International College Spain Secondary is where the ICS route reaches its qualifications. It covers the lower secondary years and the sixth form at one of the longest established IB schools on the Madrid international schools map, teaching the IB Middle Years Programme and then the IB Diploma in English in La Moraleja, north of the city. For families of teenagers, the appeal is a recognised international qualification taught in English that travels to universities in Spain, the UK and beyond. Tuition at this stage sits in the premium band for the city and climbs into the Diploma years.
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At a glance
The MYP and IB Diploma
Secondary at ICS runs the upper two stages of the IB continuum. The Middle Years Programme covers the lower secondary years and keeps the broad, connected style of learning that the school begins in primary, asking students to apply knowledge across subjects rather than study them in isolation. In the final two years the school teaches the IB Diploma, where students take six subjects across a balanced spread along with the theory of knowledge course, the extended essay and the creativity, activity and service strand.
The Diploma is the qualification most families are weighing when they look at the secondary. It is graded out of 45 points and is recognised for entry by universities in Spain, the UK and across the world, which suits a community that often moves on to higher education in a different country from the one it is living in. Teaching is in English throughout, with Spanish available as an additional language and support for students who arrive without strong English.
Weighing ICS against other Madrid schools?
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ICS Secondary fees
On our Madrid international school fees guide, ICS secondary sits in the premium band, and the IB Diploma years are the most expensive point in the school. Tuition rises year by year through secondary, so the sixth form costs more than the lower secondary years. The school publishes a current schedule each academic year, and these figures change, so treat any number you find online as a guide and confirm the live schedule with admissions.
Secondary budgeting has line items beyond tuition. Plan for a registration charge and a deposit, lunches, the school bus across the northern suburbs, examination fees in the Diploma years and the cost of trips and activities. Because the Diploma years are the priciest, families arriving for the sixth form should budget for the top of the school rather than an average across the years.
Admissions
Secondary accepts applications year round for a September start. Entry into the sixth form for the IB Diploma is a defining intake, and applicants are usually asked about their previous school record and the subjects they want to take, since the Diploma requires a workable combination across the subject groups. Places in popular year groups can be limited, so early contact helps.
Mid year entry is reviewed subject to space, which matters for families relocating to northern Madrid outside the standard cycle. Availability varies by year group and by subject in the Diploma, so contact admissions directly to confirm the specific place you need.
Location and who goes there
The secondary shares the ICS campus in La Moraleja, an affluent residential area just north of central Madrid and a short drive from the centre. The neighbourhood has long drawn international and diplomatic households, and many secondary families live within the northern belt that the school buses serve. The setting gives teenagers space and facilities while keeping the city within reach.
The community is strongly international, drawn from more than 70 nationalities, so a Diploma cohort here is genuinely mixed and used to students arriving and leaving as postings change. For the wider view of where families settle and the other secondary options across the city, see the Madrid city hub.
Reviews
We do not yet have verified parent reviews for the ICS secondary. 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 the secondary, 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 International College Spain Secondary fees?
Secondary tuition sits in the premium band for Madrid and rises into the IB Diploma years, which are the most expensive at the school. The school publishes a year by year schedule, and registration, a deposit, lunches and transport sit on top, so confirm the current figures with admissions.
What does International College Spain Secondary teach?
Secondary teaches the IB Middle Years Programme through the lower secondary years and then the two year IB Diploma in the sixth form, all in English, so a student can finish a full IB route at age 18.
Is ICS Secondary good for students arriving without Spanish?
Yes. Teaching is in English, with Spanish offered as an additional language and support for new arrivals, so the secondary suits internationally mobile families whose teenager does not yet speak Spanish.
When do ICS Secondary applications open?
Applications run year round for a September start. Diploma entry into the sixth form is a key intake, and places in popular year groups can be limited, so families relocating mid year should contact admissions to check availability.
Does ICS Secondary lead to the IB Diploma?
Yes. The Middle Years Programme feeds directly into the IB Diploma in the final two years, which universities in Spain, the UK and worldwide recognise for entry.
