Highlands School, Barcelona

In Brief

Out in Esplugues de Llobregat, 20-30 minutes from the centre. Catholic, bilingual Spanish-English, Cambridge-accredited, 1 to 18.

Locals describe it as a "family" school. Small classes, big green campus, strong English, a lot of personal attention. The parents who love it really love it: "excellent academic level, fantastic teachers, small groups and spectacular facilities," according to one parent. Most reviews land in this camp.

There is a clear other camp. The 1-star reviews cluster around the same themes: socially conservative, traditionally Catholic (this is a Regnum Christi / Legionaries of Christ school, not Opus Dei), and a culture some find classist. One former student said "I went through bullying and harassment, I don't recommend this school at all." Another parent flagged "high teacher turnover" and said if pure bilingualism is the priority, Barcelona has stronger options.

The Catholic formation is real, not decorative — chapel on site, daily life shaped by the faith. Fine if that fits your family. A poor fit if you wanted "Catholic-flavoured" rather than actively Catholic.

One thing your friend will hear about: in early 2025 a chaplain at the Madrid sister school (Highlands El Encinar) was arrested over abuse of pupils and the director resigned. That was Madrid, not Barcelona, but it's the same network and the network has ordered an external audit of safeguarding protocols across its schools. Worth asking the admissions team directly what's changed locally.

Bottom line for a parent moving in: visit, sit in the chapel, talk to current parents at pickup. If the religious texture and the social mix feel right, this school delivers warmth and a small-school experience that bigger international names struggle to match. If they don't, look elsewhere — there are better fits in the city.