Admissions

Application process

We have a flexible, rolling admissions and application process and welcome applications for students aged 3 to 17 (Early Childhood – IBDP) all year round. We understand that families with more than one child will want their children at the same school and we do our very best to accommodate them.

Please take a look at our 4-step application process.

Admissions

Step 1 -
Online Application +
Required Documents +
Application Fee

Online Application

Applications to BFIS need to be submitted through our online system. All online applications require supporting documentation, that varies depending on the grade you're applying to (please see below), and payment of a non-refundable application fee.  Our online application system allows you to control, at all times, the completeness of your application through the Checklist in your dashboard. We strongly suggest you log on to your dashboard on a regular basis.

Required Documents

Early Childhood (Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten)

  • Application Form (available in Step 4)
  • Application Fee: 250 Euro
  • Student Health Form (available in Step 4)
  • Vaccination / Immunization Records
  • Student's passport/DNI
  • Parents' passport/DNI
  • Student's ID photo
  • Progress Report 
  • TQ N-PK-K (Teacher Questionnaire from the Nursery school or from the Parents if child hasn't been schooled)

Elementary School (Kindergarten through Grade 5)

  • Application Form (available in Step 4)
  • Application Fee: 250 Euro
  • Student Health Form (available in Step 4)
  • Vaccination / Immunization Records
  • Student's passport/DNI
  • Parents' passport/DNI
  • Student's ID photo
  • Progress Report/School Grades from the previous two years
  • TQ (Teacher Questionnaire)
  • Writing Sample

Middle School / High School / IBDP (Grade 6 through Grade 11)

  • Application Form (available in Step 4)
  • Application Fee: 250 Euro
  • Student Health Form (available in Step 4)
  • Vaccination / Immunization Records
  • Student's passport/DNI
  • Parents' passport/DNI
  • Student's ID photo
  • Progress Report/School Grades from the previous two years
  • TQ (3) (Teacher Questionnaires: English, Math, and Counselor/Principal)
  • Getting to Know You Questionnaire
Application Fee

BFIS Application fee: 250 Euro (non-refundable)

Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten

We require all applicants to come for an individual observation with our Early Childhood (EC) Specialist.

Exceptionally, if a family is unable to travel to Barcelona, we require a student video to better understand his/her oral, cognitive, and social development. If this is the case, the Admissions Office will contact you with specific video instructions.

Observations do not guarantee a place at the school nor that a seat will be held for any student.

Kindergarten through Grade 2

Incoming Kindergarten (K) - Grade 2 students may enter BFIS with no English language skills. In some cases, the school may carry out a formal assessment to determine grade placement and/or to decide the appropriate learning support. In general, we encourage families to bring their children to BFIS for a visit and interviews.

Assessments do not guarantee a place at the school nor that a seat will be held for any student.

Students with stronger English language skills have preference in the admissions process.

Grade 3 through Grade 11

Depending on the submitted documents in Step 1, BFIS may require Grade 3-11 students to complete additional language, reading, and math assessments, either in-house or online, and interview with the head of division and/or Counselor either onsite or by Skype.

In cases where applicants demonstrate a lower level of English proficiency, the student will be invited for further assessment with our English as an Additional Language (EAL) Department.

Assessments do not guarantee a place at the school nor that a seat will be held for any student.

Students with stronger English language skills have preference in the admissions process.

Admissions

Step 2 -
Placement
Evaluation / Assessment

Admissions

Step 3 -
Review of Application

Admissions Criteria

Please see the admissions policy.

Specific Grade Requirements

Nursery

  • The child must be 3 years old by December 31st of their year of entry.
  • All Nursery applicants are encouraged to come to the individual observation to determine their level of readiness to start our Early Childhood Program. In case a family is not able to come to BFIS, a video/s of their child will be requested with specific instructions. In cases where assessment results are not conclusive, the admissions team will recommend further external assessments or to delay entry.
  • The child must be toilet trained before starting school.
  • The child must be able to feed and dress him/herself reasonably independently.

Grade 11

  • BFIS values the IBDP and its engaging and challenging curriculum, which encourages critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and integrity. As such, we seek to enroll engaged and motivated students who embody the IB learner profile.
  • Prospective Grade 11 students may be required to interview with a member of the HS Admissions Team to discuss their course preferences and the demands of the IBDP.
  • Exceptionally, if a student wishes to enter Grade 11 once the school year has started, only students previously enrolled in the IBDP and whose subject choices coincide will be considered.
  • BFIS does not accept students entering Grade 11 after October 15th.
  • BFIS requires passing grades in all HS subject areas.
  • To enter the IBDP, students should be no more than one year older or younger than the average age for their grade and cannot be older than 19 when they graduate.
Grade Placement

In general, students will be placed according to their age on December 31st of their year of entry and/or the completion of the previous grade elsewhere.

Under exceptional circumstances, the Admissions Team will consider a different placement than the above based on academic records, date of birth, school system, location of previous country and cut off dates in the country of study.

The final decision is determined by the Admissions Team.

Early Childhood is a two-to-three-year program, depending on student readiness and development, as determined by the Elementary School Principal. The Elementary School Academic team will decide in May whether a child will be promoted to Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten.

Admissions Decision

Once the application has been reviewed, the decision is communicated within two weeks. Please take note that applications for support services and those including special circumstances may take longer.

Qualified - Acceptance: If the application receives a positive review, the applicant meets criteria for admission at BFIS and is considered a Qualified applicant.  Qualified applicants are offered space based on the Admissions Policy prioritization sequence (Refer to Admissions Policy). The Admissions Office will contact the family by email regarding Enrollment (Step 4).

Qualified - Waiting Pool: If a candidate meets all the admissions criteria and qualifies for acceptance in a grade level that has reached capacity, then he/she will be placed in the waiting pool for that particular year. The Admissions Office will send a written note to the parents to request if they would like to remain in the waiting pool. BFIS uses a prioritization sequence to determine which qualified students in the wait pool will be offered space (Refer to Admissions Policy). Please note that a qualified applicant’s position in the waiting pool may change based on the prioritization sequence.  When a place becomes available, the Admissions Office will contact the family by email regarding enrollment (Step 4).

Denial: The school may decide to deny admission when there are concerns about behavior, academic achievement, social/emotional stability; and/or when a candidate’s English language proficiency is not commensurate with the grade level for which they are applying. Admissions may also be denied when the school is unable to offer a program to adequately meet an individual student’s learning needs. If an applicant is denied admission, notification of the decision will be communicated to the family by the Admissions Office.

Enrollment Process and Required Paperwork

When a seat becomes available, parents will be notified and receive a formal acceptance from the Admissions Office with the following documents:

Required paperwork for enrollment

  • Vaccination records or card
  • SEPA Form Direct Debit
  • Parent Survey Health Form
  • Data Protection Document
  • Individual Enrollment Contract
  • Educational Commitment Contract 

(We are updating these documents. They will be available soon)

If there is a health issue, please note that the school’s nurse may request additional documents to be provided before the student attends class. All health documents must be submitted before July 1st.

All BFIS students must have a legal guardian who resides in Spain. In this case, the family must submit to BFIS the following documents:

  • Powers of Attorney (Notarized and apostilled)
  • BFIS Legal Guardian Form

Divorced parents are required to provide additional paperwork that proves custodial rights (Court Decisions, Orders, etc.)

Admissions

Step 4 -
Enrollment

First Time Applying

If this is your first time applying, please review carefully our 4-step application process before starting your online application

Existing Account

If you are a returning family, have already made an inquiry or started the application process, please sign into your existing account: