Hamelin-Laie International School vs The British College of Gavà

	H Hamelin-Laie International School Barcelona, Spain	T The British College of Gavà Barcelona, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €11,186 - 15,493	Fees / year €8,190 - 15,360
Age range	Age range 1 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), IPC (International Primary Curriculum)	Curriculum IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Pupils	Pupils 1,300	Pupils 450
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 20
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Spanish	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2015
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The school is located in Montgat, a coastal town just north of Barcelona, Spain. The campus address is 178-180, Ronda 8 de Març, 08390 Montgat, Barcelona. Montgat is about 20 minutes from central Barcelona by road. The campus sits by the Mediterranean Sea with views of the surrounding mountains.	Location The British College of Gavà is located in Gavà, Catalonia, Spain. The campus sits among pine trees in lush gardens with modern, spacious premises about 20 minutes from Barcelona city. The school's address is Carrer de Josep Lluís Sert, 32, 08850 Gavà, Barcelona. The campus is completely enclosed for safety, and car drop-off happens on site.
Stages	Stages Early Years 1–5; Primary 6–11; Secondary 12–15; International Baccalaureate 16–18; Nacional Bachillerato 16–18	Stages Early Years Foundation Stage; Primary; Secondary; IB Diploma Programme (IBDP); IB Career-related Programme (IBCP).
School type	School type Private international school with a premium boarding programme	School type British international school offering IGCSE and IB programmes.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix Over 45 nationalities represented.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Spain	Country affiliation United Kingdom
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure A typical day includes wellbeing activities and language immersion. Students learn mainly in English, with Spanish and Catalan also taught; up to four languages are studied weekly, including English, Spanish, Catalan, plus French, Chinese, or German.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details Yes, several bus routes throughout Barcelona to and from the school.	Bus service details BCG offers a daily bus transport service to and from the school, organized around families' needs. Modern buses are used and comply with safety rules, with a monitor supervising the route. Car drop-off can be completed within school premises.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Registration fees - A registration fee (called Registration or Re‑enrolment fee) applies for each student. Amounts by year group: Pre‑Nursery & Maternal: EUR 696; Early Years (Nursery / Reception / Year 1): EUR 696; Primary (Year 2–7): EUR 840; Secondary (Year 8–11): EUR 960; National Bachillerato Year 12 & Year 13: EUR 1,064; IBDP Year 12 & Year 13: EUR 1,291. Registration/renewal for boarding: EUR 2,290. Tuition fees by year group (annual totals and instalments) - Pre‑Nursery 1 & 2 / Maternal 1 & 2 - Monthly instalment option: 11 monthly payments (September–July) of EUR 779 for tuition & afternoon snack (no lunch). - Optional lunch: EUR 199 per month (11 months). - Annual tuition with lunch (total): EUR 11,454. - Early Years (Nursery / Reception / Year 1 / Infantil I3–I5) - Monthly instalment option: 10 monthly payments (September–June) of EUR 850 for tuition & afternoon snack (no lunch). - Optional lunch: EUR 199 per month (10 months). - Annual tuition with lunch (total): EUR 11,186. - Primary (Year 2 to Year 7 / 1º–6º EP) - Monthly instalment option: 10 monthly payments (September–June) of EUR 1,009 tuition. - Lunch & afternoon snack: EUR 199 per month (10 months). - Annual tuition with lunch (total): EUR 12,920. - Secondary (Year 8 to Year 11 / 1º–4º ESO) - Monthly instalment option: 10 monthly payments (September–June) of EUR 1,142 tuition. - Lunch: EUR 199 per month (10 months). - Annual tuition with lunch (total): EUR 14,370. - National Baccalaureate / Bachillerato Nacional - Year 12 (1º): Registration fee EUR 1,064; 10 monthly payments (September–June) of EUR 1,170; annual tuition EUR 12,764. - Year 13 (2º): Registration fee EUR 1,064; 9 monthly payments (September–May) of EUR 1,300; annual tuition EUR 12,764. - International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) - Year 12 (1º IBDP): Registration fee EUR 1,291; 10 monthly payments (September–June) of EUR 1,217 tuition plus EUR 203 per month IBDP complement (10 months); annual tuition EUR 15,491. - Year 13 (2º IBDP): Registration fee EUR 1,291; 9 monthly payments (September–May) of EUR 1,352 tuition plus EUR 226 per month IBDP complement (9 months); annual tuition EUR 15,493. (Exam entry fees are not included in these figures.) Boarding fees (ages 14–18) - Annual boarding charge (September–June, school fees included): EUR 46,982. - Registration / annual registration renewal fee for boarding: EUR 2,290. - Annual total for boarding (including registration/renewal): EUR 49,272. - Boarding security deposit: EUR 3,000 (refundable when a student leaves the boarding programme). Billing schedule and payment terms - Two payment options for tuition: - Annual: single full payment for the year. A 3% discount applies if the full yearly tuition is paid in one single payment before 31 July of the relevant year. - Monthly: instalments due at the beginning of each month (school uses 9, 10 or 11 monthly schedules depending on year group and programme; amounts shown above reflect those options). - Short‑term enrolments (one or two trimesters) require full payment in advance. - Students studying abroad temporarily: registration renewal fee plus a reservation hold of EUR 150 per month while abroad. - Families newly resident in Spain: first year requires payment of the full academic year in advance. Students joining during a calendar month pay the full monthly tuition for that month. Other costs and additional charges - Education & Day Trips Fee: an annual charge (covers educational materials, resources, licences and school day trips); this charge is billed in October. - Exam fees: IBDP examination entry fees are not included in the published IBDP tuition figures and are charged separately when applicable. - Language acquisition classes and Learning Support: supplementary charges may apply where the school requires additional classes for a student. - Before and after school care (monthly): examples — 30 minutes: EUR 44; 1 hr: EUR 79; 1.5 hrs: EUR 91; 2 hrs: EUR 103; 2.5 hrs: EUR 110; drop‑in fee EUR 12 per hour. Before/after school care is charged monthly and covers care from 08:00 to 18:30 where used. - Additional lunch service (individual days): EUR 16 per midday lunch. - School bus service: multiple routes operate with monthly one‑way and return fares; example route prices include EUR 150 one‑way / EUR 205 return for central Barcelona routes (other routes and prices vary by route). Single ride fare example: EUR 15. Sibling discounts - Sibling discounts apply to the monthly tuition fee only: 3 siblings enrolled = 10% discount; 4 siblings = 15%; 5 or more = 20%. Refund information - Boarding security deposit of EUR 3,000 is refundable when the student is no longer enrolled in the boarding programme. Other refundable conditions or refund rules for registration or tuition are not detailed in the published fee schedule; additional charges such as exam fees, uniform, off‑campus activities, or athletic equipment are charged separately and may not be refundable. Fee payment options (scheduling and discounts) - The published fees are organised around two payment schedules: a single annual payment (with a 3% early‑payment discount if paid before 31 July) or monthly instalments (due at the beginning of each month). Specific accepted payment instruments (for example, bank transfer, credit card, direct debit) are not specified in the published tuition document. For planning, fees should be treated as payable either as a single annual sum or as the stated monthly instalments.	Fee details Annual tuition fees by year group (2025/26 academic year) - EYFS (Nursery and Reception, Ages 3–4): EUR 9,010 per year. - Lower Primary (Key Stage 1, Years 1–2, Ages 5–6): EUR 11,140 per year. - Upper Primary (Key Stage 2, Years 3–6, Ages 7–10): EUR 12,940 per year. - Secondary (Key Stage 3, Years 7–9, Ages 11–13): EUR 14,140 per year. - Secondary (Key Stage 4, Years 10–11, Ages 14–15): EUR 15,290 per year. - Sixth Form (Years 12–13, Ages 16–17): EUR 15,360 per year. Equivalent billing breakdowns (school billing practice and arithmetic conversions) - The school bills annual tuition in 10 monthly instalments (September to June). Monthly instalment amounts (annual fee ÷ 10): - EYFS: EUR 901.00 per month. - Lower Primary: EUR 1,114.00 per month. - Upper Primary: EUR 1,294.00 per month. - Secondary KS3: EUR 1,414.00 per month. - Secondary KS4: EUR 1,529.00 per month. - Sixth Form: EUR 1,536.00 per month. - For database display using a per-term equivalent (simple division by three): - EYFS: EUR 3,003.33 per term. - Lower Primary: EUR 3,713.33 per term. - Upper Primary: EUR 4,313.33 per term. - Secondary KS3: EUR 4,713.33 per term. - Secondary KS4: EUR 5,096.67 per term. - Sixth Form: EUR 5,120.00 per term. Application, enrollment and annual charges - Non-returnable admission fee (payable on acceptance of a place): EUR 2,900 per pupil. No reimbursement is made in case of cancellation of a place at any time. - Annual re-enrolment fee (billed in February; includes materials, books, tech fee and insurance): EUR 680. This re-enrolment fee is non-refundable. - A separate (one-off) assessment fee of EUR 30 is charged for certain admissions assessments (applies to assessments described in the admissions process). Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is presented as a full-year figure corresponding to a 10-month school year; invoices are issued and collected by direct debit in advance during the first five days of each month (payments are required monthly, September–June). - All fees, charges, residential trips, buses, excursions, extracurricular activities and similar items are charged by direct debit; extracurricular activities are charged termly. - If direct debit is not possible, an exception request must be submitted by email to the financial director for consideration. A bank rejection charge of EUR 15 applies each time a payment is rejected. - Advance (single) payment of the full annual tuition is eligible for a 1.25% discount if the full-year payment is made before July 15 (request must be made within the school's stated deadlines). Contact the school invoicing address for administration of advance payment. Sibling discounts - 3rd child: 10% discount. 4th child: 15% discount. 5th and subsequent children: 20% discount. Valid sibling accreditation must be presented where required. Other costs and compulsory items - School lunches are compulsory and are included in the tuition fee; packed lunches are not permitted. - School uniform is compulsory and is required for all students; uniform costs are charged to families. - Only students starting Year 7 are required to purchase a Chromebook (one-off cost borne by the family). - External examination and National Curriculum Test charges are additional where applicable; these amounts are added to the billed invoices when relevant. - School bus (transport) is optional and attracts a separate charge; transport registration is requested at enrolment and occasional or daily tickets may be available at a higher unit cost. Transport fees follow the school's payment and cancellation rules. - Optional extracurricular activities, residential trips and special events are charged separately and billed by direct debit; invoices for these items are issued before the event takes place. Refund and withdrawal rules (fee consequences) - The admission fee (EUR 2,900) is non-returnable. The re-enrolment fee (EUR 680) is non-refundable. No reimbursement is made in case of cancellation of a place at any time once admission fees are paid. - Parents of pupils intending to leave the school in June must provide written confirmation of departure before 28 February; no refund will be made if notice of departure is given after 15 April. - For permanent withdrawal, the school requires at least three months' notice by email to the school's designated address; parents must pay the school's fees during the three-month notice period. If a student starts during an ongoing month, the full monthly tuition fee for that month is payable and no refund is issued for partial months or absences. Fee payment options - Primary payment method: direct debit from a bank account; all invoices are collected by direct debit and parents sign an authorization form for the school to collect payments. Exceptions to direct debit require an approved request to the financial director. - The school administers advance/full-year payment discount requests and invoicing queries through the school invoicing contact (invoices@bcgava.com) and finance office channels. Boarding - Boarding is not applicable; the published fee schedule and terms describe day-school tuition, compulsory lunches, optional transport and no boarding fees.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details IPC-based Primary Curriculum. Learning is mainly in English with integrated Spanish and Catalan, and students may study French, German, or Chinese. Core subjects include English Language and Literature, Geography, History, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Physical Education and Health, and The Arts. The IPC fosters curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through cross-curricular, theme-based units and project-based teamwork. Secondary education offers two pathways: International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or Nacional Bachillerato.	Curriculum details IB Diploma Programme is offered for students aged 16–18 and includes six subject groups (Studies in Language and Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals & Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, The Arts) with a core comprising Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity and Service, and the Extended Essay. The Diploma Programme develops reflective, independent, globally minded learners and includes an Education for Sustainable Development project as part of CAS. The school also offers the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP), a vocational pathway with partner organisations in Performing Arts, Innovation in Sports and Entrepreneurship. In Secondary, the curriculum runs English National Curriculum up to GCSE (Year 11) before students move into the IB Diploma Programme in Years 12 and 13. Primary (Year 2–6) delivers English-language learning with EAL support; French begins in Year 3; Spanish and Catalan are taught as foreign languages, with emphasis on multilingual development and cultural understanding. Education for Sustainable Development is a fundamental thread throughout the school.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Average class size: Early Years 20; Primary 22; Secondary 24; IBDP and Nacional Bachillerato 15.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results IB Diploma Programme: average score 30 points, with one student reaching 43 points; IBDP pass rate increased by 16% year over year. Nacional Bachillerato: 100% pass rate in 2025; average score 11.024 out of 14; highest score 12.842 out of 14.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression IBDP graduates go on to universities including University College London (UCL), University of Edinburgh, Durham University, King's College London, University of Warwick, University of Amsterdam, ESADE, IE University, and La Salle. Nacional Bachillerato graduates also pursue higher education at universities in Spain and internationally.	Higher education progression The Diploma Programme is respected by leading universities worldwide and provides a rigorous pre-university pathway; The Career-related Programme equips students with a vocational pathway and partnerships with external organisations; DP/CP graduates typically progress to higher education at universities worldwide.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Step 1 Make an enquiry. Submit our online enquiry form, email, or call us. The admissions team will respond with information about next steps. You can reach us via the enquiry options on the site to begin the process. Step 2 Discover our school. We'd love to show you around our campus. You'll explore our facilities, meet our teachers, and get a feel for our inspiring learning environment. If you can't visit in person, a one-to-one virtual discovery meeting is available. English is the primary language of instruction, with opportunities to learn Spanish and Catalan. Step 3 Submit your application. Next, submit your online application form and supporting documents. If your child is in secondary school, they'll have a personal interview. You'll hear back from our team about the outcome of your application. Step 4 Accept your place. If you've been offered a spot, you'll secure it by paying the registration fee appropriate to your child's grade. You'll receive a notification with the offer details. The admissions team is available to explain how the process will work for you.	Admissions Submit an Inquiry: Complete the form at the bottom of the page so our admissions team can contact you. Schedule a Visit or Call: Book a visit to our campus or schedule a call with our team to learn more about our school and get your questions answered. Assessment and Requirements: Students from Year 4 onwards will be invited to English and CAT4 assessment at BCG; a non-refundable €30 admissions assessment fee applies. Secondary students will also need a reference letter from their current/previous school. Admission Confirmation: If the results are what is expected, your child's place will be reserved upon payment of the admission and matriculation fees. Enrollment Process: We will send further instructions to start submitting all required documents and complete the enrolment process.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Waiting List: If no place is available, parents may place their child's name on the waiting list for the school. The school cannot guarantee when a place may become available. There is no appeal process for admission to the school. The decision of the principal is final.
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