Cities / Barcelona / St. Patrick's International School
St. Patrick's International School
British curriculum school in Sant Joan Despí on the western edge of Barcelona, run by founder-principal Gemma Izquierdo. Early years and primary in full English immersion, with secondary added more recently. NABSS member, accepted by the British Council.
In brief
British curriculum school in Sant Joan Despí on the western edge of Barcelona, run by founder-principal Gemma Izquierdo. Early years and primary in full English immersion, with secondary added more recently. NABSS member, accepted by the British Council.
Small, family-run, marketed on full English immersion and an enrichment offer that includes Mandarin, swimming, mindfulness, robotics and yoga. Fees are notably lower than the established British names in central Barcelona, which is part of the appeal for families on the suburban side of the city.
Parent voice on the school day is warm: small classes, attentive teachers, happy children, and visible leadership from the principal. Two flags exist alongside that. Independent reviews have repeatedly been removed after legal letters from the school, which limits how much external signal exists. Staff feedback on culture and management is consistently negative, suggesting churn in the teaching team. Track record beyond primary is short, so families considering the senior years should ask hard questions about teacher retention.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 Books | 5 | Annual | €175 |
| Years 2-4 Books | 6 | Annual | €215 |
| Years 5-6 Books | 9 | Annual | €240 |
| Secondary Books | Annual | €425 | |
| Pre-Nursery/Early Years/Primary Tuition | Annual | €10,140 | |
| Secondary Tuition | Annual | €10,920 | |
| Inscription - Pre-Nursery | 3 | One-time | €450 |
| Inscription - Early Years & Primary | 4 | One-time | €2,500 |
| Medical Insurance | One-time | €175 | |
| Annual Reservation | One-time | €350 | |
| Accident Insurance | One-time | €375 |
Reviews
- Small early-years and primary international school in Sant Joan Despí, on the Barcelona side, founded 2019. British and IB framing.
- Positive parent reviews focus on full English immersion (in classroom and at break), nice teachers and a family-feel small school. One parent quoted by MumAbroad said children speak English with peers "even in the playground."
- Glassdoor staff reviews go the other direction. Employees flag concerns about management quality, a heavy financial focus, low salaries and organisational issues.
- The independent review platform iSchoolAdvisor carries a public several parent reviews have been removed after legal pressure from the school's lawyers , a signal worth its own line.
- Activity offer is wide for a small school: swimming, Mandarin, robotics, cooking, mindfulness, music.
Head of school
Gemma Izquierdo
Gemma Izquierdo founded St. Patrick's International School to address a gap in Barcelona's education market. She emphasizes dedication, enthusiasm, excellence and effort in creating an affordable, immersive English program focused on developing each child's potential through diverse activities including yoga, piano, Chinese, and mindfulness. Her passion for education drives the school's commitment to building emotional intelligence and fostering international perspectives in students from an early age in a family-oriented environment.