The 28th of September was a day filled with excitement and warmth as we welcomed more than 400 guests for the official Opening of our new BSB City Main Campus in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi. This event signifies not just the expansion of our beloved school but a remarkable milestone in our journey together.

These included city authorities, members of the Executive Team of the international education group Cognita, of which BSB is a member, as well as BSB staff. Authorities included Pere Masó, Barcelona’s Education Delegate, Lloyd Milen, the British Consul General in Barcelona, Isabel Perea, Vice President for Catalonia of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain, Frank Maassen, CEO Cognita Group, Germà Rigau, Managing Director Cognita Spain and Italy, and James Petrie, Acting Executive Director of BSB.

Together, we celebrated the embodiment of our core values: curiosity, innovation, excellence, sustainability, and a spirit of leadership.

Pere Masó, Barcelona’s Delegate for Education, shared his joy at seeing “a unique educational project like this grow in our city” and acknowledged how schools like BSB help children “develop their talents and their own lives.” Germà Rigau, Managing Director of Cognita Spain and Italy, emphasized that in the heart of Barcelona, BSB provides students with the knowledge, skills, and global perspective they need to succeed.

During this extraordinary day, attendees had the opportunity to explore our new campus. From the cutting-edge classrooms to the science laboratories, soundproofed music boxes, the Pre-University forum, and the art room. They also visited the sports facilities with an indoor sports hall and an outdoor sports centre which, together with the 22,000 m2 of the historic Barcino Tennis Club with which the school has established a partnership for the use of its facilities, reflect BSB’s commitment to the all-round, holistic development of its students.

Be Ready to Shape the World
The BSB City Main Campus embodies our commitment to shape future leaders who can think critically and navigate a rapidly changing world. We offer a personalised approach with a global perspective that encourages curiosity, creativity, and the acceptance of challenges.

Isabel Perea, Vice President for Catalonia at the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain, underlined the significance of cultural and educational bonds between nations, highlighting that “education plays a fundamental role in global understanding.”

Spain boasts the fifth-largest number of international schools globally, with Barcelona leading the way with over forty such institutions. BSB, accredited as one of the best British schools in Spain, is proud to contribute to this global educational community.

Four campuses in Catalonia
With this new 5,000 m2 campus and after sixty-five years of experience in Barcelona, Castelldefels and Sitges, the school consolidates its presence in Barcelona now offering more than 2,500 places in a total of four campuses throughout Catalonia. BSB thus becomes one of the largest schools in Catalonia. According to Frank Maassen, Group CEO at Cognita, ‘Spain is a key country for us, as we have nine schools that are part of our community. We are very proud to be able to open our fourth BSB campus in Catalonia.’ The CEO also recognised the work of the leaders and teachers for their contribution and educational work and for their task of developing important skills in the students as part of an outstanding holistic education.

Thanks to a €15m investment by Cognita, with a presence in sixteen countries and more than one hundred schools in Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, North America and Asia, BSB will be able to offer places to new pupils from the age of three to eighteen. The campus connects with another of BSB’s campuses, the BSB City Foundation Campus, which opened in September 2021 and is aimed at pupils from the age of three. As James Petrie, Acting Executive Principal of BSB, said, ‘We have a great educational responsibility to local families and all those who have joined our community this year. To open this campus in this superb location is a fantastic opportunity and privilege’.

A Community Celebration
We couldn’t have achieved this milestone without the support of our incredible BSB Community. To celebrate, we invited all our BSB City families across the two sites to join us for the BSB Community event taking place in the afternoon. Over 300 members of our school community gathered on the playground for a delightful afternoon filled with family-friendly activities. From a thrilling padel tournament to a creative arts and crafts workshop and a team building activity, and even some networking among our families, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Celebrating Our Musical Talents and Our Partners
We must also acknowledge the incredible talents of our Music students, some from our new campus, some others travelling from Castelldefels to perform on this special occasion with our Head of Music. They all, together with the peripatetic music teachers of BSB City, added a melodious touch to the morning and afternoon events, making them truly unforgettable.

And we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners Club Tennis Barcino and SANED, for their delightful catering provision. And to Unilever for their delicious provision of Ben&Jerry’s ice cream for our children. From the morning to the afternoon, their offerings were enjoyed by all.

Related links

Visit the BSB City Main Campus Opening Event gallery