British schools first began opening in Spain at the beginning of the 20th century. Initially they were created to serve the expatriate community, which were mainly the kids of British diplomats.
Since then, they have evolved “becoming hubs of international education that cater to both local and global families”.
Today, according to the British Schools’ report 2024-25 by the British Council, there are 143 British schools in Spain spread across 180 campuses.
This is just over twice the number in the three neighbouring countries of France, Italy and Portugal combined. The demographic has also changed dramatically.
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Over the past five years, the number of British schools in the country has risen by 7 percent. Student enrolment has increased by 16 percent over the same period and surprisingly 87 percent of students are Spanish nationals.
In fact, 40 percent of all international schools in Spain are British and follow the UK curriculum.
Around 25 percent are located in the capital of Madrid, while Valencia has around 7 percent of these. Barcelona, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Palma de Mallorca, Marbella and Málaga each have between 4 and 5 percent of the total.
One of the reasons these colegios británicos have been so successful, the report believes, is that they follow the British curriculum, which emphasises critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.
“British schools are widely respected for their rigorous curricula and examination systems, including A-Levels and GCSEs, their focus on bilingualism, and their holistic approach to teaching,” the report states.
“These qualities, coupled with the global acceptance of UK qualifications by Spanish universities and employers, reinforce their reputation for academic excellence and sustain their appeal across diverse communities,” it continues.
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This way of teaching and learning contrasts with the traditional, memory-based approaches typical in Spanish schools.
In fact, the Spanish Ministry of Education itself agreed with this and in 2022 announced major changes to the country's secondary education system. The curriculum specifically promoted reasoning and critical thinking over learning by rote.
Overhauling a whole curriculum, way of teaching and way of learning takes time, however. Despite the overhaul, students in Spanish schools are still falling behind.
In 2024, an educational survey found that Spanish primary school children have among the lowest levels for maths and science in Europe and the OECD countries and has even fallen in recent years.
The survey placed Spain at the bottom of the European rankings, only ahead of countries such as Kosovo and North Macedonia.
University representatives further confirmed that students from British schools excel in teamwork and problem-solving and that their advanced skill set can sometimes challenge the traditional, memory-based approaches of some Spanish universities.
Other than academic excellence, another reason that British schools in Spain have been so successful is that they play a vital role in fostering cultural exchange and bilingualism.
“The focus on English proficiency remains a significant appeal for families,” the report states. “Their bilingual or multilingual approach is a hallmark of British schools in Spain, where students often graduate with proficiency in multiple languages, including Spanish and English, and exposure to additional languages like French, German, or Chinese”.
Many parents in Spain, whether they’re foreigners or Spaniards, believe that these British schools help to form “globally minded, well-rounded students" who do well in universities in Spain, the UK, and beyond.
They also want their kids to have a good level of English. Spaniards are consistently ranked for having some of the worst levels of English in Europe, revealed by reports over the years from the English Proficiency Index.
In 2025, Spain ranks at number 36 on the list, well behind the top countries such as the Netherlands, Croatia, Germany, Norway, Portugal and Denmark.
Because a good level of English is seen as important in Spain for future job prospects, many want to get their kids familiar with it earlier by sending them to British schools instead of Spanish ones.
The success of British schools in Spain is ultimately down to the way they adapt to changing demands, as well as maintaining high standards.
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