Anne Sullivan International School

How Admissions Works at Anne Sullivan

Anne Sullivan International School takes an accessible, relationship-first approach to admissions. There is no published competitive entrance examination, and the school positions itself as welcoming to families who align with its educational philosophy rather than as a highly selective institution.

Who the School is For

The school primarily serves expatriate families and internationally minded local families in the Barcelona region who are seeking an English-medium IB education. Its multilingual provision (English, Spanish, Catalan, French, German) and non-denominational ethos make it broadly inclusive across nationalities and backgrounds.

The age range is 3–16, covering early years through to the equivalent of Year 11 or Grade 10 (with IB DP candidacy underway, which will extend to 18). No boarding is offered; the school is day-only.

Open Days and Visits

The school actively invites prospective families to attend open days and school visits. Based on available information, open days for the 2026–27 academic year are scheduled on:

• Saturday, 30 January 2027 at 09:30
• Saturday, 20 February 2027 at 09:30
• Saturday, 27 March 2027 at 09:30
• Saturday, 10 April 2027 at 09:30

These sessions provide families with the opportunity to meet staff, tour the campus, and understand the school's philosophy first-hand.

Enquiry and Application Process

The admissions process begins with an information request via the school's contact form or email ([email protected]). Specific documentation requirements and assessment procedures are not publicly detailed, which is consistent with a smaller school that manages admissions individually.

SEN (Special Educational Needs) cases are considered on a case-by-case basis, suggesting the school does not have a blanket exclusion policy but evaluates each child's needs against its capacity to provide appropriate support.

Fees

Fee schedules are provided on enquiry. A reference point from the school's early years of operation indicates a monthly tuition of approximately €450 (founder-parent indicative rate, 2020–21), suggesting an annual tuition in the region of €5,400. Current fees are likely higher and should be confirmed directly with the school.

From Founding Vision to Growing Institution

Anne Sullivan International School Barcelona opened its doors in 2018, making it one of the newer international schools in the Catalonia region. Its establishment was driven by community demand — families in and around the Pallejà area, south-west of Barcelona, who wanted access to a high-quality international education without commuting to the city centre.

The Name and Its Significance

The school takes its name from Anne Sullivan, the American educator best known as the teacher and lifelong companion of Helen Keller. Sullivan is celebrated for her extraordinary patience, creativity, and ability to unlock her student's potential through non-conventional methods — values that clearly resonate with the school's own pedagogical philosophy. The name signals the institution's commitment to discovering and nurturing individual talent, particularly in students who may not flourish in more traditional settings.

A Small School Scaling Gradually

The school opened with early years and primary-age students and has progressively expanded upward toward secondary level. By 2020–21, the school was advertising founding-parent places, offering an introductory monthly fee of €450 and acknowledging remaining vacancies for the early years cohort. This phased growth model is typical of new IB candidate schools, which must build student numbers while simultaneously completing IB authorisation processes.

IB Candidacy and Authorisation

As of the research date, the school holds IB World School authorisation for PYP (Primary Years Programme) and MYP (Middle Years Programme), with IB Diploma Programme (DP) authorisation in progress. This trajectory places Anne Sullivan on a path toward offering a full K–16 IB continuum, which will significantly enhance its appeal for internationally mobile families seeking continuity across their children's education.

Location: Fontpineda, Pallejà

The school's campus is located at Gran Via de Fontpineda 2, Fontpineda, in the municipality of Pallejà, approximately 20 km south-west of central Barcelona. The natural, semi-rural setting provides generous outdoor space — a notable contrast to many city-centre schools — and supports the school's emphasis on experiential, outdoor-integrated learning. The campus includes sports facilities, outdoor areas, a library, ICT resources, science laboratories, and a cafeteria.

An Evolving Full IB Continuum

Anne Sullivan International School is building toward a complete IB continuum education. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) are currently authorised and in operation, covering students from early years through to approximately age 16. The IB Diploma Programme (DP) is in candidacy, meaning the school is working toward offering the full pre-university qualification for students aged 16–19.

This progression is significant for families. Once DP authorisation is secured, Anne Sullivan will be able to offer a seamless IB journey from age 3 to 18 — a feature that appeals strongly to internationally mobile families and those seeking a globally recognised university entry qualification.

Aligned with the Catalan Curriculum

Alongside the IB framework, the school follows the Catalan regional curriculum as required by Spanish educational regulations. This dual alignment ensures students are recognised within the Spanish national system while also achieving international IB qualifications. It reflects the school's practical commitment to serving families who may remain long-term in Catalonia as well as those who may relocate internationally.

Five Languages in the Classroom

One of Anne Sullivan's most distinctive academic features is its genuine multilingualism. English is the primary language of instruction, but Spanish, Catalan, French, and German are all taught as subjects from the early years onward. This early, sustained multilingual exposure is grounded in the school's explicit language philosophy and reflects international research on the cognitive advantages of multilingual education.

For expatriate families, the inclusion of Catalan and Spanish ensures that children integrate meaningfully into the local community. For internationally focused families, the addition of French and German opens pathways to wider European education and career opportunities.

Assessment and Progress

The school does not publicly disclose detailed examination results, which is expected given its young age and the fact that first DP graduates have not yet completed the programme. As IB DP results become available in coming years, they will provide an important benchmark of the school's academic outcomes. In the meantime, the IB's own external moderation of PYP and MYP provides quality assurance.

A Thinking Classroom

Beyond curriculum frameworks, the school's teaching culture prioritises critical thinking, Design Thinking methodology, and project-based learning. These approaches develop students' capacity to reason independently, collaborate effectively, and apply knowledge to novel situations — competencies increasingly valued by leading universities worldwide.

A Science-Backed Educational Model

Anne Sullivan International School Barcelona takes an unusually explicit philosophical stance: its teaching methods are consciously grounded in neuroscience, psychology, and sociology. This is not simply a marketing claim — the school's official website describes how these disciplines directly shape classroom practice, professional development for teachers, and the design of the learning environment.

Learning by Doing

The cornerstone pedagogical method is Learning by Doing, a hands-on, experiential approach that asks students to construct knowledge through action rather than passive reception. Projects, investigations, and real-world challenges replace rote memorisation as the primary vehicle for learning. This aligns directly with the IB's inquiry-based framework (PYP and MYP), which the school implements from early years through secondary.

Multiple Intelligences Theory

Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences underpins how the school identifies and nurtures each child's unique profile. Rather than measuring success solely through linguistic or logical-mathematical ability, teachers are trained to recognise and develop spatial, musical, kinaesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic intelligences. This creates a more inclusive and personalised learning culture.

Early and Multilingual Language Education

Language acquisition is treated as both a cognitive and social priority. English is the primary language of instruction, but the curriculum deliberately integrates Spanish, Catalan, French, and German from the earliest years. The school's language philosophy reflects research showing that early multilingual exposure strengthens cognitive flexibility, empathy, and academic readiness. This multilingual commitment is one of the most distinctive features of the school.

Critical Thinking and Character Formation

The curriculum explicitly targets critical thinking and character education (formación del carácter) as outcomes equal in importance to academic knowledge. Students are encouraged to question, debate, and reflect. Leadership development, emotional intelligence, and self-knowledge are embedded into school life through programmes such as LeaderLabs, Self-Knowledge & Emotional Work, and Life Project.

Why This Matters for Families

For parents seeking a school where educational theory is actively practised rather than decoratively cited, Anne Sullivan presents a compelling proposition. Its small size means that the philosophy is not diluted across hundreds of classrooms — every teacher and every lesson is expected to embody these principles. The IB framework provides external validation and a progression pathway, while the school's own pedagogical DNA gives it a distinctive character that goes beyond the standard IB offering.

Small School, Rich Experience

Anne Sullivan International School deliberately maintains a small school community. Located on a campus surrounded by nature in Fontpineda, Pallejà, the school offers an environment that contrasts sharply with larger urban international schools. The small scale enables genuinely close relationships between students, teachers, and families — a feature frequently cited as a priority by parents choosing smaller independent schools.

Extracurricular Life

Despite its small size, the school offers a meaningful range of extracurricular activities designed to complement its academic and character formation mission:

• LeaderLabs: A structured leadership development programme open to all year groups, building communication, decision-making, and collaborative skills.
• Atelier Programme: Creative studio-based work drawing on arts and design, inspired by the Reggio Emilia atelier tradition of inquiry-based creative learning.
• Performing Arts: Violin, dance, and broader performing arts activities develop aesthetic sensibility, discipline, and confidence.
• Sports: Tennis and rugby are confirmed sports offerings. The natural campus setting suggests scope for additional outdoor activities.
• Self-Knowledge & Emotional Work Programme: A distinctive wellbeing-focused programme that develops emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and resilience — treating inner development as seriously as academic achievement.
• Life Project: A programme helping students reflect on their values, aspirations, and life direction — particularly relevant for secondary-age students navigating identity and future planning.
• Design Thinking: Cross-curricular problem-solving programme developing creative and analytical skills in tandem.

Facilities Supporting the Experience

The campus includes a library, ICT and computing facilities, science laboratories, workshop and craft spaces, a tennis court, a rugby ground, extensive outdoor spaces, and a cafeteria offering healthy meals. The combination of academic, creative, sporting, and dining facilities supports a full school day and a well-rounded student experience.

Wellbeing at the Core

The school's programming explicitly addresses student wellbeing — not as a pastoral add-on, but as a core educational commitment. The Self-Knowledge & Emotional Work programme, Life Project, and the general character-formation ethos all reflect a school culture that values the whole child. Special educational needs are considered on a case-by-case basis, indicating an inclusive disposition.

Transport and Logistics

The school does not operate a school bus service. Families are responsible for their own transport arrangements, which is worth noting given the campus's semi-rural location. The address — Gran Via de Fontpineda 2, Pallejà — is accessible by car from both Barcelona and surrounding towns.