Welcome to The Olive Tree School

The Olive Tree School in Barcelona is a British co-educational school catering to children aged 3-16. The school curriculum emphasizes creative thinking, problem-solving, and experiential learning. Classes are kept small (max 20) to ensure personalized learning and provide the best emotional support.

The school’s facilities include spacious classrooms, a playground, a library, an art room, and a music room. Students are encouraged to develop a sense of social responsibility through various community service projects. The school also offers after-school activities such as Taekwondo and musical theatre, amongst other things. The school’s mission is to provide a nurturing, diverse, and inclusive environment where children can reach their full potential intellectually, emotionally, and socially.

The Olive Tree Mission

To inspire young people to be effective and passionate learners.

To empower young people to become compassionate and active global community members.

To equip young people with the skills they will need in all areas of their life.

The manicured gardens at the Olive Tree School.
The Large Chess Set
Four children climbing a tree in the playground at the Olive Tree School
A teacher helping children in class
The Reading Garden primary school library at the Olive Tree school
Children playing outside with water at the Olive Tree school
The Outdoors space for the kindergarden children at the Olive Tree School
Secondary Students learning in class at the Olive Tree School
Students working in the Secondary School Library at the Olive Tree
As a British school, we follow the British Curriculum and adapt it in a manner that allows each child to enhance their strengths while exploring their interests within a positive and supportive environment. Our ultimate goal is for all our students to cultivate a love for learning, as it serves as the foundation for their academic achievements and the development of essential life skills required in our rapidly changing world.
In Primary (ages 5 to 10) and Secondary Years 7 to 9, we use project-based learning rather than a reliance on textbooks. Classroom materials are drawn from a wide range of sources, placing emphasis on collaborative projects and self-expression as our pupils explore the world around them, our culture, world religions and history, and the scientific world. We actively encourage our students to take pride in effectively expressing themselves both verbally and in writing. Nurturing a passion for reading is instilled right from the early years in our Saplings classes and throughout Primary and Secondary. Our pupils are continuously encouraged to expand their exploration of English literature with the abundant resources available in our school libraries.

As pupils progress to Years 10 and 11, preparing for their GCSE examinations, the focus changes to optimise performance and exam technique exam. However, the importance of collaboration is maintained as the whole group works together to do as well as they can in their exams. As a result, we have consistently achieved results well above the UK average.
Our school is inspected in Primary and Secondary by The British Council (NABSS). The most recent inspection for the Secondary section took place in November 2020, resulting in the maximum authorization granted for a duration of 4 years. The Primary section was last inspected in February 2022, also receiving the maximum authorization for a period of 4 years. In the latest reports, the exceptionally high level of English was noted by the inspectors.
  • Dedicated science laboratory for Secondary
  • Well stocked Primary library
  • A separate library for Secondary pupils
  • A theatre with a capacity for an audience of around 150 
  • Outdoor sports area incorporating football pitch & 2 basketball courts
  • Various Outdoor learning spaces.
  • Landscaped gardens.
  • Musical Theatre Club (Junior & Senior)
  • LAMDA tutoring
  • Individual Music lessons available at lunch and after school: guitar, piano, drums and other instruments on request.
  • Ukelele Club
  • Spanish Club
  • French Club
  • Taikwando Club
  • Football Club (Junior & Senior)
  • Tea-Time Playgroup (ages 3 to 5) 16.00 to 17.00
  • After School Club – Arts & Crafts (ages 6 to 11)  16.00 to 17.00

In cases where children require additional assistance with their learning, our specialized teachers conduct assessments to determine their needs. Subsequently, a personal support program for them is agreed with parents. This may be short-term speech therapy, aid for dyslexia, or a comprehensive ongoing program designed to address more complex learning challenges. Support programmes are regularly reviewed, and parents are kept up to date with progress and any changes required to the learning & support plan. There is a regular liaison between those responsible for individual support & the regular class teachers and online activities to consolidate individual support tutoring.

To optimise the learning experience for exceptionally gifted children, individual support is also provided. Pupils are assessed, and mentoring is provided to ensure they are stretched appropriately and that they are able to express and develop their skills. 

When conflict arises, as it does in any school, pupils need to learn how to deal with it and reach positive outcomes through dialogue and kindness. We have thorough protocols which are followed when conflict arises. Both parents and pupils are made aware of their protocols from the beginning of their time in the school. Details are provided in the Primary and Secondary School Handbooks, which are regularly updated and distributed to all parents.

As pupils progress into Secondary and adolescence, their emotional development is extremely important. In school, each pupil has various trusted staff members to whom they can reach out. There is a Pupil Welfare Officer who is specifically responsible for helping any child experiencing emotional challenges. In addition, pupils tend to have close relationships with their class tutor, and both the Assistant Head, Maria Iriarte, and the Head of Secondary, Audrey Reeder, have an open-door policy. All pupils know they can approach these figures of trust in total confidence. 

The Olive Tree School was recently reviewed by The Good School Guide. You can read the full review here.