Colegio Hispano Ingles

A Philosophy Built Around Readiness

At the heart of Colegio Hispano Inglés de Las Palmas lies a compelling guiding principle: "Para que cuando tengan que volar, estén preparados!" — translated as "So that when they have to fly, they are prepared!" This motto is not merely decorative; it reflects the school's deep commitment to preparing students for a multilingual, internationally connected world.

CHI positions itself as a school where language proficiency and practical technological skills are treated as core academic competencies rather than supplementary extras. The school is private, secular, and co-educational, welcoming students regardless of gender or religious background.

Dual-Curriculum Approach

One of CHI's most distinctive features is its dual-curriculum model. Students pursue both the Spanish national education programme and the Cambridge International qualification pathway (IGCSE and A-Level). This parallel structure gives graduates a rare advantage: they hold qualifications recognised across Spain and the broader European Union, while simultaneously earning internationally portable credentials from Cambridge Assessment International Education.

This dual approach requires rigorous academic discipline. Students must prepare for external Cambridge examinations in subjects such as Mathematics, Sciences, English, German, History, Economics, and Computer Sciences — all while completing the requirements of the Spanish Bachillerato system. The school reports that all students pass their Cambridge IGCSE examinations with grades in the A*–C range.

Language as Identity

The school's name itself — Hispano Inglés, meaning Spanish-English — signals that bilingualism is foundational to CHI's identity. English and Spanish are both used as languages of instruction in daily academic life. Beyond these two core languages, the school further extends its linguistic reach by offering German and Mandarin Chinese as foreign language options. This four-language offering is exceptional for a school of its size and location, and reflects the school's belief that the languages "with greatest perspectives" for the future are those that open doors globally.

Technology as a Pillar

Alongside language education, technology skills are explicitly cited as a pillar of the CHI educational project. The school's curriculum integrates ICT-related learning, and Computer Sciences is offered as a Cambridge IGCSE subject. This forward-looking emphasis ensures students are not only linguistically agile but also digitally literate — a combination the school views as essential for success in the 21st-century professional landscape.

Summary

CHI Las Palmas offers a coherent and ambitious educational philosophy grounded in bilingual excellence, international qualifications, and practical skill-building. Its motto captures the essence of the experience: students leave CHI not merely educated, but genuinely prepared to take flight.

Dual Qualification: A Rare Advantage

Colegio Hispano Inglés de Las Palmas operates one of the more unusual academic structures found in Spanish private schools: a fully integrated dual-qualification model that simultaneously prepares students for Spanish national education requirements and Cambridge International examinations.

This means students at CHI are working towards two sets of credentials in parallel. The Spanish component ensures compliance with national education legislation and gives graduates access to Spanish higher education pathways. The Cambridge component — spanning Cambridge IGCSE at secondary level — provides internationally recognised qualifications that open doors to universities across the UK, Europe, and beyond.

IGCSE Subject Range

The Cambridge IGCSE programme at CHI covers a broad and balanced range of subjects:

• Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• Mathematics: International Mathematics
• Languages: English, Spanish, German
• Humanities: History, Geography
• Commerce & Technology: Economics, Enterprise, Computer Sciences

This breadth ensures students receive exposure to STEM disciplines, the humanities, multiple languages, and emerging fields like computer science — all within a single school experience.

100% Pass Rate

The school's official website states that all students pass their Cambridge IGCSE subjects with grades in the A*–C range — the internationally recognised passing threshold. This is a significant claim that reflects both the academic preparation provided by the school and the selectivity of its teaching approach. While independent verification of this figure is not available, it is prominently featured on the school's own platform.

A-Level Pathway

Beyond IGCSE, CHI references the Cambridge A-Level qualification as part of its educational offering. This indicates that post-16 students can continue their Cambridge qualification journey at CHI, providing continuity from GCSE-level study through to qualifications that are directly accepted by universities in the UK and many other countries.

Implications for University Readiness

The dual-curriculum model has clear implications for university readiness. Graduates of CHI hold both Spanish Bachillerato (or equivalent) and Cambridge qualifications, making them competitive applicants for universities in Spain, the UK, and internationally. The multilingual profile — typically Spanish-English bilingual, with possible German or Mandarin proficiency — adds a further layer of attractiveness to university admissions offices and future employers alike.

A Multilingual Community by Design

Colegio Hispano Inglés de Las Palmas is built around a multilingual community ethos. The school's very name — Hispano Inglés — declares that Spanish and English are co-equal pillars of school life, not a hierarchy in which one dominates and the other is supplemental.

Both Spanish and English function as genuine languages of instruction. Students experience subject content delivered in both languages on a regular basis, which promotes deep bilingual proficiency rather than surface-level exposure. This immersive approach distinguishes CHI from schools that merely offer English as a subject.

Four Languages on Offer

Beyond the two core instruction languages, CHI extends its linguistic community further by offering:

• German – Available as a Cambridge IGCSE subject and as part of the foreign language curriculum, German provides access to one of Europe's most economically significant languages.
• Mandarin Chinese – The inclusion of Mandarin reflects CHI's forward-looking outlook, recognising the growing global importance of Chinese in business, diplomacy, and culture.

For a school located on an island in the Atlantic — Gran Canaria — this four-language offering is remarkable. It speaks to a school community that sees its graduates as future citizens of the world, not just of Spain or the Canary Islands.

The Social Fabric of CHI

The mix of languages naturally draws a mixed student community. While precise demographic data is not publicly available, the school's bilingual model tends to attract both Spanish-speaking local families seeking an internationally oriented education and internationally mobile families who value the Cambridge qualification pathway. The secular, co-educational environment ensures that the school is open to the broadest possible cross-section of families in Las Palmas.

Preparing Global Graduates

The community culture at CHI is shaped by a shared aspiration: preparing students to operate confidently across linguistic and cultural boundaries. The school's motto — "Para que cuando tengan que volar, estén preparados!" — reinforces this. Whether students go on to study in Madrid, London, Berlin, or Shanghai, they leave CHI with the language tools to succeed.

School Overview

Colegio Hispano Inglés de Las Palmas (CHI) is a private, secular, co-educational school located at Paseo de Madrid 4, Ciudad Jardín, 35004 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, in the Canary Islands, Spain. The school is officially registered with the Canary Islands Government's Department of Education (Consejería de Educación, Formación Profesional, Actividad Física y Deportes del Gobierno de Canarias) under the centro code 35010041.

Official Registration

As a Centro Privado (private centre), CHI is subject to Spanish national education legislation and Canary Islands regional education oversight. Its registration with the Canarian education inspectorate confirms that the school meets the regulatory standards required to operate as an official educational institution in Spain. This is distinct from being a concertado (state-subsidised) school — CHI is fully private, meaning it is independently funded through tuition fees rather than public subsidy.

Contact and Location

The school's main campus is situated in the Ciudad Jardín district of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, a residential neighbourhood known for its green spaces and proximity to the city centre. Contact details as registered with the Canarian government are:

• Address: Paseo de Madrid 4, Ciudad Jardín, 35004 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
• Phone: +34 928 25 16 16
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.colegiohispanoingles.com

Cambridge International Recognition

In addition to Spanish government recognition, CHI operates as a Cambridge Assessment International Education centre, offering Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level qualifications. This dual recognition — from both Spanish national authorities and Cambridge International — underpins the school's dual-qualification academic model and gives its graduates credentials that are portable across national borders.

Summary

CHI Las Palmas is a well-established private bilingual school operating within the legal framework of the Spanish national and Canarian regional education systems, while simultaneously delivering internationally recognised Cambridge qualifications. It is a single-campus institution with clear contact details and a transparent governance structure as a private, non-religious school.