Notes / Madrid
Top 10 International Schools in Madrid
Ranked, with reasons. The ten English-medium and bilingual schools families relocating to Madrid should look at first.
The brief
- King's College and ICS Madrid sit at the top of the academically credentialled tier. Both published IB Diploma averages above 35 in 2025, five points clear of the global mean of 30.5.
- Runnymede College runs the strongest pure A-Level track: *57% A/A in 2025** and the longest Oxbridge record in Spain.
- NABSS authorisation is the regulatory floor for any British-curriculum school in Spain. BSO from the UK Department for Education is the harder signal; King's, Runnymede, The British School of Madrid and Brighton College hold it.
- La Moraleja and Pozuelo de Alarcón hold most of the supply. Six of the ten schools sit in one of those two northern corridors.
- Top-year fees run roughly EUR 14,000 to 26,000 at the English-medium tier; the dual British-Spanish and German schools sit lower.
Madrid has one of the deepest international school markets in continental Europe. The British School of Madrid opened in 1940, Deutsche Schule Madrid traces back to 1896, Runnymede arrived in 1967.
Every foreign-curriculum school 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 and inspects on the Ministry's behalf. BSO, CIS, NEASC and MSA-CESS are the voluntary inspection layers on top.
The ranking
1. King's College, The British School of Madrid
La Moraleja, ages 1 to 16 (sister site continues to 18). Founded 1969. Around 650 pupils. Fees EUR 8,115 to 16,110. BSO and CIS accredited. Operator: Inspired Education.
The most academically credentialled of the broadly accessible British schools in Madrid. IB Diploma average 35.5 in 2025, five points above the global mean. *52% A and 73% A-A at IGCSE in 2025.* English National Curriculum from Early Years, with the sister site carrying pupils through to A-Level and IB at sixth form.
Holding both BSO and CIS is unusual in Spain. The single strongest external-inspection combination available.
2. International College Spain (ICS Madrid)
La Moraleja, ages 3 to 18. Founded 2000. Around 1,200 pupils. Fees EUR 12,186 to 25,635. CIS, NEASC and Cognia accredited. Operator: Nord Anglia Education.
The reference IB school in Madrid. Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) from age 3, English-medium with Spanish daily. IB Diploma 35.2 in 2025. 70-plus nationalities, teacher-to-student ratio around 1:9. The natural choice for families already in the IB system. A €1,000 application fee and €3,000 enrolment fee apply from Grade 1.
3. 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 sixth form British academics in Madrid name when asked which school 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. Structured by Madrid standards, oriented from primary toward the A-Level destination.
Sibling priority is heavy. Waiting lists run at Reception, Year 7 and Year 12.
4. American School of Madrid (ASM)
Pozuelo de Alarcón, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1961. Around 1,000 pupils. Fees EUR 11,593 to 23,878. MSA-CESS accredited.
The established American school in Madrid. US elementary from Kindergarten leading to Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma at high school. IB Diploma top-30% average 37.9 in 2024. Historically the home of the US corporate and embassy population. A one-off Capital Fee of EUR 6,000 (private) or EUR 8,100 (corporate) applies on entry.
5. Deutsche Schule Madrid
Northern Madrid, ages 3 to 18. Founded 1896. Around 1,000 pupils. Fees EUR 5,050 to 7,990. CIS accredited.
The oldest international school in the city. German curriculum leading to the Abitur, with IB Diploma 38 points in 2024 on the international track and *52% A/A at A-Level in 2024. Primarily for German-speaking families or families committed to a long-term Spanish-German educational path. Fees roughly a third of the English-medium top tier** for comparable results.
6. 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; pupils sit the PAU/EvAU alongside Cambridge and Edexcel. *PAU average 7.91 in 2025; IGCSE A-A 55%.** Fees sit at the more accessible end of the British tier. No institutional link to the British Council despite the historical name.
The strongest fit for families staying in Spain long-term.
7. Hastings School
Central Madrid, three campuses, ages 2 to 18. Founded 1971. Around 1,375 pupils. Fees EUR 7,700 to 20,750.
English National Curriculum to GCSE then a choice of A-Levels or the IB Diploma. *IB Diploma 35 points in 2024; 47% A/A at A-Level. Three campuses across central Madrid (the senior school in Mirasierra) keep the commute short for families living in the city rather than the northern suburbs. The central location is the draw.**
8. Aquinas American School
Pozuelo de Alarcón, ages 3 to 18. Founded 2012. Around 1,200 pupils. Fees EUR 8,200 to 15,000. MSA-CESS accredited.
The smaller American alternative to ASM. American Elementary leading to the IB Diploma at high school. IB Diploma 31.52 in 2025, above the global mean of 30.5. Younger than ASM, with a mixed rather than embassy-anchored community. A serious option when ASM has no availability, or at a lower fee.
9. Brighton College Madrid
Northern Madrid, ages 3 to 18. Founded 2027. Fees not yet published. BSO and CIS accredited at launch.
The newest entrant to Madrid's English-medium British market and the most credentialled new opening in years. Holding both BSO and CIS at launch is rare for a school still building cohorts. The UK founding school records *50% A at IGCSE and 50% A at A-Level* in recent cycles; the Madrid campus is translating that academic culture as year groups roll out.
A choice for families willing to enter during build-out in exchange for the Brighton academic culture.
10. Thames British School Madrid (TBS Madrid)
Majadahonda, ages 1 to 18. Founded 2015. Around 330 pupils. Fees EUR 5,950 to 14,480. CIS accredited.
The accessible British-curriculum option in the western corridor. Cambridge primary in English with Spanish daily, IGCSE at Year 11, then A-Levels or IB Diploma at sixth form. CIS accreditation is the floor signal that governance and safeguarding meet international standards. Majadahonda is further west than Pozuelo, more suburban, with good A-6 access. Fit for families with budgets below the EUR 15,000 to 20,000 top-year band of the established English-medium schools.
At a glance
| School | Area | Ages | Fees (EUR) | NABSS | BSO | CIS | Curriculum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's College Madrid | La Moraleja | 1 to 16 | 8,115 to 16,110 | yes | yes | yes | British, IGCSE |
| International College Spain | La Moraleja | 3 to 18 | 12,186 to 25,635 | yes | yes | IB PYP, MYP, DP | |
| Runnymede College | La Moraleja | 3 to 18 | 9,300 to 23,700 | yes | yes | yes | British, IGCSE, A-Level |
| American School of Madrid | Pozuelo | 3 to 18 | 11,593 to 23,878 | n/a | American + IB DP | ||
| Deutsche Schule Madrid | Northern Madrid | 3 to 18 | 5,050 to 7,990 | n/a | yes | German, Abitur, IB DP | |
| The British School of Madrid | Pozuelo | 2 to 18 | 5,100 to 14,070 | yes | yes | British + Spanish BiBac | |
| Hastings School | Central | 2 to 18 | 7,700 to 20,750 | yes | British + IB DP | ||
| Aquinas American School | Pozuelo | 3 to 18 | 8,200 to 15,000 | n/a | American + IB DP | ||
| Brighton College Madrid | Northern Madrid | 3 to 18 | not published | yes | yes | yes | British, IGCSE, A-Level |
| Thames British School | Majadahonda | 1 to 18 | 5,950 to 14,480 | yes | yes | British + IB DP |
NABSS authorisation is required for any foreign-curriculum school operating in Spain. American, German and IB-only schools sit outside the NABSS frame. Verify current fees and accreditation with each school.
How this list was built
This is an editorial ranking. Placement weights four signals.
Accreditation. NABSS authorisation is the regulatory floor for British schools in Spain; equivalent licensing applies to the American and German tracks. BSO plus CIS carries the strongest external signal in the city.
Published exam outcomes. IB Diploma averages, IGCSE and A-Level A*/A percentages, PAU/EvAU averages from the most recent published cycle (2024 or 2025). Schools that decline to publish or rely on dated figures sit lower.
Depth of academic culture. Years of operation, sixth-form destination patterns, and the volume of pupils carried through each school's top entry points.
Reach in the city. La Moraleja and Pozuelo de Alarcón carry six of the ten; Hastings, Brighton and TBS Madrid widen the geography for families who do not want to commit to either northern corridor.
Fee level was noted but did not drive placement. The cheapest schools on the list (Deutsche Schule, The British School of Madrid) sit alongside the premium tier on the academic case alone.
How to use this list
The list answers one question: which Madrid international schools should a family relocating in the next twelve months tour first? Three filters narrow the choice.
Curriculum. English National Curriculum: King's, Runnymede, Hastings, Brighton, TBS Madrid. IB only: ICS Madrid. American: ASM or Aquinas. German: Deutsche Schule. Spanish-British dual track: The British School of Madrid runs the most established BiBac.
Location. La Moraleja holds King's, ICS Madrid and Runnymede. Pozuelo holds ASM, Aquinas and The British School of Madrid. Hastings is central, TBS Madrid is in Majadahonda. The Madrid metro and Cercanías keep most of these reachable; a daily school run from La Moraleja to Majadahonda is real.
Sixth form route. Pure A-Level at Runnymede. A-Level plus IB at Hastings, TBS Madrid or the King's sister site. IB Diploma only at ICS Madrid. AP plus IB at ASM and Aquinas. Abitur plus IB at Deutsche Schule.
Popular entry points (Reception, Year 7, sixth-form at 16) are oversubscribed at King's, ICS Madrid and Runnymede in most years. Four to six months ahead is the minimum lead time.
Related reading
- Best international schools in Madrid
- Best British schools in Madrid
- Best primary schools in Madrid
- What is BSO accreditation?
- What is CIS accreditation?
FAQs
Which Madrid international school has the best IB results?
King's College Madrid at 35.5 points and International College Spain at 35.2 points in 2025 sit at the front of the English-medium IB market. Deutsche Schule Madrid posted 38 points in 2024 on its international track, and the American School of Madrid reported a top-30% average of 37.9 in 2024. The global IB Diploma average in 2025 was 30.5.
Which Madrid school has the strongest A-Level results?
Runnymede College at *57% A/A in 2025. Deutsche Schule Madrid* at 52% A/A and Hastings School at 47% A*/A in 2024 are the next strongest cohorts on the list.
Are the bilingual Spanish-British schools as strong as the English-medium ones?
Different question, different answer. The British School of Madrid runs the most established dual British-Spanish curriculum (BiBac) in the city; the PAU average of 7.91 in 2025 is competitive. The dual-track path takes longer to specialise but lands pupils with both British and Spanish qualifications at 18. For families staying in Spain long-term it is the stronger institutional fit; for families likely to leave within five years, the English-medium schools transition more cleanly.
Why is Brighton College Madrid on the list when it only opened in 2027?
BSO plus CIS accreditation at launch is unusual and signals institutional seriousness. The Madrid campus is too new for a meaningful results record of its own, which is why it sits at ninth rather than higher.
What is the real cost once fees, levies and extras are included?
Top-year tuition is one line. Most schools also carry enrolment fees of EUR 1,000 to 3,500, capital levies on entry (ASM charges EUR 6,000 to 8,100), annual transport of EUR 2,000 to 3,000 where used, and separate charges for lunch, after-school activities and exam entries. Budget EUR 3,000 to 5,000 a year above headline tuition for an honest total at the established schools.
Sources: school websites and 2024 to 2025 results disclosures for King's College Madrid, International College Spain, Runnymede College, American School of Madrid, Deutsche Schule Madrid, The British School of Madrid, Hastings School, Aquinas American School, Brighton College Madrid, Thames British School Madrid. NABSS (nabss.org) for the Spanish authorisation framework. UK Department for Education BSO scheme guidance. Council of International Schools (cois.org) membership directory. IB Organization Annual Statistical Bulletin 2025 for the global Diploma average.