Barcelona's international schools booming amid wave of expat arrivals

The number of international schools in Barcelona has nearly doubled in the last decade, according to ISC Research, an organization that tracks the global international school market.  

In 2014, there were about 16 international schools in Barcelona; today, that number has grown to 31, with a total of 13,361 students in the city.  In Catalonia as a whole, there are 48 international schools, most of which are located in the Barcelona metropolitan area.  

At the same time, Barcelona's international community has expanded significantly, driven by the arrival of a new wave of migrants - young, highly educated and skilled professionals. 

Although there is no specific data on the exact number of these migrants, increasingly known as "expats," there are clear signs of their growth. 

The number of foreign-born residents from countries with a higher GDP than Spain has reached 80,000 in Barcelona, four times the number at the beginning of the century. And this figure may not include high-income individuals from countries with lower GDP. 

Many of these expats who arrive in Barcelona are young and come with their families, making one of their main concerns finding a good school for their children. For many, international schools are the best option. 

"They look for a type of exportable education that will allow them to continue traveling around the world. They have important positions in international companies and are often relocated," explains Andrea Sunyol, a postdoctoral researcher who has studied international schools.  

However, the definition of ‘international school’ is somewhat broad and can vary depending on who defines it.  

While some consider an international school one where the language of instruction differs from that of the host country, others believe the curriculum must also be different from the local one. 

According to the International Schools Database, one of the most common curricula in international schools in Catalonia is the British curriculum.  

"They're looking for something similar to where they're coming from. If they're in the British system, they may be looking for a school that follows the same curriculum," explains Anya van der Drift, an education consultant who helps families find schools in Catalonia. 

This was exactly the case for Emoke, who moved with her family from the United States and enrolled her son in the American School of Barcelona. 

"We chose an international school because of the ease of access. The local system was absolutely impossible to figure out remotely. We were landing in a couple of weeks and my son needed to be in school," she explains. 

For families like Emoke's who move on short notice, often in the middle of the school year, international schools are the obvious choice. Language barriers, too, make an English-speaking school essential when they arrive. 

"My son didn't speak Catalan or Spanish, so we wanted him to be in a familiar environment. Even his classroom looked like one in the U.S., which helped him stay connected to his culture," she explains. 

Another reason expats choose international schools is the environment. "They are looking for a certain experience. They feel that by going to an international school they will have contact with families from many different countries," Anya adds. 

However, after several years in an international school, many families choose to transition to the local system. 

"After a while, they realize that the local system makes the most sense because they want their children to learn Catalan and Spanish and follow the local curriculum," Anya explains. 

In fact, Emoke says this is one of the few drawbacks of international schools. 

"International schools, unfortunately, reinforce the bubble that we live in. We haven't really been able to mingle with the local community and culture as much as I would like. So we are currently exploring other options that will allow us to stay here longer," she explains. 

To learn more about international schools in Catalonia, have a listen to this episode of our podcast Filling the Sink.