Best Primary Schools in Madrid

Madrid's primary market runs three curriculum families across two regulatory layers. Spanish educación primaria covers ages 6 to 12. The English National Curriculum runs Key Stages 1 and 2 from age 5 to 11. The IB Primary Years Programme runs from age 3 to 12. American elementary covers Kindergarten through Grade 5.

Every foreign-curriculum primary in Spain is authorised by the Ministry of Education as a centro extranjero autorizado. NABSS, the National Association of British Schools in Spain, supports British schools through that authorisation. BSO and CIS are the voluntary inspection layers that signal UK and international independent-school standards.

Most credible English-medium primaries also run a *Spanish track for homologación** so pupils can move into Spanish state schools or sit selectividad* at 18. Fully English-medium primary is the exception, found mainly at Runnymede, ICS Madrid and the American School of Madrid.

The top tier

Five schools sit at the front on accreditation, published senior-school outcomes, and depth of the primary academic culture.

International School of Madrid

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

The most expensive primary in the city. Pearson Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE pathway from EYFS to A-Level. English-medium with Spanish as a subject. Primary feeds a pipeline delivering Madrid's strongest A-Level pass rate (99% in 2025). Chamartín sits close to Cuatro Torres.

King's College, The British School of Madrid

La Moraleja, ages 1 to 16. Founded 2007. Around 650 pupils. Fees EUR 8,115 to 16,110. BSO and CIS accredited, NABSS authorised. Operator: Inspired Education.

The earliest entry of the top tier, admitting from age 1 into a dedicated Early Years building before EYFS continues through Year 6. English-medium ENC with a Spanish track for homologación. BSO plus CIS is the strongest external-inspection combination in Madrid; only King's and Runnymede hold both.

Runnymede College

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

English-medium from Year 1 on a single-site campus. Structured rather than play-led by Madrid standards, oriented from primary toward the school's A-Level destination. *57% A/A at A-Level in 2025** and the longest Oxbridge track record in the city. Sibling priority is heavy; waiting lists run.

International College Spain

La Moraleja, ages 3 to 18. Founded 2000. Around 1,200 pupils. Fees EUR 12,186 to 25,635. CIS, NEASC, Cognia accredited. Operator: Nord Anglia.

The reference IB Primary Years Programme primary in Madrid. PYP from age 3, inquiry-led and concept-driven rather than EYFS-then-ENC progression. English-medium with Spanish daily. IB Diploma 35.2 in 2025.

The British School of Madrid

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

The oldest British school in Spain runs the most established dual-track primary in the city. EYFS from age 2 with Spanish across the day, then Cambridge primary into IGCSE. The BiBac dual pathway lands at sixth form (PAU average 7.91 in 2025); the bilingual habit starts in primary. Fees sit at the more accessible end of the top tier.

Strong mid-tier

Larger, more bilingual, less consistent on published outcomes, still credible primary choices.

Hastings School. Central Madrid, three campuses. EYFS from age 2 then ENC through KS1 and KS2 across Aravaca and Mirasierra. English-medium with Spanish daily. Fees EUR 7,700 to 20,750. The central location is the draw for families avoiding the Pozuelo or La Moraleja commute.

Kensington School. Pozuelo, ages 18 months to 18. CIS accredited. Cambridge primary bilingual, IGCSE then IB at sixth form. IB Diploma 34 and PAU 8.22 out of 10 in 2025.

The English Montessori School (TEMS). Central Madrid, founded 1973. Montessori through KS1, English National Curriculum from KS2. AMI-aligned classrooms then Cambridge primary into IGCSE. *58% A/A at A-Level in 2024.**

Thames British School Madrid. Majadahonda, CIS accredited. Cambridge primary in English with Spanish daily. Smaller, newer, accessible fees (EUR 5,950 to 14,480).

Brighton College Madrid. New campus, BSO and CIS accredited. ENC from Reception, English-medium with Spanish daily. Primary cohorts are still building.

Best for British (ENC) primary

If the choice is English National Curriculum primary specifically, four schools sit ahead on accreditation and continuity.

Runnymede and King's run English-medium ENC with the most recognisable UK-style progression. ICS Madrid runs the same model at the premium end. TBS Madrid runs a dual British-Spanish primary; pupils leave Year 6 bilingual rather than English-dominant.

Best for American Elementary

American School of Madrid

Pozuelo de Alarcón, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1961. Around 1,000 pupils. Fees EUR 11,593 to 23,878. MSA-CESS accredited.

Pre-K at age 3, Kindergarten at age 5, then US elementary leading to AP and IB at high school. Play-informed in early years, structured-academic from Kindergarten. Spanish daily, English-medium primary. IB Diploma top-30% average 37.9 in 2024. The reference choice for US-bound families.

Aquinas American School in Pozuelo is the smaller American alternative, MSA-CESS accredited, with American elementary leading to IB Diploma.

Best for Spanish-British bilingual

A third route runs through primary in dual settings, where Spanish is medium rather than subject and pupils sit both pathways from age 5 or 6.

• Highlands El Encinar. La Moraleja, CIS accredited. Cambridge primary alongside Spanish educación primaria. EvAU 13.975 out of 14 in 2023.
• British Montessori. Moncloa-Aravaca, founded 1973. AMI Montessori from age 1, Cambridge primary into IGCSE and A-Level. Sister school to TEMS.
• Colegio Base. Madrid, founded 1962. Spanish bachillerato and IB at sixth form. 100% pass rates in Cambridge English C2, DELF French, and Goethe German.
• Internacional Aravaca. WASC accredited. IB PYP, MYP and DP within a Spanish-medium school.

At a glance

NABSS authorisation is the regulatory floor for British-curriculum schools in Spain. American, IB-only and Spanish-medium schools sit outside the NABSS frame.

The age labels and frameworks

Educación primaria is the Spanish 6-to-12 stage across six grades, regulated by the Ministry of Education and implemented regionally by the Comunidad de Madrid.

English National Curriculum runs Key Stage 1 (ages 5 to 7) and Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 11). Internationally it is operationalised by Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel, which examine Cambridge Primary Checkpoint at the end of Year 6. Reception sits below Year 1 as the final EYFS year.

IB Primary Years Programme runs from age 3 to 12 across six transdisciplinary themes. Inquiry-led, no external exams; culminates in the PYP Exhibition.

American Elementary runs Kindergarten through Grade 5 with Pre-K below it. Largely homeroom-based with specialist teaching for music, art, PE and language.

Homologación is the route that lets pupils move between systems. The Ministry converts a foreign-curriculum record into the Spanish equivalent. Dual schools (TBS Madrid, Highlands, Kensington, British Montessori) build homologación into the curriculum.

How to choose between them

English-medium or bilingual? Five-year postings lean to Runnymede, ICS Madrid, ICS or ASM, where primary runs in English with Spanish as a subject. Long-term or Spanish-national families lean to TBS Madrid, Highlands, Kensington, TEMS or British Montessori, where Spanish is a teaching medium from Year 1.

Curriculum family. ENC at the British anchors. IB PYP at ICS Madrid and Internacional Aravaca. American Elementary at ASM and Aquinas. Montessori carried into primary at TEMS, British Montessori and City Country School.

Through-school continuity. Most Madrid primaries continue to age 16 or 18 on the same campus. King's College stops at 16; sixth form runs at the sister Soto site.

Location. La Moraleja holds King's, Runnymede, ICS, Highlands. Pozuelo holds TBS Madrid, ASM, Aquinas, Kensington. Aravaca holds British Montessori. Chamartín holds ISM. Central holds Hastings and TEMS. 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 by sixth form. Most established primary fees sit between EUR 7,000 and EUR 14,000. TBS Madrid, TEMS and Colegio Base sit at the more accessible end. Larger jumps come at Year 7 and at sixth form.

Related reading

• Best international schools in Madrid
• Best British schools in Madrid
• Best early years schools in Madrid
• English National Curriculum and Key Stages

FAQs

When does primary start at international schools in Madrid?

Year 1 starts at age 5 at British schools. Kindergarten starts at age 5 at American schools, with Pre-K from age 3. IB PYP runs continuously from age 3. Spanish educación primaria starts at age 6.

Is primary in Madrid English-medium or bilingual?

Both. Runnymede, ICS Madrid and the American School of Madrid run English-medium primary with Spanish as a subject. TBS Madrid, Highlands, Kensington, TEMS, British Montessori and Hastings run dual or bilingual primary with Spanish across the day.

Which Madrid primary has the strongest senior-school continuation?

Runnymede College and ICS Madrid lead on A-Level outcomes. King's College leads on IGCSE at age 16 (52% A and 73% A-A in 2025). International College Spain leads on IB Diploma. American School of Madrid leads on the elementary-to-AP pipeline.

How early should families apply for primary?

A year in advance for the top tier. King's College, Runnymede, ICS Madrid and TBS Madrid run waiting lists at popular entry years, especially Year 1 and Year 3.

Can a child move between an international primary and the Spanish state system?

Yes, through homologación. The Ministry converts a foreign-curriculum primary record into the Spanish educación primaria equivalent, and vice versa.

Sources: school websites and 2024 to 2025 results disclosures for International School of Madrid, Runnymede College, The British School of Madrid, King's College Madrid, Hastings School, Kensington School, The English Montessori School, Highlands School El Encinar, Thames British School Madrid, International College Spain, American School of Madrid, Aquinas American School, British Montessori, Colegio Base, Internacional Aravaca, 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 educación primaria and homologación guidance.