona's educational programme focuses on three pillars: language proficiency, education in values and academic excellence. The school offers instruction in English, French, German and Chinese. 

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 4 months to 18 
Curriculum: Spanish and International Baccalaureate 
Website: www.europais.com

Hamelin-Laie International School

Part of the Nord Anglia Education group, Hamelin-Laie International School is one of Barcelona's top international schools offering trilingual instruction and the globally recognised International Baccalaureate and Spanish curricula. Hamelin-Laie International School prides itself on enabling its students to achieve academic excellence while developing into creative, confident and resilient global citizens. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 1 to 18 
Curriculum: Spanish and British
Website: www.hamelinschool.com

International School of Catalunya

Located in La Garriga, the International School of Catalunya aims to develop students who are independent thinkers while optimising student-teacher relationships through small-group learning. 

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 3 to 18
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate and British (Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels)
Website: www.iscat.es

Oak House School

Oak House School combines the British, Spanish and International Baccalaureate curricula, along with a variety of subjects, to offer students a holistic education. Oak House School also has a forest school, allowing students to connect with nature and learn more about the environment. 

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 3 to 18
Curriculum: British (Cambridge IGCSE), International Baccalaureate and Spanish
Website: www.oakhouseschool.com

SEK Catalunya International School

SEK Catalunya International School is a place where students of different nationalities come together in a cultural exchange environment while learning the three International Baccalaureate programmes and achieving academic excellence. The school offers a renowned music programme as well as outdoor and mountain activities. 

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 2 to 18 years
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Website: catalunya.sek.es

St. George's British School

Students at St. George's British School follow the full British curriculum and learn English from native Teachers. The school boasts specialised music, art and computer classrooms and laboratories and also focuses on differentiating learning in line with students' unique abilities and interests. 

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 2 to 18
Curriculum: British (Cambridge IGCSE) and International Baccalaureate
Website: www.stgeorgeinternational.es 

St Peter's School, Barcelona

Established in 1964, St Peter's School has been driving innovation in education for more than 60 years. As the first school in Barcelona to use English as the primary language of instruction and now the only IB Continuum school in the city, St Peter's is adept at leveraging the latest technologies and educational trends to develop future leaders. The international school boasts a sprawling campus, which includes a science lab for children aged zero to six and offers subjects such as Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence and nano- as well as neuroscience. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Ages: 1 to 18
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Website: www.stpeters.es