Hastings School - Paseo de la Habana

Madrid, Spain. Hastings School operates across six sites in central Madrid.

Pupils aged 2-18 are taught. The English national curriculum is taught, including IGCSE and Cambridge IGCSE, AS and A Level examinations, and since September 2022 the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) has been offered as a 16+ option.

Independent international school.

Student nationalities: 56; the student body represents 56 countries; fewer than 10% of students are from English First Language countries.

United Kingdom.

The English national curriculum is taught to pupils aged 2-18. The school offers IGCSE/IGCSE (Edexcel and Cambridge International) as well as AS and A Level examinations. In September 2022, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) began as a 16+ option. Year 12 and 13 students can tailor their studies by choosing subjects that align with their interests. Spanish language studies are available with Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (PCEs) to meet Spanish university entry requirements.

The current Year 13 comprises 126 students, with 101 pursuing A Levels and 25 pursuing the IB Diploma Programme. In 2025, the school reports an average IB points score of 34.6 (global average 30.58). Destinations for 2025 show 52% of graduates going to universities in Spain and 33% to the UK, with additional graduates to the Netherlands, Italy, the USA, Ireland, Australia, and Germany. UK university acceptances include Cambridge, St Andrews, Imperial College London, LSE, UCL, King\'s College London, Bristol, Bath, Warwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, and more; Spanish and international universities such as IE University and Universidad de Navarra are also listed among destinations.

Destinations for 2025 show graduates progressing to a range of top universities in the UK, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, the USA, Ireland, Australia, and beyond. Notable UK destinations include Cambridge, St Andrews, Imperial College London, LSE, UCL, King\'s College London, Bristol, Bath, Warwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Leeds. US destinations include Duke University, Rice University, Notre Dame, and others; Spanish destinations include IE University and Universidad de Navarra. 52% of graduates stayed in Spain and 33% in the UK, with the remainder attending universities in the Netherlands, Italy, the USA, Ireland, Australia, and Germany.

Hastings School teaches the English national curriculum to pupils aged 2-18, including IGCSE, AS and A Level examinations, and began offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme as a 16+ option in September 2022. The school embraces a holistic approach to education, where outcomes are not measured only by exams but also by developing key learner habits crucial for the future. Students are encouraged to develop a sense of responsibility, concern for fellow pupils, and respect for the school and its community. The school upholds humanistic moral values and fosters understanding, tolerance of, and curiosity for other cultures. It develops concern for the environment, interpersonal confidence and proficiency, and encourages a healthy lifestyle so graduates are academically and emotionally equipped to construct and steer themselves toward successful and fulfilling lives.

Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are recognised as potentially more vulnerable. The safeguarding framework provides a staged approach to support, starting with universal offering and pastoral support, then progressing to targeted support and, when needed, external support. Staff are expected to identify early intervention needs for children with SEN and coordinate with others to arrange appropriate support. Where required, referrals to external agencies are made in partnership with families. The policy emphasises collaboration with parents and safeguarding leaders to review and adapt support as a child's needs change.

English as a Second Language (ESL) is offered as a subject for Year 10 and Year 11. The school teaches the English national curriculum to pupils aged 2-18 and provides English-language subject options as part of its curriculum offerings, including ESL in the upper secondary years.

Universal emotional wellbeing support is provided for all pupils in partnership with parents. Some students may receive enhanced pastoral support through informal daily or weekly check-ins with nominated staff. For others, additional targeted mental health support is arranged, with nominated staff guiding the plan. If needed, families are signposted to external agencies or professionals, and the school may refer to external services. The Wellbeing/Mental Health Lead coordinates these efforts and works in collaboration with parents and external providers to address evolving needs.

A Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy applies to all children and adults in the school, with a designated Child Protection and Wellbeing Co-ordinator (CPC) and Deputy CPCs. The CPC liaises with local authorities, social services and the police as required and oversees safeguarding investigations alongside the Headteacher. Staff receive safeguarding training and are expected to report concerns promptly, with clear escalation and referral processes. The policy describes staged interventions, risk assessments for mental health, and partnership with external agencies when necessary. It also covers visiting professionals and external speakers, and notes Cognita's regional safeguarding leadership as part of its safeguarding framework.

1. Enquiries: All enquiries and applications are directed to the Admissions Department. You can arrange a visit through Admissions and receive information about the admissions process from Admissions Officers, or call 91 825 21 52 for assistance. 2. Visits: Prospective parents are encouraged to visit Hastings School to see the school in action and to meet the Leadership Team. There are open days published on the School website, and informal visits can be arranged. 3. Registration: Following a visit, meeting or interview and the corresponding entrance tests, Hastings offers a place to the family. Parents should complete the Admissions Registration Form, read and sign the Parent Contract, and return this documentation with the non-refundable Registration Fee. The School confirms that the child's name has been placed on the admission list for the relevant term and year; if the year group is fully subscribed, the child is placed on a waiting list. A place is only confirmed when a formal offer is made and after the Registration Fee and documentation have been submitted by the parents. 4. Taster Days: Taster sessions may be offered to assess the applicant's educational needs and to give the child an opportunity to spend time in the School and to meet potential classmates. 5. Admission to Pre-Nursery and Nursery: In Pre-Nursery, pupils are normally 2 years old by September; under Spanish law, some second birthdays may be admitted during the first term, and toilet-training is not expected initially. No formal assessment is undertaken, but parents are asked about development and any identified needs; places are not automatic and may be refused if we cannot support the child's needs. In Nursery, pupils are normally 3 years old by September; under Spanish law, admission may occur if the third birthday falls in the first term, and toilet-training is required. No formal assessment is undertaken, but parents are asked about development and any identified needs; places are not automatic and may be refused if we cannot support the child's needs. 6. Admission to Other Year Groups: Children joining Year 1 should have an age-appropriate level of English, and Hastings School also likes to see the latest reports and have the child meet the Head of Teaching and Learning for KS1. For Year 2 and above, pupils must have an age-appropriate level of spoken and written English and numeracy, with some written assessments in controlled conditions, and the most recent reports; the child may be asked to meet the Head of Teaching and Learning, and online options are possible if necessary. For Secondary entrants, we ensure the student has a suitable level of English and may require two most recent school reports; English and Mathematics exams or subject-specific exams may be required depending on the application. 8. Applications to Sixth Form: Hastings School welcomes Sixth Form applications from existing Year 11 students and from external Year 11 students. Any offer to study in Years 12 and 13 is subject to certain conditions; the School offers both IB Diploma and A levels. All students entering the Sixth Form must commit to beginning at least 3 AS subjects or the full IB Diploma; priority is given to existing Year 11 students transferring into the Sixth Form who meet grade criteria (IGCSE: English Language C, Maths C, and at least a B in 3 other subjects). Students must obtain at least a B grade (Level 6) in subjects they wish to study at A level or IB Higher Level, with higher-grade requirements for certain subjects. Where applicable, portfolios may be required for AS/A2 Art & Design; external applicants with or without IGCSEs are assessed on school reports, interviews, and other criteria. 9. Fluency in the School's language of instruction: Students must have an appropriate working knowledge of the school's languages of instruction; EAL support can be arranged at an additional cost and may be a condition of acceptance. Pupil language ability may be assessed before an offer is made and an interview may be required. 10. Allocation of Places, Offers and Waiting List: A place is available only after a formal offer and the required registration fee is received. If the number of applicants exceeds places, priority is given to current family associations, prior educational history, entrance assessments, and interviews; a waiting list may be used with an administrative fee, and places are offered on a first-come, first-served basis according to the stated criteria. 11. Appeal: There is no right to appeal a decision not to admit a pupil; the Headteacher's decision is final, and the School's complaints procedure is not available to prospective parents or in respect of prospective pupils. 12. The Parent Contract: The terms under which the School educates each child are set out in the Parent Contract, which will be made available as part of the admissions process. 13. Admissions Register and Record Keeping: The School maintains an Admissions Register, and applicants' details are stored in accordance with data protection legislation, the School's Privacy Notice and Data Retention Policy; the register includes name, gender, parent details, emergency contacts, date of birth, admission or re-admission date, and previous school attended.

If a year group is full, Hastings School places the child on a waiting list. Waiting list placements follow the same criteria used for offers, including current family association, prior educational history, entrance assessments, and interviews, with offers made on a first-come, first-served basis once places become available. An administrative fee may be charged for the waiting list, and parents are informed within a week of their application whether a place is available. A place is not guaranteed while on the waiting list, and the School reserves the right to withdraw an offer if information provided is knowingly false or misleading.