A Spanish international boarding school offering the complete International Baccalaureate continuum for children from 4 months to 18 years, part of an educational group with over a century of history.
History and International Recognition
Founded by Felipe Segovia in 1972, SEK El Castillo joined an educational group that has been operating since 1892 and has graduated over 100,000 students. The SEK network now encompasses 10 international schools across Spain, France, Ireland, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, where more than 7,000 students representing over 80 nationalities pursue their education. Notably, SEK was the first organization in Spain to implement International Baccalaureate programs back in 1977, pioneering a model that would shape modern international education in the country.
Campus and Infrastructure
The school occupies a secure gated community in Villаfranca del Castillo, just 20 minutes from Madrid’s center, surrounded by mountains and forests. Its 40,000+ m² campus houses 23 main facilities: separate buildings for each educational level with connecting passages, a cafeteria, sports hall, indoor pool, outdoor courts, music studios, laboratories, and a Maker Space for robotics. Adjacent to the campus stands Camilo José Cela University (UCJC), whose students regularly collaborate with the school on various projects. This proximity also provides access to UCJC’s 140,000+ m² sports club featuring 11 tennis courts, 5 padel courts, equestrian tracks, a golf course, competition pool, and fitness centers.
Academic Programs
SEK El Castillo delivers the full International Baccalaureate continuum: PYP for primary years, MYP for middle years, and DP for diploma level. Upper-school students can choose between the IB Diploma (fully English or bilingual Spanish-English) or the Spanish Bachillerato LOMLOE across five pathways, including a rare arts track with design, film, and painting courses. The school also offers a dual diploma combining Spanish Bachillerato and American High School Diploma.
The pedagogical approach centers on the Future Learning Model (FLM)—a comprehensive framework of nine elements that define learning values throughout education. Through partnership with Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero, the school implements Learning Outside-In, conducting lessons in museums, ports, and urban gardens. From third grade, students study both French and German simultaneously, then specialize in one language from fifth grade onwards while preparing for Cambridge, DELF, Goethe, and Cervantes Institute certifications. This rigorous preparation yields impressive outcomes, with 90% of graduates gaining admission to their chosen universities, including Georgetown, Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London, and Stanford.
Extracurricular Activities at SEK El Castillo Madrid
The school runs Empowerment Hubs—dedicated schedule slots where students explore their passions through sports, music, theater, and visual arts. They participate in Model UN conferences (SEKMUN and THIMUN), contribute to school media outlets covering press, radio, and television, and train at the music school toward ABRSM and Trinity Rock and Pop certifications. Throughout the year, students embark on cultural excursions, skiing trips, and educational voyages aboard the school’s schooner Cervantes Saavedra.
Meanwhile, the SEK International Sports Academy provides professional training in swimming, tennis, golf, equestrian sports, and winter disciplines for students aged 10 to 18. Young athletes follow personalized programs supported by psychological counseling, medical care, and nutritional guidance through collaboration with UCJC’s Faculty of Education and Health.
Boarding
The campus maintains two residential halls—one for girls, one for boys—accommodating 110 students in double and triple rooms. Both facilities are currently undergoing renovation to enhance living conditions. These residences feature study rooms, medical offices, TV lounges, game areas, music spaces, a library, radio studio, and auditorium.
Boarding options include full residence (entire month with weekends) or weekly stays (Monday through Friday). Students receive full board with breakfast, snack, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. Those living on campus benefit from 24-hour security within the gated community, a comprehensive wellbeing system, daily laundry service, medical care, and access to all academic and athletic facilities throughout the grounds.
