Choosing a school

Father and preteen daughter looking at a tablet while seated on a sofa

With the main purpose of providing information for international families who decide make Barcelona their home with school-age children and want to discover the educational options, two publications have been produced (available only in English):

International schools in Barcelona and other multilingual school options, which compiles updated lists of schools in the Barcelona area that offer international education or specialise in the use of foreign languages. It also lists the schools that offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and the Batxibac.

Choosing a school in Barcelona, a Practical guide for international families, which focuses on the stages of education that are of universal provision (from 3 to 18 years of age) and contains useful information, as well as tips for choosing a school and for learning about all the available options and resources.

International families share their experience

Decisions about schooling for your child are very personal and can be difficult. It’s common and normal for parents to feel anxious about getting this decision right.

With the intention of sharing different experiences and helping international families search for the best school for their sons and daughters, we have spoken with four families who have gone through the process of choosing a school for their children in the Barcelona area.

Each family interview reflects on different priorities to make a decision.

Kevin’s father: “For me languages are really important for his future and here he can learn three or four languages”.

Joy’s mother: “Putting your children into a local school you have to accept that they are going to learn a language that maybe you don’t know but they will be well integrated”.

Anouk’s mother: “In the Catalan (education) system contact with the teachers is close and not so much based on authority as trust”.

Harry’s mother: “I recommend other international families choose an International School. The schools are very nice and open, and the kids fit in more easily”.

Be inspired by reading about the experiences of four families:

- Student: Kevin (11)
- Mother: Mireya (from Ecuador) / Father: Andree (from Germany)
- Type of school: Private international school
- Name of the school: Deutsche Schule Barcelona
We met Kevin and his family in Barcelona. Normally they spend most of their time in Cubelles where they live close to the beach and the town’s cultural life. What is not so close is Kevin’s school. As with many other international families, it was a priority for Kevin and his parents for him to attend a school that offered an international language other than Catalan or Spanish.

Previous contact with the public school system showed them how the local language, Catalan, has a big influence that the family were not interested in. So Kevin is now going to the German School of Barcelona, which is more than 40 kilometres from their house in Cubelles. Kevin explains that in the future he would like to study at a German university. Furthermore, the family has relatives in Germany, which motivates Kevin to improve his German language skills. The German School is a private school that offers a lot of academic and extracurricular activities that enable students to develop many competences. Kevin and his parents have been very happy with the welcome they have received at the school and with the links they have already established with other families and the school network.

Andree, his father, tells us about the enrolment process, saying it was a big help for them to visit different schools with Kevin. He advises other parents to listen to their children and involve them in the process of choosing their school, including giving them time to reflect on their own needs and personal preferences. As regards the distance, Andree and Mireya both agree that location matters and that a school closer to their home would be preferable. However, the best school for Kevin is in another area which does not afford them this privilege.
- Student: Joy (4)
- Mother: Krystal (from England) / Father: Paul (born in Catalonia)
- Type of school: State school
- Name of the school: Escola Pere Villa
When we asked Krystal if she had any suggestions about where would be a great place for an interview with her and her daughter Joy, she quickly invited us to a beautiful little oasis in the middle of the family neighbourhood. It was open and welcoming, so we decided to talk with the whole family.

Krystal is the mother of Joy and her little sister Ebony. She came to Barcelona looking for a vibrant, cosmopolitan city close to the beach and not far from London where she has her family. It was here she met her partner Paul, who is also the father of Joy and Ebony. Krystal explains she was surprised by how early school begins in Catalonia. On the other hand she sees it as a great opportunity for international families, considering the benefits you get from a school network as a newcomer. Both Krystal and Paul consider the local public school to be the best tool to integrate and for the family to learn the local language. Krystal shares her concerns about not being able to follow the communication in the local school system and how, as a mother, not being able to communicate from the beginning has made her feel disconnected from Joy’s school experience.

On the other hand, she sees the fact her two girls learn Catalan as a really big bonus for them. What’s more, she explained that a teacher settled her anxiety when she took action and invited herself to a parent consultation.

For Joy and her family the enrolment process proved quite easy. They had some strong preferences from the beginning and knew they wanted a school with cultural diversity and a great local school project. In their experience the guidelines were quite well explained, with clear steps and open days to visit the schools they were interested in. The family advises using the international community and talking to other international families that have gone through the process of settling down in the city before you. Learn and take all the advice you can get but you have to prioritise what is best for your family.
- Student: Anouk (17)
- Mother: Marie (from France)
- Type of school: State-subsidised private school
- Name of the school: Escola Frederic Mistral Tècnic Eulàlia
Anouk is the middle sister of three. She returned to Barcelona with her family seven years ago after a long period abroad. Anouk´s father is Catalan and her mother is French. This might be one of the reasons why she and her sisters have all chosen to study at a state-subsidised private school that offers the Batxibac along with other international education. However, Anouk and her mother have a lot of confidence in the local schools in Barcelona.

They explain how the education system has pleasantly surprised them in terms of the enrolment process and, later, integrating and establishing social networks. Referring to enrolment, Marie emphasizes how the system is geographically based, which ensures that you have access to one of the district schools in your area. On the other hand, she warns about the difficulty of accessing a public school if you prefer one outside your own neighbourhood. She also shares their experience of the Catalan school system, which they both find ambitious and highly trustworthy. The family chose a local school because they didn’t want to live like expats in Barcelona. On the contrary, Marie and her partner wanted their children to be well integrated and familiar with the Catalan language and culture, as it is part of their heritage as well.

Moving back to Barcelona has helped the family realise how most teaching in Catalan schools is bilingual, practically trilingual, seeing that kids start studying Catalan, Spanish and English from a very young age. Anouk and her mother agree that it as a big plus that students learn more languages and see it as an advantage worth considering when you prioritise what is important for you and your child.

Before ending the interview, Anouk and Marie shared some advice for international families that wish to settle down in Barcelona or the surrounding metropolitan area in the future. First, they strongly recommend reflecting on what kind of education you want in the long run. Are you planning to stay in Catalonia or should you prepare for studies abroad in the future? Another tip is related to the enrolment process. Marie suggests that you talk with all the schools you are considering, that you read all the official information and that you follow the enrolment calendar closely. She says the district education office and, above all, the school have helped them a lot with the process.
- Student: Harry (10)
- Mother: ChunYu (from China)
- Type of the school: Private school
- Name of the school: American School of Barcelona
Harry and his family are a great example of an expat family coming to live in Barcelona without any local networks. The family have made a huge effort to establish themselves from scratch and deal with the process of understanding the education system. Harry came to Barcelona with his mother ChunYu in the middle of his primary education. The company that ChunYu was working for in China was opening an office in Barcelona, so she saw a great opportunity for herself to get an international career as an expat here and for Harry to get an international education. Her husband and father of the family travels between China and Spain. When Harry and his mother first moved to Catalonia it was already decided that Harry should attend the American School of Barcelona.

Today ChunYu tells us how this private international school has made the transfer to a new education system easier in terms of language, network and culture. The family highly recommend other international newcomers to follow their path and choose a private school with an international origin. Harry highlights how everyone has been very helpful and supportive in his process of learning English. He was already a fast learner but the support from colleagues and teachers has been really appreciated.

Another thing that Harry values is the amount of homework. Compared to his old school, it is not very much and that leaves him more time to play soccer, spend time with his friends and have time for himself. He enjoys the beautiful natural surroundings, the beach and the food in Barcelona and the Mediterranean area. Harry and his mother agree that Barcelona is a great place to live in. ChunYu describes how the city became their first choice because of its good location, the growing economy and the good investment environment. And they both continue to be happy with the expat life that they have managed to establish in the multicultural city of Barcelona.