An International School Where Your Child Gains The Skills They Need For Life.
Join a community where they'll love learning, grow in confidence and build the skills they need for today's world.
6 to 18
Ages
1:16
Maximum class size
US-accredited
Accredited by NEASC
You've thought about it more than once. A different life. A move abroad. A fresh start for your family.
And underneath it, a quieter thought about your child.
The testing. The pressure. Classes too big for anyone to really see them. The day they stopped talking about school at dinner.
You remember the kid who asked a hundred questions. Lately you see less of them.
It doesn't have to be this way.
Families move to Barcelona from all over the world. A lot of them, including many from the US, find their way to Learnlife and discover an international schools where children follow their passions, develop their strengths and look forward to going to school again.
As many parents who visit our schools put it, "I wish they had a school like this when I was growing up".
3 things you'll see change
1. Loving learning again
Time to follow what they're curious about. Space to try new things. Room to learn how they learn best. Most parents tell us this is the change they notice first.
2. Knowing who they are
Your child works out what they care about and where they want to go. They build their own path towards it, with a mentor beside them the whole way.
3. Ready for the future
The skills they'll actually use. Solving real problems, working with others, thinking for themselves. The kind of skills that matter in life long after the test is forgotten
A real diploma. And a launchpad for life.
Learners who complete our secondary programme graduate with the American High School diploma. We also offer Advanced Placement courses for learners seeking extra credit.
The diploma matters. What surrounds it matters more.
They leave with a portfolio of real work, a Learning Vitae built over years, and a clear sense of who they are and where they're headed. They leave ready for the life beyond school, with the courage to pursue it.
"Learning should lead to the life you love."
— Sofia, Learnlife graduate, 2025
Learnlife graduates go to university in the US and across Europe, start businesses, or begin their careers. All of them leave knowing who they are and where they're headed.
Learning built around your child, not a system.
Positive relationships
Learning starts with knowing your child. Every learner has a Guide who mentors them, notices when they're stuck, and pushes them when they're ready.
Your child will:
Meet one-to-one with a mentor who knows them well
Learn in small, mixed-age groups where they belong
Feel seen from the first day
Purpose
When learning connects to something they care about, they lean in. Your child finds their "why", and it changes how they show up.
Your child will:
Explore their interests through real projects
Understand why what they're learning matters
Stay engaged because the work means something to them
Personal
No two learners are the same, so no two paths are the same. Your child shapes a personal learning plan with their mentor and has a real say in how they learn.
Your child will:
Build a personal learning plan around their goals and passions
Choose how they explore each building block
Move forward when they're ready, not when the calendar says so
Authentic
Real learning, made visible. Your child works on real challenges, presents their thinking, and shows what they can do through a growing body of work.
Your child will:
Tackle real-world projects, not just worksheets
Present and defend their ideas to a real audience
Build a portfolio that shows how they think, not just what they scored
But is Learnlife for academic kids?
Yes! It’s the most common question we get asked. And it’s also the biggest misconception.
Let’s start with the basics. All children do numeracy, literacy, science, humanities and languages as part of their schedule. This is just like any other school. The big difference is how they learn them.
Our learners apply what they're learning to real challenges and things they actually care about. In maths, that might mean building a budget, writing a business plan, or reading the stock market.
It makes the learning stick. They understand it better than they would from memorising a textbook. And watching your child reflect on what they've learned at their end-of-cycle 360 assessment is one of the proudest moments any parent gets.
Our children go deep. They work through projects and topics, and they produce real work that shows what they've understood. We'd rather a child reflect on what they learned and keep it for life than chase a grade and forget it by summer.
Award-winning and recognised worldwide.
All three of our schools are accredited by NEASC, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It's the same body that accredits American schools around the world.
For your family, that means two things. Your child can graduate with an American High School Diploma. And the way they learn is built to standards US universities already know and trust.
Our approach is closely aligned with the American curriculum, and built on years of research and best practice from leading educators around the world. Over 600 research studies and visits to 100 of the world's most innovative schools, to be precise!
Learnlife has also been recognised by Forbes, the OECD, and HundrED, and global education thought leaders, for how we do learning differently.
Hear from American families who made the move
Three inspiring locations to choose from. One award-winning approach.
Learnlife has three schools across the Barcelona area for children aged 6 to 18. The same award-winning approach runs through all of them. Each school is close to international communities and has its own distinctive features, allowing you to pick the location and environment that works best for your family.
Learnlife Eco Hub Castelldefels
Ages 6 to 12
On the beach, beside a pine forest, about 20 minutes south of Barcelona. The Eco Hub is where our youngest learners spend as much time outdoors as in. Days move between the sand, the trees, and bright indoor spaces built for hands-on, nature-led learning. It's the kind of place that makes kids want to get up in the morning.
Learnlife Village Hub, Sitges
Ages 10 to 16
Less than 10 minutes from Sitges in the coastal countryside southwest of Barcelona. Our newest school, built around community. Indoor and outdoor learning happens in studios, a makerspace and a large rooftop terrace with sports courts. Warm, light-filled, and close-knit, it's a place where children can be themselves and gain the skills they need for the future.
Learnlife Urban Hub, Barcelona
Ages 12 to 18
In the heart of central Barcelona. Our first and most established school, built around studios and a full maker space where learners explore their passions and strengths. For teens, it's a school that feels connected to the surrounding city and to real work.
Not sure which hub is right for you? Tell us your child's age and a bit more about your family. We'll help you find the right one.
How learning happens
FAQs
Yes. We offer full-time learning programmes for children aged 6 to 18. The difference is how it's designed. Instead of one path for everyone, your child follows a personal learning plan, building a schedule from mandatory building blocks (subjects) like numeracy and literacy, and choices they make.
They follow a schedule and are guided by a mentor who knows them well.
There's structure, accountability and clear progression. It just feels more human.
Yes. Our curriculum, called the Learnlife Competency Model, is recognised as a leading global education innovation. It’s built on years of research and best practices from pioneering educators around the world.
It aligns with the local Ministry of Education while integrating the critical skills learners need for a thriving future. These skills are embedded in our five key learning domains and delivered through what we call our Building Blocks:
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Learning to Be
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Learning to Think
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Learning to Learn
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Learning to Relate
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Learning to Act
Our learning experiences promote agency, are rooted in real-world relevance, and draw from a variety of methodologies.
We prioritise deep learning and foundational skill development in everything we do.
Through our competency model, learners build strong academic foundations across literacy, numeracy, science, and other key domains, integrated with real-world application.
Our interdisciplinary approach connects learning across subjects and fosters skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and creativity.
Regular reflection, feedback, and authentic assessment help learners understand where they are and what’s next, while building confidence and independence.
The learners gradually grow their understanding of the wider world within this framework.
You'll see more than a grade could ever tell you. Instead of a single number, you see their real work, their projects, mentor feedback, and have regular conversations about how they're growing. It all lives in their Learning Vitae, an evolving record of who they are and what they can do.
We focus on authentic, competency-based assessment rather than traditional exams or grades.
In addition to the Learning Vitae, learners share and reflect on their learning through:
- Showcases: Held once per cycle, these community events allow learners to present their work
- 360 Assessments: At the end of each cycle, learners reflect on their goals and share their growth with their families and learning guide. Parents also have the chance to contribute feedback
Yes. All of our schools are accredited by NEASC. This means your child can gain the American high school diploma.
Yes. Learners build strong foundations and a portfolio of real work, and a mentor helps them plan their next step from around age 15.
Learnlife graduates have gone on to universities across the US and Europe, as well as starting businesses and entering work. They leave with a clear sense of direction and confidence to face whatever comes next.
Our programmes are delivered in English. We also offer Spanish and Catalan as part of the schedule.
There is a schedule. Your child arrives each day knowing what they're working on and why. Mornings tend to focus on core learning, with projects and hands-on work later in the day. Alongside that sit mentoring, wellbeing time, and goal-setting. It doesn't feel rigid. But it is purposeful.
Moves like this are smooth. Your child builds strong foundations, documented progress and a clear portfolio, which makes transferring easier. We help with reports, transcripts and guidance along the way.
That it's "not serious enough." Then families visit. They see focused learners, deep work, and young people who can explain exactly what they're doing and why. Seeing children who are engaged, confident and genuinely motivated tends to settle the question.
In our 2026 independent student voice survey, Learnlife scored +13% above the global school benchmark for high expectations and rigorous learning.
We welcome learners aged 6 to 18.
For our primary programme, children who are 5 but turn 6 before the end of the year can join. For our secondary programme, children who are 11 but turn 12 before the end of the year can join.
We help a lot of international families through the move. Our admissions team can talk you through how the school year works, what to expect, and how to choose the right hub for where you'll be based.
We have an amazing parent community. Our parents are always happy to help and provide advice to families relocating.