SEK International School Catalunya vs The British College of Gavà

	S SEK International School Catalunya Barcelona, Spain	T The British College of Gavà Barcelona, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €7,740 - 9,360	Fees / year €8,190 - 15,360
Age range	Age range 0 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Pupils	Pupils 1,020	Pupils 450
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 20
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Spanish	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1995	Opened 2015
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Located in the Els Tremolencs residential estate in La Garriga, Barcelona. La Garriga is in the Vallès Oriental region, about 30 minutes from Barcelona, and at the foot of the Montseny Nature Park. The campus spans 100,000 m2 with separate buildings for Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary and boarding, and includes a woodland area used as an extension of the classroom.	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 Childhood; Preschool; Primary; Secondary; Baccalaureate	Stages Early Years Foundation Stage; Primary; Secondary; IB Diploma Programme (IBDP); IB Career-related Programme (IBCP).
School type	School type Private international school with international boarding. Full English-language immersion and trilingual education (Spanish/English/Catalan). The school covers all educational stages, from 4 months to 18 years. The school is the only institution in Catalonia accredited to deliver the full International Baccalaureate continuum (IB PYP, MYP, DP).	School type British international school offering IGCSE and IB programmes.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	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 —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	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 - Application (registration) fee: EUR 665 (non‑refundable). - Reservation / enrolment deposit: EUR 1,570 (one‑off deposit, normally credited against the first-term tuition). Tuition fees by year group (reported figures for the current academic year) - Early years / Nursery: approximately EUR 645 per month (≈ EUR 7,740 per year). - Primary School: approximately EUR 675–760 per month (≈ EUR 8,100–9,120 per year). - Lower Secondary (ESO / Middle Years): approximately EUR 765–795 per month (≈ EUR 9,180–9,540 per year). - National Baccalaureate: approximately EUR 820 per month (≈ EUR 9,840 per year). - International Baccalaureate (DP): approximately EUR 935 per month (≈ EUR 11,220 per year). Per‑term amounts (illustrative): when annual tuition is billed in three equal term instalments, a useful planning figure is the annual amount divided by three (for example, an IB DP annual figure of EUR 11,220 corresponds to approx. EUR 3,740 per term when invoiced in three instalments). Boarding fees - Boarding options offered: full boarding (monthly including weekends), weekly boarding (Monday–Friday), and flexi / specific‑day stays; full board and laundry and academic support are included in boarding services. - Reported full‑boarding cost (published third‑party listings): around EUR 7,500 per year (full‑boarding annual estimate). Other recurring and optional costs - School uniform: SEK uniform is required; uniforms are sold via El Corte Inglés (cost borne by families). - School transport (bus): routes are supervised and available; transport is typically charged separately from tuition. - Extracurricular activities and music lessons: many extracurricular activities are charged monthly. Example published extracurricular rates include instrument lessons and activities such as: - One 30‑minute individual music class: EUR 69 per month; two 30‑minute individual classes: EUR 138 per month. - Group and sports activity monthly fees typically range from about EUR 39 to EUR 78 per month depending on frequency and activity. - Federation or competition fees and single annual charges (e.g., federation registration) are billed separately and may appear as a single non‑refundable charge in the autumn instalment (example: a federation file fee ≈ EUR 75). - Summer programme fees and short residential courses (when offered) are charged separately; example short‑course full‑board week fees have been published in the range of EUR 370–490 per week for specific summer programmes. Billing schedule and payment terms - Published information for SEK schools shows two common billing patterns used within the SEK network: (a) tuition invoiced as three equal instalments (one per academic term) and (b) tuition collected as monthly instalments during the school year. Families should plan for either a termly or monthly instalment structure; some schools within the SEK group offer discounts for single annual payment. - Typical administrative practice within the SEK group is to bill tuition in advance; late or unpaid fees can affect continuation of enrollment and the release of academic records. Refunds and withdrawal - No detailed, school‑specific public refund policy for SEK International School Catalunya is posted in the school's public pages. Group fee policies published for other SEK schools indicate that termly tuition payments are generally treated as non‑refundable once a student has attended classes for the term and that refunds or exceptions are handled on a case‑by‑case basis. Reports and transfer documents are typically withheld until outstanding fees are settled. Fee payment options - Common payment methods used across SEK schools include bank transfer / direct bank deposit, direct debit, and debit/credit card (card payments may carry a commission). Employer payments and cheques are accepted in some SEK locations. Families typically receive invoices with the bank details or payment instructions. Notes for budgeting - Tuition figures above are the principal component of school costs; add separate charges for boarding (if applicable), transport, uniform, extracurriculars, activity trips, examination fees and optional programmes (summer courses, music school, sports academy). Example extracurricular and music fees are published in the school's extracurricular programme documentation. (End of fees overview)	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 SEK-Catalunya is a multilingual school teaching through English, Catalan and Spanish. 70% of the curriculum is delivered in English, 15% in Catalan and 15% in Spanish. From year 5 of Primary Education, a fourth language (French or German) can be studied. The school integrates the International Baccalaureate Programme continuum, teaching the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). It provides full English-language immersion.	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 —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression The IB Diploma provides access to universities worldwide.	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: Request information via the web, email or telephone. This initial contact helps the admissions team understand your child's profile and family needs. Limited places apply, so early inquiry is advised. You will receive information on available programmes and entry requirements. STEP 2: If you like, arrange a visit to the school with the admissions department. Visits provide an opportunity to meet the admissions team and see the facilities. You can ask questions about the programmes and the admissions timeline. Availability of visit slots may vary. STEP 3: Arrange interview and entrance test. The admission and documentation process is conducted through MY SEK Admissions. When applying for the admission test, essential information is required to create access to the platform. The Admissions Committee will review the information and schedule the next steps. STEP 4: Documentation upload and final decision. Tutors receive login credentials to provide and upload the necessary documents according to the stage. Documents must be uploaded before attending the interview. Required documents include identity documents for both parents and student, birth certificate, and progress reports; additional documents may apply per academic cycle. The final decision is issued by the Admissions Committee.	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 SEK Scholarships include multiple programs through the Felipe Segovia Foundation. SEK Excellence Scholarships provide 50% of the cost of SEK university baccalaureate education (IB or other Baccalaureate) over two years at SEK schools, including Catalunya Barcelona. SEK Scholarships for Sports Performance recognise student-athletes who represent their school in competitions, while SEK Scholarships for Sporting Talent reward high levels of sporting and academic achievement. Maria de Villotta Scholarship for Personal Effort supports a student to study at SEK schools; Felipe Segovia Award to Best SEK Student recognises outstanding scholars. Scholarships are awarded by a Scholarship Committee based on academic merit, portfolio and other criteria; documentation includes academic records, personal portfolios, and letters of recommendation; decisions and timelines are published by SEK Education Group's scholarship program.	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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