Richmond International School vs The British School of Barcelona - Castelldefels Campus
Richmond International School and The British School of Barcelona - Castelldefels Campus are both in Barcelona, about 21 km apart. Both schools offer British programmes, and Richmond International School also offers Cambridge IGCSE. Published annual fees are €13,100 at Richmond International School and €11,200 - 20,250 at The British School of Barcelona - Castelldefels Campus, which puts The British School of Barcelona - Castelldefels Campus roughly 20% higher. Richmond International School takes pupils from 2 to 18, and The British School of Barcelona - Castelldefels Campus from 3 to 18. The British School of Barcelona - Castelldefels Campus is the larger school, with around 1,200 pupils to Richmond International School's 163. Typical class sizes are 15 at Richmond International School and 24 at The British School of Barcelona - Castelldefels Campus.
The school is located at 14-16 Rambla del Garraf, Sant Pere de Ribes, 08810 Catalunya, Spain. It sits in the Sant Pere de Ribes area in the Barcelona region and is well-connected with good transport links. A Google Maps directions link is available on the contact page.
Location
The school operates across three campuses in the Barcelona metropolitan area: City Campus in Barcelona, Castelldefels Campus, and Sitges Campus. City Campus is at Carrer de l'Esperança, 32, 08017 Barcelona. Castelldefels Campus is at Carrer Ginesta, 26, 08860 Castelldefels. Sitges Campus is at Passeig Isaac Albéniz, s/n, 08870 Sitges.
Stages
Stages
Nursery to Year 13.
Stages
City Campus and Castelldefels Campus serve ages 2-18; Sitges Campus serves ages 2-11.
School type
School type
International multilingual school.
School type
Private, co-educational international day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
Many nationalities are represented, mainly European, including the United Kingdom and Spain; other nationalities include France, Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, and the Netherlands. There are also students from China, the United States, and South America. The main language of instruction is English, and most classes are taught in English.
Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school is fully inclusive, with personalized attention to each student and education grounded in values.
Additional learning support
The school provides for students with special educational needs and disabilities.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Authorized to offer British education to students of all nationalities; NABSS member.
Country affiliation
UK curriculum; British international school in Spain.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
The school day runs from 8:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday.
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
The Summer School 2024 bus route runs Barcelona to Castelldefels with morning and afternoon services; it stops at central Barcelona locations (e.g., Av. Marquès de l'Argentera, Passeig de Gràcia) and Castelldefels (Passeig de la Marina) with morning departures around 7:40–8:28 and returns around 17:15–18:25.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application fees
- The school does not publish a fixed public application or registration fee schedule.
Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)
- Richmond International School does not make a detailed fee schedule (per year group, per term) publicly available. Published fee tables for specific year groups are not provided. - Independent press and school-directory summaries give ballpark figures used by parents and local guides: reported monthly fees in media coverage have been described in the region of approximately EUR 750 to EUR 1,100 per month; an average annual tuition figure is reported around EUR 13,100 in third‑party listings. These figures are estimates reported externally and do not replace a formal fee schedule from the school.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- A published billing schedule (for example: annual, per-term, or monthly instalments), payment deadlines, and standard contractual payment terms for tuition are not publicly posted. The school's formal policies address complaints and finance-related matters but do not set out a public timetable of fee instalments.
Boarding fees (if applicable)
- There is no published indication that Richmond International School operates boarding accommodation. The school is described as providing Early Years through Year 13 education (day provision). No boarding fees are listed.
Other costs and fees (uniform, materials, extras)
- The school operates a uniform shop with itemised prices for uniform pieces. Examples of current listed retail prices are: - Polo shirt: EUR 21.59. - Blazer (americana): EUR 39.95. - Bermuda shorts: EUR 42.99; blouse: EUR 12.99; jumper: EUR 49.19; sports trousers: EUR 17.59; full‑length uniform trousers: EUR 39.99. - The school runs educational trips and excursions as part of its programme; associated trip costs and charges for extra‑curricular activities, school meals (lunch/food service), transport, special programmes, exam fees, or learning resources are not published as a consolidated fees list. Additional charges for trips, meals and activities are customary but specific amounts are not made public.
Refund information
- There is no publicly posted, itemised refund policy for tuition and enrolment fees. The school's published complaints policy addresses dispute procedures but does not present a public fee‑refund schedule. Any refund rules would be set out in the school's admission/enrolment contract rather than in a public fee table.
Fee payment options
- Specific accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, direct debit, credit card) are not published in a public fees or admissions schedule. Parents should expect standard methods used by private schools, but the school has not posted a public list of payment options.
Summary for parents
- Richmond International School does not publish a full, public fee schedule broken down by year group and term. Published public information includes uniform item prices in the school shop and external estimates of typical tuition ranges used in local guidance and directories. For precise, student‑specific tuition and contractual billing details, the school provides formal figures directly through its admissions and enrolment process rather than in a public fee table.
Tuition fees by campus and year group (annual and per term) Note: where the school operates different campuses the published annual fees differ by campus. Per-term figures below are calculated as the published annual fee divided by three (Academic year split into three terms) and are shown for convenience; the school invoices on an annual basis and provides instalment options (see Billing schedule).
- BSB Sitges / BSB Castelldefels / BSB Nexus (Academic year 2025–2026; annual fee — per term [annual ÷ 3]): - Pre-Nursery (3 full days): EUR 6,300 — Per term: EUR 2,100.00. - Pre-Nursery (4 full days): EUR 7,600 — Per term: EUR 2,533.33. - Pre-Nursery (5 half days): EUR 5,705 — Per term: EUR 1,901.67. - Pre-Nursery (full-time / 5 days): EUR 8,150 — Per term: EUR 2,716.67. - Nursery (3 full days): EUR 8,800 — Per term: EUR 2,933.33. - Nursery (4 full days): EUR 11,000 — Per term: EUR 3,666.67. - Nursery (5 half days): EUR 8,260 — Per term: EUR 2,753.33. - Nursery (full-time): EUR 11,800 — Per term: EUR 3,933.33. - Reception (full-time): EUR 11,800 — Per term: EUR 3,933.33. - Year 1 and Year 2: EUR 13,420 per year — Per term: EUR 4,473.33. - Year 3: EUR 15,900 per year — Per term: EUR 5,300.00. - Years 4–6: EUR 16,050 per year — Per term: EUR 5,350.00. - Years 7–8: EUR 17,700 per year — Per term: EUR 5,900.00. - Year 9: EUR 15,850 per year — Per term: EUR 5,283.33. - Years 10–11: EUR 16,650 per year — Per term: EUR 5,550.00. - Year 12 A-Levels: EUR 18,550 per year — Per term: EUR 6,183.33. - Year 12 IB: EUR 19,050 per year — Per term: EUR 6,350.00. - Year 13 A-Levels: EUR 18,550 per year — Per term: EUR 6,183.33. - Year 13 IB: EUR 19,050 per year — Per term: EUR 6,350.00.
- BSB City (Esperança and Lucà campuses — Academic year 2025–2026; annual fee — per term [annual ÷ 3]): - Nursery and Reception: EUR 12,800 per year — Per term: EUR 4,266.67. - Year 1 and Year 2: EUR 14,700 per year — Per term: EUR 4,900.00. - Year 3: EUR 17,440 per year — Per term: EUR 5,813.33. - Years 4–6: EUR 17,540 per year — Per term: EUR 5,846.67. - Years 7–9: EUR 19,175 per year — Per term: EUR 6,391.67. - Years 10–11: EUR 20,250 per year — Per term: EUR 6,750.00. - Years 12–13 (Pre-University): EUR 20,000 per year — Per term: EUR 6,666.67.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are published as annual amounts. The school issues annual invoices and offers instalment options for payment; published guidance indicates fees are commonly paid across instalments during the school year (the school also publishes a prompt-payment discount deadline). A prompt-payment discount of 2% applies for payment by bank transfer made before the published date (example: before 1 September 2025 on the 2025–2026 schedule). - The school communicates instalment options on its fee documents; families should expect the annual fee to be broken into multiple invoices/instalments rather than a single one-off payment.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. The British School of Barcelona is a day school operating multiple day campuses (Sitges, Castelldefels, City, Nexus); no boarding fees are published.
Other costs and optional charges - School lunch (where optional or not included): BSB publishes cafeteria charges; examples from the published schedules for 2025–2026 show monthly lunch menus priced at approximately EUR 210–EUR 210 (varies by campus) and per-day lunch options (e.g., EUR 13–EUR 15/day depending on campus). - External examination fees (IGCSE, A-Level, IB) are not included in tuition and are charged separately. - School uniform: charged separately (uniform costs vary by item and year group). Uniform costs are listed as an additional expense and are not included in the published tuition. - After-school activities and extra-curricular clubs: charged separately (individual activity fees apply). - School transport (bus): charged separately; routes and fees vary by distance and campus. - Locker maintenance fee: EUR 20 per year (from Year 7 to Year 11) is published as not included in the tuition for the 2025–2026 documents.
Refund information - The matriculation fee is published as a first-year joining fee; the school's published materials refer to the matriculation amount in the first-year joining section and third-party captures of the school's fee schedule describe it as non-refundable. For the 2025–2026 schedules the matriculation figure is EUR 3,200 (siblings EUR 1,600). Specific refund rules for tuition or deposits (for mid-year withdrawal or deferred entry) are handled under the school's formal terms and conditions; the published fee sheets state the matriculation amount and sibling rates but do not list general tuition-refund tables on the fee schedule itself.
Fee concessions, sibling discounts, and reductions - Sibling concessions apply to tuition only. Published sibling tuition discounts for 2025–2026 are: 10% for the third child, 15% for the fourth child, and 20% for the fifth child and any subsequent children. The matriculation fee reduction for subsequent siblings is EUR 1,600 (i.e., a reduced matriculation figure). A prompt-payment discount of 2% is published for full-year payment by bank transfer before the deadline.
Fee payment options - Bank transfer: accepted — a prompt-payment discount is specifically linked to payment by bank transfer in the published fee documents. - Instalments: the school issues annual fees with instalment options; the published guidance shows families commonly pay the annual amount across multiple instalments during the school year.
Summary (what these fees cover) - Published tuition figures for each year group include core tuition plus the items specifically listed for that year group (examples: lunch & snack for Early Years and many Primary year groups, morning childcare/“guardería” from 8:30am for Early Years where indicated, school materials and books or licences for online textbooks, school insurance and education-continuity insurance). External exam fees, uniform, transport, after-school clubs, some lunches for older year groups, and specific extras are charged separately.
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
We are a multilingual international school in Barcelona. The school emphasizes personalized attention to each student, values-based education, and academic excellence with a creative approach to learning. The curriculum reflects British values and uses the latest technologies, while actively promoting multilingualism in several languages. It aims to prepare students to contribute meaningfully to society as leaders in an increasingly complex world. The program fosters excellence across science, technology, the arts, sports, and music, and supports belonging within the school community.
Curriculum details
The curriculum is firmly rooted in the English National Curriculum and is delivered across three campuses (Castelldefels, City, Sitges) with an inquiry-based approach. In Early Years, learning follows the Curiosity Approach, while primary uses a transdisciplinary model that connects core and foundation subjects. The secondary and sixth form offer 18 A Level programmes, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), and BTEC Music and BTEC Sport, with pathways designed to meet local university entrance requirements.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
GCSE results (2024) show an overall pass rate of 95%, with 98% achieving 5 or more passes; 60% of grades were 7-9 in 2024 and 98% were 4-9. In English Language, 59% of students achieved 7-9 in their first or second language, and 98% achieved 9-4. KS5 results are strong, with IB results consistently above the global average (average over 34 points; 19% achieving 40+), and both IB and A Level students achieving a 100% pass rate in 2024; A Level grades include 46% A*/A.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Graduates from the 2021-2022 cohort are pursuing degrees at universities in Spain and across Europe, including Moscow State Institute of International Relations (International Business & Finance), University of Groningen (Artificial Intelligence), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Medicine), Esade (Bachelor of Business Administration), Utrecht University (Business), Universitat de Barcelona (Architecture), and Rubika Montreal (Animation).
Higher education progression
29% of BSB graduates go on to UK universities and 65% access English-medium tertiary courses in other countries.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
A strong leadership programme is pervasive across all departments and phases, offering opportunities for students to lead and follow their passions; house captains and science ambassadors spoke of their roles with confidence. The Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award is available and used by students to develop leadership and project skills. From year 10, a career guidance programme with Unifrog helps high-achieving students explore careers, courses and university destinations.
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
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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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
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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
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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
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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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
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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
1. Schedule a visit. You can schedule a visit from the 'Schedule a visit' tab in the top menu. The visit marks the beginning of the admissions process. A personal interview and an English language assessment follow the visit.
2. Personal interview. During the visit to the center, we will conduct an interview with you and your child to ensure we are the right school for your child. The interview takes place during the visit. This step is part of the admissions process.
3. English language assessment. We will perform an English language proficiency assessment. The assessment is not conducted in Nursery, and it is not required if the student can already demonstrate proficiency.
4. Admission application. Once the three preceding steps are completed you may submit the admission application to Richmond. The application form can be in Spanish or in English.
5. Enrollment. When you receive the acceptance confirmation by email, your child may sit the entrance tests for their stage if required. After passing the tests, you must fill out the admission form. You will receive by email all the documents required to finalize your child's enrollment.
Admissions
The British School of Barcelona is an independent day school for children aged 2 to 18. All enquiries and applications are handled by the Admissions Department. Prospective parents may attend regular open days or arrange a personal tour with Admissions. After a visit, interviews and entrance tests, and the Parent Contract with the Admissions Registration Form and the non-refundable Registration Fee, a place may be offered. If a year group is full, the child is placed on a waiting list; a place is confirmed only after a formal offer and payment of the deposit/registration fee. Taster Days are offered for prospective pupils. Admission to Pre-Nursery and Nursery at the Sitges campus is available for children who turn two by December of the same year for Pre-Nursery (no formal assessment required, but the child is met) and for Nursery, children are welcomed if they turn three by December. Admission to other year groups requires an English language assessment (interview and written test); a maths or other subject-specific assessment may be required for Nexus entry. Pupils must have a working knowledge of the language of instruction; EAL support can be arranged at the parent's expense. Allocation of places, offers and waiting lists occurs after a formal offer and deposit. If there are more applicants than places, priority is given in this order: returning students; siblings; alumnae; length of time registered; and references; Nursery places prioritize full-time over part-time when applying at the same time. The school reserves the right to withdraw an offer if information provided is false or misleading. There is no right to appeal a admission decision; the Headteacher's decision is final. The terms of education are set out in the Parent Contract; the school maintains an Admissions Register in accordance with data protection.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
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Waitlist
Waiting lists apply when a year group is fully subscribed; a place is not guaranteed until a formal offer is made and the deposit/registration is received. The priority order used for allocating places on a waiting list is: returning students; siblings; alumnae; length of time registered; and references. Nursery places give priority to full-time placements over part-time when applications are made at the same time. Applicants are informed within about a week of enquiry whether a place is available, otherwise a place will be offered from the waiting list as it becomes available.