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Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Leadership and Professional
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction
SEK International School El Castillo is a private international school in Spain serving ages 0 to 18. Founded in 1972 by Felipe Segovia Olmo and part of the SEK Education Group, it offers the International Baccalaureate continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) alongside the American Curriculum and bespoke pathways, with full English-language immersion and bilingual Spanish–English education. The school also provides a Dual Diploma option enabling students to obtain the Spanish Bachillerato and/or the Diploma Programme and the American High School Diploma. A campus of about 40,000 square metres hosts dedicated buildings for each stage, flexible learning spaces, intelligent classrooms and laboratories, a well-stocked library, art and music spaces, and extensive digital technologies. The on-site facilities include a dining hall and central courtyard. Extensive sports and arts facilities, a Learning Adventures programme, and a range of clubs support development in leadership, STEM, and the arts. Boarding is available for both local and international students.
This campus is part ofSEK International School Spain
C. Castillo de Manzanares, 28692 Villafranca del Castillo, Madrid, Spain
The Essentials
SEK International School - El Castillo has 1,150 pupils, typical class sizes of 21, instruction in English, Spanish.
Location
SEK-El Castillo is located in Northwest Madrid, in a residential area. The address is Urb. Villafranca del Castillo, Castillo de Manzanares, s/n. Villanueva de la Ca ada, 28692 Madrid, Spain. It is about 20 minutes from Madrid city centre. A coach service serves Madrid and surrounding towns, supervised by teachers and subject to route adjustments based on demand.
Stages
The school provides Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary education, the Baccalaureate, and the Diploma Programme (DP) as part of the International Baccalaureate continuum. It serves students from 4 months to 18 years of age.
Type
Private international school with on-site boarding facilities for boys and girls.
Pupil Nationality Mix
Students come from over 40 nationalities.
Country affiliation
Spain
School day structure
School hours: day begins 9:30 and ends 17:30. Extended hours: Nursery to 2nd year Primary from 8:30 to 9:30 and from 17:30 to 18:30.
Bus service
A coach service covers Madrid and surrounding towns including Madrid, Alcorcf3n, Alpedrete, Aravaca, Boadilla del Monte, Brunete, Collado Villalba, El Escorial, Galapagar, La Navata, Las Matas, Las Rozas, Legane9s, Majadahonda, Mf3stoles, Navacerrada, Navalcarnero, Pozuelo de Alarcf3n, Torrelodones, Valdemorillo, Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Ca ada, Villanueva del Pardillo and Villaviciosa de Odf3n. The itineraries and stops may be modified depending on demand; teachers supervise the route.
Fees
Application fees
- No application, registration or enrollment fee amounts are published publicly by the school for the current academic year (2025–2026). Parents should note that the school accepts enquiries through its admissions channels but does not list any fixed public application fees.
Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)
- The school does not publish a public fee schedule that itemises tuition by year group or per term for the current academic year. No definitive per-term or per-year numeric tuition figures are publicly available.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- There is no publicly available, itemised billing schedule or set of payment terms (for example, number of instalments, termly invoicing dates, or late-payment penalties) published by the school. Specific billing cycles and payment deadlines are provided to families through the school's admissions and finance offices rather than in a public schedule.
Boarding fees (where applicable)
- Boarding is available at the school (male and female boarding houses operate on campus), but boarding fee amounts (weekly, full-board, or termly rates) are not published publicly. Details about guardianship and international boarding arrangements are published, however specific boarding price schedules are not publicly posted.
Other costs or fees (uniform, meals, activities, exams, transport, materials)
- The school lists extra-curricular activities and student services but does not publish a consolidated public list of the ancillary charges tied to uniforms, meals, transport, exam fees, school trips, materials, or extra-curricular activities with fixed prices for the current academic year. Historically the school has offered priced extra-curricular activities in separate activity brochures, but current-year consolidated amounts are not publicly posted.
Refund information
- No publicly posted refund policy for tuition, boarding or other fees is available on the school's public pages. Terms relating to refunds, cancellations or withdrawals are handled through the school's contractual enrolment and legal terms provided to families at admission rather than as a published public schedule.
Fee payment options (credit card / bank transfer / other)
- The school does not publish a public list of accepted payment methods. Specific accepted payment methods (for example bank transfer, direct debit/SEPA, credit/debit card) and instructions are issued directly to enrolled families with their invoices.
Summary of search and availability (brief):
- I checked the school's public pages and third‑party international school listings for up-to-date fee schedules for the current academic year. The school does not publish an itemised public fee schedule showing application fees, tuition by year group (per term or per year), boarding rates, billing cycles, refund terms or accepted payment methods. Boarding and extra-curricular programmes are confirmed as available, but numeric fee details are not posted publicly. For families this means there are no publicly available numeric figures to present for the current academic year.
Academics
SEK International School - El Castillo teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 0 to 18.
Curriculum
The school covers all educational stages from 4 months to 18 years and offers the International Baccalaureate continuum with full English-language immersion and bilingual Spanish/English education.
Higher Education Progression
University Path starts in MYP 5 with personalised guidance from the career guidance counselor to prepare for university applications; 90% of students obtain the score required to enroll in their declared major; universities from around the world visit SEK to discuss higher education.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The SEK Educational Model places special emphasis on the development of emotional intelligence skills, integrating them into the curriculum. The IB programmes (PYP, MYP and DP) include creative resolution of conflicts and emphasize social and emotional intelligence, teamwork, leadership, and service learning.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Admissions Policy states the school will admit students whose academic and personal needs can be met by the programmes and student support services available at admission, and if an educational adaptation is not possible, inclusion in an inferior grade could be considered.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Full English-language immersion; bilingual Spanish/English education. In Early Childhood Education, linguistic immersion is delivered entirely in English (with one hour per day in Spanish).
Mental Wellbeing
Learning Adventures lists mental and physical well-being as a key learning goal, with activities designed to strengthen self-knowledge, balance, resilience, and overall well-being.
Admissions
Admissions
STEP 1: Request information via the web, email or telephone. Limited places. The admissions process is designed to get to know the student and their family and respond to their particular needs. STEP 2: If you like, arrange a visit to the school with the admissions department. The visit provides an opportunity to meet the admissions team and discuss the student's needs. STEP 3: Arrange interview and entrance test: The admission and documentation process is done through MY SEK Admissions. When families apply for the admission test, essential information to create access to the platform is required, and tutors will receive login and password to provide all required documents prior to the interview. STEP 4: The Admissions Committee will send the final response to the family once the corresponding decision has been taken. The documentation for the start of the process includes identity documents for both parents and students, birth certificate, marks or report cards for the previous academic year, online interview for those who cannot take tests at the school, and other documents depending on the academic cycle as detailed in MY SEK Admissions. The Admissions Policy can be downloaded.
Scholarships
SEK Education Group, through its Felipe Segovia Foundation, calls for entries for SEK Excellence Scholarships to study the SEK university baccalaureate, through the Diploma Programme (IB), at seven authorised schools including SEK International School El Castillo; or to study any form of Baccalaureate at five authorised schools. SEK Scholarships for Sports Performance are for students who represent the school or club in the sport and continue their training at SEK International Schools; SEK Scholarships for Sporting Talent are for students with outstanding sports and/or academic talent and results. Maria de Villota Scholarship for Personal Effort provides the chance to study at SEK International School Ciudalcampo. Felipe Segovia Award to Best SEK Student grants the chance to study the SEK university baccalaureate, through the Diploma Programme (IB), at one of the seven authorised schools (including El Castillo) or to study any form of Baccalaureate at five authorised schools. As part of SEK Education Group, Camilo José Cela University also offers grants and financial aid. SEK Scholarships 2026-2027 information is available here.
FAQs
What age range does SEK-El Castillo serve?
The school serves ages 0 to 18, from nursery (4 months) through Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary, Baccalaureate and IB Diploma Programme. Day and boarding options are available.
What curriculum does the school follow?
SEK-El Castillo offers the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) alongside the American Curriculum and Spanish Bachillerato. A Dual Diploma option allows students to obtain both Spanish and IB qualifications.
Is boarding available?
Yes. Two on-campus boarding residences serve both boys and girls. Facilities include study rooms, medical office, laundry service, TV room, 24-hour security and access to all sports facilities.
What are the sports facilities like?
A 1,000 square metre multi-sports arena, 25m heated swimming pool, tennis and handball courts, basketball courts, 5-a-side football pitch, plus dedicated spaces for taekwondo, dance, skating and theatre.
What are the school hours?
The day runs 9:30am to 5:30pm. Extended hours from 8:30am to 6:30pm are available for Nursery to 2nd year Primary students.
Is there a bus service?
Yes. A coach service covers Madrid and surrounding towns with a supervised route. The campus is about 20 minutes from Madrid city centre in the residential Villafranca del Castillo area.
How many students attend?
Approximately 1,150 students from over 40 nationalities attend the school, which was founded in 1972 by Felipe Segovia Olmo.
What university placement rates does the school achieve?
90% of students obtain the score required to enrol in their declared major. University guidance begins in MYP 5 with a dedicated career guidance counsellor.
What extracurricular programmes are offered?
The Duke of Edinburgh International Award at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. RoboSEKos robotics teams, Arts Baccalaureate, Theatre, Music, and SEK International Sports Academy for high-performance sport.
What accreditations does the school hold?
NEASC and CIS accreditation, plus authorisation for all three IB programmes. The school became the first Spanish SEK school to offer the IB when it joined in 1977.
Are scholarships available?
Yes. SEK Excellence Scholarships through the Felipe Segovia Foundation for the IB Diploma Programme, available across seven authorised SEK schools.
What languages are taught?
Full English immersion from nursery, bilingual Spanish/English education, with French and German introduced from Years 3-4. In Secondary, three languages are studied simultaneously.
