Choosing school in Catalonia: a tough decision for expat families

The number of international schools in Barcelona is skyrocketing. In just over a decade, the number of these schools has doubled, and the influx of expats moving to Catalonia continues to grow.   

Navigating the school system in Catalonia is not easy, as it is very different from that of other countries. Language barriers and the short-term nature of relocations add to the challenge.  

"Finding a good school for your children has a big impact on whether you end up staying or not," says education consultant Anya van der Drift, who works with parents trying to find schools in Catalonia.  

To find a school that meets your children's needs, it's important to understand the Catalan education system.

Here, schooling is compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 16, and is divided into two phases: primary education, from ages 6 to 12, and secondary education, from ages 12 to 16. 

There are three types of schools: public, semi-private, and private. Public schools are free, secular, and use Catalan as the primary language of instruction. The admission process can be somewhat complex, so if you want more information, check out this guide. 

Semi-private schools, known as "concertades," receive government funding but are privately run. While tuition is covered by the government, parents often end up paying fees, which are theoretically voluntary and vary from school to school.   

These schools can be secular or religious, and the enrollment process is the same as for public schools. In some cases, semi-private schools may use English as the primary language of instruction while following the local curriculum. 

Private schools are funded entirely by parents. They can be secular or religious, and have the flexibility to choose the language of instruction and curriculum. Admission is handled individually by each school. 

What are international schools?

There are various definitions and no universal consensus on what qualifies as an international school.   

Some define it as a school where the primary language of instruction is different from the official language of the country, while others believe that the curriculum must also be different from the national standard. 

In addition, some schools offer multiple curricula simultaneously, so it's important to understand what each school offers based on your child's stage of education. 

There are 48 international schools in Catalonia, most of them in the Barcelona area. In fact, 31 of these schools are in Barcelona itself, according to ISC Research, which defines international schools as those that use English as the primary language of instruction in a non-English-speaking country. 

According to the International Schools Database, 17 of these schools offer the International Baccalaureate (IB), 17 others follow the British curriculum, while 13 offer the Spanish curriculum and 9 use the American curriculum, among others.  

The variety of curricula and schools makes it important to assess your children's needs and whether a particular educational model will work for them. 

Andrea Sunyol, a postdoctoral researcher who has studied international schools in Catalonia, says some international schools that offer the local curriculum end up functioning as "de facto national schools."  

"The teachers were local and spoke Catalan, and the local curriculum dominated. Some of the international families found that the number of international students was very low, and they felt out of place, even cheated," she explains.  

On the other hand, international schools with large numbers of international students can lead to little interaction with the local population and the reality of the country.   

"Schools like this have very little to do with the place they are in. Everybody speaks English, everything is in English. In these schools, you could be here or in any other part of the world," she adds. 

In fact, this is the reason why some parents, after enrolling their children in an international school and deciding to stay in the area long-term, end up opting for the local system. 

Catalonia has the best schools in Spain

According to a recent Forbes list of the best schools in Spain, three international schools in Catalonia ranked among the top ten.  

In first place is the Agora School in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, near Barcelona. This school offers both the IB and the national curriculum.  

Another Agora school, located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, is ranked fifth. This school offers the IB curriculum and 50% of the subjects are taught in English.  

In eighth place is The American School of Barcelona, which has 72% international students from 55 different nationalities and offers both the IB and American curricula. 

High fees: from €3,000 to €30,000 per year

It is no coincidence that the top-ranked schools are international. Modern facilities, smaller class sizes and high educational standards come at a price. 

Fees vary widely, with the cheapest international school costing around €3,000 per year and the most expensive going up to €30,000.  

For example, Agora Barcelona International School charges €6,650 per year for early childhood education, €7,750 for primary education and €8,800 for secondary education.  

At the American School of Barcelona, one of the most expensive in Spain, annual fees range from €18,000 for elementary school to €25,000 for high school. 

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