St. Patrick's International School vs The Olive Tree School

	S St. Patrick's International School Barcelona, Spain	T The Olive Tree School Barcelona, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €9,905 - 10,425	Fees / year €9,300 - 13,600
Age range	Age range 0 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 16 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils 198	Pupils 200
Typical class size	Typical class size 16	Typical class size 20
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2010
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location C/ Major, 37-39, Sant Joan Despí, 08970 Barcelona.	Location Carrer les Modistes 8, Sant Pere de Ribes, 08812 Barcelona
Stages	Stages Pre-Nursery & Early Years; Primary; Secondary education	Stages Nursery & Reception (Saplings); Primary School; Secondary School; ages 3–16
School type	School type British School	School type British international school following the British Curriculum; NABSS-regulated
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix Pupils come from 30 nationalities; English is the common language
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Inclusive SEND policy; SEND specialists and classroom teachers ensure needs are understood and met; SENCo leads provision, coordinating universal and targeted support and PPPs; staff training and family involvement.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation United Kingdom	Country affiliation United Kingdom affiliation; British International School following the British Curriculum; NABSS-regulated
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Not religious	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Inscription (application) fees - Pre-Nursery: EUR 450. - Early Years and Primary: EUR 2,500. Tuition (published by school stage) - Pre‑Nursery / Early Years Foundation Stage / Primary: EUR 845 per month. - Secondary: EUR 910 per month. - Swimming (Primary): EUR 38 per month. Annual and recurring mandatory charges - Annual reservation fee: EUR 350 per year. - Medical insurance: EUR 175 per year. - Accident insurance: EUR 375 per year. Book / materials (annual) - Year 1: EUR 175 per year. - Years 2–4: EUR 215 per year. - Years 5–6: EUR 240 per year. - Secondary: EUR 425 per year. Uniform and typical uniform item prices (examples) - Pre‑Nursery smock: EUR 25; summer shorts: EUR 20; winter tracksuit: EUR 45. - Primary backpack: EUR 40; smock: EUR 35; winter jacket: EUR 65. - Secondary formal shirt: EUR 50; jumper/jersey: EUR 55; winter jacket: EUR 69. What the monthly tuition covers - The published monthly fee includes breakfast, lunch and snack; school supplies; one‑day excursions; psychology service; digital platform; language and co‑curricular lessons (Chinese, piano, dance, yoga, mindfulness, Spanish, Catalan, French); and curricular subjects according to the British Council. Per‑term and per‑year equivalents (calculated example) - The school publishes tuition as a monthly amount. The following per‑term and per‑year figures are calculated examples based on a 10‑month billing period (September–June) and a three‑term academic year; these per‑term and per‑year figures are derived from the school's published monthly fees by simple arithmetic and are shown here for budgeting purposes only. (This calculation method uses the typical Spanish school-year rhythm of classes running from September to June.) - Pre‑Nursery / EYFS / Primary (published EUR 845 per month): - Example annual (calculated) = EUR 845 × 10 = EUR 8,450 per year. - Example per term (calculated) = EUR 8,450 ÷ 3 = EUR 2,816.67 per term. - Secondary (published EUR 910 per month): - Example annual (calculated) = EUR 910 × 10 = EUR 9,100 per year. - Example per term (calculated) = EUR 9,100 ÷ 3 = EUR 3,033.33 per term. - Swimming (Primary) (published EUR 38 per month): - Example annual (calculated) = EUR 38 × 10 = EUR 380 per year. - Example per term (calculated) = EUR 380 ÷ 3 = EUR 126.67 per term. Boarding - No boarding provision or boarding fees are published; boarding is not listed as an offered service. Refunds and cancellations - No published refund or fee‑cancellation policy for tuition, inscription, reservation, insurance or other fees is available on the school's published fee pages. Parents should note that no explicit refund information is provided in the published fee schedule. Billing schedule and payment terms (published details and notes) - Tuition is presented on the school's pages as a monthly charge by stage and as specific annual charges for reservation and insurance; the school also lists an annual reservation fee and annual insurance/accident charges. No full termly billing schedule (dates for invoice due‑dates, instalment options or late‑payment penalties) is published with the fee amounts. Fee payment options - The published fee pages do not specify accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, direct debit, online payment services, etc.). No payment‑method details are published alongside the fee schedule. Summary for parents (concise) - Inscription: Pre‑Nursery EUR 450; Early Years & Primary EUR 2,500. Monthly tuition: Primary stages EUR 845/month; Secondary EUR 910/month. Annual reservation and insurance charges apply (reservation EUR 350; medical EUR 175; accident EUR 375). Book packs and uniform items are additional and itemised on the school's uniform and book lists. No boarding fees, no published refund policy, and no published payment‑method details are shown in the school's public fee pages.	Fee details Registration & Admissions Fees - Registration fee: €2,830 payable on admission for pupils entering above Nursery/Reception; this fee is paid once and is non-returnable. - Reduced registration fee for a second child: €1,830. - Waiting-list fee: €300 per child to join the waiting list; this fee is non-refundable and is deducted from the registration fee if the child subsequently registers. Tuition fees (annual amounts by year group) - Nursery (age 3): €9,300 per year. - Reception (age 4): €9,300 per year. - Year 1 (age 5): €11,900 per year. - Year 2 (age 6): €11,900 per year. - Year 3 (age 7): €11,900 per year. - Year 4 (age 8): €11,900 per year. - Year 5 (age 9): €11,900 per year. - Year 6 (age 10): €11,900 per year. - Year 7 (age 11): €13,100 per year. - Year 8 (age 12): €13,100 per year. - Year 9 (age 13): €13,100 per year. - Year 10 (age 14): €13,600 per year. - Year 11 (age 15): €13,600 per year. (Annual tuition figures as published for the current school fees schedule). Sibling discounts - A 30% discount in tuition is applied for a third child and any subsequent children from the same family. Billing schedule and payment terms - The public fee materials list annual tuition amounts and registration/ waiting-list fees but do not publish a detailed billing schedule (for example: per-term invoice amounts, instalment deadlines, required deposits, or late-payment penalties). The school requires payment of the registration fee to secure a place. Boarding - Boarding fees: Not applicable. No boarding programme or boarding fees are listed in the school's publicly published admissions and fees materials; the school operates as a day school for ages 3–16. Other costs and regular extras - School lunches: Contracted school lunch price is €8.95 per day when taken every weekday of the month; occasional daily lunches are priced at €9.95 per day. - Uniform, books, learning resources, exam fees, extracurricular clubs, individual music tuition, transportation, or other optional charges are not itemised in the published annual-fee graphic. Specific optional-cost items and their prices are not publicly listed. Refund information - Registration fee and waiting-list fee are explicitly stated as non-returnable/non-refundable. No public, detailed tuition-refund scale (for withdrawal part-way through the year, prorated refunds, or exceptional refunds) is published in the fee materials. Fee payment options - The school's publicly available fee pages and admissions information do not specify accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, credit/debit card, direct debit) or invoicing methods. The registration fee is required to secure a place. Brief summary of missing or unspecified items (for clarity) - The published materials provide annual tuition amounts by year group, registration and waiting-list fees, sibling discount and lunch prices, but they do not publish: a full per-term breakdown or instalment schedule; payment deadlines or late-payment penalties; accepted payment methods; a detailed list of additional compulsory fees (uniform, learning resources, exam or activity fees) or their prices; nor a formal, detailed tuition-refund schedule for mid-year withdrawal. These items were not located in the school's publicly posted fees and admissions pages.
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 St. Patrick's International School follows the British Curriculum. It offers Pre-Nursery & Early Years (0–3 and 3–5 years), Primary (6–12 years), and Secondary (13–18 years), with Secondary education in process under an International Bachelor program. The Pre-Nursery & Early Years program is multilingual. The school emphasizes English-language immersion, aiming for total immersion in English while engaging with international programs.	Curriculum details The Olive Tree School offers pupil-centred learning for 3-16 year olds. Montessori- and Waldorf-inspired pedagogy places thinking, exploration and creative problem solving at the heart of learning; the curriculum sits alongside the British framework, with pupils taking UK GCSE assessments at age 16. The Olive Tree School is a Pearson Edexcel GCSE centre. Class sizes are small, about 20 pupils, and the total pupil roll is around 200.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes around 20 pupils. The school has about 200 pupils.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results GCSE results show strong progress across 2015-2025. 64% of pupils achieved grade 7 or above across all subjects and 94% achieved grade 5-6 or above. In English, 67% achieved grade 7+ and 100% achieved grade 4+; in Maths, 82% achieved grade 7+ and 100% achieved grade 4+; in Science, 43% achieved grade 7+ and 99% achieved grade 4+.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
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 —	Admissions 1. Express interest and initiate the admissions process: Families contact the admissions department to express interest in joining The Olive Tree School. Admissions staff pass the family's details to one of the four headteachers to arrange a visit and discuss the child's profile, including educational history and any needs. Previous school reports for the past two years and any educational psychologist's reports are requested to inform the assessment. The school provides English education for ages 3–16 and teaches the British National Curriculum. 2. Documentation review and language/SEND assessment: The headteachers consider the previous reports and any additional documentation provided by the family. They evaluate the child's level of English and any special educational needs. The process takes into account the child's age, educational history, and language needs. There is no formal exam or entry test. 3. Two-day taster and family visit: If the headteachers believe the school may meet the pupil's needs, a two-day taster visit is offered for the child in the classroom. The family is provided with a tour of the school and a meeting with a headteacher. The aim is for the class teachers to further evaluate the child's suitability to join the class and the school. The process ensures the family can experience the environment before a decision is made. 4. Two further taster days and pre-trial form: The two taster days take place; Parents complete a ‘pre-trial' form before or on the first day. Observations are made by the teacher and passed to the headteacher. The headteacher makes a decision regarding the child's admission. 5. Communicating the decision: The admission decision is communicated by the admissions department. If admission is denied, the family is given clear reasons why the school cannot meet the child's needs. The headteachers may offer detailed guidance in finding a more suitable school. 6. Registration and waiting list option: If admitted, the family is guided through the administrative process; registration forms are completed and the matriculation fee paid. If there are no spaces in the desired year group, the child may be added to a waiting list. 7. 8-week evaluation after joining: After joining, the pupil's progress is monitored for eight weeks. Any concerns are relayed to the headteachers and the SENCo, with transparent communication to the family. If no concerns arise, the child remains on the school roll. 8. Monitoring and potential withdrawal if concerns persist: If initial concerns arise, targets are set and monitored from weeks 2–4. By Week 8, headteachers decide whether the child can continue at The Olive Tree or whether the place should be withdrawn under the registration terms. If withdrawal is decided, the school offers support and guidance in finding an alternative school.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Joining the waiting list is possible when there are no spaces in the relevant class. Joining the waiting list does not guarantee a place for September 2026. The fee to join the waiting list is 300€ per child and is non-refundable; if you subsequently register your child with us, the fee is discounted from the registration fee. Places are allocated strictly in chronological order from the date the child entered the waiting list. From 1 April 2026, places that become available are assigned to waiting list children strictly in chronological order from their waiting list entry date.
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