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Spain, Barcelona
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Founded in 1919 by Societé de l'Ecole Suisse de Barcelona, ESB began with modern instruction for students of all nationalities and beliefs. On 9 October 1920 ESB opened at 13 Buscarons with 13 students from 13 nationalities. In 1924 the school moved to Alfonso XII, its current main site, serving 145 students from 13 nationalities. In the 1930s Catalan language was introduced; between 1936 and 1939 ESB was closed due to military rule. The 1940s brought post‑war adjustments as teachers returned to their home countries. In the 1950s ESB opened to international travel again, helping students travel abroad, especially to Switzerland. In 1967 a new building on Alfonso XII was opened and ESB received more subsidies under a Swiss law. The 70s expanded the curriculum; the 80s brought recognition as a foreign school by Spanish authorities. In the 90s Generalitat de Catalunya recognized ESB as an international school; 1993 saw the first Matura exams, opening access to Swiss universities. Around 2000 emotional education grew; the Parents' School was founded and a new ESB building inaugurated. The KaPri project began in 2004; by 2007 a modern building with labs and a rooftop recreation area was in use. Since 2010 ESB has focused on personal, social and emotional competencies, ICT, and multilingual development, with BISA affiliation in 2011 and Denk-Wege/Pfade in 2012.
In the secondary school, five languages are taught: German, Spanish, Catalan, English and French. We foster independence through personal conversations with students to set goals and regularly review progress. We strengthen social competencies and collaborative learning while respecting each student's development. In addition, 7th and 8th grades add English and French; the school emphasizes tolerance and respect with students from diverse cultures, using communication and mediation techniques to prevent violence and promote democratic dialogue. Extracurricular activities include a ski week in Fiesch, Switzerland for 7th–8th grade and an 8th‑grade final trip to Menorca (Bike Camp).
Patronage: Asociación Escuela Suiza de Barcelona.
Schweizerschule Barcelona (ESB) is a private international school in Barcelona offering a Swiss international education for children aged 3 to 18. The curriculum spans Kindergarten through Gymnasium and is taught in German, with five languages in total: German, Spanish, Catalan, English and French. A distinctive feature is the double qualification: Swiss Matura together with Spanish Selectividad, enabling entry to Swiss universities and other international institutions. The school follows Swiss pedagogical principles in a multicultural setting that harmonizes Swiss, Spanish and Catalan cultures. The daily timetable is 9:20–16:35 for P3–4 and 8:35–16:35 for 5–12, with optional full-day care from 8:00 to 18:00. The ESB community emphasizes personal and social competencies and emotional intelligence, supported by facilities including laboratories and shared spaces. The school offers exchanges with partner cantonal schools in Lucerne and St. Gallen and cross-cultural initiatives to prepare students for global study and work.
