Best British Schools in Madrid

Madrid has one of the deepest British school markets in continental Europe. The British School of Madrid opened in 1940. Runnymede, Kensington and the International School of Madrid all date from the late 1960s and early 1970s. King's College arrived in La Moraleja in 2007 via Inspired. Brighton College is the most recent arrival.

Spain runs its own regulatory layer. Any foreign-curriculum school in Spain must be authorised by the Ministry of Education as a centro extranjero autorizado. The National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS) is the membership and inspection body that supports schools through that authorisation. NABSS-authorised schools follow the English National Curriculum to Year 11 (IGCSE) and Years 12 to 13 (A-Levels), with homologación routes so qualifications convert for Spanish universities.

The market splits three ways: English-medium schools for expat families, dual British-Spanish schools running both tracks from primary, and a tail of smaller bilingual operators using IGCSE and A-Levels as a finishing pathway.

The top tier

Four schools sit clearly at the front, judged on BSO accreditation, published IGCSE and A-Level results, and depth of the British academic culture.

International School of Madrid

Chamartín, ages 2 to 18. Founded 1971. Around 800 pupils. Fees EUR 16,875 to 41,625.

The strongest published A-Level outcomes in the city. 38% A/A, 79% A-C, 99% pass rate in 2025. 58% A*/A at IGCSE. English-medium, full Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE pathway, premium fees. Chamartín puts it near the Cuatro Torres business district.

Runnymede College

La Moraleja, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1967. Around 750 pupils. Fees EUR 9,300 to 23,700. BSO and CIS accredited.

The school British academics in Madrid name when asked which sixth form sends pupils to Oxbridge. *57% A/A at A-Level and 67% A-A at IGCSE in 2025. Single-site campus, English-medium from Year 1, traditional A-Level subject combinations. Holding both BSO and CIS is unusual in Spain.*

The British School of Madrid

Pozuelo de Alarcón, ages 2 to 18. Founded 1940. Fees EUR 5,100 to 14,070. BSO accredited.

The oldest British school in Spain. Runs a genuine dual British-Spanish curriculum (BiBac) delivering A-Levels and the Spanish bachillerato in parallel, so pupils sit the PAU/EvAU alongside Cambridge and Edexcel A-Levels. *2025 PAU average 7.91; IGCSE A-A 55%.** Fees sit at the more accessible end of this tier.

King's College, The British School of Madrid

La Moraleja, ages 1 to 16 (sixth form continues at the sister site). Founded 2007. Around 650 pupils. Fees EUR 8,115 to 16,110. BSO and CIS accredited. Operator: Inspired Education.

*52% A and 73% A-A at IGCSE in 2025. English-medium ENC throughout, with a Spanish track for pupils who need homologación*. La Moraleja location puts it in the same expat catchment as Runnymede, which is the head-to-head decision in that part of the city.

Strong mid-tier

Schools that are larger, more bilingual, and less consistent on published results, but still credible choices.

Hastings School

Central Madrid, three campuses, ages 2 to 18. Founded 1971. Around 1,375 pupils. Fees EUR 7,700 to 20,750.

British curriculum to GCSE then a choice of A-Levels or the IB Diploma. *IB Diploma average 35 points in 2024; 47% A/A at A-Level.** Central location is the draw for families avoiding the Pozuelo or La Moraleja commute.

Kensington School

Pozuelo, ages 18 months to 18. Founded 1968. Around 1,100 pupils. CIS accredited.

IGCSE at Year 11 with IB Diploma at sixth form. *IB average 34 points, 41% A at IGCSE, PAU pass rate 100% and 8.22 average out of 10 in 2025.** Strong dual-route results across British and Spanish examinations.

The English Montessori School

Central Madrid, ages 1 to 18. Founded 1973. Around 800 pupils. Fees EUR 5,000 to 13,450.

Montessori in early years, English National Curriculum through primary and secondary, A-Levels at sixth form with an IB option. *58% A/A at A-Level in 2024, EvAU average 7.95 out of 10.** Cambridge English and DELF French pass rates are strong.

St. George Madrid

Ages 2 to 18. Founded 2010. Around 840 pupils. Fees EUR 8,580 to 18,610. British primary through to IB or A-Level sixth form. Published outcomes are thin (most recent IGCSE figure 81% A*-C from 2020).

Highlands School El Encinar

La Moraleja, ages 1 to 18. Founded 1999. Around 1,300 pupils. CIS accredited.

Cambridge primary and IGCSE alongside the IB Diploma and a Spanish track. EvAU average 13.975 in 2023. Popular with Spanish families wanting English-medium plus a bachillerato-equivalent route.

Logos International School

Ages 3 to 18. Founded 1975. Around 1,000 pupils. Fees EUR 5,160 to 7,200. Bilingual primary, IB Diploma and Cambridge International at upper school. Most recent results (IB 33.5, EvAU 8.14) date from 2020.

Best for sixth form

If a family is choosing on the A-Level cohort specifically, three schools sit ahead on published 2024 to 2025 results.

Runnymede and TEMS publish higher top-grade percentages; ICS Madrid publishes a wider pass-rate floor. For pupils targeting Oxbridge or the Russell Group, Runnymede has the longest track record. For pupils mixing British and Spanish routes, The British School of Madrid and Kensington run the most established dual-track sixth forms.

Best for early years and primary

Different question, different answer. TEMS runs a genuine Montessori early years. King's College and Runnymede carry pupils from early years through GCSE and A-Level on a single site, removing transition risk. The British School of Madrid and Highlands El Encinar begin dual-language exposure from age 2 or 3, which matters more for families staying long-term in Spain. Brighton College Madrid is the newest entrant; primary cohorts are still building, so judgement should follow the first inspection cycle.

For families relocating mid-primary, the decision is which school's English-Spanish balance matches the family's plan. ICS Madrid and Runnymede run a different daily experience from TBS Madrid and Highlands.

At a glance

NABSS authorisation is required for any foreign-curriculum school operating in Spain. BSO and CIS are separate, voluntary accreditations. Verify current accreditation with each school.

How to tell a real British school

A few definitions decide what families are choosing between.

The English National Curriculum runs from Reception through Key Stage 4 (ages 5 to 16) and into Years 12 and 13. The international form is operationalised by Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel, which examine IGCSE at Year 11 and A-Level at Year 13. "British curriculum" and "Cambridge curriculum" describe the same thing in practice.

NABSS authorisation is the Spain-specific layer. The Ministry of Education requires foreign-curriculum schools to be authorised as centros extranjeros autorizados. NABSS is the membership body that supports schools through authorisation, sets quality standards, and inspects on the Ministry's behalf. A school calling itself "British" without NABSS authorisation lacks Spanish regulatory permission to teach the English curriculum to residents.

BSO accreditation is the UK Department for Education's voluntary inspection scheme for British schools abroad. Administered by approved inspectorates (ISI, Penta, Cognia, COBIS), it signals that a school meets UK independent-school standards. CIS is a separate international standard focused on governance, safeguarding and continuous improvement. CIS plus BSO is the strongest external-inspection combination available; Runnymede and King's College hold both.

Homologación converts non-Spanish qualifications into the Spanish school-leaving equivalent. A pupil leaving a NABSS-authorised British school with IGCSE and A-Levels can apply for homologación and sit the selectividad (EvAU or PAU) for Spanish universities. Dual British-Spanish schools (TBS Madrid, Highlands, Kensington) integrate this rather than leaving it as paperwork at the end.

How to choose between them

Five questions decide most of these.

English-medium or dual track? Families planning to leave Spain within five years lean to ICS Madrid, Runnymede or King's College. Families staying long-term, or with Spanish-national children, lean to TBS Madrid, Highlands, Kensington or TEMS.

Sixth form route? Pure A-Level at Runnymede or ICS Madrid. A-Level plus IB option at Hastings, Kensington, TEMS or St. George. IB only at Logos.

Location. La Moraleja, Pozuelo and Aravaca hold most of the established British schools; Chamartín is the in-city alternative; Majadahonda is further west. La Moraleja from central Madrid runs 25 to 40 minutes outside rush hour and meaningfully longer inside it.

Fees. Top of market (ICS Madrid) reaches EUR 41,625 at sixth form. Most established schools sit in the EUR 14,000 to 24,000 top-year band. TBS Madrid and TEMS sit at the more accessible end of the established tier.

Accreditation. BSO is the strongest single signal of UK-equivalent academic standards. CIS plus BSO is the strongest combination. NABSS authorisation is the regulatory floor; every legitimate British school in Spain holds it.

Related reading

• Best international schools in Madrid
• What is COBIS accreditation?
• What is BSO accreditation?
• IGCSE explained
• A-Levels explained

FAQs

What does NABSS authorisation mean?

NABSS is the membership and inspection body for British-curriculum schools in Spain. The Ministry of Education requires foreign-curriculum schools to be authorised as centros extranjeros autorizados, and NABSS supports schools through that authorisation and inspects on the Ministry's behalf. A British school in Spain without NABSS authorisation lacks the Spanish regulatory permission to teach the English curriculum to residents.

Can my child go to a Spanish university from a British school in Madrid?

Yes. NABSS-authorised schools follow homologación to convert IGCSE and A-Level results into the Spanish school-leaving equivalent, after which pupils sit the selectividad (EvAU or PAU). Dual British-Spanish schools (TBS Madrid, Highlands, Kensington) integrate this into the curriculum.

Which Madrid British school has the strongest A-Level results?

Three sit at the front on published 2024 to 2025 results. Runnymede College: 57% A/A in 2025. International School of Madrid: 38% A/A and a 99% pass rate in 2025. The English Montessori School: 58% A*/A and a 98% pass rate in 2024.

Are British schools in Madrid English-medium or bilingual?

It varies. Runnymede and ICS Madrid run primarily in English with Spanish as a subject. TBS Madrid, Highlands El Encinar, Kensington and TEMS run a genuine dual British-Spanish curriculum from primary onwards. King's College runs primarily in English with a Spanish-track option for Spanish-national pupils.

How much do British schools in Madrid cost?

From around EUR 5,000 a year in early years at the accessible schools (TBS Madrid, TEMS, Logos) to EUR 41,625 at the top of sixth form (ICS Madrid). Most top-year fees land between EUR 14,000 and EUR 24,000. Fees move annually; additional charges (registration, lunches, transport, exam fees) vary widely.

What is the difference between BSO and NABSS?

NABSS is the Spanish regulatory body; BSO is a UK inspection scheme. NABSS authorisation is required to operate. BSO is voluntary and signals UK independent-school standards. Runnymede, King's College, TBS Madrid and Brighton College Madrid hold BSO.

Sources: school websites and 2024 to 2025 results disclosures for ICS Madrid, Runnymede College, The British School of Madrid, King's College Madrid, Hastings School, Kensington School, The English Montessori School, St. George Madrid, Highlands School El Encinar, Thames British School Madrid, Logos International School, Brighton College Madrid. NABSS (nabss.org) for authorisation framework. UK Department for Education BSO scheme guidance. Council of International Schools (cois.org) membership directory. Spanish Ministry of Education homologación and EvAU/PAU guidance.