King's College School, Soto de Viñuelas
English curriculum school in Spain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
King's College Soto De Viñuelas (commonly known as King's College Madrid or King's College Soto) is a co-educational day and boarding English curriculum school in Madrid, which provides English education for children from Pre-Nursery to Year 13. It was founded in 1969 and is part of King's Group. However, it only moved to its current site in 1978.
| King's College School, Soto de Viñuelas | |
|---|---|
 Student Entrance of King's College Soto | |
Soto de Viñuelas, Tres Cantos Madrid, Spain | |
| Information | |
| School type | International school |
| Established | 1969 |
| Founder | Roger Fry (educationist) |
| Headmaster | Chris Ramsey |
| Year Groups | Pre-Nursery - Year 13 |
| Enrollment | c.1250 (2026) |
| Language | English |
Campus size | 12 acres |
| Affiliation | |
King's Group is the owner company of King's College schools and is headquartered in Tenbury Wells, United Kingdom. As well as a boarding school also operating at this location, the Group also operates six other schools in Spain, Portugal, Latvia, Egypt, Bahamas and Panama. Founded in 1969, King's Group now provides an English education for children from Pre-Nursery to Year 13.[1] Also part of the Group is King's College International, which specialises in summer residential language courses and academic year abroad programmes, King's Training, which offers language and management training to companies located in Spain and Panama and lastly Nexalia Services, which offers catering and maintenance services. There is also a strong collaboration with Avanza Bus, which provides buses and drivers for the 21 school bus routes operating across Madrid.[2]
In October 2019, King's Group was purchased by the Inspired Education Group an international, co-educational, non-denominational provider of for-profit private schools. The transaction, reportedly valued at more than €150 million, marked a significant change in the school's history.
In February 2014, King's Group was granted permission from the Department for Education (DfE) in London to sponsor Academies and Free Schools in England.[3]
History
Numbers rose at the opening of its first school, King's College, from 70 pupils in 1969 to nearly 500 by 1974. King's College soon outgrew its premises and by 1976 ten houses of differing size and design were in use in the Chamartin area of Madrid.
After occupying these temporary premises for some nine years, the main school moved in 1978 to its present, purpose-built premises in the residential area of Soto de Viñuelas to the north of Madrid. Since then many improvements and additions have included a residential wing for boarding students (and later a new Boarding House built in 2011, Tenbury House), a 25m heated swimming pool housed in a state of the art Sports Centre, a 300-seat auditorium, a Music School and an Early Years Learning Centre.
Pupils follow the English National Curriculum and are prepared for IGCSE and GCE "A" Levels or IB (International Baccalaureate), including a wide range of subjects. There are also optional Spanish studies and preparation for Spanish University entrance examinations, in the Spanish schools.
Over the years, additional schools were added to King's Group, expanding its presence internationally.
Headmasters throughout the years
The following is a list of headmasters of King's College School, Soto de Viñuelas since its foundation in 1969. Headmasters of the school have traditionally been experienced educators, with all holding degrees from the universities of Oxford or Cambridge (commonly referred to as Oxbridge), reflecting the school's English educational background. Further research is ongoing to complete gaps in the historical record and confirm additional officeholders.
Chris Ramsey 2024- [4]
Mathew Taylor 2017-2024[5]
Andrew Rattue 2014–2017
Elaine Blaus 2010–2014
Gerald Percy 1991–1996
Christopher Leech 1986–1991
Peter Stokes 1981–1986
Sir Roger Fry (educationist) 1969-1981 (Founder)
Tenbury House (boarding accommodation)
New boarding accommodation, Tenbury House, was opened in September 2011 and is a purpose-built boarding residence which replaced the old accommodation wing housed within the school.[6] All bedrooms in the accommodation have en-suite bathrooms, under-floor heating and access to wireless internet. The House also has a dining room, common room, TV room, multimedia study room and a kitchen which students can use to prepare light meals outside of dining hours.[6] During the summer of 2024, Tenbury House underwent a major expansion, increasing its capacity to accommodate up to 100 students. The development also included the addition of new common areas and study spaces, and improvements to the garden, which received new seating and lounging areas for boarders.
About the curriculum
The school offers the English National Curriculum (IGCSE's and A Levels) taught in English by British trained teachers, along with local language lessons.
King's College I/GCSE examined subjects include Art and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Drama, Economics, English Language, English Literature, French, Geography, German, Global Perspectives, History, Information and Communication Technology, Mathematics, Media Studies, Music, Physics, Single Science, Spanish, and Physical Education.
King's College A-Level examined subjects include Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Economics, English Literature, French, Further Mathematics, Geography, German, History, Information and Communication Technology, Mathematics, Media Studies, Music, Psychology, Physics, and Spanish.
King's College International Baccalaureate (IB) subjects include English Language and Literature, Spanish, French, German, Business Management, Economics, History, Geography, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics (Analysis and Approaches and Applications and Interpretation), Computer Science, Media, and Visual Arts.
King's College Especificas Subjects (Spanish curriculum) include Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Mathematics I, Mathematics II, History of Art, Technical Drawing, Economics, and Economics.
King's College offers students the opportunity to participate in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) programme at both Bronze and Silver levels, encouraging involvement in volunteering, physical activity, skills development, and outdoor expeditions as part of the school's co-curricular provision.[7]
Academic organisation.
The schools' educational programme is based on the English National Curriculum[8] and offers an English education from Pre-Nursery children to University Entrance.
The curriculum leads to the GCSE examinations at the end of Year 11 (age 16), principally using the IGCSE board (Pearson Edexcel and AQA). These studies are officially recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Education through the process of validation.[9]
In their final two years at King's College, pupils study for the London University (Edexcel) A-level examinations, leading to international university entrance. In addition the school offers the "Parte Específica" to those A Level students wishing to apply for entrance to Spanish universities. In either case students may apply for places at universities throughout the world. The school also offers the IB diploma (International Baccalaureate) as an alternative to A Levels.
Co-curricular activities
King's College Soto De Viñuelas offers a wide range of co-curricular activities from an early age, including both free and paid, designed to complement academic learning and student development. The school provides a variety of student-led clubs, academic enrichment activities, music and performing arts opportunities, and sports programmes across different year groups.
At the beginning of each academic year, the school organises a co-curricular fair, during which students are able to explore and register for clubs and activities. The event also provides student organisers and societies with the opportunity to present their activities to the wider school community.
Academic support activities form part of the school's co-curricular provision, including subject-specific clinics and revision sessions intended to support students preparing for examinations. Student-led initiatives have also included the school newspaper (Kings Chronicle), STEM-related societies, debating activities, and the school orchestra (Big Band).
The school also operates a Student Council, through which elected student representatives contribute to discussions relating to school life and student initiatives.
During the late 2010s and early 2020s, the expansion of the school's club system was supported by then Deputy Head (Paul Crouch), who played a significant role in the development of student-led activities before departing the school in 2025.
Examples of clubs and societies at the school have included:
STEM Club, Debate Society, Coding and Robotics Club, Chess Club, Orchestra and Music Ensembles, Drama and Musical Club, Art Club, Eco Club, Journalism and Newspaper Club, The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE), Language clubs, Subject-specific academic societies
Additional clubs and activities are introduced periodically depending on student interest and staff availability.
House system
The school operates a house system consisting of four houses: Lion, Shield, Knight, and Crown. Each house is represented by its own colour and participates in inter-house competitions throughout the academic year. Activities contributing to house points include sports competitions, academic events, charitable initiatives, and co-curricular activities. Some student clubs and events are also organised in connection with the house system to encourage participation and school community engagement.
Model United Nations (KCSOTOMUN)
KCSOTOMUN [10] is the school's annual Model United Nations (MUN) conference, organised primarily by Sixth Form students at King's College Soto de Viñuelas. Founded in 2024 by Secretary-General (A.C), Deputy Secretary-General (J.C, C.A )*, Head of Logistics *(J.A)*, Head of Media*(M.B)*, and Head of Admissions *(C.M, J.F)*, the conference has since been led by successive groups of students and has become an established annual event within the school community.
The conference brings together students from a range of local and international schools to participate in debates and simulations based on the procedures of the United Nations. More than 300 students have participated in the event since its establishment.
KCSOTOMUN forms part of the school's wider co-curricular programme and aims to promote public speaking, diplomacy, negotiation, and international awareness among participating students. Students take part in a variety of organisational and leadership roles, including Secretariat members, committee chairs, delegates, logistics staff, and Media teams.
School musical productions
King's College has a long-standing tradition of annual school musical productions, involving students from across the school community in performance and production roles. Productions are typically staged over three evenings each year in the Christopher Leech Auditorium, with audiences totalling approximately 1,000 attendees annually.
Historically, the productions were associated with significant investment in staging and technical resources. Although budgets have since become more limited, the musicals continue to be organised by members of the school community and involve extensive student participation across multiple disciplines.
Students from Drama, Music,[11] and Art contribute to the productions both on stage and behind the scenes. Participation includes acting roles, ensemble and choir performances, live orchestra musicians, backstage and stage management teams, lighting and sound technicians, set and prop design, costume preparation, and front-of-house operations assisting audience members during performances.
Recent productions have included:
SpongeBob SquarePants (musical) (2026), Legally Blonde (musical) (2025), Shrek the musical (2024), Oliver! (2023), Beauty and the Beast (musical) (2022)
No production was staged in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although We Will Rock You (musical) had been planned prior to the cancellation of school events.
Earlier productions included:
Grease (musical), High School Musical, Little Shop of Horrors (musical), The Sound of Music
The annual musical forms part of the school's wider co-curricular and performing arts programme and remains one of the largest student-led events organised each academic year.
University entrance
The school has a Careers and University entrance Advisory Department which offers pupils help and advice when applying for Higher Education, whether in the UK or in the rest of the world.[12]
In 2013, Paul McNally, University Guidance Counsellor at King's College Madrid (1993-), received recognition from Stanford University for his work supporting students’ university applications and admissions outcomes, highlighting the school's university guidance programme.[13]
Students who finish their education at King's College enter universities all over the world. In the past, the majority of ex-students have entered British universities and a considerable number have been admitted to top institutions such as, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College and LSE. Other prestigious university destinations include Durham, St. Andrew's, Edinburgh, Manchester and numerous colleges belonging to the University of London.
Some students have preferred to attend Spanish universities (UAM, Complutense, Carlos III, etc.) and many others have decided to continue their higher education in other parts of the world and have gained entry to universities in the USA (Boston College, Harvard, MIT, New York, Princeton and Rutgers), Netherlands (Delft, University of Twente, Eindhoven, Maastricht), Canada (McGill, Dalhousie, University of Toronto and Waterloo), France (Sorbonne) and Japan (Aoyama, ICU, Keio, Sofia, Tokyo, Tsukubu and Waseda), as well as in Australia, Chile, Korea, Turkey, Venezuela, etc.
Campus development
Since its opening, King's College Madrid has undergone continuous development across its 12-acre campus, with ongoing investment in facilities and infrastructure to support its academic and extracurricular provision. . Much of this work is typically carried out during the summer break to minimise disruption to teaching.
2026
During 2026, construction began on a second purpose-built boarding house to increase the school's boarding capacity to more than 200 students. The new residence is being built on the site of the former History Block, adjacent to the existing Tenbury House boarding residence. Once completed, the development is expected to allow boys' and girls' accommodation to be housed in separate boarding residences, providing increased capacity and enhanced privacy for boarders.
2025
In 2025, development works were limited. The school undertook maintenance and repair activities following a major wildfire in Tres Cantos, including clearing affected vegetation and restoring minor damaged areas. [14] The dining facilities were refurbished and adapted to support increased use for school events. Further internal reorganisation of primary education spaces continued, consolidating provision within designated building areas.
2024
During the summer break of 2024, the Tenbury House boarding facility was significantly expanded, increasing its capacity to approximately 100 students. The development also included additional residential rooms. Further upgrades were made to sports facilities, including refurbishment of the AstroTurf pitch. Primary education spaces continued to be reorganised across campus buildings as part of an ongoing restructuring process. In addition, a small café-style kiosk was introduced near the dining hall, providing food and beverages such as snacks and coffee during break times, allowing these services to be accessed outside the main dining hall.
2023
In 2023, major internal reorganisation works were carried out. The porch area (located in the heart of the school) was enclosed and repurposed to accommodate central reception and administrative offices, creating a more centralised building layout. Former reception areas were converted into classrooms for primary education, supporting the consolidation of primary year groups within specific building areas.
2022
In 2022, the Sixth Form centre were relocated to a newly developed area of the building, providing updated learning spaces with improved lighting and co-working infrastructure. The previous Sixth Form centre was repurposed for examination and study use. The Baby Unit was also constructed, providing dedicated early years facilities, including separate dining and care spaces. In addition, solar panels were installed across the campus as part of a sustainability initiative supported by Next Generation EU funding.
2021
In 2021, the Tenbury House boarding facility underwent a minor expansion, adding additional residential rooms to increase capacity.
2020
In 2020, the dining hall was expanded to increase capacity. Classroom spaces were modernised with updated technology, including interactive whiteboards and improved learning facilities. Playground areas for younger year groups were also refurbished.
2019
In 2019, during the school's 50th anniversary year, commemorative activities were held on site, including the installation of a time capsule near the original reception area expected to be opened by 2044.
2018
In 2018, a new library was constructed following the closure of the former sports hall facility. A Sixth Form common room was also created below the library, providing a dedicated study and social space for 6th form students.
2017
During the summer of 2017, improvements were made to outdoor and access facilities, including refurbishment of the patio area, construction of a new staircase, and modifications to the porch area to improve access to the Christopher Leech Auditorium. Earlier that year, residential and sports facilities including the AstroTurf pitch, tennis courts, and car park were also developed or expanded.
2014
In 2014, the dining hall received a major renovation. A new on-site school shop was constructed, and reorganised into a separate building adjacent to the main campus parking area, along with visitor bathrooms.
2011
In summer 2011, the school undertook significant expansion works, including the opening of the Tenbury boarding house.[15] The dirt football pitches were replaced with a full-size artificial AstroTurf pitch, and new tennis courts were constructed. The parent parking area was also expanded.
2002
In 2002, the school's equestrian facilities, including stables and riding infrastructure, were renovated.
Future developments
Future plans include the potential expansion of boarding facilities to further increase residential capacity.
Other sister schools
King's College, Soto de Viñuelas, Madrid (main school)
The main school site (Since 1978) caters for more than 1200 pupils between the ages of 2 and 18 years (Pre-Nursery to Year 13). An additional 'baby unit' or 'pre-pre-nursery' was recently added, catering for students as young as 20 months old. It is located in a 12-acre site in the countryside between the city and the Guadarrama mountains.
Facilities now include a variety of outdoor recreational areas, a floodlit artificial football pitch, a 25m heated indoor swimming pool, tennis courts, volleyball and basketball courts, 5-a-side and 11-a-side football pitches and a horse riding school & dedicated sports centre (built in 2017). The school also has 2 libraries and 3 multimedia centres, as well as computers and interactive whiteboards in all classrooms. There is a large auditorium, an art studio, 8 science laboratories and a Music School which boasts 2 music rooms and 6 smaller practice rooms.
The school is a member of HMC,[16] COBIS,[17]NABSS,[18] BSA[19] and CICAE.[20]
As of 2026 King's College in Madrid altogether has about 1,250 students, with 70% of them being Spanish and the next-largest group of students being British.[21] Source:[22]
King's College School, La Moraleja, Madrid
King's College School is located in La Moraleja, one of the residential areas in Madrid and 15 kilometres away from the city centre. The school houses over 600 pupils from age 2 to 16 years (Pre-Nursery to Year 11). In Year 12, pupils are automatically offered a place to continue their studies at the Sixth Form in sister school King's College, Soto de Viñuelas.[23]
King's Infant School, Chamartin, Madrid
Located in the Chamartín area of Madrid, close to where the original school was located before moving to Soto de Viñuelas, King's Infant School offers purpose-built facilities for boys and girls between the ages of 2 and 6 (Pre-Nursery to Year 2) and has a capacity of approximately 200 pupils.
The school offers classrooms, complete with independent bathrooms for the Nursery pupils, a library and computer room. Interactive whiteboards are available in some classrooms and shared areas.
From the age of seven (National Curriculum Year 3) onwards, pupils are educated at either the main site in King's College School, Soto de Viñuelas (2 to 18 years) or at King's College School, La Moraleja (3 to 16 years).[24]
King's College, The British School of Alicante
Located 10 minutes from the city centre of Alicante, King's College Alicante educates more than 1000 pupils, from the age 3 to 18 (Nursery - Year 13) via the English National Curriculum. The school offers preparation for entry to British, Spanish and international universities.[25]
King's College, The British School of Murcia
Situated in La Torre Golf Resort. It offers the English National Curriculum to pupils from the age of 18 months to 18 years (Pre-Nursery - Year 13) since 2007.
The school is approximately half an hour from Murcia city centre, 10 minutes from San Javier and 25 minutes from Cartagena. It offers pupil transport to and from each nearby city.
Pupils study GCSEs, IGCSEs and A Levels in preparation for entering British, Spanish and international universities. [26]
King's College, Panama
King's College, Panama opened in September 2012 and is situated in Clayton, a suburb of Panama City. The school educates pupils from age 3 to 18 (Nursery - Year 13)
The school also houses a division of King's Training,[27] which like its partner in Spain, offers adult training and coaching provision to businesses and individuals in Panama. [28]
King's College Frankfurt (closed)
Opened in August 2018 and was situated in Friedrichsdorf, near Frankfurt, Germany. The school was the first British curriculum school in the city and provided the English National Curriculum for pupils from nursery to secondary education. It formed part of the King's College Schools international network before closing in 2021.[29]
King's College, Latvia
Opened in September 2017 and is situated in Latvia's capital city: Riga. It is the first British school in the Baltic states and educates children from the age of 3 (Nursery) and will eventually cater to pupils up to the age of 18 (Year 13).[30]
King's College School, The Bahamas
Opened in September 2022 and is situated in Nassau, The Bahamas. King's College School, The Bahamas[31] offers a British-style international education for children from the early years through secondary education and forms part of the global King's College Schools network.
King's College School, Cascais
Opened in September 2022 and is situated in Cascais, Portugal, near the city of Lisbon. King's College School, Cascais[32] provides a British international curriculum for pupils from early years to secondary education and is part of the King's College Schools group.
King's School, The Crown, Cairo
Opened in 2023 and is situated in New Cairo, Egypt. King's School, The Crown[33] delivers an English-style international education for students from nursery through secondary level and is part of the King's College Schools international network.
See also
- Instituto Español Vicente Cañada Blanch - Spanish international school in London.
- British immigration in Spain.