Back to Spain

International College Spain

Alcobendas, Spain
Photo by Zarateman on Unsplash
Type
Private
Founded
1980

"International College Spain, located in Alcobendas on the northern outskirts of Madrid, is a private international school offering a rigorous, globally minded education to children from early childhood through to university preparation."

As part of the Nord Anglia Education family of schools, it benefits from the resources, professional development networks, and collaborative opportunities that come with belonging to one of the world's leading premium international school organizations, while maintaining its own distinct identity rooted in the vibrant cultural and professional landscape of the Spanish capital. Founded in 1980, International College Spain has built more than four decades of experience educating the children of diplomats, multinational professionals, and internationally mobile families who make their home in and around Madrid. That long institutional history gives the school a settled, confident character — one that new families often find reassuring when navigating the complexities of an international relocation. Over the years the school has developed deep roots in the local expatriate community while also welcoming Spanish families seeking a genuinely international education for their children. The school is a fully authorized International Baccalaureate World School, offering all three of the IB's flagship programmes: the Primary Years Programme for younger students, the Middle Years Programme for early adolescence, and the Diploma Programme for students in their final two years of secondary education. This continuous IB pathway from the earliest years through to university entrance is a significant feature of the school's academic identity, ensuring that students develop the inquiry-based habits of mind, international perspective, and critical thinking skills that the IB framework is designed to cultivate. Families who commit to International College Spain can be confident that their children will follow a coherent, philosophically consistent educational journey rather than navigating transitions between unrelated curricula. English serves as the primary language of instruction, making the school a natural choice for Anglophone families arriving in Spain and for internationally oriented families who prioritize English-medium education. This language environment is embedded within a setting that, of course, offers rich daily immersion in Spanish language and culture — a combination that many parents find particularly appealing when considering their children's long-term linguistic and personal development. The campus in Alcobendas places the school in a well-connected business and residential district that has become home to a significant concentration of international companies and their employees. The area is easily accessible from central Madrid and from the major residential neighborhoods favored by expatriate families, making the daily logistics of school life manageable for busy professional households. What ultimately distinguishes International College Spain is the combination of its long-established presence in the Madrid market, its unbroken IB curriculum pathway from primary through diploma level, and the broader support structure provided by Nord Anglia Education. For families in the process of relocating to Madrid — whether for a fixed assignment or an open-ended move — it represents a school where children can settle, thrive academically, and grow into confident, internationally aware young people prepared for higher education anywhere in the world.

IB Programmes
PYP
Primary Years Programme
MYP
Middle Years Programme
DP
Diploma Programme
Campus Environs
Campus Environs
Location
Alcobendas, Spain
Open in Google Maps