Academic Results & University Destinations
Academic Quality and Results
At The British School of Barcelona we are fully committed to excellence. This implies:
- Ensuring highest teaching standards at all levels.
- Delivering quality first teaching in the classroom.
- Making it possible for all students to realise their potential, whatever their needs and abilities, through flexible and varied provision.
- Providing ample opportunities for students to find their talents.
- Fostering academic ambition through a well-thought-out enriched curriculum.
- Arranging appropriate educational settings which facilitate effective teaching and learning.
The combination of all these key elements allow the students of The International British School to achieve outstanding levels of performance in their examinations every year.
The British School of Barcelona are regularly inspected on the quality of our work by inspectors and inspection teams from the UK from the BSO (British Schools Overseas) inspection service, CIS (Council of International Schools), Examination boards and teams from Cognita.
2021 - Record Examination Results for BSB Students
For a third year running, our students have demonstrated superb resilience and have achieved record examination results at A Level, IB and GCSE. Through a combination of hard work from the students, expert guidance from their teachers and great support from their families, our students have achieved the highest results ever in the history of BSB!
As an inclusive school we pride ourselves on offering an equal chance of success for all of our students, regardless of their starting points. Our value added analysis demonstrates that our students are genuinely exceeding expectations by gaining, on average, a whole grade higher than forecast across all of their subjects. This performance places BSB amongst the top 1% of schools in terms of added value.
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A Level Highlights - 2021
BSB’s 2021 A Level results has seen students obtaining the highest grades in a range of different subjects and gaining places on some of the most competitive courses.
Overview:
- 63% of grades were awarded at A*-A
- 82% of grades were awarded A*-B
As in previous years, our Pre-University students (now BSB Alumni) have secured places at a range of prestigious universities including ESADE, UB, York, Warwick, Imperial College London, King’s College London, Bristol, Exeter, UCL (University College London), Groningen, Amsterdam, British Columbia, New York, Illinois and Michigan.
63% of grades were awarded at A*-A
82% of grades were awarded A*-B
IB Diploma Highlights - 2021
Our largest ever IB Diploma contingent in BSB Nexus succeeded in setting a new school record of 33.5 for the average IB points score.
Three of our students managed the exceptional achievement of a score of 40 or higher, across all their subjects and, on average, every student secured 3 more points than they were predicted to do at the start of the two-year course.
Consequently, all our students have succeeded in securing places at a hugely impressive range of universities across the world.
Overview:
- 100% success for our largest ever IB contingent
- Average Point Score 33.5 (29.9 World Average) – Setting a new school record
- 3 students scoring 40+ points across all their subjects
PCE Highlights - 2021
The picture for Spain as a university destination is equally strong with students gaining places and, in several cases, scholarships to excellent public and private universities including ESADE, University of Navarra, University of Barcelona (UB), IE University and La Salle, amongst others.
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* PCE: Pruebas de Competencias Específicas (required exams to access to Spanish universities – for those courses with highest demand)
IGCSE Highlights - 2021
At GCSE, last year’s outstanding success was further developed with 99% of grades falling between A* and C or 9 to 4 (under the reformed system), and 64% of all results being awarded the top grades of A*-A or 7-9.
Overview:
- 28% of grades were awarded at 9
- 64% of grades were awarded 7 to 9 (A*-A)
- 99% of students obtained five or more 4 to 9 grades (A*-C)
99% of students obtained five or more 4 to 9 grades (A*-C)
64% of grades were awarded 7 to 9 (A*-A)
Outstanding Learner Awards
Every year the students of The British School achieve outstanding levels of performance in their external examinations, well above the average found in the United Kingdom. The prestigious Outstanding Learner Awards annually reward our top performing learners at both (I)GCSE and A Level exams, in recognition of the enormous talent and hard work not only amongst learners but also within our teaching staff.
‘Top in the World’ refers to the learner who has gained the highest standard mark in the world for a single subject.
‘Top in Spain’ refers to the learner who has gained the highest standard mark in our country for a single subject.
‘High Achievement’ is awarded to learners who have achieved the highest standard marks in their country in subjects which are not so widely taken.
Note: The table below displays the latest information published. For the 2020 and 2021 examination series, Outstanding Learner Awards have not been issued for schools following the hybrid method of assessment (due to decisions made by examination boards because of the impact of Covid-19).
| Awards category | Student | Subject | International Qualification | Examination series |
| Highest Mark in Europe | Alexander | Fine Art | A Level | June 2019 |
| Highest Mark in Europe | Artemiy | Combined Science | GCSE | June 2019 |
| Highest Mark in Spain | Ekaterina | Art and Design: Fine Art | GCSE | June 2019 |
| Highest Mark in Spain | Rose | International French | GCSE | June 2019 |
| Top in Spain | Claudia | Biology | A Level | June 2019 |
| Top in Spain | Andrea | Economics | AS Level | June 2019 |
| Top in Spain | Adriana | Geography | IGCSE | June 2019 |
| Top in Spain | Matej | IT | IGCSE | June 2019 |
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Destinations for Higher Education
Each year, the students of BSB Nexus attend a broad range of university destinations with most leavers accepting offers from Russell Group, and other British, Spanish and international universities.
Some of the university courses our students choose include:
- Medicine
- Business Management
- International Relations
- Law
- Journalism & Media
- Economics
- Mechatronics
- Chemical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Drama
- Photography
- Art & Design
University Destinations 2021
Despite the challenges of the past year and the ‘mixed’ approach to final assessment, our students have again secured places at a range of prestigious universities around the world. Students have gained entry to some of the very best UK universities, including York, Warwick, Imperial College London, King’s College London, Bristol, Exeter and UCL (University College London).
The picture for Spain is equally strong with students gaining places and, in several cases, scholarships to excellent public and private universities including ESADE, University of Navarra, University of Barcelona (UB), IE University and La Salle, amongst others.
Last year’s trend of more BSB students seeking places at Dutch and US universities has continued with students securing places at Universities in Groningen, Amsterdam, British Columbia, New York, Illinois and Michigan. This is a very healthy picture, with a student body who feel informed about and prepared for a wide range of futures and who have the confidence to pursue their individual pathways.
As always, our Universities and Careers team have worked hard to support our students and to ensure they have got so much to look forward to at their universities of choice over the coming years.
University Entrance
These are some of the universities in which our students have been accepted in recent years:
These are the university destinations of our 2020 graduate students:
