King's College of Madrid
Last Inspection Report
Gender: Coeducational School
Day/Boarding: Day and Boarding School
Number of pupils: 1757
Age Range: 2-18
School Information
Founded in 1969, King's College is the largest British school in Spain and the first to have had full UK accreditation through the Independent Schools' Inspectorate.
The school caters for children of approximately 40 nationalities between the ages of 2 and 18 years. Pupil enrolment is over 1750, including 22 boarders. There are 137 fully qualified staff, most of whom are British.
The aim of King's College under the key phrase of its Charter "A British Education in Spain for Europe and the World", is to provide students with an excellent all-round education while fostering tolerance and understanding between young people of different nationalities and backgrounds.
Location. There are three school sites in Madrid:
King's College, Soto de Viñuelas - the main school for pupils between the ages of 2 and 18 years, stands on a 12 acre site in a residential area about 25km to the north of Madrid near the Guadarrama mountains and surrounded by open countryside. It is well connected to the city centre by motorway and rail. There is an optional comprehensive bus service to the city of Madrid and its outlying residential areas and all routes are supervised by a bus monitor.
Facilities. The main school has extensive, purpose-built facilities which include 7 science laboratories, 2 libraries, art studio, 3 computer centres with multimedia stations, and 2 music rooms. From Reception to Year 13, most classrooms are fitted with interactive whiteboards and there are computers in all Primary classrooms. Recent additions include a purpose-built Early Learning Centre, an Auditorium with seating for over 350 people and a Music School with 6 rooms for individual or small group tuition. The sports facilities include a 25 metre indoor heated swimming pool, a floodlit multi-purpose sports area, football pitches, basketball and tennis courts, a gymnasium with fitness centre and a horse riding school.
The Residence (boarding) is currently located on two floors of the school's west wing and has a capacity for approximately 40 Secondary age pupils.
King's Infant School, Chamartín
Conveniently located in the Chamartín area of central Madrid, the school offers purpose-built facilities for boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 6 (Nursery to Year 2) and has a capacity of 200 pupils. There are spacious, well-equipped classrooms, complete with independent bathrooms for the Nursery pupils, a library and computer room and a playground area with safety surfaces.
At the age of seven, at the end of National Curriculum Year 2, pupils from King's Infant School automatically transfer to the Junior schools at the main site in Soto de Viñuelas or La Moraleja.
King's College School, La Moraleja
This brand new, purpose built school is located on an extensive plot of land in La Moraleja, one of the most highly regarded residential areas in Madrid, 15 kilometres from the centre of the city. The school will eventually house 450 pupils from the age of 3 to 14 years (Nursery to Year 9).
The modern on-site facilities include a library, ICT centre, laboratory, music room, multi-purpose sports surface and gymnasium.
At the age of fourteen, at the end of National Curriculum Year 9, pupils transfer to the main school site in Soto de Viñuelas to complete their final four years of study.
Curriculum
Pupils at all three King's College sites follow the English National Curriculum leading to (I)GCSE, GCE AS and A Level examinations. There are Induction English Classes for children over the age of 7 who need to improve their English while gradually integrating into the mainstream of the school. There is also a Spanish section at the main site for pupils wishing to follow the Spanish Baccalaureate from the age of 16 (Y12). All pupils learn Spanish. The school has a reputation for high academic standards and excellent examination results with students going on to top universities in Britain, USA and Spain amongst others. An Oxbridge preparatory group works with the most able students to prepare university applications. There is a very experienced Careers and University Entrance Advisory Department for all students.
Activities
King's College has choirs, musical ensembles and drama groups, which participate in numerous events throughout the year. Pupils are encouraged to explore their capabilities in the areas of music and the arts from a very early age.
Sports play an important role at the school and pupils are encouraged to take part in tournaments and local competitive events, in addition to their normal P.E. classes. King's College currently has football, basketball and swimming teams participating in local leagues, and also takes part in inter-school championships in athletics and cross-country.
There is a programme of optional classes which includes horse riding, ballet, judo, Spanish dancing, swimming, tennis, tuition in various musical instruments, performing arts and craft workshops.
Admission
Pupils entering the school at the age of 7 or above are required to sit entrance tests in English and Mathematics and possibly other subjects, while younger candidates are screened by our Educational Psychologist. For those applying to the Sixth Form, admission depends on the results of the (I)GCSE examinations, or equivalent.