On this page
For the full picture of senior provision, start with our international schools in Barcelona directory, which lists every school by curriculum and stage. The schools below all run an examined Grades 11 to 12 programme, or its IB equivalent, that leads directly to university entry, and they admit by application rather than by catchment. This is a shortlist to research, not a ranking, and provision changes, so confirm current pathways with each school.
Barcelona is one of the few cities where you can choose between the IB Diploma and A-levels at sixth form without leaving the city, so the first decision is which qualification suits your child. If you are weighing the A-level route, read our guide to A-levels and confirm the pathway directly with the school. Families focused on outcomes should also read our shortlist of the best schools for university preparation in Barcelona.
The shortlist
The British School of Barcelona
BSB is one of the few schools in the city to offer both A-levels and the IB Diploma in the sixth form, which makes it a natural first stop for families who have not yet settled on a qualification. It is an authorised IB World School and follows the British curriculum lower down, and its newer city campus reported a strong first IB cohort. Read the British School of Barcelona profile for campuses, stages and admissions.
Benjamin Franklin International School
Benjamin Franklin International School runs the IB Diploma alongside an American high school diploma and the Spanish bachillerato, so sixth formers can graduate with a recognised qualification suited to universities in the US, Spain or further afield. As a non-profit IB World School with around 50 nationalities, it suits families who want an American framework with the IB Diploma on top. See the Benjamin Franklin International School profile.
St Peter's School Barcelona
St Peter's is an IB Continuum school delivering the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes in English, so students reaching the sixth form have followed an unbroken IB pathway rather than switching frameworks at 16. Families who value continuity into the IB Diploma will find that here. See the St Peter's School profile for stages and admissions.
St. George School Barcelona
St. George School is an IB World School where sixth formers follow the IB Diploma Programme after the British curriculum and IGCSE lower down, combining Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel IGCSE routes with the Diploma at 16 to 18. It suits families who want a British school structure leading into the IB Diploma. Confirm the current subject list directly with the school.
The Learn Academy
If A-levels are the priority, The Learn Academy is a dedicated sixth form college in central Barcelona delivering the British Pearson Edexcel A-level curriculum in English for ages 16 to 19. It is a focused option for students who already know they want the A-level route rather than the IB Diploma. Confirm current subjects and entry requirements directly with the college.
How we chose
We included only Barcelona schools we could confirm run a genuine, externally examined sixth form leading to university entry, whether the IB Diploma or A-levels, and that enrol students through to the end of the senior years. We did not rank them, score them or attach ratings, because the right sixth form depends on your child's subjects, the qualification universities in your target country prefer, and the fit of the school. What sets Barcelona apart from most international cities is genuine choice between the two English language routes, so the first question is the qualification, not the building. Verify current subject lists and pathways directly, as schools add and retire options year to year.
Shortlist Barcelona schools for your child
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and priorities and the school finder returns a matched Barcelona shortlist.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
Sixth form fees in Barcelona sit at the upper end of each school's fee schedule, and the senior years are typically the most expensive. Rather than quote figures that move each year, we keep the live bands in one place: see our guide to international school fees in Barcelona for current tuition by school and stage, and confirm the exact sixth form figure, plus any examination and deposit costs, with the school before you apply.
To build a shortlist around your child, use the school finder, browse the full Barcelona schools directory, or compare the related shortlists for university preparation and special educational needs in Barcelona.
Common questions
The British School of Barcelona, Benjamin Franklin International School, St Peter's School and St. George School all run the IB Diploma Programme for ages 16 to 18. The British School of Barcelona also offers A-levels alongside the IB Diploma, so families can choose between the two examined routes. Confirm the current subject list with each school, as offerings change year to year.
Yes. The British School of Barcelona offers Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel A-levels alongside the IB Diploma, and The Learn Academy is a dedicated A-level sixth form college in central Barcelona delivering the Pearson Edexcel A-level curriculum in English for ages 16 to 19. See our A-levels curriculum guide for how the qualification is examined and assessed.
Sixth form sits at the top of each school's fee scale and is usually the most expensive stage. Figures change annually, so we maintain current tuition by school and stage in our international school fees in Barcelona guide rather than quote a number that dates quickly.
No. Barcelona international schools admit by application, assessment and interview rather than by residential catchment, so where you live does not guarantee a place. Apply directly to each school and check its entry requirements for the sixth form.
Yes. The IB Diploma is recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Education for university access and is widely accepted by universities abroad, and Barcelona's established IB schools report graduates progressing to universities in Spain, the UK, the US and across Europe. Read our shortlist for university preparation in Barcelona alongside this page.