International Rural School vs International School Maresme
International Rural School and International School Maresme are both in Barcelona, about 16 km apart. Both schools offer British and EYFS programmes. Published annual fees are €7,980 - 8,580 at International Rural School and €7,178 - 11,576 at International School Maresme, which puts International School Maresme roughly 13% higher. International Rural School takes pupils from 3 to 18, and International School Maresme from 1 to 16. International School Maresme is the larger school, with around 140 pupils to International Rural School's 51. Typical class sizes are 12 at International Rural School and 14 at International School Maresme.
British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Curriculum
British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Pupils
Pupils
51
Pupils
140
Typical class size
Typical class size
12
Typical class size
14
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
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Opened
2019
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
The school is located in Llinars del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain, at Disseminat 133 Can Ribó, 08450. It is in a rural, forested setting near the village center, accessible by local roads.
Location
Carrer Carles Flotats 14, 08360 Canet de Mar, Barcelona. The school is located in Canet de Mar. The campus sits amid Canet de Mar's natural landscape.
Stages
Stages
Early Years Foundation Stage, Primary, Secondary, and post-16 (A-Levels).
Stages
MiNi ISM (Foundation Stage); Early Years; Primary (Key Stage 1 and 2); Secondary (Key Stage 3 and 4) with IGCSE; Spanish Curriculum Validation.
School type
School type
Private British co-educational day school; BSO-accredited (British School Overseas).
School type
British international school
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
140+ students representing more than 25 nationalities. About 50% international students. Most common nationalities: American, Russian, British, Chinese and Spanish.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
Learning Support is led by qualified SEND practitioners who tailor the curriculum and learning journeys to meet each student's needs. Language support helps students acquire English, with targeted small-group instruction during the initial year. Special needs education is provided in partnership with families and external professionals to maximise inclusion.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Spain (Catalonia).
Country affiliation
British; follows the National Curriculum for England and Wales.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
—
School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
School day runs from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm.
Bus service details
Bus service details
School bus service is available.
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application and enrolment fees
- Enrolment (registration) fee: EUR 780 per year. - Extracurricular enrolment fee: EUR 50 per year (applies to after‑school/extracurricular activities).
Tuition fees by year group (as published)
- Early Years Foundation Stage; Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 (Nursery, Reception, Primary): EUR 5,800 per academic year. This is shown as a monthly charge of EUR 580, billed September through June. The published fee package explicitly includes tuition, school material, books, instrument lessons, swimming lessons and school insurance.
- Key Stage 3 (lower secondary): EUR 6,400 per academic year. This is shown as a monthly charge of EUR 640, billed September through June. The published fee package explicitly includes tuition, school material, books, instrument lessons, swimming lessons and school insurance.
- Key Stage 4 (GCSE/IGCSE years) and post‑16 (A‑levels/IB/baccalaureate) fees are not listed in the published fee schedule provided.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is shown as a monthly charge billed from September to June (10 monthly payments). The published schedule presents both an annual fee and the corresponding monthly charge for those months. - The annual enrolment/registration fee is charged once per year. - Sibling discount: 10% discount on fees when children from the same family are simultaneously enrolled.
Boarding fees
- No boarding fees are listed; the school's published information presents standard day‑school hours (Monday–Friday 08:30 to 16:30). Boarding is not indicated as an available option.
Other costs and recurring extras
- Lunch service: Regular use EUR 135 (as listed); occasional use EUR 10 per day. The published schedule lists these charges for the lunch service. - Extracurricular lessons (Monday to Friday, 17:00–18:00): 1 day per week EUR 50; 2 days per week EUR 80. An extracurricular enrolment fee of EUR 50 per year is shown. - Summer camp (published dates shown for the camp period): EUR 480 for the full period indicated (lunch included) or EUR 160 per week. - Items not specifically priced in the published schedule include uniforms, transport/bus, examination/assessment fees, textbooks replacement beyond those listed as included, specialist trips, and some optional extracurriculars. These items were not given specific charges in the published fee sheet.
Refund information
- The published fee document does not specify a refund policy or detailed terms for refunds or cancellations. No refund schedule or conditions are listed in the fee sheet.
Fee payment options
- The published fee document does not specify accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, direct debit, credit card) or invoicing details. No payment method details are listed in the fee sheet.
Notes about the published fee information (summary of limitations)
- The available published fee schedule found is presented for Year 2019–2020 and supplies core figures for Early Years/Primary and Key Stage 3 only. Several categories that parents commonly require (detailed fees for Key Stage 4 and post‑16, explicit payment method instructions, a formal refund policy, uniform costs, and any boarding fees) are not included in that published fee sheet. The figures and line items above reflect what is shown in the school's published fee document.
Fee details
Application / enrolment fees - Enrolment (one-off at first registration): EUR 650 per student. - Enrolment renewal (annual family fee): EUR 450 per family (charged in March).
Tuition fees by year group (annual, per-term and per-month breakdowns) - Early Years (Pre‑Nursery / Nursery): Annual EUR 7,717.50. Monthly (10 payments, September–June): EUR 771.75. Per term (annual ÷ 3): EUR 2,572.50. - Key Stage 1 (Primary): Annual EUR 8,268.75. Monthly (10 payments): EUR 826.88. Per term (annual ÷ 3): EUR 2,756.25. - Key Stage 2 (Primary): Annual EUR 9,371.25. Monthly (10 payments): EUR 937.13. Per term (annual ÷ 3): EUR 3,123.75. - Key Stage 3 (Lower Secondary): Annual EUR 11,576.25. Monthly (10 payments): EUR 1,157.63. Per term (annual ÷ 3): EUR 3,858.75. - Key Stage 4 (IGCSE / Upper Secondary): Annual EUR 11,576.25. Monthly (10 payments): EUR 1,157.63. Per term (annual ÷ 3): EUR 3,858.75.
(Note: the school divides the annual tuition into 10 monthly instalments (September–June) for billing; the per-term figures above are calculated by dividing the published annual fee by three to provide a standard per‑term view. This per‑term figure is an arithmetic conversion, not a separately published instalment in the welcome pack.)
Billing schedule and payment terms - The published annual tuition is structured for payment as 10 monthly instalments covering September through June (no charge for July and August). Early‑payment discounts are available: a 5% discount when the full annual fee is paid before the end of the previous academic year, or a 3% discount if paid during the summer holidays before the new academic year begins. A 20% sibling discount applies from the third child onwards when siblings are enrolled simultaneously.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. The school operates as a day school (published school hours: 08:30–16:00).
Additional / optional charges and regular ancillary fees - Lunch / catering: - School lunch (catered service): EUR 155 per month (charged over 10 months). - Packed-home lunch option: EUR 25 per month (10 months). - Occasional one‑day menu: EUR 12 per day. - Additional SEN (1:1) support: EUR 350 per month for temporary or permanent individual support (charged monthly). - After‑school care (occasional use, example 4:15–5:15pm): EUR 10 per hour. - Uniform, books and materials: the school lists uniform and books/materials as chargeable items; specific prices vary by item and new‑student packs are referenced in the welcome pack. (Uniform and materials are billed separately to tuition.) - Discounts: 20% discount for the third child onwards (when siblings are simultaneously enrolled). Early‑payment discounts of 5% (paid before the end of the previous academic year) or 3% (paid during the summer before the new year) apply to the annual fee.
Refunds and cancellations - The school's welcome pack sets out terms for enrolment, renewals, and other financial conditions. Specific refund and cancellation rules (including any non‑refundability of enrolment or renewal fees and conditions for partial refunds of tuition) are governed by the school's published terms and conditions in the welcome pack. The welcome pack should be consulted for the definitive refund and withdrawal timetable and any associated penalties.
Fee payment options - The welcome pack and admissions documentation describe the school's invoicing and instalment structure (10 monthly instalments) and the discount incentives for full annual prepayment. Specific accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, direct debit, credit/debit card) and any bank details or surcharges are provided in the school's enrolment paperwork and invoice instructions. For billing, the school issues invoices consistent with the 10‑month schedule and with the published early‑payment discount rules.
Short note on completeness - The figures above are taken from the school's ISM Welcome Pack for the current academic materials; the welcome pack lists the annual tuition by Key Stage, the enrolment/renewal fees, discounts, and the ancillary charges quoted here. The welcome pack provides full terms and numerical detail; where a per‑term figure was required it has been calculated from the published annual fee (annual ÷ 3) and the published 10‑month monthly instalment (annual ÷ 10) was used for monthly values. The welcome pack contains the school's formal refund and payment‑method details and should be consulted directly for the exact contractual wording and for any itemised charges not reproduced in full above.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The school offers a balanced and broadly based curriculum. It promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. It follows the national curriculum, providing pupils with an introduction to the essential knowledge they need to be educated citizens and helping engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement. There is time and space in the school day and each week, term and year to range beyond the national curriculum specifications, with the curriculum providing an outline of core knowledge around which teachers can develop exciting and stimulating lessons to promote development of pupils' knowledge, understanding and skills as part of the wider school curriculum. Core subjects are English, Mathematics and Science. Foundation subjects include Art and design, Citizenship, Computing, Design and technology, Languages, Geography, History, Music, and Physical education.
Curriculum details
ISM's curriculum is organized in five stages: MiNi ISM (Foundation Stage), Early Years, Primary (Key Stage 1–2), and Secondary (Key Stage 3–4). MiNi ISM follows a play-based approach in line with the EYFS framework, with English immersion and weekly storytelling sessions in Catalan and Spanish. The Early Years follow the Early Years Framework, focusing on the seven areas of Learning and Development and promoting social, language and personal development through play. Primary uses the National Curriculum for England; all students study Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Geography, Information Technology, Physical Education, Music, Art, Forest School and Personal, Health and Social Education, with Spanish from Year 1 and Spanish, Catalan and French from Year 2. Secondary offers Key Stage 3 and 4; core subjects include English, Mathematics, Sciences, Geography, History, Art, Music, Computer Studies, Spanish, Catalan, French and Physical Education, with Year 10–11 following the International General Certificate in Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the option to pursue A-levels after IGCSE. There is a Spanish Curriculum Validation path allowing students who complete Years 8–11 and achieve four passes at IGCSE to apply for the Spanish ESO certificate.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Small class sizes. There is a teacher and a teacher assistant per class, with reinforcement teachers available.
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
—
Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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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
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
—
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
—
Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
—
Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
—
Community & service
Community & service
—
Community & service
—
Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
—
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
—
Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
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Admissions
1. Personal Interview with the family. The admissions team interviews the family and the student candidate to introduce the school's philosophy and programs and to assess whether the school model fits the student's needs. If the family is abroad, virtual interviews are available.
2. Candidate Assessment. The assessment includes a personal interview with the candidate, an academic transcript or report, and references from the previous school. An entrance test is used when necessary. A trial day or period is recommended to support the transition. If the student has learning difficulties, social-emotional or other specific needs, communicate this to the admissions team at the time of initiating the application.
3. Acceptance and Enrolment. Accepted students must complete additional documentation and pay tuition and other charges before starting. If there is no place after acceptance, the admissions team will work to resolve the situation promptly. Preference will be given to families who already are at school.