At International College Spain, every student’s education extends beyond the classroom. Inspired and supported by our brilliant teachers, coaches, and pastoral team, your child will do what they love, discover new interests, and immerse themselves in extraordinary local and international learning opportunities. In doing so, they’ll develop the skills, values, and knowledge they need both now and in the future.
Experiences include life-changing trips to Tanzania and Andorra, which build confidence and independence. Your child will showcase their creativity through our world-leading performing arts collaboration with The Juilliard School. And they’ll do what they love on our extensive extra-curricular programme, which offers a choice of more than 70 clubs and activities.
Our collaborations with The Juilliard School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and UNICEF enhance our students’ school experience, both in and outside of the curriculum.
Performing arts are so much more than what is seen on stage. They encourage self-expression and self-awareness, as well the development of empathy, confidence and cultural exploration. Our collaboration with Juilliard, the world-renowned performing arts school, combined with our outstanding dance, drama, and music programmes, inspires our students’ creativity, team-work and resilience.
The Juilliard School is recognised around the world as a leader in the performing arts; our exclusive collaboration with them harnesses their expertise and experience to create an arts programme that both inspires our students and sparks their passion to pursue their talents and interests.
We love the arts at ICS. Music and drama are such an important part of our students’ education, encouraging innovation and original thinking, and giving them the freedom to express themselves.
Our outstanding creative programmes are delivered in collaboration with the world’s leading performing arts conservatory, The Juilliard School. Both in and beyond the curriculum, your child will learn from specialist instructors and artists in creative spaces, finessing their skills and growing in confidence before stepping into our auditorium to showcase their talents.
After-school, your child can go behind the scenes at our dazzling Broadway! club, working with friends to produce, design, and stage a fully-fledged musical performance. Instrument lessons – ranging from the flute, clarinet, and saxophone to the drums and guitar – also provide opportunities for all tastes and interests.
Our students’ learning is enriched by a range of academic activities that help them gain the knowledge and global perspectives they need to succeed.
We encourage all our students to take part in The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Through the Award, each student sets their own goals and challenges, takes part in fun activities, and commits to making a real difference through service and outreach projects.
Joining the Model United Nations encourages our students to think and act like world-changers, too. Researching, debating, and proposing solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing our planet, your child will learn to value different viewpoints, work as a team, and develop vital leadership and organisational skills.
We encourage a lifelong love of movement and artistic expression through our broad range of dance programmes, enriched by our collaboration with The Juilliard School.
Our primary ballet club develops our students’ coordination, balance, and flexibility, while our secondary hip-hop dance classes are full of energy. We also introduce our students to modern and Spanish traditional dance, where they learn the history and traditions of flamenco before performing their own routines.
Our popular circus skills club nurtures our students’ physical, social, and creative skills, too, as they safely learn how to fly, ride a monocycle, and entertain a crowd.
At ICS, we believe a healthy body cultivates a healthy, active mind. We want every child to develop positive habits from an early age, and regular exercise is the perfect way to keep mentally and physically fit.
Our extra-curricular clubs offer something for everybody. These include individual sports such as badminton, tennis, judo, and swimming, as well as traditional team activities like basketball, football, and volleyball. These develop our students’ strength of character, confidence, and resilience, and teach them the importance of good sportsmanship.
We’ll encourage your child to try something a bit different, too. From horse riding in Hípica La Moraleja to artistic roller skating and Capoeira, we offer a range of unique activities that give every child – regardless of age or ability – the chance to discover their passion.
Our students’ natural curiosity and creativity blossom at extra-curricular clubs that span the STEAM subjects.
Each activity provides a unique opportunity to pursue passions – and make exciting new discoveries. In our design and technology lab, for example, our students code, develop, and build their own smartphone apps at our ‘techie club for kids who like to tweak’. Working alongside friends, your child can design, build, and programme Lego robots, too.
Our students paint, sculpt, and experiment with a variety of techniques at our artistic clubs, while our creative writing groups inspire budding authors to create pacey plots, convincing characters, and wondrous worlds.
Our citizenship trip to Arusha in Tanzania teaches students about global responsibility and sustainability, and the important role we play in looking after our planet. Working with locals on a variety of projects, students develop a sense of independence, increase their understanding of the world, and learn the importance of being part of a community.
On our sports education trip, also to Arusha, our students support the incredible Umoja Tanzania project, which is breaking down barriers to sports participation among disadvantaged young people. As well as helping to improve local facilities, ICS students take part in leadership and coaching sessions with young people. This, in turn, develops their confidence, notion of citizenship, and understanding of the world.
From Grade 2, your child will join their teachers and friends on exciting residential trips, where they’ll become increasingly independent, broaden their knowledge and perspectives, and learn in a practical way.
Trips include our Grade 3 ‘how the world works’ residential to Gredos Field Studies Centre, where students learn about local landscapes, take part in team activities, and go zip-lining at the Hoyos Del Espino adventure park. Our primary students also visit the ancient Roman city of Segóbriga and enjoy a two-night ‘residential exhibition’, which features a range of learning and outdoors activities.
In secondary, residentials encourage our students to delve deeper into the curriculum and develop vital IB Learner Profile attributes. Trips include our environmental service expedition to Albufera National Park in Valencia, where Grade 6 students take part in workshops, interpretive tours, and hands-on activities linked to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Our older students also enjoy a cultural trip to Cordoba and a team-building residential in Entrapeñas.
We also organise an annual ski trip, which is hugely popular among our students, and has been an important part of life at ICS since 1983.
We organise a variety of exciting trips that are specifically designed to bring your child’s classroom education to life.
Our Learning Without Walls programme is packed with opportunities for our younger students to discover, explore, and grow. They take part in innovative cultural programmes at the Teatro Sanchinarro, learn about the water cycle at Pressa de El Pardo, and get close to nature at a bee farm, zoo, and insect park. We also take them on fun activity days, including a ‘Madrid safari’ and a trip to Europa Park.
In secondary, designated Outdoor Learning Days add a real-world element to IB learning. From re-enacting significant historical moments and learning CPR to rock climbing and cooking in a Masterchef competition, our students enjoy a breadth of experiential activities that motivate and inspire them to learn.
We know that students who feel safe, happy, and valued will flourish. And that’s why your child’s health and wellbeing will always come first.
Our highly qualified counsellors work with class tutors to provide the support our students need to overcome challenges, bounce-back from adversity, and look after their physical and mental health. This includes dedicated wellbeing time each morning, which feature mindfulness activities, tutor check-ins, and bespoke assemblies.
Our innovative outdoor learning programme boosts our students’ social and emotional wellbeing, and connects them with nature, too. And on our Global Campus platform, your child will have access to a wealth of specialist support and resources.
With its warm, vibrant atmosphere and genuine community feel, our campus is the perfect place for your child to learn, discover, and grow.
our campus
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A CARING COMMUNITY THAT DRIVES ACTION
In our truly international, outward-looking community, your child will become a local and global changemaker.
Our students live and breathe our culture of helping others, demonstrating empathy, compassion, and determination by raising money and awareness for local charities. They also get involved in practical projects – ranging from litter clean-ups and tree-planting to events marking Earth Day – that make a tangible difference to our environment.
While they’re with us, your child will come to understand their unique place in the world, embrace different cultures, and celebrate diversity. They’ll also explore global issues – including the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and Rights of the Child agendas – through our exclusive collaboration with UNICEF.