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Madrid Active School

Spain, Madrid

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Spanish, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 16 years
Pupil numbers 62
Type Co-educational
Opened 2010
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Reggio Emilia Approach
Taught languages English
Typical class size 7
Strengths Languages, Academic Enrichment, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Cultural and Language, Community and Service, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

Madrid Active School is an international school located in central Madrid offering preschool through secondary education. It is authorized as a U.S. foreign school by the Community of Madrid and NEASC-accredited. The school follows an American curriculum alongside Cambridge IGCSE options from 3rd ESO, with a pathway that supports multilingual learning. Classroom practice centers on active pedagogy: students take a leading, active role in learning, moving from concrete experiences to abstract thinking, with a balance of spontaneous activity and adult-guided proposals. Montessori materials and differentiated zones organize the learning environment to meet developmental needs and promote autonomy, self-esteem, and social-emotional growth through non-violent communication and active listening. Bilingual aims integrate Spanish as the common language while English is strengthened through play and progressively more complex activities. Values include Respect, Inclusion, Sustainability, Participation, and Commitment. The school emphasizes family involvement and project work that connects classroom learning to the wider world.

C. de María Zayas, 8 (28039, Tetuán, 28039 Madrid, Spain

The Essentials

Madrid Active School has 62 pupils, typical class sizes of 7, instruction in Spanish, English.

Location
MADRID ACTIVE SCHOOL is located in the center of Madrid at C/ María Zayas, 8, 28039 Madrid.

Stages
Preschool, elementary and secondary are offered. Second cycle of kindergarten, primary and secondary (1st to 4th ESO).

Type
International school. It is authorized as a U.S. foreign school by the Community of Madrid and NEASC accredited.

Country affiliation
Authorized as a U.S. foreign school by the Community of Madrid.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
Authorized as a U.S. foreign school by the Community of Madrid; NEASC-accredited; Madrid Active School began in 2010 as the Nidia project and later became Madrid Active School through the collective effort of several families and education professionals.
Fees
Application fees
- A formal enrollment deposit (matrícula) is required to reserve a place: the place is considered formally reserved once the enrollment payment is received and the school's contract is signed.

Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)
- The school does not publish a numerical tuition schedule for specific year groups or terms on its public admissions and information pages. Exact tuition amounts per term and per school year are not available in the school's publicly posted materials.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- A place is formally reserved at the point the enrollment payment (matrícula) is received together with a signed contract. Beyond that, the school's public pages do not publish a detailed billing schedule (for example: number of instalments, term vs. monthly billing, or specific due dates).

Boarding fees (if applicable)
- Madrid Active School is a small, urban micro-school; there is no indication that boarding is offered. Therefore no boarding fees apply.

Other costs and fees
- Lunch/meal service is charged separately from tuition; families may also choose to send a packed lunch (tupper).
- Families are expected to participate in scheduled cleaning shifts; if a family prefers not to attend a cleaning shift they may pay someone to perform that task on their behalf—this indicates there can be optional, family-specific payments related to participation tasks.
- The school's public materials do not list published amounts for uniforms, school trips, insurance, examination fees, extra-curricular programmes, or other specific optional charges; where such costs exist they are not itemised with prices on the publicly available pages.

Refund information
- The school's public admissions and FAQ pages do not provide a published refund policy or clear statements of refund terms (for enrollment fees, tuition already paid, or other charges).

Fee payment options
- The school's publicly available information does not list specific payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, direct debit). Contact details (email and phone) are published for enquiries.

Quick factual notes relevant to fees
- Levels offered (relevant to which tuition band would apply): second cycle of kindergarten (early years), Primary, and Secondary up to 4th of ESO; some students from 3rd ESO onwards may prepare as private candidates for IGCSE options.
- The school does not operate a transport route (no school bus); many families organise transport among themselves. This affects any transport- or route-related fee items (there are none listed).

Summary about available information
- The school's public admissions and information pages confirm that an enrollment payment (matrícula) and signed contract reserve a place, that lunch is charged separately, that the school is a micro-school without boarding or school transport, and that families have participation obligations (or may pay others to fulfil them). However, the school does not publish numerical tuition amounts, a detailed billing schedule, specific refunds policy, or listed payment methods on those pages.
Academics

Madrid Active School teaches American Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Reggio Emilia Approach for students aged 3 to 16.

Curriculum
MADRID ACTIVE SCHOOL uses active pedagogy with students taking a leading, active role in learning and being the central element of the learning process. Learning moves from concrete experiences to abstract thinking, with a balance of spontaneous activity and adult-guided proposals in an environment prepared for developmental needs. Autonomy and self-esteem are promoted as foundations for self-knowledge and lifelong learning. Respect is a key value that supports a healthy learning environment, and non-violent communication and active listening guide emotional and social development. The learning environment uses differentiated zones with Montessori materials along with other manipulatives. Learning progresses from affective-sensory-motor experiences in early years to more complex personal and group projects in primary, with increasing abstraction in secondary, and windows to the world open to integrate academic content beyond MAS. Values include Respect, Inclusion, Responsible freedom, Trust, Participation, Commitment, Openness, Sustainability and Enthusiasm.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Social and emotional learning is supported through respectful accompaniment within active pedagogy. Respect, inclusion and responsible freedom guide interactions. Non-violent communication and active listening are used as essential tools for emotional and social skills development. Accompanying adults observe children to support their emotional growth throughout the day. Staff are trained to accompany with respect the diversity in the school (physical, cognitive, emotional or cultural) to foster social-emotional development.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Staff are trained to accompany with respect the diversity in the school (physical, cognitive, emotional or cultural). Staff carefully observe each child to identify authentic needs and offer learning opportunities adjusted to abilities, interests and developmental moment. The school emphasizes inclusion and a collaborative relationship with families as a vital part of the MAS approach. Different supports are integrated into everyday practice through MAS' active-pedagogy model.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The project has bilingualism objectives adapted to each child. The common language in daily interactions is Spanish, while reinforcement in English is provided through games and songs for younger children, and increasingly complex activities in later stages. The level of bilingualism achieved usually aligns with English exposure at home, and resources are offered to increase this exposure.

Mental Wellbeing
Autonomy and self-esteem are promoted as fundamental bases for self-knowledge and lifelong learning. Respect is a key value that supports a healthy, relaxed learning environment. The development of emotional and social skills is encouraged through non-violent communication and active listening. The staff acknowledge and support social and emotional development across the day.

Safeguarding
The adults present in the space are responsible for the physical and emotional safety of the children. MAS is NEASC-accredited and follows extensive child-protection standards. The safeguarding framework includes health and safety, ethics and child-protection standards as part of accreditation, and ongoing observation and adaptation processes to ensure student safety.
Parent Experience

History
Madrid Active School International School began in 2010 through the collective effort of several families and education professionals to offer an educational model based on active pedagogy, where children learn by doing and are the central element of the learning process with their interests, abilities and individual characteristics. The key values are Respect, Inclusion, Responsible freedom, Trust, Participation, Commitment, Openness, Sustainability and Enthusiasm. Our references include Pestalozzi schools in Ecuador and Montessori influences, with development viewed from a constructivist perspective and an emphasis on social‑emotional accompaniment through Non Violent Communication and active listening. Madrid Active School is authorized as a U.S. foreign school by the Community of Madrid and is the first active school accredited in Spain by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). The project has operated since 2010, first as the Nidia project and then as Madrid Active School.

Community
Madrid Active School educates within an active pedagogy in an international and intercultural context. The school believes in cooperative work and coeducation between family and school as a vital part of its educational community. The pedagogy team and families accompany children with respect, observing their diverse physical, cognitive, emotional and cultural needs and supporting social-emotional development. Family participation is fundamental, with fluid communication with the pedagogical team and involvement in logistical and supportive tasks to sustain the project.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Family participation is fundamental. Families are involved in the integral education of their children and maintain fluid communication with the pedagogical team to ensure alignment of home and school support. The school relies on families' participation in logistical and support activities, contributing to the sustainability of the project. Participatory structures are generated to promote collaboration between families and the center. Meetings and tasks include pedagogical or organizational meetings usually one Saturday per term and one Monday per term (currently online); cleaning shifts where each family contributes about four hours every two months; and commissions that families join, committing roughly one hour per week. Tutoring meetings with parents occur three times a year to discuss learning progress.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school operates in the center of Madrid for preschool, elementary and secondary education. The school environment is specially prepared to meet developmental needs, with moments of spontaneous activity alternating with proposals from accompanying adults, and spaces organized into differentiated zones by learning and development areas. Pedagogical materials are on display and available for students, and many materials are Montessori with other manipulatives also used.

Academic Facilities
The school environment is set up with differentiated zones by learning and development areas, with pedagogical materials on display and available; many of the structured materials are Montessori, and other manipulative materials are used.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school uses active pedagogy with the child at the center and learning by doing. It follows a constructivist approach influenced by Pestalozzi and Montessori, respecting each child's interests, abilities and development. Autonomy and self‑esteem are promoted as a basis for lifelong learning, and social‑emotional development is supported through non‑violent communication and active listening. The school is authorized as a U.S. foreign school in Madrid and NEASC accredited, offering kindergarten through secondary (1st–4th ESO) with IGCSE options from 3rd ESO.

Cultural & Language
The project has bilingualism objectives adapted to each child, with Spanish as the common language. English is reinforced through games and songs for younger children and through increasingly complex activities in later stages. bilingualism usually correlates with English exposure at home, and resources are provided to increase English language experiences for families.

Social & Hobbies
Time is allocated for spontaneous play and social interaction within spaces differentiated by learning and development. Older children have tutorials to reflect on their learning and plan next steps, while group projects evolve from personal to collaborative work. Accompanying adults support social development by facilitating conflicts, decisions and collaborative learning in daily activities.

Community & Service
Family participation is fundamental; families maintain fluid communication with the pedagogical team to align home and school accompaniment. Families participate in logistical and support activities, and their involvement sustains the project. Participatory structures enable exchange, knowledge sharing and joint work in the education of their children.

Leadership & Professional
The MAS pedagogical team is one of our strengths; accompanying adults become part of the MAS family after careful selection. Their training, talent and personal qualities enable them to work effectively with the MAS methodology. They provide children and families with respectful accompaniment, while actively reflecting and researching on pedagogy to drive the school's development.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Autonomy and self‑esteem are promoted as bases for self‑knowledge and lifelong learning. Respect underpins a healthy learning environment, with non‑violent communication and active listening integrated into daily practice. The environment is organized into differentiated zones by learning and development with accessible materials to support wellbeing.
Reputation

Awards
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Accreditations
The school is authorized as a U.S. foreign school by the Community of Madrid and is the first active school in Spain accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
Admissions

Admissions
The MAS is located in central Madrid and offers preschool, elementary, and secondary education. Admissions are open year-round with a flexible and adaptable approach.

Scholarships
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School Events
The school has not added events
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