Thames British School, Madrid
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$7K - US$16K
Curriculum: British · IB
Age Range: 1-18
Students: ~330
Location: Majadahonda, Madrid
Updated April 2026
In Brief
Thames is worth considering if you are based west of Madrid in Majadahonda or Las Rozas and want a smaller, family-run British school that covers the full age range from toddlers to sixth form. It is not the obvious choice for families elsewhere in the city, and the IB Diploma is newly authorised - ask specifically about cohort size and university guidance before enrolling at Year 12.
Thames British School sits in Majadahonda, a residential town about 20 kilometres west of central Madrid that draws a mix of Spanish families and international residents working in the city. With around 330 students from age 1 to 18, it is one of the smaller British schools in the Madrid area - deliberately so. The school follows the UK National Curriculum through IGCSE, and in 2023 gained IB Diploma Programme authorisation from Cambridge Assessment International Education, adding a sixth-form pathway for the first time. Class sizes in the junior school have private bathrooms in early years classrooms, which parents of younger children tend to notice and appreciate.
The school's size is its character. At 6,200 sqm with a football field and play areas, it does not try to compete on scale with the La Moraleja schools. The parent community is consistently described as close-knit - across iSchoolAdvisor ratings, which average 5.0 from five reviews, the tone is of a school where families know each other and teachers know children individually. For families relocating mid-year, that warmth matters practically: new arrivals are absorbed into a community rather than a cohort.
The key limitation to price in clearly: the IB Diploma is newly authorised as of 2023, which means the programme is still building its track record. University destination data for IB graduates from Thames does not yet exist in meaningful volume. If sixth-form outcomes and IB results are a priority, ask the school directly about projected cohort size for Years 12-13 and the university guidance process. Families further east in central Madrid will also find the Majadahonda location adds meaningful commute time - the school bus network is the thing to check first.
What parents value
- –Small school of around 330 students - teachers know families by name across year groups, and the iSchoolAdvisor community ratings (5.0 from five reviews) consistently reflect a warm, personal atmosphere.
- –Full age range from 1 to 18 on a single campus in Majadahonda. Cambridge Assessment International Education accreditation plus IB Diploma authorisation from 2023 gives the school a clear progression from Early Years to university.
- –Fees from EUR 5,950 (half-day Early Years) to EUR 14,480 (IBDP sixth form) - meaningfully lower than comparable British schools in La Moraleja at every stage, without the group-school overhead.
Points of consideration
- –The IB Diploma was authorised in 2023, so Year 12-13 cohorts are still small and the programme's university placement track record is limited. If IB results and Oxbridge or Russell Group access matter to your family, ask the school about cohort numbers and what the sixth-form university counselling process looks like in practice.
- –Majadahonda is a western suburb. Families living in central Madrid, Salamanca or east of the city should check the school bus routes carefully - the daily commute from those areas is considerable.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Early Years Pre-Nursery - Half-day (ages 1-3) | 1 | 6,869 |
| Early Years Pre-Nursery - Full-day (ages 1-3) | 1 | 10,113 |
| Early Years Nursery-Reception (ages 3-5) | 3 | 11,141 |
| Key Stage 1 Years 1-2 (ages 5-7) | 5 | 12,006 |
| Key Stage 2 Years 3-6 (ages 7-11) | 7 | 12,930 |
| Key Stage 3 Year 7 (age 11-12) | 11 | 13,738 |
| Key Stage 3 Years 8-9 (ages 12-14) | 12 | 14,835 |
| Key Stage 4 Years 10-11 (ages 14-16) | 14 | 15,343 |
| Key Stage 5 / IBDP Years 12-13 (ages 16-18) | 16 | 16,717 |
Fees converted from EUR. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Enrolment Fee (Nursery/Reception) | 577 |
| Enrolment Fee (KS1-KS5) | 1,443 |
| Deposit (refundable) | 1,443 |
| Re-enrolment Fee (annual) | 577 |
Academic Results
Academic results have not been made publicly available by this school.
Extra Curriculars
Contact the school for details on co-curricular activities, sports programmes and facilities. Ask what a normal week looks like outside lessons for your child's age group.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
No published inspection details are currently available.
Accreditations
Accreditation details are not publicly listed.
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
Madrid's international schools draw families from across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. Most of the schools in La Moraleja and Pozuelo serve a mix of corporate-package families and long-term Madrid residents.
Leadership
School leadership
Contact the school for current leadership details.