British Council School Madrid is a bilingual day school in Pozuelo de Alarcon that teaches children from age 1 to 18 in both English and Spanish. Opened in 1940 as the first British school in the country, it remains one of the most recognised names on the Madrid international schools map, with roughly 1,800 pupils on roll from nursery to the final year of the sixth form. Tuition sits in the mid band for the city.
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At a glance
Curriculum and academics
The school runs the English National Curriculum alongside Spanish language, literature and social science, so pupils grow up genuinely bilingual rather than following a British programme with Spanish added on top. Lessons in the early and primary years build literacy in both languages at once, and by secondary the academic load is carried across the two systems.
At 16 every pupil sits IGCSE Cambridge and Edexcel International GCSE examinations, the standard exit qualifications for the British secondary phase. In the final two years students take the school's Bilingual Baccalaureate, known as BiBac, which combines the British academic route with the Spanish Bachillerato and opens doors to universities in the United Kingdom, Spain and further afield. Families can see how the stages fit together in our profiles of the British Council School primary and British Council School secondary sections.
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British Council School Madrid fees
British Council School Madrid sits in the mid band on our Madrid international school fees guide. Published yearly tuition runs from roughly EUR 7,485 in the early years to about EUR 14,070 in the senior phase for the 2025 to 2026 year, climbing steadily as a child moves up the school. That keeps it below the city's premium international schools while still delivering a full British and Spanish pathway. Treat these as published figures that change each academic year and confirm the current schedule with the school.
Tuition is only part of the budget. Expect a registration or enrolment charge, costs for books, uniform and lunches, and separate entry fees for IGCSE and International GCSE examinations. School transport and trips add to the annual total. Put the school side by side with other options using our compare tool rather than judging on the headline tuition alone.
Admissions
The school takes applications year round for a September start, with most places confirmed in the spring beforehand. The early years are a main entry point and fill first, so families aiming for a nursery or reception place are advised to apply well ahead. Older applicants are usually asked for recent school reports and assessed for the language level a bilingual setting requires.
Mid year entry is considered subject to space, which suits families relocating to Madrid outside the standard cycle. Anyone moving during the school year should contact admissions directly to check availability in the relevant year group.
Location and who goes there
The campus sits in Pozuelo de Alarcon, west of central Madrid, on a site of more than 26,000 square metres with dedicated sections for early years, primary and secondary. Pozuelo and the western corridor are among the most established residential areas in the region, popular with both Spanish professional families and the international community, which keeps the commute manageable for many of the families the school serves.
The community is strongly bilingual, mixing Spanish families who want a British education with British and other international families who value recognition in both systems. For the wider picture of where families settle and the other bilingual and British options nearby, see the Madrid city hub.
Reviews
We do not yet have verified parent reviews for this school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish reviews only once we can confirm they come from real families. If your child attends or has attended this school, we would value your first hand account. Share your experience through the school reviews hub and help the next relocating family decide with better information.
Frequently asked questions
How much are British Council School Madrid fees?
Published yearly tuition runs from roughly EUR 7,485 in the early years to about EUR 14,070 in the senior phase for the 2025 to 2026 year, placing the school in the mid band for Madrid. Registration and extras apply on top. Confirm the current schedule with the school as fees change yearly.
Is British Council School Madrid a good school?
British Council School Madrid is the pioneer of British education in Spain, founded in 1940, inspected by both British and Spanish inspectors and recognised as a British school to Year 11 and a Spanish school for Bachillerato. Whether it is the right fit depends on your child's stage, your budget and your preference for a bilingual pathway. We do not publish a rating without verified reviews.
What curriculum does British Council School Madrid follow?
The school follows the English National Curriculum alongside the Spanish curriculum, with students sitting IGCSE Cambridge and Edexcel International GCSE examinations at 16 and then the Bilingual Baccalaureate in the final two years.
When do British Council School Madrid applications open?
The school accepts applications year round for a September start, with most places confirmed in the spring beforehand and the early years among the first to fill. Early application is advised, and mid year entry is reviewed subject to space.
Where is British Council School Madrid located?
The campus is in Pozuelo de Alarcon, west of central Madrid, on a site of more than 26,000 square metres with separate sections for early years, primary and secondary.
