British School of Barcelona

• Location of the British School of Barcelona: Costa del Garraf, Catalonia, Spain;
• Age: 3 to 18 years;
• Programs: High School (GCSE , A-Level);
• Number of students: More than 600;
• Year of foundation of the British School of Barcelona: 1958;
• Type of studying: joint.

British School of Barcelona is a prestigious high school in Catalonia. Its main distinguishing feature is the British educational program. The private school of British School is international. Representatives of 40 nationalities are studying here.

At the Barcelona school, foreign students can obtain an A-level certificate recognized by most universities in the world. The GCSE stage is also available. Studying process differs from that in schools in Britain. Here it is a more democratic atmosphere, not so strict requirements for discipline. However, the quality of academic studying Catalan school is not inferior to its British counterparts.

The educational process is not limited to academic studies. The school organizes leisure activities of children of all ages: there are many sports sections, circles. In addition, social events are regularly held. On weekends, foreign students can go on excursions in bright Catalonia.

Conditions of admission to the British School of Barcelona

The conditions of admission are identical to those in British schools. Applicants present an extract from the place of their previous studies, a certificate in English, they pass a telephone or online interview.

All teaching is conducted in English, except for Spanish and Catalan lessons, designed for any level from beginner to native speaker. French and German are available in secondary school. In the pre-school department, instruction is conducted mainly in English and covers seven areas of learning, with Spanish introduced in Year 1 and Catalan in Year 2.

The pre-school department operates on the British EYFS framework, relying on play and exploration: each class has two adults — a lead teacher responsible for the academic programme, and an assistant who helps deliver it. In primary school, learning is built around inquiry and student questions.

The learning culture is based on nine Learning Habits, developed from Guy Claxton's «Building Learning Power» and applied from the pre-school department through to the senior years. All students attend weekly personal, social and emotional development classes focused on mental and physical wellbeing and healthy relationships: the 2024 inspection rated this area as outstanding. Weekly philosophy lessons develop critical thinking and reasoning skills.

Students with special educational needs are supported by the learning support department, with teachers tailoring classroom strategies to each student. Preparation for the international DELE Spanish exams is built into the programme for students who are not native Spanish speakers. TurnitIn is used as a learning tool: similarity checking helps students master citation and referencing.

The International Diploma programme requires an extended essay and participation in the CAS programme — creativity, activity, service. CAS is mandatory for all Year 12 students regardless of the chosen pathway.

The BSB Futures team guides students and parents through university applications year-round and advises on choosing a direction. Communication with families takes place through the secure Cognita Connect app and web portal, with parents receiving a registration code when their child is enrolled. Through Cognita group's partnership with University College London, teachers run research projects on personalising learning.

• Early Years preschool department — ages 3–5 at the BSB Castelldefels, BSB City, and BSB Maresme campuses, from age 2 at the BSB Sitges campus, which also runs a Pre-Nursery group,
• Primary school,
• Secondary school — the English national curriculum with the option to obtain the Spanish ESO qualification by the end of Year 11; at the end of Year 11, students sit exams in nine or ten GCSE subjects,
• Pre-University senior school, A-Level programme — usually three subjects out of sixteen available plus Spanish as a fourth, with the option to complete the Extended Project Qualification, which is highly valued by universities,
• Pre-University senior school, International Baccalaureate Diploma programme for students aged 16–18/19 — six subjects, three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level, including two languages, mathematics, a science, and a humanities subject, with the sixth being art, a second science, or a second humanities subject; beginner-level Spanish and the Environmental Systems course are not offered at Higher Level, and the school does not teach Sports Science at this level,
• the BSB Castelldefels campus admits students aged 3–16 and includes the preschool department, Primary, and Secondary school; the last two years of study take place at the BSB Nexus campus, where additional classes are available to earn the points needed for the most competitive Spanish university courses,
• the BSB Maresme campus covers stages from preschool through senior school.

Students' results in final exams regularly rank among the best. Each year, students receive Outstanding Achievement certificates from examination boards for the highest score in an individual subject across all of Spain, and sometimes across all of Europe.

In the 2024–2025 academic year, all students who took LAMDA exams passed successfully: forty with Distinction and two with a Merit grade. In the 2025–2026 academic year, all sixty-four participants passed their music exams: eight with Distinction and thirty-two with a Merit grade. Sixty-eight candidates at the A1 Escolar and A2/B1 Escolar levels registered for the May 2026 DELE examination session — a record level of participation in the history of the programme.

In June 2026, the BSB City campus was officially recognised as a Problem-Solving School under the NRICH Problem-Solving Schools initiative. In 2026, the school was included among the top one hundred schools in Spain by Forbes, El Mundo, El Español, El Periódico, and Regió 7. In 2023, the school received the Cognita Award for outstanding growth following the launch of the BSB City campus, as well as Common Sense District Recognition.

In June 2026, the BSB Castelldefels campus welcomed more than 260 educators, school leaders, speakers, and education professionals to the first Festival of Education Spain held in continental Europe, and also held its second Technology Festival, bringing together students, teachers, and families.

• School's Executive Director — Neil Tetley,
• school rating in parent reviews on the Micole platform — 4.5 out of 5,
• in September 2022, 440 solar panels were installed on campus,
• the BSB Maresme campus uses low-impact materials, including wood, a green roof with rainwater collection, a solar installation of 80 panels, and modern acoustic, thermal, and lighting systems,
• the BSB Maresme campus opened in September 2026 for children aged 3–10,
• every September, together with all Cognita schools, Global Be Well Day takes place: regular lessons are canceled, and the whole day is devoted to students' well-being,
• 15 million euros have been invested in the new BSB City campus in Barcelona.

For foreign students, there is a day school and half board. Accommodation, meals are provided only during school hours.

The cost of meals:

• menu for the month - 180 euro;
• menu for the day - 12 euro;
• sandwich per day - 6 euros .

Subject list: Art, biology, business, chemistry, geography, history, Information Technology, maths, music, physical education, physics

The school organizes leisure activities to children of all ages, there are many sports sections, circles. In addition, social events are regularly held. On weekends, foreign students can go on excursions in bright Catalonia.

• Studying at the British School of Barcelona international students obtain a perfect opportunity to receive high-quality British education in a Spanish cultural environment.
• Academic subjects in the school are read in English. But the British School is essentially bilingual. Particular attention is paid here to the study of Spanish and the culture of the country.
• Graduates receive not only a certificate of secondary education. During the studying, children take examinations in English, the results are confirmed by certificates. Such certificates, for example C.I.E, are necessary for admission to universities in English-speaking countries.
• For those who plan to continue their education in Spain, Selectividad preparatory courses are offered at the school. This exam is given on admission to Spanish universities.
• Qualified teachers work with children. The basic disciplines are read by English native speakers, teachers from Britain.
• The process of teaching in high school is high-tech. This, as well as an individual approach to foreign students makes it effective.

British School is characterized by modern equipment. The school has small auditoriums, several laboratories, a library with a printed and electronic fund. Also in the educational building there are computer classes, a music studio, an art workshop. The school has its own theater. The sports infrastructure of the school is represented by a gymnasium and a sports hall.

The school year is divided into three terms. Autumn - begins in September and ends in December, spring begins in January and ends in March, summer starts in April and ends in June.

Additional fees:

• registration fee - 100 euros;
• Fee for enrollment - 3000 Euro;
• Air travel;
• Visa processing.

Admission starts with an application and the child's school documents. Depending on the child's age and year of study, they are invited to an informal assessment or interview to check their level of English, and to a meeting with the school's headteacher. After a successful assessment, and subject to places being available, the school makes an official offer of a place, which is valid for a limited period. If there are no places available, the child is placed on a waiting list.

You can get to know the school in advance at open days, private visits, virtual meetings, and online tours held throughout the academic year. Smapse specialists are guaranteed to support you at every stage of admission.

In 2026, the average International Baccalaureate score was 34.5, with a 100 percent pass rate for the program. Students' results in GCSE, the International Baccalaureate, and A-Level are markedly higher than national averages: based on the 2026 exam results, they surpassed both national and global benchmarks.

Following the 2026 GCSE exams, 22 % of students achieved the top grade, and a combined 53 % of those examined scored in the 7–9 range. Such results give graduates access to leading universities in Spain and other countries.

• Completed application, the child's most recent school reports, passport or ID, references if applicable,
• for Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Reception groups, no prior knowledge of English is required,
• for Years 1 and 2, conversational English at an age-appropriate level is required,
• from Year 3 — an English test, past school reports and a reference, a meeting with the head or deputy head of primary school,
• for Years 7–11 — an English test, academic reference, most recent school reports and a meeting with the head of secondary school,
• for Years 12 and 13 — confirmation of five GCSEs with grades 9–4 or equivalent, past school reports, academic reference, English and maths tests, and exams in chosen subjects if required,
• the school is non-selective and inclusive, giving every student equal opportunities to succeed.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision