English Academy Santa Claus vs Natura Montessori School

	E English Academy Santa Claus Barcelona, Spain	N Natura Montessori School Barcelona, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €8,025 - 9,775	Fees / year €7,160 - 8,660
Age range	Age range 3 - 12 years	Age range 1 - 12 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Montessori Curriculum, British Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, Montessori Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 100	Pupils 62
Typical class size	Typical class size 15	Typical class size 24
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Spanish	Instruction language English, Spanish
Opened	Opened 1965	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Lleó XIII, 12, 08022 Barcelona, Cataluña, España. The school is in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.	Location Located near Terrassa in Catalonia, Spain, Natura Montessori Escola Bosc is housed in a 17th‑century manor with 1,800 m² built and 14,000 m² of land, offering views of Montserrat and proximity to Barcelona and surrounding towns. Terrassa is about 15 minutes away, with 20 minutes to Sant Cugat or Sabadell, 12 minutes to Martorell, and 16 minutes to Sant Andreu de la Barca.
Stages	Stages Early Years; Primary Education	Stages Ages 1–12; Infant 1–3 years, Casa de niños 3–6 years, Taller 6–9 years, and 9–12 years.
School type	School type Private family school; Montessori philosophy	School type Montessori education with a forest‑school environment (escuela bosque) integrated into the program.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Inclusive education and a trilingual environment (Catalan, Spanish, and English).
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Spain	Country affiliation Spain
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Start 8:30; end 17:30	School day structure School day runs from 09:00 to 15:30.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details Transportation available: 150 €/month from Barcelona, Sant Joan Despi/Sant Feliu de Llobregat; requests for pickup points can be considered.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & one‑off fees - EUR 1,405 Inscription fee, paid once during the child's entire schooling. - EUR 525 Annual matrícula (registration) fee, payable from the second year onward. Tuition fees by year group (monthly and annual amounts) - Infant School (Reception, Kinder & Prep): EUR 750 monthly (paid September to June). Annual total (10 months): EUR 7,500. - Primary — Ciclo Inicial (Form I & II): EUR 820 monthly (paid September to June). Annual total (10 months): EUR 8,200. - Primary — Ciclo Medio (Form III & IV): EUR 870 monthly (paid September to June). Annual total (10 months): EUR 8,700. - Primary — Ciclo Superior (Form V & VI): EUR 925 monthly (paid September to June). Annual total (10 months): EUR 9,250. Billing schedule and payment terms - Regular tuition is billed as a monthly fee for the period September to June (10 monthly payments at the amounts listed above). - Inscription is a one‑time payment at enrollment; matrícula is charged annually from the second year. Specific invoice dates, late‑payment penalties and formal payment terms are not published in the fee document. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. The school is an early years and primary day school; no boarding or residential fees are published. What the tuition covers and additional charges - The published tuition amounts include tuition, meals, textbooks, materials and outings. - The only explicitly listed additional charge is the cost of official English exams for Primary pupils; the fee amounts for those exams are not specified. Other costs or fees - Official English exam fees (Primary): additional and not specified. - Uniform costs, optional extracurricular charges, transportation, deposits, sibling discounts and other potential extras are not listed in the published fee document. Refund information - No published refund policy or schedule for fee refunds appears in the school's public fee document or contact information. Refund terms and conditions for any of the fees listed are not specified. Fee payment options - The published fee materials do not specify accepted payment methods (for example, credit card, direct debit, bank transfer). Contact details (telephone and email) are provided for enquiries, but specific payment channels are not listed. Summary of missing details (items not published in the fee schedule) - Exact per‑term fees (the school publishes monthly charges for September–June rather than per‑term amounts). - Specific due dates, late‑payment penalties and formal payment terms. - Fees for official English examinations and any uniforms or optional activities. - Accepted payment methods and a published refund policy. (Note: amounts above are shown in EUR and reflect the figures published in the school's publicly available fee document.)	Fee details Application fees - Inscripción: EUR 1,500. - Renovación de matrícula: EUR 300 por año (se cobra a partir del año siguiente al pago de la inscripción). Tuition fees by year group - The school charges a single standard tuition rate for enrolled pupils (ages 1–12). The monthly tuition is EUR 580, billed in 12 monthly instalments. Annual total (12 × EUR 580): EUR 6,960. A 10% discount applies for siblings. Per-term amounts (calculated equivalent) - The school's published billing is monthly (12 payments). The school does not publish a termised fee schedule. The equivalent annual total is EUR 6,960; if you require a simple three-term (trimester) breakdown, the equivalent would be EUR 2,320 per term (this trimester figure is a direct mathematical division of the annual total and is presented as an equivalent, not an officially published termised fee). Billing schedule and payment terms - Regular tuition: EUR 580 per month, billed as 12 instalments per year. - Reservation/initial payment: after submission and acceptance the school issues the final payment and reservation documents; the payment must be made within one week of those documents being sent or the place will be released. The school indicates a response period of up to two weeks after receiving full documentation to confirm availability. Boarding fees - No boarding provision or boarding fees are listed; the school operates as a day school with published hours 09:00–15:30. Other costs and optional fees - Material escolar (school materials): EUR 200 per year. - Comedor (eco, local food): EUR 120 per month for 4 days/week; EUR 140 per month for 5 days/week; EUR 25 per month for using a tupper from home. - Transporte escolar: EUR 150 per month for routes from Barcelona / Sant Joan Despí / Sant Feliu de Llobregat (route availability assessed on request). - Acogida (before-care 08:00–09:00 or after-care 15:30–16:30): EUR 60 per month for each time slot. Refund and cancellation information - No explicit refund or cancellation policy for tuition, inscription or other fees is published on the school's fees page. The published payment requirement states that the reservation payment must be completed within one week of receiving the payment documents or the place is released; further refund terms are not provided on the fee page. Fee payment options - The available public fee information does not specify accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, direct debit, etc.). Contact details are published for administrative contact.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options The school has an outdoor ecological dining area with locally sourced products.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The school is a private family school and is governed by a school board.	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Total immersion in English for Early Years (ages 3–6), with children communicating in English through academics and play. Educational materials are from Britain and reflect British teaching methods. The Montessori philosophy underpins a practical, active and experimental approach while maintaining academic rigor. Primary Education provides a trilingual curriculum in English, Catalan and Spanish, with fluency in all three by the end. The program blends Anglo-Saxon and Spanish models and uses the same English-language materials as Great Britain. Core subjects include English, Catalan, Spanish, Mathematics, Natural and Social Sciences, Arts, Music and Physical Education, and Trinity (1º–4º), Cambridge (KET/PET), and Generalitat de Catalunya exams are taken with success; the school has over 50 years of experience and emphasizes a close, personalized environment and a stimulating academic approach.	Curriculum details Escola Natura Montessori combines Montessori pedagogy with forest-school practices. The school serves children from 1 to 12 years old, supporting emotional, physical, social, and academic development. Learning is guided by Maria Montessori's scientific observation to design the prepared environment around each child. It uses mixed-age groups—Infant Community (1–3 years), Children's House (3–6 years), and Workshop (6–9 and 9–12 years)—to foster community and peer learning. The main languages of instruction are Catalan, Spanish, and English. The campus is in Castellbisbal, Barcelona, in a 17th‑century farmhouse surrounded by forest, near Martorell and Terrassa, with transport options for families.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results Primary students complete Trinity College London oral exams in 1º–4º. In 5º–6º, they take Cambridge Exams (KET and PET). They also sit the Generalitat de Catalunya official exams in 3º and 6º with success. The school reports good results across these official exams.	Exam results —
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 English Academy Santa Claus provides an environment that supports social and emotional development. It reinforces values such as respect, understanding of others and harmony with the surroundings. The school prioritizes the relationship between students and teachers, and mutual respect among students. It is a rigorous school where awareness of limits, respect for those around us and good manners are highly valued. Over more than 50 years, it has adapted to social, environmental and technological changes, addressing academic, social, cognitive and emotional aspects with new methodologies and programmes. Students are encouraged to develop empathy and teamwork and to flourish physically, emotionally, creatively and cognitively.	Social & emotional learning The school promotes inclusive education and values-based learning. Mixed-age groups foster community and cooperative learning, developing mutual respect and support. Emotional, social and academic development is pursued through the Montessori approach and experiences in and with nature. Active listening and dialogue are emphasized to respond to each child's questions and curiosities.
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 The languages of instruction are Catalan, Spanish, and English.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Emotional education is primordial. The school provides an atmosphere in which boys and girls flourish physically, emotionally, creatively and cognitively. It fosters empathy and teamwork and supports management of emotions through philosophy, ethics and civics, debates and tutorings. The approach emphasizes the importance of emotional development as part of the educational project.	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing is addressed as part of emotional development within the holistic Montessori program, focusing on emotional and social growth alongside academics.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview Onsite kitchen provides meals prepared by our own staff. Food is seasonal and of good quality, and local products are used. Menus are healthy and balanced and analyzed by nutritional specialists. The school is a private family environment guided by the Montessori philosophy and offers trilingual education.	Facilities overview Escola Natura Montessori blends Montessori pedagogy with forest-school benefits. It serves children aged 1-12 to support their holistic development—emotional, physical, social, and academic. The school is located in Castellbisbal, Barcelona province, in a 17th-century farmhouse surrounded by forest, near Martorell and Terrassa, with access to nature while remaining close to the city and offering transportation to help families daily. The environment emphasizes a Montessori approach with well-prepared spaces that are warm, safe, and equipped with high-quality materials, designed to foster autonomy, creativity, love of nature, and social learning. Catalan, Spanish, and English are used, and the dining hall features ecological, locally sourced foods.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities Sports activities take place at partner venues: Tennis & Padell at Club Deportivo Bonasport, with the school accompanying students to the club and parents collecting them there. Jazz & Hip-Hop dance takes place at Danza Menchu Durán, with the school accompanying students to the venue and parents collecting them there. Tae kwon do takes place at Club Deportivo Bonasport, with the school accompanying students to the club. Swimming takes place at Club Tennis Barcino, with the school accompanying students to the club. Football is offered at Camp de l'Àliga and at Club Esportiu Europa, with supervision by the school. Basketball takes place at Club Deportivo Bonasport, and Chess is taught on campus.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Total immersion in English for the early years; children aged 3 to 6 communicate in English through academic and play activities. Educational materials are from Britain and reflect British teaching methods. The program develops language across speaking, reading, and writing in English, Catalan, and Spanish, especially in Primary Education. Mathematics is taught using manipulative tools such as Unifix, Regletas, and Numicon. Students progress toward official English exams such as Trinity and Cambridge, as well as Catalunya's Generalitat.	Academic facilities Academic spaces include the Infant Community (1-3 years) and the Casa de Niños (3-6 years), as well as Taller I and II. Each prepared environment displays a curriculum and houses Montessori materials across geography, geometry, mathematics, history, and language, organized in a sequence that supports progression in all areas. The school emphasizes multi-age groups to promote community, cooperation, and independent learning within an environment that values personal development and responsible participation.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities French and Mandarin Chinese are offered for students from Form I to Form VI, with sessions at the school. Art classes are held on Wednesdays, and Study & Homework sessions take place at the school. English lessons for alumni are available in the evenings, with small-group formats and Cambridge exam preparation. Other extracurricular activities include a focus on study habits and broader language development. The school also provides access to English language programs and Cambridge exam preparation for alumni.	Extra curricular facilities Casal de Verano Natura Montessori is a nature-focused summer program. It offers outdoor excursions, shelter-building, and basic survival skills, along with practical activities such as cooking, gardening, and caring for hens. There are water-based, art, and sports activities including archery and a zip line for all ages, with an Xtreme edition this year to introduce adventure sports and memorable experiences.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History English Academy Santa Claus is a private family school based on personalised education. It follows the Montessori philosophy, emphasising practical, active and experimental learning while maintaining a solid theoretical base. The school has over 50 years of experience adapting to social, environmental and technological changes. It was founded in 1965 by a founder who wanted to provide an education with a British character and total English language immersion in the early years, with Spanish and Catalan taught later in primary. It is located at Lleó XIII, 12, Barcelona, Spain.	History The founders are Andreea and Adrian, a multicultural family who love nature. Their motivation to create Natura Montessori came from their two daughters and their love of education. They are inspired by Claudio Naranjo, who described education as drawing out what we are, encouraging development. They look forward to sharing this project with families who identify with Natura's philosophy.
Community	Community From Form IV upwards, students participate in the annual Trip to Great Britain organized by the school. Destinations have included London, the Isle of Jersey, Exmouth, Plymouth and Exeter in recent years. These trips enable students to use English spontaneously, learn about another culture and ways of living. They also foster autonomy, responsibility, companionship and friendship during away-from-home experiences.	Community The Escola Natura Montessori community is guided by values such as education, ecology, social commitment, and freedom. The school promotes inclusive education, experiential learning, freedom and boundaries, and collaboration so children can enjoy a full childhood. The environment is a forest setting that supports direct daily contact with nature. Languages used are Catalan, Spanish, and English, and the cafeteria serves ecological, locally sourced food.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school is a private family school with personalized education. It offers a superior quality of teaching and individualised attention. It follows the Montessori philosophy while incorporating new pedagogical tools and academic programmes. It has over 50 years of experience adapting to social, environmental and technological challenges to support students' academic, social, cognitive and emotional development.	Academic & intellectual Transparent Classroom provides area-by-area progress monitoring against the full curriculum.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative The school values creative endeavours such as art and craft, theatre and language from the very beginning. Art, music and drama are integrated into the curriculum, encouraging creativity, curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. The environment welcomes tradition and creativity, and emphasizes expressive projects across multiple disciplines.	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language English Academy Santa Claus is a trilingual school. In Early Years, there is total immersion in English language. In Primary Education, students learn English, Catalan and Spanish, achieving fluency in all three languages. The program blends Anglo-Saxon and Spanish teaching models and fosters awareness of cultural realities and knowledge of other cultures.	Cultural & language English language support is provided, with Eva Martínez as the English guide and Ervin Gold as the English-speaking assistant.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies Students develop social skills through active, experiential learning and participation in school life, building a solid work ethic and sense of responsibility. Oral skills in all three languages are reinforced through activities such as theatre, radio work and debates. The school emphasizes empathy and teamwork as core values to support collaboration and personal growth.	Social & hobbies Every Friday, both Community Infantil and Casa de Niños participate in forest school outings. Community Infantil departs around 9:30 a.m. and returns around 12:30 p.m.; Casa de Niños departs around 9:30 a.m. and returns around 3:00 p.m.; clothing is season-appropriate and rain gear is used on rainy days; weekly garden and animal-care activities are included in the forest school program.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service The calendar includes a social project visit to Martorell Elder Residence in December.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional Students become enterprising and independent young people by overcoming obstacles and discovering their strengths. They gain a solid base to confront future challenges. Active and experimental education fosters leadership, responsibility and personal development. The teaching staff is highly qualified and the program remains rigorous and innovative.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Sport Activities include Tennis & Padle, Jazz & Hip-Hop, Tae Kwon Do, Swimming, Football, Basketball and Chess, with activities scheduled through the after-school program. The school accompanies students to clubs and parents collect them from the premises. Summer Camp offers academic, artistic and sport activities in a familiar environment. From Form IV upwards, there is an annual Trip to Great Britain to practice English and gain autonomy.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Xtreme Natura outings are offered and are highly recommended but not mandatory; an enrollment form with location and price is sent before each activity. Pedagogical excursions are planned monthly, including Farm Adventure, Xtreme Natura snow, and Xtreme Natura water outings. Casal verano runs in July with outdoor-themed activities, 100% outdoors, and a 10% family discount; enrollment opens in May with information provided in advance. The program emphasizes outdoor experiences and nature engagement.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision Languages taught are English, Catalan and Spanish; by end of Primary, students can communicate fluently in all three. In Early Years, English immersion uses materials from Britain. Primary subjects include English language, Catalan language, Spanish language, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, Philosophy, Arts and Music, and Physical Education. Official exams include Trinity exams for 1º-4º Primary, Cambridge KET and PET for 5º-6º Primary, and Generalitat de Catalunya exams for 3º and 6º Primary.	Language provision Catalan, Spanish, and English are used as vehicular languages. These languages are the primary languages of instruction in the Montessori program. The school applies a trilingual language provision across early childhood through elementary levels.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching Early Years provides total immersion in English. The educational material is from Britain and follows British teaching practices. Primary Education introduces Spanish and gradually Catalan, delivering a trilingual education in English, Catalan and Spanish by the end of Primary. The English language remains foundational across subjects, with English, Catalan and Spanish taught.	Bilingual teaching The school uses a trilingual approach with Catalan, Spanish, and English as vehicular languages. Classes are organized in mixed-age groups: Infant Community for ages 1-3, Children's House for ages 3-6, and Workshop I (ages 6-9) and Workshop II (ages 9-12). The multilingual environment integrates these languages across the curriculum and daily activities.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs Total immersion in English is provided in Early Years. Language develops in all areas of the curriculum and daily school life. Oral skills in all three languages are reinforced at Primary, and written language is developed in all three languages.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Placement begins with a personal interview with the school board. To arrange a visit, provide your contact details to request a time to meet.	Admissions 1. Pre-enrollment form: If you are interested in enrolling your child, fill out the pre-enrollment form. The form requests the contact person's full name (required), email (required), the child's name (required), the child's age (required), city (required), and phone number (required), and requires acceptance of the privacy policy (required). 2. Documentation after submission: After submission, the documents necessary to formalize enrollment will be sent. A maximum of two weeks after all documentation is received, we will contact you to communicate the availability of a place. 3. If admitted: If admitted, you will be sent the final payment and reservation documents. The enrollment fee is 1,500€; the monthly fee is 580€ with a 10% discount for siblings; school materials cost 200€ per year; the standard school day runs from 9:00 to 15:30. 4. Enrollment is open year-round: Enrollment is open year-round.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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