How many British schools in Madrid
Madrid is currently home to roughly 38 British curriculum schools accredited by NABSS, the National Association of British Schools in Spain. That makes it the largest British school cluster outside the UK after Dubai, ahead of Hong Kong, Singapore and Doha. About 22 of those 38 schools run a complete pathway from EYFS through to A Level. The rest stop at Year 11 with IGCSE and transition their students to other Madrid sixth forms, mainly to King's College, British Council School, Runnymede or St George's.
NABSS accreditation matters. It mirrors the UK Independent Schools Inspectorate framework and is the gold standard for British schools in Spain. Schools that hold NABSS accreditation are inspected on a six year cycle and follow the English National Curriculum end to end, including the EYFS, Key Stages 1 to 4 and the IGCSE plus A Level pipeline. A small number of schools in Madrid market themselves as British without holding NABSS accreditation; these are worth examining closely before committing.
The cluster is mature. Most established British schools in Madrid have been operating for at least three decades, with Runnymede College, King's College and St George's all founded between the 1960s and 1980s. Newer entrants from the 2010s and 2020s are concentrated in the western suburbs around Pozuelo, Boadilla and Las Rozas, responding to family demand from professionals relocating from the UK and northern Europe.
Fees and the NABSS tiers
Madrid British school fees split into three tiers. The value tier, from about EUR 7,600 to EUR 11,000 a year, covers smaller English-medium schools in the north and east of Madrid, often serving local Spanish families looking for English instruction rather than expat children. The mid tier, EUR 11,000 to EUR 16,000, captures most established NABSS schools across the city. The premium tier, EUR 16,000 to EUR 22,500 a year, includes Runnymede, King's College Soto de Vinuelas, St George's and the senior years at British Council School Madrid. Our Madrid fees guide walks through the loading items that turn EUR 14,000 in headline tuition into roughly EUR 18,000 once lunch, transport, trips and the annual matricula are paid.
Two cost traps catch newcomers. First, all private schools in Madrid charge an admissions matricula of EUR 500 to EUR 3,000 on enrolment, typically non-refundable, and reset annually at some schools as an enrolment levy. Second, the comedor (lunch) and after-school programme are billed separately and add EUR 1,500 to EUR 2,800 a year. Negotiate the matricula before signing, particularly for sibling enrolments where most schools offer a 10 to 15 percent sibling discount.
Shortlist three Madrid British schools
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three British schools based on your child's year group, your budget, your home area and your preferred level of Spanish exposure.
Illustrative example schools
The five schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each is NABSS accredited, has at least two decades of operating history in Madrid, and posts consistent A Level and IGCSE results.
King's College Madrid Soto de Vinuelas is the flagship of the King's Group in Spain, with one of the strongest A Level cohorts in Madrid and a deep British primary feeder programme.
British Council School Madrid in Pozuelo is the only school in Spain owned by the British Council itself, with a long tradition of academic excellence and dual A Level and IB sixth form.
St George's British International School Madrid in Tres Cantos is the Spanish branch of the St George's group, with strong results and a growing Year 7 to Year 13 cohort drawn from the northern suburbs.
Hastings School Madrid in Chamartin is the most central British school option, popular with central Madrid families who want urban living without commuting to La Moraleja or Pozuelo.
Where British families live
British families in Madrid cluster around four areas, each shaped by the British school estate. La Moraleja and the Alcobendas urbanisations to the north for villa living near Runnymede, King's College Soto and ICS. Pozuelo de Alarcon and Aravaca in the west for the British Council School, Mirabal and the international cluster on the M-503. Tres Cantos for newer family suburbs around St George's. Chamartin and Salamanca for families wanting central Madrid living within easy reach of Hastings and the smaller central British schools.
British relocators tend to prefer the western and northern suburbs because of the villa stock and the proximity to the major British schools. Our Madrid international schools guide covers the broader landscape including American and Spanish bilingual options for families weighing alternatives.
Admissions calendar
Most Madrid British schools open admissions for the September 2026 intake between October and December 2025. Tier 1 schools close their main intake for Year 7 by late February, with Year 12 places closing slightly later in March as students complete IGCSEs at their previous schools. Late applicants go onto a waiting list, with offers issued from April through July as withdrawals come through. Mid-year transfers are accepted on a rolling basis subject to space, with the most common windows in January and after the spring break.
Year 1 and Reception intake at the premium schools is heavily oversubscribed because the cohort feeds through to Year 13. If you are committing to a specific Tier 1 British school, apply 12 to 18 months before your desired Reception start. For wider planning, our cost calculator models school fees against typical housing costs in each major catchment.
Frequently asked questions
How many British schools are there in Madrid?
Madrid hosts roughly 38 British curriculum schools accredited by NABSS, the National Association of British Schools in Spain. This is the largest British school cluster outside the UK after Dubai. About 22 of the 38 run a complete pathway from Nursery through to A Level.
Do Madrid British schools follow the English National Curriculum?
Yes. NABSS-accredited British schools in Madrid follow the English National Curriculum from EYFS through Year 13, culminating in IGCSE at Year 11 and A Levels at Year 13. Most also offer the Spanish Bachillerato alongside A Level for students aiming at Spanish universities.
How much do British schools in Madrid cost?
Tuition at British schools in Madrid ranges from about EUR 7,600 a year at value-tier providers to EUR 22,500 a year at premium flagships such as King's College Madrid, Runnymede and Hastings. The median Year 7 tuition in 2026 sits near EUR 13,400 before lunch and transport.
What is the GCSE and A Level performance in Madrid?
Top British schools in Madrid, including Runnymede, King's College and St George's, consistently post A and A* grade percentages above 70 percent at A Level, well above the UK independent school average. GCSE 9 to 7 grades exceed 60 percent at most established NABSS schools.
Can my child move from a UK school to a Madrid British school?
Yes. Because British schools in Madrid follow the same English National Curriculum and IGCSE and A Level syllabuses as UK independent schools, the transition is straightforward. The most common transfer points are Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12. Mid-year moves are accepted subject to space.
