Walter Hopkins
Director
ENGLISH IMMERSION: – Our qualified English speaking educators are trained to teach in a multicultural and bilingual context, to guide children to excel in academics while learning English.
SMALL CLASS SIZE: – One teacher for every 15 students! An excellent student/teacher ratio that provides individualized instruction and support.
HOLISTIC APPROACH: – Each child will be encouraged to develop their unique abilities and giftedness through critical thinking, character training, and guided exploration. Furthermore, we ensure that we are meeting the educational standards for both the American and Spanish systems.
SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: – A positive, encouraging learning environment where teachers mentor their class with authenticity and love, valuing each child for who they are rather than what they accomplish.
CHRISTIAN VALUES: – LIFE’s core values, which are prominently represented in our name, are Love, Integrity, Faith, and Excellence. Biblical truths and values form a framework that shapes our curriculum, classroom management practices, and learning environment.
We have organised the information available for this school into 10 sections and 42 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
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Number of students
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128
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Number of nationalities represented in the school
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Most of our students are Spanish, but the staff and parents of the students come from about 30 nationalities.
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Most common nationality
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Spanish
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Ratio of local students to international students
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2:1
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Native English speaking teachers
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Our staff is made up of primarily native English speakers and all are fully fluent in their instructional language.
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Language support for students not fluent in English
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All teachers are certified to teach children who are not fluent in English, and extra language assistance is also available both for students who do not speak native English and for those who do not speak native Spanish (for the Spanish classes).
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Additional language classes offered by the school
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Spanish language, culture, geography and history, as required to meet the Spanish standards.
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Max. number of students per class
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15
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Average number of students per class
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10
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Does the school employ teaching assistants?
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Yes
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Use of technology in the classroom
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Students are introduced to technology in kindergarten and guided in appropriate and meaningful use as they grow and develop. Robotics is also part of the curriculum.
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Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures)
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Yes, all teachers and students are using the same platform, so it is possible to do online video conferencing in times of emergencies, but this is not a regular practice.
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Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?
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LIFE is a Christian school, meaning that we include God and we highly esteem the teachings of the Bible. Therefore students have a required Bible class . The school is non denominational, meaning that we strive to avoid teaching church traditions or Bible interpretations specific to any denomination.
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How does the school accommodate non-religious students or students of a different religion?
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We promote mutual respect, not forcing parents or students to make any profession of faith, while asking them to be respectful in turn of the faith of others in the school.
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External examinations or assessments available
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MAP Growth Testing, AP's, PSAT, SAT, ACT.
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Results in these examinations
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NA. This year is our first graduating class who will be taking these exams.
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Do teachers assign homework to their students?
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Yes.
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Approximate hours of homework given
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Homework should not exceed 10 minutes per grade level (30 minutes in grade 3; 60 minutes in grade 6).
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Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation
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Our school is a new school, with our first graduating class this year, 2026. But the school model we use has a high percentage of students who attend higher levels of education after graduation.
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Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs
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Yes. We have a learning support program and special ed teacher.
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Learning support offered
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Small classes allow us to challenge students and help them develop according to their individual learning styles.
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The school supports gifted, able and talented students
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Small classes and individualized attention by the teachers.
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Student access to education psychologist
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We make referrals to an offsite specialist.
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Entry evaluation for students
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Starting at seven years old, students complete a language assessment to determine their starting capacity in English.
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Brief description of entry evaluation required
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The school will accept language exam results from other institutions, such as the Oxford Test of English, but we also offer an in house language assessment which is administered by the academic director.
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Waiting list
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No.
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Deadline for registration (new academic year)
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We have a rolling admission policy and accept students as long as there is an opening in the class.
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Students can join after academic year begins
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Yes.
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School start time
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8:50
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School finish time
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16:00
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Supervised care before/after school
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Yes; 1 hour before and after school.
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School bus service available
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No.
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School provided lunches
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Yes. There are three options - a full lunch program, bringing lunch from home for free, and a hybrid option in which they receive a hot dish and can supplement that with food from home.
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Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc)
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Yes. Special menus are available for all kinds of dietary needs.
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Uniform required
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Yes
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Facilities at the school
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Library, science lab, kitchen.
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Sports facilities at the school
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Currently, we use a large open patio.
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Qualities and characteristics best defining the school
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We started with preschool in 2017 and added several additional levels each year until we finally have a complete school, through grade 12. Our school is characterized by small class sizes; English immersion; holistic education which includes excellence in academics as well as social, physical, emotional, and spiritual training; character training in Christian values such as love, respect, obedience, and a hard work ethic of striving to do your best; and a positive, encouraging learning environment.
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Teaching approach of the school
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Our philosophy of education includes a multi-sensory learning environment, which emphasizes exploratory hands on learning, development of critical thinking skills and problem solving, collaboration, solidarity and service, and Biblical integration. Our curriculum follows the Common Core standards of the USA, as well as the Spanish standards of the Comunidad de Madrid. Our curriculum is a carefully selected mix of curriculums that help students achieve significantly beyond the basic required standards.
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Early Childhood | Ages 3 to 5
LIFE Preschool is an English immersion program. As each child is exposed to the English language in a variety of settings, they are encouraged and supported in their understanding and development.
To read and perform other academic tasks, a child must first gather meaning, acquire language, and develop an awareness of their world. To gather meaning from his or her world, a child must have many satisfying sensory and motor experiences—touching, feeling, smelling, hearing, and seeing. A child interprets the sensory experiences, and this cultivates the development of the mind.
Elementary | Ages 6 to 12
LIFE’s elementary teachers guide students to a foundational understanding of the world and how people live together in this world. The goal is not just mastering facts but also noticing patterns and making connections between academic subjects, biblical values, and the real world.
Problem solving, analytical thinking, and reasoning skills are developed using hands-on activities. We engage students in a coherent program that responds to individual students’ strengths and needs.
Secondary School | Ages 12 to 18
LIFE International School is fully accredited by the U.S. based Middle States Association (MSA) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). and is therefore authorized to issue a U.S. high school diploma after the successful completion of 12th grade.
The LIFE curriculum is intended to prepare students for success in the university system in Spain, the United States, and beyond. Core subjects include English, Spanish Language and Literature, Spanish Geography and History, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Bible. Art, Music, Technology, Health, and Physical Education are also incorporated for a well rounded academic program. Apart from the two Spanish classes, all classes are 100% English immersion.