Barcelona Mum

Hamelin International - Alella

 Nursery and Infant education from 0 to 6 years. Prinary Education from 6 to 12 years. Secondary Education 12-16 years. Baccalaureate 16-18 years in science, technology and art, The schools is popular among ex-pats as it offers trilingual education (English, Spanish, Catalan) from nursery education until 16. The Baccalaureate is bilingual in English and Spanish.There is also an emphasis on learning Chinese.The school has a good reputation and has a high level of academic achievment. The school is around a 20 minute journey from the centre of Barcelona
Escola Hamelin-Internacional Laie, Nuria 26-30 08328 Alella 935556717 laie@escolessas.com www.escolessas.com

Comments:
"My son just started the Hamelin school in January 09 and we couldn't be happier. He had been going to the local municipal school (we were on the waiting list for Hamelin) and we thought it might be OK for him to be immersed in Catalan for a year. He is only three and he found the experience overwhelming. He seemed to struggle a lot and his personality was changing. The school itself has a very good reputation, but it just didn't work for him. When he started at Hamelin, he blossomed. As you probably know, at that age the classes are taught primarily in English and I think it helped to build his confidence (and to like school again). The teachers have been absolutely LOVELY. They made the transition for Alex very smooth, showed him lots of love and affection and after only a couple of weeks, he started making new friends. Nearly every day they teach some Catalan and Spanish, so he is now picking it up more gradually (which I think is less stressful). Since he started, I have had six-year olds to nine-year olds come up to me to practice their English - and I was surprised by the high standard. So, although they don't speak Spanish yet, I think children will find it easy to integrate and to be accepted. Alex loves school now" (TM)

  "I have found Hamelin to be a very dynamic school with young, motivated teachers, although the focus on different languages may not suit all children.They use the Jolly Phonics range of books for learning to read and write in English (which are apparently the most commonly used material in primary schools in England and Wales). Spanish and Catalan are given equal importance and the children have a choice of learning French or Chinese from the age of 6. The school has an excellent academic reputation but also places equal importance on creativity, sports activities, social skills and autonomy. Swimming lessons are incorporated into the school day rather than after school. In P3 my daughter went on colonias for 3 days and in P4 she went ski-ing for 5 days. These trips are not compulsory but it is strongly recommended that the children attend because the staff feel that the children have a chance to grow and develop away from their usual surroundings. The children came back from their trips with huge smiles and lovely stories to tell. All excursions, whether for half a day or 5 days are incredibly well organised. The end of year show was a delight. My only complaint is that there are very few native English speaking teachers "Jane Mitchell

Recommended by Theresa Mills

FABRA - Alella

Widely viewed as one of the best state schools in Maresme and alsoCatalunya - around 6 in the Catalan league.
Avinguda del Bosquet, 1 - 08328 Alella (Barcelona) -

Comments:
"They were very good with our kids, considering that they didn't speak a word
of Catalan or Spanish. Whenever there were Spanish or English lessons, they received private
Catalan lessons. Only in the second year they started with Spanish. My youngest who is slightly dyslectic was sent after 6 months to a specially trained tutor who worked with him on his Catalan and later also on his Spanish. After about a year she was happy with his progress and he didn't
have to go back. What I really like is that Catalans are very proud of their culture and
nature and they spend a lot of time at school doing music, danse, art and going on monthly trips, either cultural or nature. The parents association does a lot of stuff, such has providing books with a discount, organising the meals (which are cooked freshly on the premises and
a 3-course meal!) and the after-school guarderia. They organised a graduation party for the 6th grade + parents which was fantastic" (CC)
 

Recommended by Caroline Courtier

Krisol Wardorf School - Premià de Dalt

Wardorf school located in Premià de Dalt. From nursery upwards
Calle de la Cisa, 53, 08338 Premià de Dalt 687869715 annamariasuiyahoo.es  jserle@teleline.es www.colegioswaldorf.org

Comments:
"It has a beautiful location with a great playground outdoors. The advantage of Waldorf for me is not only the way of tutoring but also that the group is with a maximum of 12 kids (2 tutors) and that the atmosphere is more relaxed. Sarah used to go to Petit Princep in Premia de Mar and the tutors didn't seem to have it under control and there it was a more 'crying' atmosphere" (IVB)

Recommended by Ingeborg van Bavel