On this page
For the full picture of senior provision, start with our international schools in Madrid directory, which lists every school by curriculum and stage. The schools below all run an examined sixth form that leads to university and provide university guidance, and they admit by application rather than by catchment. This is a shortlist to research, not a ranking, and provision and destinations change year to year, so confirm the current detail with each school. If you are still weighing the qualification, our guide to the International Baccalaureate explains how the Diploma is examined and recognised, and the related best schools for sixth form in Madrid shortlist covers the post-16 pathways in more detail.
The shortlist
Runnymede College
Runnymede College, in La Moraleja, is an academically selective British school that teaches IGCSEs followed by A-levels, and it places a clear emphasis on university preparation. The school reports a long record of leavers progressing to selective universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain and the Netherlands, and publishes its exam results and destinations each year. For a family who wants a specialised A-level route with strong university counselling, it is a natural first call. Confirm current results and the subjects on offer with the school.
King's College, The British School of Madrid
King's College, on its Soto de Viñuelas campus, offers both A-levels and the IB Diploma in English, so students can choose the post-16 credential that best fits their university plans within one school. It provides sixth form university and careers guidance and runs the English National Curriculum through to Year 13. The choice of two examined pathways under one roof suits families who have not yet settled on a single subject direction. Verify the current pathways and guidance provision directly.
International College Spain
International College Spain, part of Nord Anglia Education and located in the La Moraleja area, runs the IB Diploma as the culmination of a full IB pathway and reports an average Diploma score above the global average, with a share of students reaching the highest score bands. Combined with its dedicated IB Diploma study facilities and university guidance, that makes it a strong fit for families committed to the IB route to university. Ask the school about its recent university destinations and counselling.
SEK International School Ciudalcampo
SEK International School Ciudalcampo, part of the SEK Education Group, runs the IB Diploma as the final stage of its IB continuum and draws students from more than forty nationalities, which gives the sixth form an international outlook that suits students aiming at universities across several countries. It offers university guidance alongside the academic programme. Confirm the current Diploma subjects, the guidance on offer and recent destinations with the school.
How we chose
We included only Madrid schools we could confirm run a genuine, externally examined sixth form leading to university, A-levels, the IB Diploma or both, and that support students through the application process. We did not rank them, score them or attach ratings, because the strongest preparation depends on your child's subjects, the universities and countries they are aiming at, and the fit of the school's guidance. University preparation is more than results: it includes how a school counsels students on choices, how it supports UK, US, Spanish and other European applications, and how well it knows the destinations your child is considering. Ask each school for its recent destinations and the structure of its guidance rather than relying on a general claim, and remember that these schools admit by application and assessment, so eligibility and timing matter alongside academic fit.
Shortlist Madrid schools for your child
Tell us your child's stage, curriculum and university goals and the school finder returns a matched Madrid shortlist.
Start the school finderFees and next steps
The schools with the strongest post-16 and university provision tend to sit in the upper fee tier, and the sixth form is the top of any school's fee scale, especially for an examined A-level or IB Diploma programme. Rather than quote figures that move each year, we keep the live bands in one place: see our guide to international school fees in Madrid for current tuition by school and curriculum, and confirm the exact post-16 figure, plus any examination and registration costs, with the school before you apply.
To build a shortlist around your child, use the school finder, browse the full Madrid schools directory, or compare the related shortlists for sixth form and boarding.
Common questions
Established international schools with strong post-16 pathways and dedicated university guidance are the ones to look at, including Runnymede College and King's College, The British School of Madrid on the British side, and International College Spain and SEK International School Ciudalcampo on the IB side. Each runs an examined route to university and supports applications, but the right fit depends on your child and their target countries.
Neither is universally better, and universities in the UK, the US, Spain and elsewhere accept both. A-levels let a student specialise in three or four subjects, which suits a clear single-subject direction, while the IB Diploma keeps six subjects plus the core, which suits breadth and a less fixed plan. The stronger preparation is the one that matches your child's strengths and destination.
The established schools provide university and careers guidance in the sixth form, including support for UK UCAS applications, US applications and Spanish and other European routes. The depth of that guidance varies, so ask each school how it counsels students, how it supports applications to your target countries, and what the recent destinations have been.
Leavers from the established Madrid international schools progress to universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, the Netherlands and beyond, with the mix differing by school. Some report a strong record of selective UK and US admissions. Ask each school for its recent destinations rather than relying on a general claim, so you can judge the fit for your child's plans.
The schools with the strongest post-16 and university provision tend to sit in the upper fee tier, and sixth form is the top of any school's fee scale. Rather than quote figures that move each year, we keep current bands in our international school fees in Madrid guide, and you should confirm the exact post-16 fee with each school.