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SEK International School - El Castillo

Spain, Madrid

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Spanish
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 0 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1150
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1972
Bus Service Yes
Part of
SEK International School Spain
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages French, German, Mandarin
Typical class size 21
Strengths Sport, STEM, Languages
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 of SEK 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 Caada, 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 Caada, Villanueva del Pardillo and Villaviciosa de Odf3n. The itineraries and stops may be modified depending on demand; teachers supervise the route.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Two boarding residences on SEK-El Castillo grounds serve both boys and girls. The on-site facilities include study rooms, a nurse and a doctor's office, daily laundry, ironing and sorting of clothes, a TV room, student services, and 24-hour security, with access to sports and recreational facilities. The boarding houses are organized by age and year, and renovations are planned to improve the spaces.

Uniform Requirement
The SEK Uniform has identified and stood our students apart for over 50 years. The school uniform is mandatory for all students. Uniforms are available for purchase on the Corte Inglés website.

Food Options
The SEK-El Castillo Meals Service is EN-ISO 9002:1994 certified and ISO 9001:2000 certified, with FQM Environmental Quality certification. Meals are provided by kitchen and self-catering, and special dietary needs are catered for. Menus are published each term with nutritional analysis; the dining areas accommodate allergies, coeliac disease, and other dietary needs; teachers supervise the service.

Governance and Ownership
SEK-El Castillo is private, non-denominational, independent, and co-educational, serving ages 0 to 18. It is part of the SEK Education Group. Camilo José Cela University (UCJC) is a university within SEK Education Group.
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.
Parent Experience

History
SEK-El Castillo was founded in 1972 by Felipe Segovia Olmo and is part of SEK Education Group, which has a long history dating back to 1892. The school joined the International Baccalaureate Organisation in 1977, becoming the first Spanish SEK school to IB, and offers the Dual Diploma allowing students to obtain two qualifications: the Spanish Bachillerato and/or the Diploma Programme and the American High School Diploma. The School of Music and Dance was launched to provide an Arts Baccalaureate, and boarding on campus is offered for local and international students.

Community
SEK-El Castillo emphasizes a united community of teachers, students and families. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award provides opportunities for student leadership and service, and The Theatre Club supports community and companionship through the Arts. MySEK, a Parents online room, and a virtual community for former students connect families and alumni, while the House System divides the school into houses to strengthen peer bonds.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
SEK-El Castillo has a 40,000 m² campus with separate buildings for each educational stage connected by walkways. The learning spaces are flexible and equipped with resources to support teamwork and inquiry. SEK-El Castillo features intelligent classrooms and laboratories, a library, art and music spaces, and extensive digital technologies to support teaching and learning. The campus is surrounded by extensive green and sports areas and is adjacent to Camilo José Cela University, enhancing collaborations. The on-site facilities include a dining hall and a central courtyard.

Sports Facilities
SEK-El Castillo offers a 1,000 m² multi-sports arena including tennis and handball courts, basketball courts and a 5-a-side football pitch. There are four multi-purpose rooms and dedicated spaces for taekwondo, psychomotor activity, dance, skating and theatre. A 25 m heated swimming pool (400 m²) uses solar heating under the EcoSEK programme, with additional outdoor open-air courts for basketball, handball and football. The UCJC Sports Club next to the school provides extensive facilities, including 11 tennis courts, 5 padel courts, an artificial turf 7-a-side football pitch, fitness rooms, indoor cycling and a heated competition pool.

Academic Facilities
SEK Intelligent Classrooms are open spaces that encourage investigation and collaboration, aided by technology. Facilities include physics, chemistry and biology laboratories, an art classroom, a multimedia classroom, a robotics classroom, a painting studio, music rooms, a library and a conference room, plus a radio transmitter. New Technologies support learning with interactive digital boards in all classrooms, Netbooks, eBooks, SEK Intranet and a virtual learning platform, and the BYOD system from secondary school with lockers and chargers.

Extra Curricular Facilities
SEK-El Castillo provides a broad programme of extracurricular activities as part of its all-round development. The Learning Adventures centre offers experiential outdoor learning to build self-confidence, teamwork and leadership, while promoting sustainability awareness. Activities focus on personal initiative, social and intercultural skills, creativity, critical thinking and problem solving. Summer Experiences combine sports, culture, languages and technology, with activities such as water and mountain sports, hiking, skating, rugby and Gaelic games, plus creative workshops like movie making, design, photography, digital music, cooking and drama.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers the International Baccalaureate programme continuum for ages 3–18 integrated in the curriculum. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award provides leadership, confidence, self-reliance, decision-making and teamwork. RoboSEKos won first place at the First Lego League Madrid, and qualified for the national competition, demonstrating strong STEM and project-based learning. Life skills education includes practical CPR training.

Arts & Creative
Arts are integrated across SEK-El Castillo, with the Arts Baccalaureate, Music, Visual Arts and Media, and Theatre offerings. Arts Baccalaureate provides versatile preparation for careers in design, cinema, painting and related fields, with pathways into university degrees or vocational training. Music is taught from early childhood through SEK's music school and certificates, with dedicated rooms and resources to support study. Theatre is embedded in the curriculum with a Theatre Club, School Choir and Orchestra, and opportunities to study drama and perform in events.

Cultural & Language
The school provides full English-language immersion with bilingual Spanish/English education. The SEK Education Group offers cultural and linguistic immersion courses in Madrid or Barcelona as extensions to SEK programmes. Learning Adventures includes international experiences such as a week in the French Alps and a voyage aboard the Cervantes Saavedra tall ship. These experiences foster intercultural skills and global citizenship among students.

Social & Hobbies
The Arts page lists Theatre Club, Art Club, and Dance Club, and Theatre Boarding Club for social and creative interests. The School Choir and Orchestra run across primary through high school and have performed publicly. Theatre is cross-curricular and ISTA-affiliated, developing public speaking, collaboration and wellbeing.

Community & Service
Learning Adventures emphasises social commitment and service learning as part of its goals. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award includes a community-service component, with students completing regular volunteering and community projects. SEK-El Castillo supports student-led service activities and community engagement through these programs.

Leadership & Professional
Starting in 2015/16, SEK-El Castillo offers the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, a structured program developing leadership, confidence, self-reliance, decision-making and teamwork. The DoE is an international program operating in over 180 countries and widely recognized by universities and employers. SEK-El Castillo supports students through a professional, supervised program and has a track record of Bronze, Silver and Gold awards.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
SEK International Sports Academy offers high-performance sport with bespoke training, coaching, and education through sport. Facilities include a heated 25m pool, a 1,000m2 multi-sport area, tennis and paddle courts, and access to UCJC's sport centre with extensive venues. Medical, nutritional and physiotherapy services are provided in collaboration with UCJC. Summer Experiences combine sports, culture, technology and languages, with activities such as water sports, mountain and snow sports, hiking, skating, rugby, Gaelic games, movie making, photography, digital music, cooking and drama.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught include English, Spanish, French, and German. English-language immersion is implemented from nursery; Primary features English–Spanish bilingual instruction and introduction of French and German from Years 3–4, with a choice between French or German from Year 5. In Secondary, three English-proficiency pathways exist: Spanish, English, or bilingual. The IB Diploma Programme can be taught entirely in English or in a bilingual English–Spanish option, and the LOMLOE Bachillerato is offered in Spanish or bilingual Spanish–English.

Bilingual Teaching
English–Spanish bilingual education is offered from nursery through secondary. Nursery provides English-language immersion from age 1. In Primary, English–Spanish bilingual instruction is standard; French and German are introduced from Years 3–4, and from Year 5 students choose between French or German. In Secondary, there are three English-language pathways (Spanish, English, or bilingual), and the Diploma Programme can be taught entirely in English or in a bilingual English–Spanish option.

Immersion Programs
English-language immersion is fully implemented from age 1 to 3 in Nursery. Preschool offers a full English-language immersion with native-speaking or bilingual teachers and one daily Spanish period. Primary provides English–Spanish bilingual education, with French and German introduced in Years 3–4 and a choice between French or German from Year 5. Secondary maintains English-language immersion with three pathways by English level and offers the IB Diploma Programme in English or bilingual English–Spanish.
Reputation

Accreditations
NEASC; CIS
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.
School Events
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