Highlands School Barcelona vs International Rural School

	H Highlands School Barcelona Barcelona, Spain	I International Rural School Barcelona, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €6,450 - 9,700	Fees / year €7,980 - 8,580
Age range	Age range 1 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)
Pupils	Pupils 572	Pupils 51
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 12
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Spanish	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Highlands School Barcelona is located in Esplugues de Llobregat, near Barcelona. The address is Carrer de Manuel Florentín, 26, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona. The campus comprises about 19,000 m² of facilities with dedicated spaces for each school stage, including a chapel, dining room, library and extensive sports facilities. The surrounding area is a residential neighbourhood with convenient access to the city of Barcelona.	Location The school is located in Llinars del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain, at Disseminat 133 Can Ribó, 08450. It is in a rural, forested setting near the village center, accessible by local roads.
Stages	Stages Infant, Primary, Secondary, and Baccalaureate	Stages Early Years Foundation Stage, Primary, Secondary, and post-16 (A-Levels).
School type	School type The school is private, Catholic and international; it is a Cambridge International School with trilingual instruction.	School type Private British co-educational day school; BSO-accredited (British School Overseas).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Spain	Country affiliation Spain (Catalonia).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Catholic	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details The school offers a bus route service with monitors, including full and half routes (morning and/or afternoon). Full route costs 182€ per child per month; half route costs 132€ per child per month; occasional journeys are 10€ per day. Registration is via the route forms and the school provides stops and itineraries.	Bus service details School bus service is available.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Admission fee - One-time admission/enrolment charge applies in the first year of entry. Example published amount: EUR 1,800 (shown as the one‑time admission fee added to first‑year costs). Tuition fees — annual and instalment detail by year group - Nursery (Nurs.1 and Nurs.2): Annual tuition EUR 6,450. Example instalment breakdown published for Nursery 1: EUR 645 × 10 months (i.e., billed as ten monthly instalments). - Kindergarten (Kindg. 1–3): Annual tuition EUR 8,900. (Annual total shown in published fee schedule.) - Primary (Grades 1–6): Annual tuition EUR 8,930. (Annual total shown in published fee schedule.) - Lower Secondary / Early Secondary (Grades 7–10): Annual tuition EUR 9,250. (Annual total shown in published fee schedule.) - Upper Secondary / Baccalaureate (Grades 11–12): Annual tuition EUR 9,700. (Annual total shown in published fee schedule.) Billing schedule and payment terms - Published examples show tuition presented as an annual fee with the school using instalment billing in practice; the published Nursery example is shown as ten monthly instalments (×10). The fee summaries for other year groups are shown as annual totals in the published schedule. - The school operates a digital admissions/billing portal for registration and invoicing; specific invoice timing and contractual payment terms are set through the school's admissions/billing process. Sibling discounts and additional admission adjustments - Published sibling/discount rules in the fee summary: reduced charges for additional children (examples published include a reduced admission amount for a second/third child and percentage discounts for third/fourth children in schooling). Specific published items: second child/third child admission adjustments and third‑child 30% tuition discount / fourth‑child 100% tuition discount (as shown in the fee summary). Boarding fees (if applicable) - Highlands School Barcelona is operated as a day school with services such as on‑site dining, school transport and extracurricular programmes; no boarding (residential) provision or boarding fees are published. Other costs and routine extras - School transport: Full route (monthly) EUR 182 per child; Half route (monthly) EUR 132 per child; occasional single journey EUR 10/day. These transport fees are shown as monthly charges. - School dining (canteen) is an on‑site paid service; menus and arrangements are operated through the school's catering partner. (Meal plans and costs are managed as a separate service charge.) - Uniforms: Uniforms are supplied via the school's official supplier (Minimum Uniforms); uniform items are purchased separately and prices vary by item/size. - Books, materials and licences: The school publishes a detailed materials and books list with itemised prices for each year (example: Book4All maintenance fee shown as EUR 18; individual book and materials line items listed for 2025–2026). These material/book charges are additional to tuition and are billed per the school's materials programme. - Summer school / holiday programmes and extracurricular activities have separate fees (weekly and per‑activity prices are published where applicable). Refund information - The published fee information shows a one‑time admission/enrolment charge added to first‑year costs. A specific public refund policy for tuition or the enrolment/admission charge is not published in the school's publicly posted admissions summaries and legal notice; contractual refund/withdrawal terms are set out in the school's enrolment/fee agreement. Fee payment options - The school uses a digital admissions/enrolment portal for registration and billing. The school's public pages do not list a definitive, itemised list of accepted payment methods (e.g., exact card types or bank account details). Payment instructions and accepted methods are provided to families through the school's admissions/billing process and invoices. Quick summary (amounts shown as annual tuition totals unless an instalment format is given): - Admission / one‑time enrolment charge (example): EUR 1,800 (first year addition). - Nursery (Nurs.1 / Nurs.2): EUR 6,450 per year — example instalment EUR 645 × 10. - Kindergarten (K1–K3): EUR 8,900 per year. - Primary (Grades 1–6): EUR 8,930 per year. - Lower Secondary (Grades 7–10): EUR 9,250 per year. - Upper Secondary / Baccalaureate (Grades 11–12): EUR 9,700 per year. - Transport: EUR 182/month (full) or EUR 132/month (half); occasional trips EUR 10/day. - Books & materials: itemised lists and prices published for 2025–2026 (examples include specific book and kit prices and a Book4All maintenance fee of EUR 18). If you need the exact instalment amount for a specific year group or the full PDF materials list itemised by course, those are available in the school's published materials and fees documents.	Fee details Application and enrolment fees - Enrolment (registration) fee: EUR 780 per year. - Extracurricular enrolment fee: EUR 50 per year (applies to after‑school/extracurricular activities). Tuition fees by year group (as published) - Early Years Foundation Stage; Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 (Nursery, Reception, Primary): EUR 5,800 per academic year. This is shown as a monthly charge of EUR 580, billed September through June. The published fee package explicitly includes tuition, school material, books, instrument lessons, swimming lessons and school insurance. - Key Stage 3 (lower secondary): EUR 6,400 per academic year. This is shown as a monthly charge of EUR 640, billed September through June. The published fee package explicitly includes tuition, school material, books, instrument lessons, swimming lessons and school insurance. - Key Stage 4 (GCSE/IGCSE years) and post‑16 (A‑levels/IB/baccalaureate) fees are not listed in the published fee schedule provided. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is shown as a monthly charge billed from September to June (10 monthly payments). The published schedule presents both an annual fee and the corresponding monthly charge for those months. - The annual enrolment/registration fee is charged once per year. - Sibling discount: 10% discount on fees when children from the same family are simultaneously enrolled. Boarding fees - No boarding fees are listed; the school's published information presents standard day‑school hours (Monday–Friday 08:30 to 16:30). Boarding is not indicated as an available option. Other costs and recurring extras - Lunch service: Regular use EUR 135 (as listed); occasional use EUR 10 per day. The published schedule lists these charges for the lunch service. - Extracurricular lessons (Monday to Friday, 17:00–18:00): 1 day per week EUR 50; 2 days per week EUR 80. An extracurricular enrolment fee of EUR 50 per year is shown. - Summer camp (published dates shown for the camp period): EUR 480 for the full period indicated (lunch included) or EUR 160 per week. - Items not specifically priced in the published schedule include uniforms, transport/bus, examination/assessment fees, textbooks replacement beyond those listed as included, specialist trips, and some optional extracurriculars. These items were not given specific charges in the published fee sheet. Refund information - The published fee document does not specify a refund policy or detailed terms for refunds or cancellations. No refund schedule or conditions are listed in the fee sheet. Fee payment options - The published fee document does not specify accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, direct debit, credit card) or invoicing details. No payment method details are listed in the fee sheet. Notes about the published fee information (summary of limitations) - The available published fee schedule found is presented for Year 2019–2020 and supplies core figures for Early Years/Primary and Key Stage 3 only. Several categories that parents commonly require (detailed fees for Key Stage 4 and post‑16, explicit payment method instructions, a formal refund policy, uniform costs, and any boarding fees) are not included in that published fee sheet. The figures and line items above reflect what is shown in the school's published fee document.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement The school has a polo uniform; polo shirts are available in the school shop.
Food options	Food options —	Food options Homemade meals for students are provided; lunch is available for a regular fee (Lunch Regular Use 135€; occasional use 10€ per day).
House system	House system The school has a House System with House Days and friendly competitions to earn points.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership The school is authorized by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Centre 08075979) and is accredited as a British School Overseas with triple accreditation: British, Cambridge and Spanish.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Highlands combines the national curriculum with the Cambridge International curriculum from age 3. It is the only Catholic Cambridge International School in Barcelona. English is used from infancy, with the Cambridge curriculum integrated across age groups. The academic offer includes Infant, Primary, Secondary, and Baccalaureate stages. The school holds official language accreditations from Oxford, Cambridge, and DELF. The student–teacher ratio is 7 students per trainer.	Curriculum details The school offers a balanced and broadly based curriculum. It promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life. It follows the national curriculum, providing pupils with an introduction to the essential knowledge they need to be educated citizens and helping engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement. There is time and space in the school day and each week, term and year to range beyond the national curriculum specifications, with the curriculum providing an outline of core knowledge around which teachers can develop exciting and stimulating lessons to promote development of pupils' knowledge, understanding and skills as part of the wider school curriculum. Core subjects are English, Mathematics and Science. Foundation subjects include Art and design, Citizenship, Computing, Design and technology, Languages, Geography, History, Music, and Physical education.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio 7 students per trainer.	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes. There is a teacher and a teacher assistant per class, with reinforcement teachers available.
Exam results	Exam results 100% passed the 2024 PAU. 60% of subjects are taught in English. The school holds three official language accreditations: Oxford, Cambridge, and DELF.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates have been admitted to universities in Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Chile. Spain destinations include Blanquerna – Ramón Llul (La Salle), CEU San Pablo, ESADE, EU Business School Barcelona, Institut Químic de Sarrià, International University of Catalonia (UIC), CEU – Cardenal Herrera, CEU Abat Oliba University, Francisco de Vitoria University, Universidad de Navarra, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and Pompeu Fabra University. United Kingdom destinations include Lancaster University, University for the Creative Arts in London, and Saint Andrew's University in Edinburgh. United States destinations include Harvard University (Summer Programs). Chile destinations include Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented Trips abroad for cultural and curricular enrichment include France, Lisbon, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Visiting lecturers and debating competitions enrich learning. International experiences at prestigious schools in the United States, Ireland, and Switzerland are offered.	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning The Highlands School Barcelona provides comprehensive personal support to students' social and emotional development. Coaching forms a key part of the approach, offering a relationship of mutual support between teacher and student built on respect, dialogue and communication. The motto Know yourself, Accept yourself and Improve yourself guides personal growth, with staff helping students reach their full potential and discover their vocation and life project. Staff accompany students in their growth, supporting talents and addressing difficulties with a student-centered, holistic approach. The wellbeing and personal development provisions are integrated with Catholic formation and the Regnum Christi educational network to nurture responsible, empathetic global citizens.	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 The school uses English from infancy and follows the Cambridge Curriculum (Cambridge International School). English language development is integrated with the Cambridge framework to support international education. Language learning is a core pillar of the school's international model, with Cambridge Curriculum and global experiences underpinning its approach.	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing is supported through comprehensive personal development. Coaching provides a supportive relationship between staff and students, based on respect and dialogue. The motto Know yourself, Accept yourself and Improve yourself anchors personal growth and vocation development. Staff accompany students in growth, addressing talents and difficulties to foster resilience and self-esteem. The approach is integrated with Catholic formation and Regnum Christi's educational framework to nurture well-rounded, responsible individuals.	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding Safeguarding is addressed through Highlands' Code of Conduct and its risk-prevention framework. There is a Channel of Communication and Complaints for reporting concerns, managed by the Committee of Prevention of Risks Penales. Reports can be submitted by email to compliance.highlands.ba@serviciosrc.es or by mail to the school address, with confidentiality guaranteed and retaliation prohibited. The Code applies to employees, representatives and third parties, and includes health and safety at work, human rights, data protection, and reporting obligations.	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview Highlands School Barcelona has 19,000 m² of modern facilities for comprehensive education, with separate areas for each school stage. It has 10,000 m² of sports facilities and green areas. The facilities include classrooms with technological equipment, laboratories, an audiovisual room, a library, paddle tennis courts, ping pong tables, a chapel, a dining room and an orchard. The fourth phase of construction will add 1,170 m², including 6 base classrooms, an art classroom, a science lab, and more sports and common spaces. This project will increase the total surface area to 7,500 m², improving classroom integration and the functionality of the educational environment, with sustainability improvements such as efficient HVAC, LED lighting, and photovoltaic panels.	Facilities overview Facilities include a vegetable garden for hands-on learning, and homemade meals are provided for students. Transportation is available via a school bus, and monthly trips to museums and cultural sites are organized. Work experiences are offered for secondary students. The school maintains small class sizes with a teacher and teaching assistant per class, plus reinforcement teachers to support individual learning.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities Sports facilities cover 10,000 m² of the campus and green areas. Paddle tennis courts and ping pong tables are among the dedicated sport spaces on site.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Facilities include classrooms with technological equipment, laboratories, an audiovisual room, and a library. The fourth phase adds an art classroom and a science lab.	Academic facilities International Rural School is a private British school in Llinars del Vallès teaching Early Years Foundation Stage, Primary, and Secondary, with A-Levels equivalent to Bachillerato-Selectividad. The curriculum follows the English National Curriculum and emphasizes music as an interdisciplinary component, explored through instruments, history, and language. The school pursues personalized education with roughly one teacher for every 12–15 students, and learning occurs in classrooms, outdoors, and through weekly outings. The pedagogical approach draws on Decroly, Dewey, and Freinet to foster curiosity, confidence, and responsible citizenship.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Extracurricular activities include sports activities, artistic activities, and intellectual activities. Highlands School Barcelona has paddle tennis tournaments and skiing trips; RC Camps and Summer Activities are available. An Extracurricular Activities Catalog and Schedule are provided for signups.	Extra curricular facilities Core subjects and extracurricular lessons during school time include piano, violin, robotics, chess, Chinese, and swimming. The program includes workshops and weekly projects. A vegetable garden and homemade meals are provided, and monthly trips to museums and cultural sites support learning beyond the classroom. School-based work experiences for secondary students supplement academic study.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Highlands School Barcelona is a private, Catholic and international school in Esplugues de Llobregat serving students from 1 to 18 years old. It has more than 20 years of experience. It combines a solid academic education with a deep Christian orientation and is a Cambridge International School and an examination centre for English and French. The school is part of Regnum Christi, the Catholic Church's educational work that has promoted schools in 13 countries for 70 years. The fourth phase of construction added 1,170 m² to the campus, and Phase IV was inaugurated on September 23, 2025, expanding facilities such as six base classrooms, an art classroom, a science lab and enhanced sports spaces.	History —
Community	Community Highlands Barcelona fosters a connected community of students, families and alumni and runs an active events programme. RC Camps 2026 are offered for the school community. The school organizes Family Day and celebrates events such as Star of the Week, Father's Day, Mother's Day and Grandparents Day where families, students and teachers share experiences. The House System promotes community and healthy competition, while Show & Tell develops communication and public-speaking skills. Open days invite prospective families to visit and learn about Highlands.	Community The learning process is promoted in different educational environments: in the classroom, in the open air, and weekly outings in the neighbourhood. The school offers monthly trips to museums and cultural trips. Olympic Week is described on the site as a themed learning event with activities such as vocabulary, art, and physical activities. The school nurtures cordial coexistence and social skills among students as part of their personal development.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school emphasizes comprehensive development across knowledge, skills and attitudes for a full life and good coexistence. It encourages creativity, critical thinking and autonomy across scientific, humanistic, physical and artistic areas to support strong academic results and future professional success. This approach underpins students' ability to engage with complex problems and contribute to society.	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative The school provides artistic activities, music and theatre, storytelling and cooking activities linked to topics students explore. Students engage in creative expression as part of their learning. Projects arise from the children's own interests and the classroom environment. Artistic activities are integrated with language and science topics to support engagement.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Language learning is central to developing global citizens and competitive professionals. The school works with Cambridge International School and supports the internationalization of the center. It offers Experiences Abroad to provide immersive international experiences.	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies The school nurtures cordial coexistence and social skills among students to support personal development. Social development is fostered through daily interactions and collaborative activities. Students learn to collaborate, communicate and respect others as part of their routine. These dynamics contribute to a positive classroom community.
Community & service	Community & service The school is part of Regnum Christi, a Catholic educational network. Transformation of society is a goal of Highlands Barcelona, guided by a Christian vision of reality where faith and reason are integrated so that students give the best of themselves. The school aims for students to experience God's love and be inspired to transform society according to Gospel values.	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional Coaching provides a mutually supportive relationship between teachers and students to help them reach their full potential. It emphasizes respect, dialogue and communication as a basis for growth and the development of talents. It supports students in discovering their vocation and developing their life project.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Comprehensive personal support helps students grow in all aspects of life and fosters wellbeing and personal development. The program encourages students to give their best and to cultivate attitudes and skills for a full life in a values-based community. Catholic Formation provides a Christian vision of reality that shapes daily life and learning.	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision English is the language of instruction in many subjects within the Cambridge curriculum, with subjects taught in English at 60%, Spanish at 30% and Catalan at 10%. French is offered as an optional subject from the first year of secondary education, with the DEFL certification available.	Language provision English is the language of instruction and the school follows the English National Curriculum. Chinese is taught as a subject.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching The school is private, Catholic and trilingual, serving students from 1 to 18 years old. It is a Cambridge International School and an examination centre for English and French. The educational model integrates English, Spanish and Catalan within the Cambridge framework.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs English immersion begins at 50% at age 1, increases to 100% by age 2, and remains at 60% from ages 3 to 5. In primary, 60% of subjects are taught in English, and the same 60% English share continues in secondary. The curriculum includes a Public Speech Programme, theatre and debates to develop language skills.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards null
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations British School Overseas (BSO); Triple accreditation: British, Cambridge and Spanish certification
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 01 First interview with the Family. To learn about the educational project and visit the facilities. This is the first step in Highlands Barcelona's admissions process. 02 Second interview with the Candidate. Interview and tests to get to know the future student and assess his or her school abilities. 03 Registration. Access our digital portal to complete the information, upload the documentation, and digitally sign the enrolment form quickly and securely.	Admissions —
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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