British College of Gavà, British School of Gavà

• Location: Gava, Spain,
• Number of students: approximately 660,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of education: mixed.

British College of Gavà (BCG) is an international school following the national academic system of England and offering all secondary education programs: from pre-school groups to graduating classes. A distinctive feature is the ability to choose one of three academic courses for obtaining an international diploma: A-Level, standard or career-oriented. The school also offers an elite sports program for students aged 12–18, through which they receive online education in the core curriculum and devote maximum attention to sporting achievements.

British College of Gavà is an annual leader in many national and international rankings: the quality of teaching and focus on graduates' admission to the world's best universities, a high level of individual attention to each student, and a wide range of extracurricular activities for additional education. It collaborates with dozens of national and foreign educational organizations and companies to provide students with broad opportunities for gaining experience and building careers: strong partnerships are maintained with Barça Innovation Hub, Institute of the Arts Barcelona, and SUMAS.

The main language of instruction is English; Catalan, Spanish, and French are taught as elective subjects.

Foreign students receive additional language support — an English as an Additional Language (EAL) elective is available to them, which they attend alongside their main curriculum.

All students above grade 7 have access to a counseling department that organizes additional meetings and seminars on exam preparation and university admissions. In grade 7, the work begins with exercises on career exploration and self-discovery, helping students understand their interests, develop skills, and compose their first résumé. In grades 8–11, students create résumés, explore various work environments, and gain knowledge from guest speakers from different fields.

Using advanced research tools such as Unifrog, upper school students learn about universities and colleges in Spain, Europe, and the USA; they receive assistance with writing personal statements, preparing for interviews, and applying for scholarships. Regular university fairs, including the British Education Fair, Saló d’Ensenyament, the SRT University Fair, and Education USA, directly connect students with admissions representatives, providing them with every opportunity to find the perfect fit for their higher education.

The BCG academic system includes:

• Nursery — from 3 to 5 years old,
• Primary School — from 5 to 11 years old,
• Secondary School — from 11 to 16 years old,
• Sixth Form — from 16 to 18 years old.

At the Secondary School stage, in grades 10–11, students prepare to sit GCSE exams, and in Sixth Form, grades 12–13, they choose a diploma pathway: standard international, A-Level, or international career.

British College of Gavà has no on-site residences; it is a day school.

The BCG kitchen, staffed by a highly qualified team of chefs, provides students with balanced and nutritious meals throughout the school week. The menu is developed in partnership with nutritionists and includes separate sections for younger and older students. Dishes are prepared from seasonal ingredients based on the Mediterranean diet, and their wide variety meets any dietary need, including students with dietary, medical, or religious requirements. The school has established a «nut-free environment»: all dishes exclude this strong allergen, and students are not allowed to bring nut-containing products with them.

Each week, students choose from 20+ extracurricular areas, which are replaced by new ones throughout the year — this way students get more opportunities to find hobbies and develop various skills. Each year the school offers around 70 clubs, circles, and sections, catering to the sporting, social, creative, and academic interests of its students. Each area is adapted to the age-appropriate abilities of the academic divisions, offering suitable topics for study, exercises, competitions, and contests.

Sports sections provide students with physical activity both during the school day, in physical education classes, and during extracurricular time. With excellent infrastructure and indoor/outdoor facilities, the school organizes training in the following sports areas:

• Football,
• Basketball,
• Cricket,
• Netball,
• Touch rugby,
• Baseball,
• Volleyball,
• Tennis,
• Table tennis,
• Badminton,
• Padel,
• Boxing,
• Running.

Students interested in sports achievements often receive external funding and participate in regional and national competitions. For example, this year the baseball team won the Catalonia championship, participated in adult leagues, was selected for the Hungarian national team, and won the U18 European Championship. Many students successfully continue professional sports careers and receive scholarships from US universities after graduation.

Visual and performing arts, just like sports, are included in the main curricula of all classes. Projects range from one-time sessions to multi-week works, allowing children to gradually develop skills and talent. Dance is a key element of the performing arts program: from kindergarten through grade 5, students study ballet, while older students choose from a variety of dance styles. The performing arts include individual lessons on musical instruments: guitar, piano, violin, and percussion, as well as vocal lessons, participation in choir and orchestra. The visual arts specialization is represented by dozens of clubs: from painting and design to sculpture, crafts, and photography.

The school is focused on in-depth study of STEM disciplines, which are taught during the school day and after school. Students develop universal skills valuable for all subject areas and career paths, but especially in engineering, scientific research, technological innovation, data analysis, and design thinking. The Mine Coders program introduces students to programming using Minecraft Education Edition, making science accessible and engaging for students from grades 2 to 7; age-appropriate assignments gradually progress from basic concepts to complex automation and game development, developing logical thinking, creativity, and computational problem-solving skills. Mini Tech LEGO lessons for the youngest students use building blocks to introduce STEAM concepts in a playful yet practical form.

For general development and additional academic support, the following thematic clubs are available:

• Classical literature,
• Origami,
• Reading,
• School magazine,
• Photography,
• Media,
• Board games,
• Chess,
• Subject electives: mathematics, economics, natural sciences, English language.

• Full academic accreditation,
• One of the best schools in Spain according to Forbes, ABC, Micole,
• The only Spanish school offering an international career diploma,
• Collaboration with organizations in the fields of sports, arts, and sustainable development,
• 80% of teachers are native English speakers,
• More than 70 extracurricular electives, clubs, and sections,
• Outstanding graduation exam results exceeding world standards.

Located on a green area of 26 000 sq. meters, 20 minutes from the center of Barcelona and 10 minutes from the airport, the BCG campus combines innovative learning spaces, sports facilities, and outdoor recreation areas. Specialized classrooms have been created for each academic department to meet age-appropriate needs:

• The preschool building is located in the southern part of the campus, surrounded by many trees and shaded playgrounds, and includes six classrooms with play areas and interactive whiteboards. The multipurpose hall serves as a space for relaxation, yoga, music, and dance, complementing the garden area. Thanks to the recently renovated outdoor play areas and the «Forest School», students gain hands-on experience interacting with nature.
• Primary school students have access to the middle and high school building, equipped with advanced technology: interactive touchscreens, iPads, and computers. The classrooms are designed so that children can work both individually and in groups.
• The middle and high school building combines modern educational design with specialized learning spaces: spacious classrooms, three science laboratories, and various technical and creative studios. A shared dining hall is also located here.

The sports infrastructure includes a multipurpose sports hall, a fitness center, outdoor courts and fields for team sports.

The BCG bus fleet provides students with safe transportation to and from school: buses operate throughout the region, covering residential areas of Barcelona, Sitges, Sant Pere de Ribes, Castelldefels, and Segur de Calafell.

Classes run from early September to late June, with several breaks for seasonal holidays. Classes are held Monday through Friday; rest days include holidays, weekends, and public holidays.

Tuition fees include meal costs. Additional expenses include:

• Registration and administrative fees, including textbooks, technology, and insurance,
• School uniform,
• Personal learning materials: a Chromebook for students in Grade 7 and above,
• Some extracurricular clubs, events, and individual lessons,
• School bus,
• External examinations,
• Personal expenses.

Families of applicants can visit the campus or communicate with the admissions office online to get answers to their questions and learn about the curriculum and extracurricular opportunities. The admission process consists of several stages:

• Submission of the registration form and required documents,
• Payment of enrollment fees,
• Taking CAT4 tests in English and mathematics; tests are adapted to the age-appropriate abilities of the candidate,
• Receiving an official offer of admission.

Senior students achieve excellent results in their final exams, thanks to which they gain admission to leading universities around the world, including:

• University of Warwick,
• Marian University in Illinois,
• Durham University,
• Trinity College Dublin,
• Goldsmiths, University of London,
• Bocconi University,
• Eindhoven University.

According to statistics from previous years, 9 out of 10 graduates are admitted to their chosen universities, including Russell Group universities.

Foreign applicants enrolling in BCG must have a passport, medical insurance, a visa or residence permit. The school expects personal documents of the child and one of the parents/guardians. The following must also be provided:

• Academic transcripts for the last two academic years,
• A recommendation letter from the previous place of study.

Admission is based on academic records and entrance test results.

British College of Gavà provides a discount system for multiple children from the same family: 10%, 15%, 20% for the third, fourth, and fifth child respectively.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision