International Rural School vs Kensington School Barcelona
International Rural School and Kensington School Barcelona are both in Barcelona, about 37 km apart. Both schools offer British and EYFS programmes, and Kensington School Barcelona also offers Pearson Edexcel IGCSE. Published annual fees are €7,980 - 8,580 at International Rural School and €4,647 - 18,513 at Kensington School Barcelona, which puts Kensington School Barcelona roughly 40% higher. Both take pupils from 3 to 18. Kensington School Barcelona is the larger school, with around 260 pupils to International Rural School's 51. Typical class sizes are 12 at International Rural School and 20 at Kensington School Barcelona.
British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Curriculum
British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Pupils
Pupils
51
Pupils
260
Typical class size
Typical class size
12
Typical class size
20
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
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Opened
1966
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
The Kensington School is located in the Pedralbes district of Barcelona at Carrer dels Cavallers, 31/33, 08034. The current campus was purpose-built in 1988 and spans four floors. It is close to Exit 9 of the Ronda de Dalt and has a wide range of bus and metro links to areas across the city.
Stages
Stages
Early Years Foundation Stage, Primary, Secondary, and post-16 (A-Levels).
Stages
Early Years; Junior School; Senior School; Sixth Form
School type
School type
Private British co-educational day school; BSO-accredited (British School Overseas).
School type
The school offers the British Curriculum.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
SEND learning areas are available. English as an Additional Language (EAL) support is provided for students from different language backgrounds.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Spain (Catalonia).
Country affiliation
The school follows a British curriculum.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
—
School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
School bus service is available.
Bus service details
—
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 fee
- A one-time, non-refundable enrolment fee is charged per child on registration: EUR 4,647.00 (Junior School & Early Years), EUR 6,171.00 (Senior School, Form 1–5), EUR 6,230.00 (Sixth Form).
Tuition fees (by school stage) — amounts per year, per term and monthly option
- Junior School & Early Years: - Annual tuition: EUR 13,941.00. - Per term: EUR 4,647.00. - Monthly (10 instalments): EUR 1,394.10 (payments debited over 10 months, September–June).
- Senior School (Form 1 to Form 5): - Annual tuition: EUR 18,513.00. - Per term: EUR 6,171.00. - Monthly (10 instalments): EUR 1,851.30.
- Annual advance payment (discounted amount if paid in advance): payment due 31 July 2025. Discounted annual amounts (annual-advance) are EUR 13,522.77 (Junior), EUR 17,957.61 (Senior), EUR 18,129.30 (Sixth Form). A 3% discount is applied for annual advance payments made before 31 July 2025.
- Termly billing and due dates (term amounts equal to one third of the full annual fee): - Term 1 due 31 August 2025 — Junior EUR 4,647.00; Senior EUR 6,171.00; Sixth Form EUR 6,230.00. - Term 2 due 10 December 2025 — same term amounts. - Term 3 due 31 March 2026 — same term amounts.
- Monthly direct debit: available only from a Spanish bank account and collected over 10 instalments (around the 10th of each month, September–June). A direct debit authorisation form must be completed. Cash is not accepted for tuition or lunch payments. Bank transfer is accepted for termly or annual advance payments. Overdue accounts may incur interest charges; the school may refuse readmission for non-payment. Use SURNAME + CLASS as payment reference when transferring. Bank details: Banco de Santander IBAN ES76 0049 4736 2623 1004 8251, SWIFT BSCHESMM.
Boarding
- The school operates as a day school (no boarding facilities).
What is included in tuition
- Tuition includes: all schoolbooks and materials; external examination costs (GCSEs and similar); school accident insurance; staff-led extracurricular clubs; day trips and educational activities.
Optional / additional costs
- School lunch (optional): two rate bands depending on age/phase: - Early Years – Junior 3: Annual EUR 1,722.00; Per term EUR 574.00; Monthly EUR 172.20. - Junior 4 – Upper 6: Annual EUR 1,902.00; Per term EUR 634.00; Monthly EUR 190.20. - Daily school lunch (ad hoc use) is charged at a flat rate of EUR 10.00 per day. For accounting purposes, lunch payments must be settled by the same payment method as tuition; the lunch service will continue to be charged unless cancelled in writing. No refund is made for withdrawal during a term for lunch.
- School uniform: a school uniform is required and is available from the school's official suppliers; the uniform cost is charged separately (price not published in the fee schedule).
- Non-educational or optional excursions, special activities, transport (if provided) and other extras may be charged in addition to tuition. Specific charges for optional services are billed separately.
Discounts
- Sibling discounts: 10% for the 3rd child, 15% for the 4th child and 20% for the 5th child (applies to tuition). A 3% discount is given for annual advance payments made before 31 July 2025.
Refunds and notice
- The enrolment fee is a one-time, non-refundable charge per child and is payable on registration. - No refund will be made for withdrawal during a term. Any discount or refund for students arriving or leaving before the end of an academic term is at the discretion of the Management Committee. - A minimum of one month's written notice is required if a student is to leave the school.
Payment options summary
- Acceptable methods: monthly direct debit (Spanish bank account only) and bank transfer for termly or annual payments. Cash cannot be accepted for tuition or lunch payments. Specific bank details and reference instructions are provided for transfers. Overdue accounts may incur interest.
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
—
Food options
Food options
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Food options
—
House system
House system
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House system
—
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
Kensington School follows the National British Curriculum of England and Wales with small modifications for the international context. In the Senior School, Key Stage 3 includes Art, Drama, English, French, General Science, Geography, History, Computer Science, Music, PSHE, Physical Education and Spanish, with Spanish and French taught in small sets of around 10. Students sit external iGCSE/GCSE examinations at age 16, and Kensington is an Edexcel Centre for Learning. The Art and Design curriculum runs across Key Stage 3 and 4, with GCSE Art and Design offered in Key Stage 4. The Sixth Form offers two-year A Level courses across Biology, Chemistry, English Literature, French, Geography, History, Mathematics, Art, Physics and Spanish, with AS and A2 Levels available through Edexcel and university application guidance. The Catalan programme, launched in September 2023, is taught by four native teachers and covers Catalan language and literature as well as geography and history; from Form 1 to Form 5 Catalan is studied and convalidation is possible for students who complete the programme.
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
Class sizes are deliberately small in the Junior School. In Senior School, Spanish and French are taught in small sets of around 10 to support language progression.
Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
Examination results at GCSE and A Level are consistently above the UK national average and above other British schools in Spain. Kensington School is an Edexcel Centre for Learning. These results are achieved by experienced teachers working with relatively small groups of motivated students.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
Sixth Form is recognised as an A Level centre of excellence with results significantly above the national average in the United Kingdom and among the leading Sixth Forms in Spain. AS and A2 Levels are offered through Edexcel (London). Students receive guidance with applications to universities worldwide.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
The Kensington Award is an extra-curricular program modeled on the UK Duke of Edinburgh Award; it is open to students from Form 4 and above and challenges them to develop resilience and independence by learning a new skill, taking up a new activity, and volunteering, with the final expedition serving as the culminating challenge.
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
—
Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
—
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
—
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
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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
—
Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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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
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Awards
—
Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
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Admissions
Kensington School is academically non-selective and welcomes students, including those studying in their second or third language. The school offers the British Curriculum. The admissions process has four stages: Stage 1 Enquiry requires a completed Admission Enquiry Form, copies of the child's last school reports, and a discussion of the child's educational needs and suitability for the school and curriculum; Stage 2 School Visit provides a personalised tour, opportunities to chat with staff and students, and a meeting with the Headmaster; Stage 3 Offer requires a copy of the child's passport, copies of the parents'/guardians' passports, and payment of the Enrolment Fee; Stage 4 Confirmation occurs once all required documents and payments are received, after which you will receive a Letter of Confirmation, a Welcome Pack, and Starter Information. If a year group is full and entry requirements have been satisfied, a waiting list may be joined. A Trial Day can be arranged through the Admissions Team.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
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Waitlist
Waiting list may be joined when a year group is full and the applicant has satisfied the entry requirements.