Engage International School is a private international school in Majadahonda, Madrid, offering education from British Early Years through to university preparation at 18. The school combines full English immersion in Early Years with a bilingual academic pathway, including national and dual diploma options.
Known for its Four Cs framework (Curiosity, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Communication) Engage integrates academic rigour with emotional development, helping students become confident, globally prepared learners.
Part of the Dukes Education family of schools, their educational model integrates the strengths of both systems: British Early Years (EYFS) with full English immersion, and a strong academic pathway through later stages, including national and dual diploma routes.
Across all ages, they aim to “lead with heart”, building a community where students feel known, supported and challenged to reach their best. We spoke with School Director Carolina López to find out more.
Why families choose Engage International School Madrid:
- British Early Years with English immersion
- Bilingual and dual diploma pathways
- Strong PAU results
- Personal and emotional development focus
- Part of Dukes Education international network
What does Engage International School offer?
As a leading International School in Madrid, your educational philosophy is centred on the Four Cs: Curiosity, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Communication. How do these values come to life in day-to-day learning at Engage?
At Engage International School, the Four Cs are not a slogan; they are our learner profile and the foundation of how we plan learning experiences across stages. In practice, this means students learn through real challenges, collaborative projects and workshops, where knowledge is applied, questioned and communicated, rather than memorised and repeated.
You can see Curiosity in inquiry-driven learning, Creativity in designing, building and presenting solutions, Critical Thinking in reflection, debate and decision-making; and Communication in a school culture that values language, dialogue and public speaking. The result is a classroom atmosphere where students actively participate, take intellectual risks, and develop the confidence to express ideas clearly and respectfully.
You’ve also recently introduced beautiful new facilities on campus. Can you tell us more? What was your vision when designing these spaces?
The renovation of our school, especially in Early Years and Primary Education, was guided by a clear educational conviction: the environment is a ‘third teacher’. We created calm, bright spaces using natural materials and neutral tones to promote concentration, well-being and independence.
The classrooms were designed to move away from “rows of desks” and towards flexible learning areas that allow for collaboration and working on the move. We have also incorporated specialised spaces that reflect our methodology, such as areas that reinforce communication and structured thinking, including a space dedicated to public speaking and debate. In short, the vision was to create a campus that resembled the learning we want modern and purposeful.
What has been the reaction from students and parents since introducing the new spaces?
The feedback has been consistently positive. Families recognise that the new environment reflects high standards and a commitment to educational innovation, while students have a place to learn that supports movement, collaboration and independence. What matters most is that these spaces are not simply “cosmetic”; they actively support our approach to learning by enabling better teamwork, clearer routines, and a stronger sense of belonging.
Engage offers extended hours, healthy dining options, and a rich extracurricular programme. How do these services help families in Madrid, and enrich student life?
We believe that school is about community life, not just academic hours. We offer extended hours through our ‘Early Bird’ service, from 7:30 a.m. to noon, to help families balance work and home life.
Our meal programme has also been designed intentionally. We offer healthy menus, prepared daily in our own kitchen, inspired by the Mediterranean diet and adapted to allergies and intolerances. The menus are developed monthly by a nutritionist and reviewed by a meals committee involving parents, pupils, teachers and the nutritionist.
In addition, extracurricular activities enrich the students’ development of identity and talent, from sports to a private music school or the performing arts, helping pupils discover their strengths outside the classroom.
Engage students achieve consistently strong academic results. What do you feel contributes most to this level of success?
Good results come from a coherent system: high expectations, excellent teaching and personalised monitoring, combined with a school culture where wellbeing promotes performance. In our PAU results, more than 25% of students scored above 13, around 40% above 12.5 and 52.5% above 12, demonstrating very solid preparation.
We achieve this through structured university preparation (including mock exams), continuous assessment and academic guidance, while adapting learning through differentiation and specific support when progress slows down. In other words, we combine rigour with personalisation, so that students not only “study more”, but learn better, with clarity and determination.
The school offers a bilingual curriculum enriched with French, and even the possibility of the American High School Diploma. How do you guide students through these different pathways?
We guide families with a simple principle: the best pathway is the one that matches the student’s profile and future goals—academically and personally. Language is central at Engage International School: students grow in English and Spanish from the earliest years, and we add French from age six as a third language advantage.
For older students, we also offer the Diploma Dual (Spanish Baccalaureate and American High School Diploma) with Académica, which develops autonomy and opens international university pathways. We carefully support organisation and workload so students can succeed across both systems. Throughout this process, personalised academic guidance ensures that families make informed and confident decisions.
How do active methodologies, like project-based learning and learning by doing, impact academic performance and student motivation?
Active methodologies establish a link between motivation and performance. When students direct their learning through projects, practical challenges and workshops, learning becomes a meaningful endeavour. In Primary, for example, we expand project-based learning and integrate design thinking and interdisciplinary approaches, so that students practise applying knowledge rather than simply remembering it.
This improves motivation because students can see why something is important, and because they develop deeper understanding, better memory and stronger transferable skills (analysis, reasoning, communication). We also incorporate robotics from Year 3 onwards, encouraging creativity and problem solving with real tools.
You also place strong emphasis on personal and emotional development. How does this programme complement the Four Cs and support students as individuals?
The four Cs thrive when pupils feel secure, emotionally competent and socially connected. That is why Engage International School includes a personal, emotional and academic development programme at all stages of education, teaching essential life skills and helping pupils gain confidence.
In practice, we work on emotional regulation, empathy and resilience, because a student who knows how to manage frustration, collaborate respectfully and reflect on their mistakes will learn more effectively and communicate more clearly. This approach also reinforces collaboration between family and school. Families receive guidance and communication so that students experience consistent and caring expectations at home and at school.
Career guidance begins early at Engage, with mentoring, university fairs, and company visits. How does this long-term support help students make confident choices about their future?
We view guidance as a structured process, not a last-minute task. It is designed progressively, involving students, teachers and families, and begins in the middle years of secondary school to develop self-awareness and informed decision-making over time.
Students have structured action plans and experiences that connect learning to real-life pathways, such as university fairs that bring institutions directly to students and initiatives that help them explore their strengths and interests. The result is confidence: students do not choose based on trends or pressure, but with clarity, evidence and a sense of purpose.
Engage has also received the Responsible Screens GOLD certification. How do you approach technology use in a way that promotes both academic excellence and digital wellbeing?
We believe that technology should serve learning and wellbeing, not compete with them. Engage International School is recognised as the first school in Spain with Responsible Screens GOLD certification, reflecting a deliberate and balanced approach: we use digital tools to create, research and solve problems, while explicitly teaching healthy habits and digital self-regulation.
By integrating innovation (including programming and robotics), students develop strong digital competence, but within a framework that promotes mental health and human relationships.
As part of the Dukes Education group, what opportunities or advantages does this bring to your school community?
Being part of Dukes Education strengthens Engage International School in two key ways: it expands opportunities for students while raising the level of support and professional learning across the school. Dukes connects us to an extensive international network of schools across several European countries, which opens doors for students to take part in exchange programmes beyond Madrid, study-abroad experiences and summer camps in the UK and other locations.
For staff, the group provides structured support and continuous improvement through a central School Support Team and a clear professional development framework. This is reinforced through the Dukes Performance Management cycle, which prioritises training in active methodologies, safeguarding and consistent integration of the 4Cs.
For older students, Dukes also enhances our career guidance and university preparation, through counselling, mentorship and links with top universities. In Spain, the group has also launched initiatives such as Dukes Summer Camps and Dukes Plus, including specific support for Oxbridge pathways.
From your perspective, what truly sets Engage International School apart from other British schools in Madrid’s education landscape?
What truly sets Engage International School apart is the way we combine academic rigour with a deeply human approach—we aim high academically, but we build success through wellbeing, personal growth and a strong sense of belonging: we “lead with heart.”
Our educational identity is anchored in the CuatroCes / Four Cs (Curiosity, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Communication), and this is brought to life through active methodologies such as project-based learning, computational thinking, public speaking and global learning—so students don’t just learn content, they learn to think, create and communicate with purpose.
At the same time, we invest in personalised learning and whole-child support: early identification and intervention through tools like DIDE, differentiated instruction, and a strong Personal and Emotional Development Programme that explicitly develops resilience, empathy, mindfulness, digital citizenship and healthy social relationships.
This combination of high expectations, active learning and personal care, translates into strong outcomes and growing recognition in a competitive Madrid context, without losing the warmth of a close, supportive school community.
Find out more about the school‘s educational approach and admissions process on their website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Where is Engage International School in Madrid?
Engage International School is located in Majadahonda, a residential area to the northwest of Madrid. The campus offers modern, purpose-designed facilities created to support collaborative, flexible and student-centred learning. Its location makes it convenient for families living in Madrid city as well as in surrounding areas.
Does Engage follow the British Early Years curriculum?
Yes. Engage follows the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, delivered through full English immersion. In the Early Years, children learn in a language-rich environment where English is the primary language of instruction, helping them develop strong communication skills from the very beginning.
Is Engage International School bilingual?
Yes, Engage offers a bilingual curriculum in English and Spanish, with French introduced from the age of six as a third language. Language development is central to the school’s philosophy, with a strong emphasis on communication, public speaking and academic expression across subjects.
What academic pathways are available in secondary school?
Secondary school students can follow the Spanish national pathway, which prepares them for the PAU (university entrance examinations), or choose the Dual Diploma option, which combines the Spanish Baccalaureate with the American High School Diploma in partnership with Académica.
What makes Engage different from other international schools in Madrid?
What distinguishes Engage from other international schools in Madrid is the way it combines academic rigour with a strong focus on emotional wellbeing and personal development. Its educational model is built around the Four Cs: Curiosity, Creativity, Critical Thinking and Communication.
The school also places significant emphasis on personal and emotional development, helping students build resilience, empathy and confidence alongside academic skills. As part of the Dukes Education network, Engage benefits from international connections, professional development opportunities and expanded university guidance, while maintaining a close-knit community where families feel known and supported.
About Carolina López, Director of Engage International School
Carolina López’s passion for education led her to study Hispanic Philology, and she has dedicated twenty years to this wonderful world, touching the lives of many from the classroom and beyond. Carolina has also had the privilege of leading pedagogical teams, both in national and international schools, always transmitting positive leadership and unity at every step.
“I would like to pass on my commitment to families to walk together in this changing world, building a future where our students not only learn, but also live, dream and become the best versions of themselves.” – Carolina López
Read more articles and interviews with leading international schools on the MumAbroad blog
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