Quick summary of key school information
All the details about this school in their own words
| Number of students |
714 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
48 |
| 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. |
| External examinations or assessments available |
IGCSE, A Levels |
| 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. 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. |
| Entry evaluation for students |
Assessment |
| 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. |
| 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 teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes |
| 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. |