Runnymede College

The school is located at Calle Salvia 30, La Moraleja, Alcobendas, Madrid 28109, Spain. It sits in the La Moraleja area in the north of Madrid. Runnymede College is Madrid's oldest British international school, founded in 1967. It serves pupils from age 2 to 18.

Pre-Prep; Prep School; Senior School; Sixth Form

Private, co-educational UK-curriculum school

Discrete provision for SEND

British

Non-denominational

The curriculum follows the English National Curriculum. The Senior School operates a weekly timetable of fifty 40-minute lessons. All pupils are taught by subject specialists in mixed-ability classes, with ability/experience sets in English, Languages, Maths and Science where appropriate. The school teaches Spanish Language & Literature and Spanish Social Sciences to Spanish-speaking pupils, and the staff includes native English-speaking teachers and teaching assistants.

A Level results 2024: There were 78 pupils in the cohort; A 28%, A-A 63%, A-B 88%, A-C 96%. Pupils will be going to top universities in the UK, the US, Spain and Europe.

Graduates pursue higher education at leading universities worldwide. Over the past 15 years, 684 Old Runnymedians have gone on to study at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL and LSE. In recent years, graduates have headed to the United States (e.g., Harvard, Stanford, UPenn, Brown) and to Spanish institutions such as ICADE, IE and ICAI.

The school believes children flourish best when personal, social and emotional needs are met and there are clear, developmentally appropriate expectations for behaviour. Personal, Social and Health Education is a key part of the curriculum, delivered through bespoke PSHE and assemblies to develop resilience, self‑awareness and respectful relationships. Form Teachers and the pastoral team lead ongoing PSHE programmes, with emphasis on trust, support and a caring community. The Prep and Senior Schools foster leadership and social responsibility through the House system, pupil councils and other activities. The school provides a safe, structured environment where staff model positive conduct and pupil wellbeing remains central to school life.

Runnymede College provides SEND support within an inclusive framework. The Inclusion policy states that teachers plan to ensure equal access to learning for all pupils, including those with SEN and those with English as an additional language, and to remove barriers to achievement. A full SEND policy governs procedures and support, with a dedicated SEND team and a named Educational Psychologist. The school employs a full-time Educational Psychologist who works with the Coordinador de Bienestar y Protección to develop individual support plans. There is close liaison between families, subject staff, tutors and external specialists to ensure appropriate provision, including assessments for exam access where applicable.

English is the language of instruction in most lessons, with staff modelling high‑quality English in both speaking and writing. All Pre-Prep teaching staff are native English speakers and support language development to help pupils access the curriculum. The English Across the Curriculum policy places responsibility for developing English on all staff in English‑taught subjects, and encourages structured talk and vocabulary development across the curriculum. The policy also supports EAL learners with targeted materials and additional language support where needed. Inclusion and curriculum policies confirm that pupils with English as an additional language are supported to participate in all subjects.

The school prioritises pupils' emotional and mental well‑being, with a safeguarding and welfare framework led by designated staff including the school nurse. Two staff are trained in Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSA) to help identified pupils, and PASS (Pupil Attitudes to Self and School) has been introduced for Years 3–13 with an age‑appropriate intervention plan. Regular Team Around the Child meetings with pastoral staff, DSLs, the school nurse and the educational psychologist review needs and plan support. PSHE and wellbeing education address health, relationships and online safety to build resilience. On‑site medical care and staff first‑aid training support pupils' health and safety on campus.

Safeguarding and child protection are central to school life, with a team of designated safeguarding leads covering each section of the school. Staff receive safeguarding training and the school nurse coordinates welfare and protection activities, including communication with Spanish safeguarding authorities. Pupil welfare is recorded and tracked using safeguarding systems such as My Concern, and the safeguarding team is clearly identified to pupils and staff. The school maintains formal safeguarding policies, including a Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy, and keeps records alongside PSHE and health policies. The inspection and internal procedures emphasise prompt, confidential handling of safeguarding concerns and regular staff training.

The school is a selective entry school. The admissions process is designed to ensure pupils joining the school can cope with the British curriculum and enjoy their learning experience, with the Headmaster personally overseeing every application alongside the admissions team. The steps are: APPLY (enquire and arrange a visit), VISIT US (meet the Headmaster or Assistant Headmistress and tour the campus), ENTRANCE TEST (where places are available, entry into Year 1 and above requires admissions tests), and ENROL (enrolment paperwork after tests and interview if a place is available). Entry requirements by year group include accepting children from age two in Pre-Nursery/Nursery/Reception; Years 1–3 with a short entry assessment in Mathematics and English plus a recent school report; Years 4–8 with Mathematics and English assessments (Year 5 also includes CAT4); Years 9–11 with CAT4 along with Maths and English tests and a recent school report; Year 12 is highly selective with at least eight GCSEs at grade A or higher, entrance assessments in Mathematics and English, CAT4, and an interview, plus submission of a recent school report and mock GCSE results; Year 13 is not available as both A Level years must be completed at Runnymede.

Fundación Runnymede College scholarships give talented local students from Alcobendas public secondary schools the chance to study at top UK and US universities. Fundación Runnymede College was established to fund British higher education for pupils with outstanding academic records, providing information, assisting with applications, and paying fees and accommodation for the successful candidate in partnership with the Ayuntamiento de Alcobendas. The First Series invited Primero de Bachillerato pupils to apply; a Second Series was launched on February 27, 2025 to extend access to top UK and US universities, with a registration deadline of Monday, March 31. Applicants must have English at C1 level and an average grade of 9.5, and all applicants will be interviewed and sit tests in English and Maths. The Foundation's scholarships are described as providing opportunities for Alcobendas students to pursue study at prestigious universities in the UK and the US.