The Olive Tree School
The Olive Tree School is a British international school in Sant Pere de Ribes, between Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltru and around 40 kilometres south of Barcelona. It teaches the English National Curriculum to children from age three to sixteen, leading to IGCSE, with small classes, a project based style and fees that sit in the lower to mid band for the area.
Families comparing international schools in Barcelona and the coastal towns south of the city often shortlist The Olive Tree School when they want an English language education in a smaller, calmer setting than the larger city internationals. This profile sets out what GlobalSchoolGuide Editorial has verified about the school: its curriculum, fee band, admissions rhythm and where it sits within the Garraf coast. We are independent and no school pays to be listed, so this is a reference for relocating parents rather than a prospectus.
At a glance
| Curriculum & exam boards | English National Curriculum, leading to IGCSE at the end of Year 11 |
|---|---|
| Stages | Nursery, Primary and lower Secondary (ages 3 to 16) |
| Founded | Reported to have opened more than fifteen years ago; exact year not published |
| Accreditation | Member of the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS) |
| Fee band | Lower to mid (Barcelona area) |
| Campus area | Sant Pere de Ribes, Garraf, near Sitges |
The Olive Tree School began as a small project near the Sitges seafront and has grown into a campus with gardens, a science laboratory, art studio, libraries, outdoor classrooms, vegetable plots and a large sports hall. For relocating families the appeal is the scale and the setting: classes are capped at twenty, which suits children who settle better in a personal environment, and the school sits in a residential pocket of the coast that is popular with the international community. For wider context on what comparable schools charge, see our guide to international school fees in Barcelona.
Curriculum and academics
The school follows the British curriculum, the English National Curriculum as set by the British government, but interprets it creatively rather than relying on textbooks. In the primary years and the lower secondary years the school uses project based learning, drawing materials from a wide range of sources and placing collaboration, thinking and creative problem solving at the centre of each day. Spanish and Catalan are taught alongside English so that pupils leave bilingual or trilingual. From age fourteen pupils follow the IGCSE course and sit their examinations at the end of Year 11, the standard British exit point at sixteen. The teaching draws on ideas associated with Montessori and Waldorf practice, which is unusual for a British curriculum school and is the main point of difference for families weighing it against the larger internationals nearer the city.
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The Olive Tree School fees
The Olive Tree School publishes its tuition, which is helpful for budgeting. Fees run from roughly 8,350 euros a year at nursery to about 12,440 euros at Key Stage 4, the Year 10 and Year 11 IGCSE stage. That places the school in the lower to mid band for the Barcelona area, below the premium internationals in the city itself. Tuition is billed across the school year and rises with each stage. To judge where the school sits against other options, read our overview of international school fees in Barcelona or model a budget with our school fee calculator.
- Registration: one off application and registration fee, normally not refundable
- Deposit: charged to confirm and hold a place
- Stage uplift: tuition increases from nursery through primary to the IGCSE years
- Extras: lunch, transport, uniform, trips and IGCSE examination entry billed in addition
Admissions
The school follows the September to June calendar and the main intake is in September, with applications accepted on a rolling basis subject to places. Because classes are capped at twenty, availability varies sharply by year group, and the most flexible entry points are nursery and the early primary years. The admissions team reviews previous school records, can arrange a visit and a meeting, and sets out any assessment of English readiness for older pupils joining mid system. Families relocating to the Sitges area during the school year should contact the school directly to ask about availability in the specific year group, as a single place can decide the move.
Location and who goes there
The Olive Tree School is in Sant Pere de Ribes, a town in the Garraf region between Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltru and around 40 kilometres south of Barcelona. This stretch of coast is quieter and greener than the city, with beaches, a relaxed pace and a long established international community drawn by Sitges itself. Many families choose this area precisely because it offers space and sea air within commuting distance of Barcelona by train along the coastal line, which makes a city job and a coastal home workable.
The community mixes expatriate families settled around Sitges with Spanish and Catalan families who want an English medium education and a British route through IGCSE. Because the school is small and takes children from age three, families tend to join early and stay, which gives the parent body a close feel. Families who expect to move on again value the English National Curriculum because it transfers cleanly into British and international schools in other countries. Those weighing alternatives nearer the centre often compare The Olive Tree School with the wider list of international schools in Barcelona in our directory before booking visits.
Reviews
No verified reviews yet. GlobalSchoolGuide collects first hand parent reviews so relocating families can judge schools on evidence rather than marketing. If your family has attended The Olive Tree School, you can add your experience through our school reviews page. We publish reviews unedited except for moderation.
Frequently asked questions
How much are The Olive Tree School fees?
The Olive Tree School publishes tuition that runs from roughly 8,350 euros a year at nursery to about 12,440 euros at Key Stage 4. That places it in the lower to mid band for the Barcelona area. Registration and extras such as lunch and transport are billed separately, so confirm the current schedule with the school.
Is The Olive Tree School a good school?
The Olive Tree School is a member of the National Association of British Schools in Spain and teaches the English National Curriculum to IGCSE. We do not publish ratings, so parents should visit, meet staff and review the most recent inspection evidence before deciding.
When do The Olive Tree School applications open?
The main intake is in September at the start of the school year, with applications accepted on a rolling basis subject to places. Classes are capped at twenty, so families relocating to the Sitges area should apply early for the year group they need.
What curriculum does The Olive Tree School follow?
The school follows the English National Curriculum, interpreted through a creative, project based approach, with Spanish and Catalan taught alongside. Pupils sit IGCSE examinations at the end of Year 11.
Where is The Olive Tree School located?
The school is in Sant Pere de Ribes, between Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltru in the Garraf region, around 40 kilometres south of Barcelona.
If The Olive Tree School is on your list, it helps to see it next to the other names families shortlist in the wider region. Our directory of international schools in Barcelona and the roundup of IB schools in Barcelona are good next steps if you also want to weigh an IB option before you book visits.