doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
S

SEK International School - Santa Isabel

Spain, Madrid

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Chief Marketing Officer

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in English, Spanish
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 3 - 12 years
Pupil numbers 324
Type Co-educational
Opened 1892
Bus Service Yes
Part of
SEK International School Spain
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP)
Taught languages French, German, Mandarin, Spanish
Typical class size 16
Strengths STEM, Languages, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School
Introduction

SEK Santa Isabel is a private, non-denominational, independent, co-educational school in the Barrio de las Letras for ages 3 to 12. It delivers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) and is NEASC-accredited. It is the Madrid school authorized to offer the IB PYP. The school hosts a multilingual community with students from 30 nationalities, offering full English-language immersion and bilingual Spanish/English education, with a language-immersion programme for foreign students. Learning Paths are Harvard-recognized and contextualize knowledge across History, Art, Literature, Culture and Music, Science, and Wellness. The campus supports inquiry-based learning in open spaces and outdoor learning extending beyond the classroom, including ties to Parque El Retiro and access to UCJC Sport facilities. Facilities include maker and robotics, a laboratory, an audiovisual room, and a computer-rich environment with iPads and digital whiteboards. The school emphasizes emotional intelligence and well-being and uses AI and AR in its educational projects today.

This campus is part of SEK International School Spain

Calle de San Ildefonso, 18, Centro, 28012 Madrid, Spain

The Essentials

SEK International School - Santa Isabel has 324 pupils, typical class sizes of 16, instruction in English, Spanish.

Location
Located in Madrid city centre, in the Barrio de las Letras quarter. Address: Calle San Ildefonso, 18, 28012 Madrid, Spain. It serves students from 3 to 12 years of age.

Stages
Educational stages from 3 to 12 years; IB Primary Years Programme.

Type
Private, non-denominational, independent, co-educational.

Pupil Nationality Mix
More than 30 nationalities represented; multicultural environment and international education; bilingual Spanish/English education; additional languages: French, German and Chinese.

School day structure
Doors open at 8:50 a.m.; classes begin at 9:00 a.m.; Early Childhood departure at 4:40 p.m.; Primary departure at 5:00 p.m.; Extended hours from 7:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
The school is part of SEK Education Group. SEK Education Group was established in 1892 and has over 130 years of tradition. SEK International Schools educate over 7,000 day students from more than 80 nationalities across locations including Madrid, Barcelona, Almería, Pontevedra, Dublin, The Alps, Doha, Riyadh, Oman, Bahrain and Turtle Bay, as well as at the SEK International School Global Campus.
Fees
Application fee

- No published numeric application or registration fee amount is available for SEK International School – Santa Isabel on the school's public information pages. Families should assume that the school may require an application/registration payment as part of the admissions process, but no specific euro amount is published.

Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year)

- No published tuition fee schedule (per year group, per term, or annual totals) is available for SEK International School – Santa Isabel on the school's public information pages. The school's site presents admissions and programme information but does not display specific tuition amounts by stage or term.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- The school does not publish a formal billing schedule (for example: number of instalments, term dates for invoicing, late-payment penalties) or explicit payment-term details on its public pages. No definite statement of due dates, instalment options, or penalties is available in the published admissions information.

Boarding fees (if applicable)

- Boarding is not applicable. SEK-Santa Isabel serves children from early childhood through primary years (ages 3 to 12) as a day school, and no boarding provision or associated boarding fees are published.

Other costs and typical additional fees

- No official, school-published schedule of additional fees (uniform, school trips, specialised subject fees, instrument rental, exam fees) is available on the school's public information pages.

- Third-party listings and parent-information directories note approximate charges for ancillary services (these are third-party reported estimates, not school-published schedules):
- Extended-hours / morning care: approximately EUR 79 per month.
- Extended-hours / mornings and afternoons: listed around EUR 121 per month.
- Short-term supervised permanence (early arrival service) sometimes cited around EUR 85.
- School lunch (comedor / catering): approximate figure reported around EUR 173 per month.
- Extra-curricular activity fees: frequently reported in the range EUR 40–60 per month for individual activities.
These amounts are reported by third-party school-directory pages and reflect typical ancillary-service pricing reported externally for this school; they are not a published official fee schedule from the school itself.

Uniform and materials

- No school-published uniform price list or mandatory-uniform fee is publicly posted. Any uniform, textbook, materials or kit charges are not detailed in the school's public admissions information.

Refund information

- No published refund policy, reimbursement schedule, or conditions for refunding tuition/fees (for withdrawal, cancellation, or early termination) is available on the school's public information pages. No definitive refund terms are publicly posted.

Fee payment options

- The school's public pages do not list specific accepted payment methods (bank transfer, credit card, direct debit, etc.). No official statement of permitted payment channels is published in the admissions material.

Summary of findings

- SEK International School – Santa Isabel provides admissions and programme information publicly but does not publish a detailed numeric fee schedule (application fees, tuition per year group or term, billing timetable, refund terms, or payment-method list) on its public information pages. Available external directory listings report a few approximate ancillary-service prices (extended-hours, lunch, extra-curriculars) but these are third-party estimates rather than officially published school fees.
Academics

SEK International School - Santa Isabel teaches IB (PYP) for students aged 3 to 12.

Curriculum
The school offers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme for ages 3 to 12 and is NEASC-accredited. It is the only school in central Madrid offering the IB Primary Years Programme. The school's educational community includes students from more than 30 nationalities, providing a multicultural, international education. Language provisions include full English-language immersion and bilingual Spanish/English education, with a language-immersion programme for foreign students. The school is located in Madrid city centre, Barrio de las Letras. Educational stages run from 3 to 12. Learning Paths are recognised by Harvard University.

Gifted and Talented
Comprehensive Talent Development
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school provides a wide range of complementary activities whose aim is to look after each student's character development, qualities and interests. The school fosters emotional intelligence skills and integrates them into the curriculum, following the RULER model from Yale University.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
SEK International Schools provide personalized attention that allows us to diagnose the strengths and areas for growth of our students from early ages. We place the child at the center of the teaching-learning process, highlighting the teacher's role as facilitator.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school offers a language immersion programme for foreign students. It provides full English-language immersion and bilingual Spanish/English education.

Mental Wellbeing
The school fosters emotional intelligence skills and integrates them into the curriculum using the Yale University RULER model. It has a medical and health education service and a health and wellness programme, and aims for the full academic, social and emotional development of each student.

Safeguarding
The school was recognized by UNICEF as a Reference Center in Child Rights Education. Personal data protection is guaranteed in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Parent Experience

History
SEK-Santa Isabel opened in 1973 as the successor to SEK-Atocha and San Ildefonso on Santa Isabel Street in central Madrid. It was founded by Felipe Segovia, the founder of the SEK Education Group. Located in the Barrio de las Letras, it was the first SEK school in central Madrid to host both male and female students in the same building. In 1999, it evolved to its current format, focusing on early childhood and primary education. It is the only school in central Madrid authorized to provide the IB Primary Years Programme.

Community
SEK-Santa Isabel has a vibrant, multicultural educational community with more than 30 nationalities. The school offers a warm, international environment where learning extends beyond classrooms, including real-world experiences such as the Learning Outside-In project developed with Camilo José Cela University and Harvard's Project Zero. Language learning is a cornerstone, with life at school unfolding in English and Spanish and native-speaking teachers ensuring authentic instruction. The school's central Madrid location in the Barrio de Las Letras places students near Madrid's cultural institutions.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
SEK-Santa Isabel has upgraded flexible spaces that enable collaboration between students and teachers. The spaces are open and glazed, placing students at the centre of learning and supporting inquiry-based work in the context of their units of inquiry. Learning is facilitated in intentionally designed environments and the spaces meet leading international standards for learning and teaching. The campus in the Barrio de Las Letras, central Madrid, uses Learning Paths to contextualise knowledge, including History, Artisanal, Literature, Culture and Music, Sports and Wellness, and Science. Outdoor learning extends beyond the classroom and Harvard-recognized best practices from Learning Outside-In underpin the school's approach.

Sports Facilities
The school has its own sports facilities, a gym and two outdoor patios with a climbing wall. It also has access to the UCJC Sports Club in Villafranca del Castillo, which offers a 1,000 m2 sports court, tennis and fronton courts, basketball courts, a heated swimming pool, a beach volleyball court and horse-riding. Through collaboration and proximity to Parque El Retiro, students also do Physical Education and sports at the sports centre located in La Chopera.

Academic Facilities
STEAM subjects are present in daily life at SEK Santa Isabel, with one hour per week of maker activities including educational robotics kits, 3D printing and programming. Students have access to digital whiteboards in every classroom and use iPads and computers. A laboratory supports experimentation and healthy life habits, and the audiovisual room has a film set for recording and editing videos. Educational innovation is central, with Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality projects, Passion Pursuits, Learnometers, and a focus on emotional intelligence and well-being.

Extra Curricular Facilities
SEK Extracurricular Activities are designed for each SEK student. The school offers a range of activities providing our students the opportunity to enrich their education from an academic, cultural, artistic and sports perspective. Places are limited and will be assigned on a strict first-come-first-serve basis.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
SEK-Santa Isabel offers a broad range of extracurricular activities designed to enrich academic, cultural, artistic and sporting education. The academic enrichment includes Robotics and Digital Creativity, Debate and Oratory Club, Kumon Method, Science Camp and the Stellar Programme. Supervised study and a Multiexpert Support Team provide ongoing academic assistance, with termly progress reports to families. Activities are practical and delivered in small groups to ensure one-to-one learning.

Arts & Creative
Arts activities include Musical Instruments and Musical Notation Initiation, Singing, and Combo; Drama; Dance and Spanish Dance and Flamenco; Magic; and Arts Workshop. Instrument options include Piano, Percussion, Guitar, Violin, Clarinet and Saxophone, with sessions scheduled on specific days. The programme aims to enrich students' personalities through creativity, performance and artistic expression.

Cultural & Language
Story Time features reading in English, with active reading comprehension and related crafts; Story Makers provides an hour of English creative writing. The British Council offers an English language programme in collaboration with SEK-Santa Isabel, led by native English teachers. Mandarin Chinese is taught by SANWEI Chinese Culture with native-speaking teachers, with levels for beginners and other levels.

Social & Hobbies
Social and hobby activities include Drama, Dance and Spanish Dance and Flamenco, Magic and Arts Workshop, which foster creativity and social interaction. A musical ensemble approach is supported by Combo, with opportunities to perform in school events. The school also holds festivals and exhibitions throughout the year to showcase student work.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
SEK-Santa Isabel promotes wellbeing through sports and fitness, including Judo, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Chess, Fencing, Karate and Football, plus an Atlético de Madrid Football Training Camp-SEK-Santa Isabel. Football activities take place on school grounds and at external La Chopera facilities in Retiro Park. Yoga for Kids supports emotional regulation, strength, flexibility, concentration and self-confidence.
Languages

Language Provision
Early Childhood 1 & 2: 65% of the day in English. Year 3 Early Childhood and Primary: 50% of the school day in English. Students study a second foreign language (French or German) from the first year of Primary. Chinese is offered as an extracurricular activity. All languages are taught by native-speaking teachers.

Bilingual Teaching
Bilingual day with native English-speaking teachers, with an optimal balance in the use of both languages. All languages are taught by native-speaking teachers.

Immersion Programs
Full English-language immersion. Immersion programme for foreign students.
Reputation

Accreditations
IB Primary Years Programme; NEASC accreditation
Admissions

Admissions
STEP 1: Request information via the web, email or telephone. STEP 2: If you like, you can arrange a visit to the school with the admissions department. 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, they will be required to provide essential information to create access to the platform. STEP 4: Subsequently, both tutors will receive their login and password, which will allow them to provide all the necessary documents according to the stage. These must be uploaded before attending the interview. Documentation required for the start of the process: Identity document for both parents and students; Birth certificate; Marks or report cards assessing the previous academic year or progress up to application; Online interview with the student/family for those students who cannot take the tests at the school; Other specific documents depending on the academic cycle detailed in MYSEK Admissions. The Admissions Committee will send the final response to the family as soon as the corresponding decision has been taken.

Scholarships
SEK Excellence Scholarships to study the SEK university baccalaureate, through the Diploma Programme (IB), at seven authorised SEK schools: SEK International School Ciudalcampo Madrid; SEK International School El Castillo Madrid; SEK International School Catalunya Barcelona; SEK International School Alborán Almería; SEK International School Atlántico Pontevedra; SEK International School Dublin; SEK International School Qatar. SEK Scholarships for Baccalaureate at five authorised schools: SEK International School Ciudalcampo Madrid; SEK International School El Castillo Madrid; SEK International School Catalunya Barcelona; SEK International School Alborán Almería; SEK International School Atlántico Pontevedra. SEK Scholarships for Sports Performance for students with a good sports curriculum who represent the school or club and continue their sports training at SEK International Schools. SEK Scholarships for Sporting Talent for students with the best sports and/or academic talent and results. Maria de Villota Scholarship for Personal Effort providing students the chance to study at SEK International School Ciudalcampo where Maria de Villota was a student. Felipe Segovia Award to Best SEK Student to study the SEK university baccalaureate, through the Diploma Programme (IB), at one of seven authorised schools; or to study any form of Baccalaureate at five authorised schools. As part of SEK Education Group, Camilo José Cela University also offers a broad range of grants and financial aid. Check SEK Scholarships information and see details at the SEK Scholarships page. SEK Scholarships 2026-2027.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in Spain View all schools in Madrid View all schools in Spain IB curriculum schools in Spain Open days & tours in Madrid What is the IB curriculum? View all schools Search all schools