Kensington School, Barcelona

In Brief

Kensington suits families who want a small, genuinely British school in Pedralbes with A-Levels rather than the IB. The intimate size is its real strength - if your child needs to be known as an individual, the 260-student roll makes that far more likely than at a larger school.

With around 260 students from 50 nationalities, Kensington is one of the smallest international schools in Barcelona - and the only one in the city running exclusively British curriculum through to A-Levels without an IB option. Founded in 1966, now part of Inspired Education Group; current head Duncan Giles (BISA president) is the son of the founder and has led the school since 2021. GCSE results 2025: 65% grades 9-7. A-Level results 2025: 61% A*/A, 86% A*-B.

The Pedralbes campus is a converted building in a quiet residential neighbourhood - there is a certain formality to the place that several reviewers note as distinctive. Class sizes are small, pastoral care is a consistent strength in parent feedback, and the Good Schools Guide describes a school with a 'cosy family feel' and 'nurturing teachers'. University destinations in 2025 included Durham, Warwick, KCL, UCL, and universities in Amsterdam, Berlin, Dublin, and Barcelona.

The school has faced some criticism in parent reviews: limited facilities relative to the fees charged, and reports of teacher turnover that one reviewer in 2025 described as higher than expected. Fees have risen 5-10% per year in recent years according to one ISD reviewer. The one-time entry registration fee (EUR 4,647 junior / EUR 6,171 senior) is substantial. Families considering Kensington should visit and ask directly about current staff retention and the planned improvements to facilities.