Book your personalised visit, between 6th and 10th May, and discover the main features of our educational system.
Mr. Chris Long
Head of School
At O Castro we teach the English National Curriculum, a system of learning designed to foster curiosity and confidence along with imparting all the necessary skills and knowledge required to succeed in exams and evaluations.
The curriculum is designed to facilitate understanding of the world and the challenges we face. We strive to educate our students to become ethical young people with all the tools they need to succeed in their field of choice. Immersion in English begins in the Nursery class, complemented by Spanish, French and Galician language lessons as students progress through school.
Students receive personalised attention to help them thrive and achieve academic success. Senior students are offered a university orientation programme which incorporates mentoring sessions to help them set appropriate goals, and an internship programme to give them a taste of the reality of the world of work.
| Number of students |
716 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
30 |
| Most common nationality |
Spanish |
| Ratio of local students to international students |
88% of students are Spanish and 12 % are from abroad, of which approximately half are British and the rest from other parts of the world. |
| Native English speaking teachers |
Yes |
| Language support for students not fluent in English |
English Language Extra Support |
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
Spanish, French, Portuguese, Galician |
| Max. number of students per class |
A maximum 25 students per class and 3 classes per academic year, so that OCBIS' students can benefit from a more personalised education. |
| Average number of students per class |
18 y 20 |
| Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes |
| Use of technology in the classroom |
Yes |
| 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) |
Yes |
| Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
Not |
| External examinations or assessments available |
IGCSE, A Levels, PCE |
| Results in these examinations |
Very good in general |
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Sometimes |
| Approximate hours of homework given |
One day in the Spanish CV and one day for the English CV. |
| Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
100% |
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
O Catro provides an inclusive education based upon its fundamental view that diversity should be celebrated, and that every child has a right for their individual educational needs to be met. OCBIS understands that many children experience difficulties at different times throughout their lives and OCBIS makes every effort to ensure that it provides the right sort of help at the right time. OCIBS' SEN Department and Student Guidance Services are available to all students and their families whenever they are needed. |
| Learning support offered |
The role of the SEN (Special Educational Needs) Department is a diverse one at OCBIS and runs throughout the school, from Nursery Class right up to Year 13. Also we offer Spanish and English support. At the earliest stages, the work often involves giving guidelines in order to best support children in the classroom. As they move up through the school, OCBIS seeks to liaise with teachers in order to support learning through specific interventions. OCBIS also on occasions offers support with regard to the affective and emotional side of learning. OCBIS believes that every child is an individual and through its work it seeks to meet the individual needs that some children may present at specific points in their academic careers. Sometimes this is best achieved through withdrawal from the classroom setting, whilst in other cases, in-class support may be more appropriate. As well as working with students and teachers, OCBIS also works with professionals from outside the school to ensure that provision is coordinated, whilst OCBIS supports its examinations officer in ensuring that pupils have the correct access arrangements for school and public examinations. |
| The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
We can offer support and CV adaptation for them |
| Student access to education psychologist |
Yes |
| Entry evaluation for students |
Assessment, Cat 4 |
| Brief description of entry evaluation required |
OCBIS asks all prospective students aged seven and over to take part in a simple assessment to gauge ability in English. The assessment is not a test to gain entry, rather it allows the school to make sure that all students’ needs can be met from day one. |
| Waiting list |
Depending of the Key Stage |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
We have process open during all year but normally the parents formalize the enrollment in March/April. |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes |
| School start time |
9:15 |
| School finish time |
16:15 |
| Supervised care before/after school |
OCBIS understands what a strain it can be to juggle modern day schedules around the beginning and end of a traditional school day. With this in mind, OCBIS runs a Breakfast Club and After School club daily. Breakfast Club begins at 08:00, and the After-School Club from 16:20-17:30 or 18:10, depending on family requirements. |
| School bus service available |
Yes |
| School provided lunches |
Yes |
| Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
OCBIS is happy to cater for all special dietary requirements, whether they be for medical reasons or on religious grounds and, naturally, a vegetarian option is also available. |
| Uniform required |
Yes |
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Football, padel, tennis, rugby horse riding, chess, skating, rhythmic gymnastics, multisport, modern dance, ballet, judo, robotics, video game design, languages, 3D design, app development, research and debate, public speaking, percussion, art club, comic book illustration, newspaper, reading club. |
| Sports activities included |
Tennis, table tennis, Rugby.... |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes |
| Facilities at the school |
Library, Science labs, Music class, Sports hall.... |
| Sports facilities at the school |
OCBIS has a 2,000 square metre multi-sports field and an indoor pavilion which is fully equipped for a wide range of sporting activities including football, basketball, rugby, skating, tennis, paddle, rhythmic gymnastics, equestrian, judo, Spanish dance and ballet, among others. |
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
O Castro British International School is an international school in Vigo, Galicia, offering a progressive, secular, values-based education. Teaching the English National Curriculum OCBIS welcomes students from ages 3 to 18. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
OCBIS provides a broad and balanced educational programme, specially tailored to meet the needs of each individual student. Its excellent teachers work hard to create a caring and supportive learning environment. |
Early years education forms the basis of a child’s learning throughout their school years. At this stage of their education children develop emotionally, physically, socially and cognitively. Each student’s progress is individually monitored and they work at their own pace in a warm, friendly, supportive and stimulating environment.
In the British education system, primary school is made up of Key Stages 1 and 2, with standardised tests at the end of each stage. Throughout the primary stage, in addition to providing a secure foundation in literacy and numeracy, we consolidate personal and social skills. These are the skills that will see students through the challenges of secondary school and beyond.
At secondary school students begin to acquire and develop the critical, analytical and rational thinking skills that enable them to achieve their academic goals and become responsible and proactive members of society.
Having completed secondary school with IGCSEs at 16 years old, students will be able to continue their education in Sixth Form, also known as post-16 education.
This is an optional stage, equivalent to the Spanish Bachillerato. Whatever future path our students decide to take, our objective is to prepare them to confidently and successfully embrace the challenges that lie ahead of them.
Students at O Castro British International School will get the opportunity to choose from a wide range of subject options on offer at A-Level, and which will prepare students for entry to both top Spanish and international universities.
The school campus is designed to meet the high standards expected of today’s international private schools. Our school buildings are energy efficient and modern, crafted to meet the needs of our students’ educational and social needs. Indoor facilities include ICT rooms, science labs, two libraries, a rock studio, a ballet studio, and a psychomotor skills suite.
With 33,000 m2 of grounds, we have plenty of space for students to spread out in their free time. There are recreational and wooded areas, nature trails, outdoor classrooms, a 2,000 m2 sports centre and a multi-purpose artificial grass pitch for rugby or football.
Check out the facilities in this interactive virtual tour.
O Castro British International School offers students a series of additional activities designed to complement their academic study and personal development, including extracurricular activities, summer camps, family events, overseas language immersion opportunities, trips and excursions. These activities allow them to explore and discover the wider world and share unforgettable experiences with their classmates.
If you’re considering enrolling your child at O Castro, we encourage you to get in touch with the school to find out more, organise a school tour, and begin the admissions process.
We’re looking forward to answering all of your questions and welcoming your family to our school.
