Private Secondary School · La Moraleja · Alcobendas · Madrid
Secondary School
in La Moraleja, Alcobendas.
We want your child to reach 18 with their own voice, their options wide open, and the same team by their side that's known them since Year 7. That is the secondary and high school experience we build at Base.
Private Secondary School · La Moraleja · Alcobendas · Madrid
We want your child to reach 18 with their own voice, their options wide open, and the same team by their side that's known them since Year 7. That is the secondary and high school experience we build at Base.
Open Day Wednesday 14 October 2026
Book your place →
Four reasons
to choose Base
for Secondary.
From Year 7 to Year 12 (1.º ESO to 2.º Bachillerato), six years designed as a single, continuous stage in a private high school in Madrid. Here's what makes it work.
A team that stays, from Year 7 all the way to Year 12
The average tenure on the faculty is 12.35 years and 94 % of teachers return year after year. The tutor who welcomes them in Year 7 will, in all likelihood, be the same person who sees them off in Year 12.
Small groups, big resources
ESO classes average 21 students; in languages that drops to 15. All with the infrastructure of a large international school behind them: laboratories, Art Centre, sports facilities and Music School.
The IB programmes, under one roof
Base delivers the MYP across the four years of ESO and the Diploma Programme in Bachillerato, both authorised by the International Baccalaureate. In Preschool and Primary the school is a PYP candidate and is in the process of implementing the programme, with the aim of completing the IB continuum across every stage.
Two Bachillerato pathways after ESO, and a qualification that can be added
At the end of 4.º ESO, every student chooses between two pathways:
- ·Spanish Bachillerato (Social Sciences & Humanities · Science & Technology · Arts)
- ·IB Diploma Programme (four pathways)
Either one can be combined with the American Dual Diploma, studied online and at the same time, to obtain the US qualification as well.
How we look after
students
in Secondary.
So much happens between 12 and 16. At this stage, who is beside them when it counts matters more than anything else.
Guidance and psychology support built into every stage
The guidance team works within each stage through School Counsellors who know every student by name: careers guidance, emotional follow-up, support with academic decisions. The counsellor-to-student ratio is above UNESCO recommendations. More about the team →
One hour a week dedicated to social-emotional wellbeing
Every class has a dedicated tutor, with one weekly hour focused on social-emotional wellbeing where students learn to identify emotions, manage stress, resolve conflicts and make decisions.
Club del Caos: programme for gifted students
A pioneering programme in the area for students within the high cognitive ability spectrum, from Year 4 of Primary to 4.º ESO. Fortnightly sessions within school hours but outside the regular classroom, where students develop personal projects based on their own interests.
Culture of Care and zero tolerance for bullying
An active safeguarding culture, zero tolerance for bullying, a Designated Safeguarding Lead accessible to students and families, and international safer recruitment practices. See our Wellbeing policies →
Four years of ESO
shaped by the pedagogy
of the International Baccalaureate.
The MYP (Middle Years Programme) is the framework behind all four years of ESO: inquiry-based learning, interdisciplinary projects, assessed oral presentations and service learning built into the curriculum. The result? A student who arrives at Bachillerato already knowing how to research, think critically, produce and defend their ideas.
At 16, every student presents a personal
project to the school community.
Each student sets themselves a learning goal and demonstrates that learning through a final product they choose freely and develop over an entire academic year. Once it is finished, they write a report setting out and reflecting on the process, and finally present the Personal Project to the school community.
Recent projects range from designing a video game to producing a short film, composing original music or launching a sustainable clothing line.
A full year of their own work, from the idea to the finished product.
How they get there,
and where they go.
How languages work, what comes after ESO, and where Base students end up.
English with official certifications,
from age 12 through to 18.
Around 15 students per English group, with four teachers per year organised by level.
Between 6 and 8 periods
per week in English across
ESO and Bachillerato.
Between 6 and 8 periods per week in English, in small groups of around 15 students organised by level. Official Cambridge certifications at every stage.
French or German from Year 5 of Primary and throughout ESO. Official DELF or Goethe Institut certifications with 100% pass rate.
A term, semester or full academic year in England, Ireland, the USA, Canada or Australia. The guidance department advises each family individually.
It has helped me so much at university, all the presentations I have done in English and Spanish. Especially in English. Being encouraged to express myself confidently in a language that was not my own means that now, at university, I am a step ahead of everyone else.
ESO is where they prepare to choose
the path that suits them best.
Pathway 1 · Spanish Bachillerato
Three specialisations: Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Technology, and Arts (new 2026-27). PAU 2026: 97.5 % pass rate, average score 7.89/10 and top score 13.57/14. Learn more →
Pathway 2 · IB Diploma Programme
Four pathways, recognised by the world's most demanding universities. 2025-26: average score 33 out of 45, top score 42, and 64 % of students above 30 points. Learn more →
Spanish and US dual qualification. It is 100 % online and runs alongside the in-person Bachillerato, whether Spanish or Diploma, so it replaces neither: it is added to it. Can be started from 2.º ESO (Year 8). 2024-25: 100 % pass rate. Enquire →
Since 1962, generations of students going on to the best universities in Spain and abroad. 56 children of school staff study at Base today, with the school fees set out in the private education collective agreement. 24 children of former students are enrolled this year.
31,000 m² of green space
in La Moraleja,
with room to grow.
A mid-sized school with large-school infrastructure and a close-knit feel. 20,000 m² of sports facilities, a campus wrapped in green space. Hard to find this close to central Madrid.
School-managed Chromebook from Year 5 of Primary to 3.º ESO, personal laptop from 4.º ESO. No mobile phones on campus. School-specific ChatGPT for academic use.
A school day from 9:00 to 17:00
with free extended hours
for families who need them.
Teaching runs from 9:00 to 17:00. For families who need more flexibility, the school offers free, optional extended hours from 7:30 to 9:00 and from 17:00 to 18:30, at no extra cost in ESO.
Cooked on campus, with menus designed by a nutritionist
On-site kitchen, menus supervised by a nutritionist and adapted for allergies and intolerances. Half-board, full-day and pay-as-you-go options available. Monthly menus published with complementary dinner suggestions.
Routes across central and northern Madrid
School bus routes connecting central and northern Madrid with the school, with routes specific to Bachillerato. Routes and stops may vary depending on demand each school year. With an on-board monitor and real-time SMS alerts. Full maps and stop details on the transport page.
More than 25 extracurricular activities
in sport, the arts and technology.
Over 25 activities across sport, the arts and technology (athletics, football, basketball, swimming, judo, theatre, music, art, robotics, chess and more), all on campus with a return bus route available.
See the full extracurricular programme →
How to join
Base International School
in four steps.
The whole process can happen in person or online, with the admissions team guiding you at every step. The goal is to find the right fit between your family and the school.
Full fee details, published
and always up to date.
At Base, your trust means everything to us. Here, students are safe, genuinely looked after and given individual attention at every stage of their journey.
The best way to get to know Base is to start a conversation.
Get in touch with the admissions team and we will send you all the information you need, whenever suits your family. Big decisions are always easier once you have the full picture.
Questions families
tend to ask
at this stage.
The most common questions we hear from families. If yours is not here, write to the admissions team and we will get back to you with all the detail you need.
My child is coming from another school. Can they join at any year of ESO? +
Yes. We welcome students at any point in ESO as long as spots are available and the pedagogical fit is right. The process includes academic, educational psychology and English assessments to guide the transition. Our tutorial system is designed precisely so that these transitions feel supported, with the class tutor as a point of reference from day one.
Can students spend a term or a full year abroad? +
Yes. The school has partnerships with schools in England, Ireland, the United States, Canada and Australia. Students can spend a term, a semester or a full academic year abroad during ESO or Bachillerato, and summer courses are available at any of these destinations too. The guidance department helps each family find the right fit for their child.
Are mobile phones allowed during the school day? +
From Year 5 of Primary to 3.º ESO, students work with a school-managed Chromebook. From 4.º ESO, they move to a personal laptop. Mobile phones stay stored during the school day, in line with current legislation.
Can the Spanish Bachillerato be combined with the American Dual Diploma? +
Yes. The American Dual Diploma is 100% online and is studied alongside the in-person Bachillerato (Spanish or IB Diploma). It can be started from 2.º ESO (Year 8). Upon completion, the student receives a dual qualification: the Spanish Bachillerato and a US High School diploma. For details on the pathway depending on the starting year, the admissions team can advise on a case-by-case basis.
Which Bachillerato pathway best suits my child? +
This is something families and students work through from 4.º ESO as part of the Academic and Vocational Guidance Plan, with support from tutors and the guidance department. As a general guide: the Spanish Bachillerato prepares students for the PAU (university entrance exams) with three specialisations (Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Technology, and the new Arts Bachillerato from 2026-27). The IB Diploma is the international curriculum, with four pathways. The American Dual Diploma adds the US qualification on top. The right choice depends on the student's university plans and how they learn best.
Are the extended hours from 7:30 to 9:00 and 17:00 to 18:30 free of charge? +
No charge. The extended hours in ESO are completely free for all families, both in the morning (7:30 to 9:00) and in the afternoon (17:00 to 18:30). It is one of the services Base includes at no extra cost to help families balance work and school.
Is there a nursing service during the school day? +
Yes, the school has a full-time nursing service throughout the entire school day. Families are contacted immediately in the event of any health incident.
Where can I find the current fees? +
On the official fees page, with full details for the 2026-27 academic year. For anything specific, the admissions team is happy to help directly.
What is the full Secondary timetable? +
Teaching runs from 9:00 to 17:00, with lessons in 55-minute modules plus 5 minutes to change classrooms, organised in a 6-day cycle that rotates subjects across different times of the week, and lunch from 14:00 to 15:00. For families who need more flexibility, there are free, optional extended hours: morning care from 7:30 to 9:00 and afternoon care from 17:00 to 18:30, both at no extra cost in ESO. Extracurricular activities run on the days when there are no afternoon lessons.
What methods are used for social-emotional support? +
The weekly tutorial hour draws on proven frameworks: the RULER method from Yale University, the CASEL social-emotional learning model, and resources from the Fundacion Botin and Aprendemos Juntos (BBVA). The goal is for students to learn to name their emotions, manage stress, work through conflict and make thoughtful decisions.
Is there a specific programme for gifted students? +
Yes. Club del Caos is a pioneering programme in the area, designed for students with high cognitive abilities, from Year 4 of Primary to 4.º ESO. Fortnightly sessions within school hours but outside the regular classroom, where students develop personal projects based on their interests. It combines independent work with specialist workshops and social-emotional guidance.
How is technology used in the classroom? +
From Year 5 of Primary to 3.º ESO, every student works with a school-managed Chromebook (one-to-one model with Meraki MDM and Qustodio content filtering). From 4.º ESO, they move to a personal laptop. Mobile phones stay off campus. The teaching staff have also built a school-specific ChatGPT powered only by teacher-approved sources, which students can use within the school's academic integrity framework.
How many students are there per class in Secondary? +
ESO classes average around 21.5 students, with 10 groups across the stage. In languages and some electives, classes split further, so working groups are even smaller (around 15 in English, for example) — small-group learning within a large, well-resourced private high school.
Still have a question?
Write to the admissions team. They reply within 24 hours.
A personalised visit, a campus tour, answers to your family's specific questions. All with no commitment.