ISCAT International School of Catalunya vs Oak House School
ISCAT International School of Catalunya and Oak House School are both in Barcelona, about 34 km apart. Both schools offer British and Cambridge IGCSE programmes. ISCAT International School of Catalunya also offers Cambridge A Levels, and Oak House School also offers IB. Published annual fees are €8,925 - 13,650 at ISCAT International School of Catalunya and €10,995 - 14,495 at Oak House School, which puts Oak House School roughly 13% higher. Both take pupils from 3 to 18. Oak House School is the larger school, with around 1,118 pupils to ISCAT International School of Catalunya's 150. Typical class sizes are 15 at ISCAT International School of Catalunya and 23 at Oak House School.
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Curriculum
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils
Pupils
150
Pupils
1,118
Typical class size
Typical class size
15
Typical class size
23
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English, Spanish
Opened
Opened
2007
Opened
1968
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
La Garriga campus in La Garriga, Barcelona, Spain. The main address is Manuel Raspall, 8, 08530 La Garriga, Barcelona. The campus comprises four buildings (Blancafort, Manuel Raspall, Xavier Calls and Caselles) and can accommodate up to 300 students from Nursery to Year 13. It is about 30 minutes from Barcelona city centre and from the Costa Brava beaches; La Garriga is green and safe with a train station nearby for easy access to Barcelona.
Location
Sant Pere Claver 12-18, 08017 Barcelona. The school is located in the Sarrià neighbourhood of Barcelona and sits next to the Collserola natural park, facing the Mediterranean.
Stages
Stages
From 3 to 18 years (Nursery through Year 13).
Stages
Early Years (3-4 years); Primary School (5-11 years); Secondary School (12-16 years); Bachillerato + / International Baccalaureate (16-18 years).
School type
School type
British international day school.
School type
Private, non-profit school in Barcelona offering British, local and International Baccalaureate education.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Learning Support is led by qualified SEN practitioners who shadow progress, liaise between students, teachers and parents, and plan and deliver the Emotional Education programme. When ongoing specialised attention is required, ISCAT collaborates with external professionals and a visiting psychologist is available weekly; parents are involved in interventions.
Additional learning support
Inclusion & Wellbeing with a dedicated team; safeguarding; inclusive teaching; PSHE; exam accommodations and support for students with additional needs.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
British international school following the National Curriculum of England and Wales.
Country affiliation
Spain
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
—
Religious affiliation
—
School day structure
School day structure
Morning: 7.30–8.15 am (Early Morning); 8.30 am start with flexible arrival for Early Years until 9.00 am. Lunch: 12.45–2.00 pm for Early Years; 1.00–2.00 pm for Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 5. Afternoon: 2.00 pm start; 4.00 pm end; after‑school activities until 5.15 pm; after‑school care until 6.00 pm.
School day structure
—
Bus service details
Bus service details
ISCAT offers school transport with two routes: Mataró Parc Shopping Centre (Mataró) for families on the Maresme coast (about 30 minutes) and Barcelona (Plaza de Alfonso Comín, exit 6, Ronda de Dalt). Public transport options include Renfe Rodalies line R3 to La Garriga (La Garriga train station is about a two‑minute walk from campus) and Sagales bus service from Granollers to La Garriga.
Bus service details
—
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application / Enrolment Fees - Enrolment fee (one-off): EUR 2,200. - Entrance test fee (for Secondary and A‑Level candidates only): EUR 50. - Sibling discount: third child onward receives 20% discount when siblings are enrolled simultaneously; the third child's enrolment can be free in the enrolment-fee line described.
Notes on what the annual tuition includes: - Tuition, school materials, books and school insurance are included in the annual fee for the listed stages; re‑enrolment/pre‑inscription is also listed as included in the fee for the relevant stages. PE activities are specifically listed under some secondary stages.
Other recurring costs and optional services - School lunch (monthly): Regular use EUR 200 per month; Occasional use EUR 14 per meal; Packed lunch option EUR 35 (monthly). - Early Morning Care (7:30–8:00): Regular use EUR 65 per month; Occasional use EUR 7 per day. - After‑School Care (16:15–18:00): Regular use EUR 75 per month; Occasional use charged at EUR 6 per 30 minutes. - School transport (monthly by route): typical full monthly charges shown are EUR 180–205 depending on route; occasional single‑journey price EUR 15. Transport must be paid termly, in advance, for full‑service users.
Examination and exam‑related charges - GCSE (Year 11) exam fee: EUR 150 per subject. - AS Level (Year 12) exam fee: EUR 195 per subject. - A Level (Year 13) exam fee: EUR 315 per subject. - Additional exam charges: Special access arrangements EUR 35 per subject; re‑mark / re‑sit fees follow the same subject rates above and late entries incur double fees as noted.
Boarding fees (if applicable) - No boarding fees appear in the current school fees document for the fees schedule provided. A historical boarding schedule (Academic Year 2019–20) exists showing examples of boarding charges (for reference only): Registration EUR 1,000; Full boarding (7‑day) EUR 39,500; Weekly boarding (Mon–Fri) EUR 30,000; one‑term option EUR 16,000; refundable deposit EUR 3,000. The current fees document does not list boarding charges.
Refund information - The current fees document does not specify any general refund policy for tuition or enrolment. The historical boarding schedule (2019–20) explicitly listed a refundable boarding deposit (EUR 3,000) in that older boarding schedule. No refundable‑fee rules for current tuition or enrolment are specified in the current fees document.
Billing schedule and payment terms - The fees document explicitly states that the school transport tariff for regular users must be paid termly, in advance. The fees document does not provide detailed general tuition billing dates, payment‑deadline schedule, or standard late‑payment penalties within the fees pages provided.
Fee payment options - The current fees document does not list accepted payment methods (for example bank transfer, direct debit, credit card) or specific bank details.
Short summary of missing items in the published fees document - The published fees material lists annual tuition by stage, the one‑off enrolment fee, ancillary monthly charges (meals, care, transport) and examination charges, and it specifies that transport is paid termly in advance. The published fees material does not state a detailed tuition billing schedule (specific payment dates or term‑dates for tuition), does not list accepted payment methods, and does not include a general refund policy for tuition/enrolment. Historical boarding fees are available in an older boarding schedule but boarding is not listed in the current fees document.
Fee details
Admission / Application fee
- One-time admission process fee: EUR 3,500. This fee is paid only when a place is offered and is non‑refundable.
Tuition fees by year group (annual) and instalment amount
- Kindergarten (Age 3 – K1): Annual tuition EUR 10,995. Total for the first year of enrolment for a K1 pupil including the one‑time admission fee: EUR 14,495.
- Instalment (billing) detail: Tuition fees are annual and are normally paid in 11 equal instalments. The first instalment is taken in July and the remaining ten instalments are taken from September through June. To calculate the typical monthly instalment, divide the annual tuition above by 11 (for example, Kindergarten annual tuition EUR 10,995 ÷ 11 = EUR 999.55 per instalment).
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Billing schedule: Annual fees are invoiced on an 11‑instalment schedule (first payment in July; subsequent payments September–June). There is a prompt annual payment discount when the annual tuition is paid by bank transfer before the start of the academic year.
- Payment terms: The school requires the admission process fee to be paid when a place is offered. Annual insurance is included in the July instalment. Specific invoice due dates follow the 11‑instalment calendar above.
Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable. Oak House School operates as a day school for ages 3–18. No boarding fees apply.
Other costs and recurring charges
- Mandatory annual school insurance: charged annually and included in the July instalment. Typical options shown are for insurance covering one parent (EUR 165.95) or both parents (EUR 272.65).
- Included in tuition (no extra charge): lunch service (compulsory), wrap‑around care from 08:00–09:00 and 16:20–18:15, day trips and excursions (not overnight), and official first‑sitting exam fees (Cambridge, Instituto Francés, Goethe Institut, IGCSE, IB DP, EBAU within established timing).
- Not included (additional costs billed separately or paid directly by families): uniforms; bus service; extracurricular activities; AFA annual membership (EUR 15 per year, per family); yearbook (EUR 38 per year, per family); school materials (varies by year group); overnight excursions and trips; certain university application services. The school lists the annual insurance amounts above separately (EUR 165.95 or EUR 272.65).
Refund information
- The one‑time admission process fee (EUR 3,500) is non‑refundable. No full public refund schedule for tuition instalments or other fees is published alongside the fee summary.
Fee payment options
- Bank transfer is used for prompt annual payments (a prompt‑payment discount is offered for payments received by bank transfer before the start of the academic year). Specific additional payment channels (for example, credit card acceptance) are not specified in the published fee summary.
Summary of material not published in the fee statements reviewed
- The school's published fee information does not include a separate three‑term (Autumn/Spring/Summer) fee breakdown; fees are presented as annual amounts with an 11‑instalment billing schedule. The published materials do not include a detailed, public refund policy for tuition beyond the stated non‑refundability of the admission process fee, nor do they list all accepted payment methods beyond bank transfer for prompt payment.
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
The International School of Catalunya follows the National Curriculum of England and Wales from Early Years through to A-Levels. Year 10 Secondary students (aged about 15-16) take IGCSE examinations. A-Levels are a two-year programme preparing students for university. Official exams include SATs, I/GCSE, and International A-Levels. The Early Years Foundation Stage begins in Reception (3-5 years) and Primary education starts in Key Stage 1; Secondary begins in Key Stage 3 (Year 7-9) and continues to Key Stage 4 (Year 10-11).
Curriculum details
Primary is taught in English, Spanish and Catalan; the primary curriculum covers sciences, computer science, history, geography, drama, arts, music, PSHE and physical education. It meets the English National Curriculum standards and prepares pupils to transition to the Secondary's tri-lingual system. Secondary is officially a Catalan school with a tri-lingual system; in 1st ESO a fourth language is introduced (French or German) and a fifth language is coding. The aim is to master English, Spanish and Catalan at native level, and at age 16 students sit Cambridge IGCSE/GCSE exams. Post-16 options include Bachillerato Nacional and the International Diploma Programme (IB). The Enriched Curriculum includes An Oracy School, Library & Literature, Mathematics; Arts (Music, Art, Drama); Duke of Edinburgh; CAS (for IB students); Debate and MUN; Work Experience.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
—
Student teacher ratio
—
Exam results
Exam results
—
Exam results
IB Diploma Programme results 2024-2025: 44/45 points; 97% pass rate; average IB Diploma score 36 points; Diploma Subject Grade average 5.7/7. Bachillerato (2024-2025): 100% pass rate; average 7.21/10; 33% of students scored above 8/10; two students achieved 13.72/14 and 13.28/14; one student received the Premi Generalitat.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
—
Higher education progression
100% of Oak House School students go to Russell Group universities. Destinations include King's College London, Warwick, Bath and Manchester.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
—
Gifted and talented
The Inclusion & Wellbeing team identifies students with exceptional abilities and provides opportunities to nurture their talents; exam accommodations are offered based on individual profiles.
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
Book a private visit. The admissions process is designed to be enjoyable and straightforward. Meet the admissions team at the school for an initial interview with our director to view facilities, meet teachers and students, and ask all questions regarding our educational programme. Submit enrolment forms and all required documentation. Early years: Families aspiring to enter Early Years will have an initial interview with the school director, and subsequently complete and submit the enrolment form and other documentation as outlined in the enrolment pack. Reception: Families aspiring to enter Reception, should there be places available in this year group, complete and submit the enrolment form and other documentation as outlined in the enrolment pack including, where applicable, a copy of the child's last school report. No knowledge of English is required for entry to the Early Years programme. Primary: Families aspiring to enter Primary, should there be places available, will be asked to complete and submit relevant enrollment documentation on offer of a place. These students are usually required, as part of the admissions process and without any further obligation, to spend at least half a day in their prospective class. This replaces the traditional 'entrance test' and allows our teachers to evaluate the level of English and social disposition in a natural and holistic way, at the same time giving the child the opportunity to experience a day at ISCAT. For students entering Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2) no previous knowledge of English is required, although this would be a distinct advantage. Students entering Key Stage 2 (from Year 3 to Year 6) are required to have some knowledge of English. Secondary & A-Levels: Students aspiring to enter Year 7 and above will be asked to attend an initial interview with a member of the secondary teaching team. Should a place be available, candidates are then required, as part of the admissions process and without any further obligation, to spend at least half a day with their prospective class. This replaces the traditional ‘entrance test' and allows our teachers to evaluate the level of English and social disposition in a natural and holistic way, at the same time giving the child the opportunity to experience a day at ISCAT first-hand. If ISCAT deems the student to have the necessary competencies and level of English to join the group, the enrolment form and other documentation as outlined in the enrolment pack should be completed and submitted to the school office, together with copies of the child's school reports for the previous two academic years. Please note that all students wishing to enter the school in Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 (Year 7 and above) must have an adequate level of spoken English. Open enrolment: Get to know in-person our school! We will accompany you personally and answer any questions you may have about the school, our learning spaces and the different educational stages.
Admissions
The school provides online admissions. After submitting an application, a confirmation email is issued by the admissions department. Getting to know Oak House School includes online information sessions for each educational stage and group guided tours of the campus. Admissions Process: apply online; the admissions department will confirm whether a place is available or the application will be included on the waiting list. From Year 3 onwards, candidates take three entry tests (English, Spanish and Mathematics); tests can be completed online if the candidate lives abroad. A personal interview with the Inclusion & Wellbeing department occurs during the entry tests session. A formal offer follows a successful outcome to secure enrolment. Specific requirements for admissions include submitting academic reports and demonstrating knowledge of English and Spanish; good academic performance; commitment to studies; and a positive attitude toward learning. Booklets for Early Years, Primary, Secondary, Bachillerato/IB, and Inclusion & Wellbeing are available to read online.
Scholarships
Scholarships
—
Scholarships
—
Waitlist
Waitlist
—
Waitlist
If there are no places available, the admissions department confirms receipt of the application and the application is placed on the waiting list until a place becomes available.