Best schools in Madrid
Education in Madrid
Thanks to the brilliant public transport in Madrid, there’s huge flexibility about where you can decide to live, knowing that you won’t need to get out the compass and draw a tiny circle around where you work - or where your children go to school - in order to avoid daily travel meltdown.
'Escuela pública' is a less popular option than the international schools for expats (unless Spanish is already part of daily life) as there is no guarantee that the teachers will speak English. But smaller children tend to adapt and become integrated more easily and it is a good solution (particularly at the primary stage) if you intend to stay for a long time and want your child to speak fluent Spanish. It is also easier to move from state to private than vice-versa. However, be aware that the standards of these schools can vary dramatically - although will probably be higher, if in an area favoured by expats and wealthier Spaniards.
In addition, and probably more appealing to expats, are private Spanish schools (escuelas privadas), which are mainly co-ed, day schools used by about one third of Spanish families.
Choosing a school in Madrid
Unfortunately, the quid per quo for being surrounded by magnificent architecture, can be time spent on the school run, as only three of the international schools that are reasonably close to the centre are those in northwest Madrid. These consist of the main campus of the British Council School, interestingly founded in 1940 (surely a brave move), Kensington School and the American School of Madrid. The group of SEK International Schools has several campuses, Colegio Internacional SEK - El Castillo is in northwest Madrid, but one of its other divisions, Colegio Internacional SEK - Santa Isabel, is bang in the middlle, a stone’s throw from the Prado, whilst the campus for Colegio Internacional SEK – Cuidalcampo, is further out to the northeast, beyond Alcobendas.
The cost of housing is not a deterrent to the wealthy, so Alcobendas has attracted other international schools to set up there, including, King’s College School (at present, teaching up to the age of 16) which is conveniently on the spot in La Moraleja, the International College of Spain (owned by Nord Anglia) and Runnymede College, which (like the International School of Madrid) only offers A levels as a final qualification. Other international schools to the east of Madrid are Hastings School (in fact a group of five schools for different ages) the International School of Madrid and St George International, the newest of the popular international schools in Madrid.
When it comes to curricula, almost all the schools offer IGCSEs and then the majority go on to A levels, including KIng’s College, (the only school in the group to go through to 18), with one IB Diploma school (Agora International), In addition, several of them provide the alternative leaving qualification of the Spanish Bachillerato.
Pre-schools, kindergarten and nurseries in Madrid
Two of the best known infant schools, the British Council Infant School and King’s Infant School, are found in Chambertin, a marginally cheaper (and less chic) neighbourhood with bigger houses good for young families.
