Profile
The Olive Tree School (Secondary)
The Olive Tree School is an International British School located in Sant Pere de Ribes, between Sitges and Vilanova i la Geltrù.
Our much-loved school for 3-16 year-olds is now in its fourteenth year!
The Olive Tree School began life in a small house near the Sitges beach, with the aim of providing a warm environment where learning was incredibly exciting.
Now, fourteen years later, we have spacious premises with beautiful grassy gardens, a science lab, two ICT rooms, a busy art studio, two peaceful, plant-filled libraries, several outdoor classrooms, two thriving vegetable plots and an indoor and outdoor theatre.
There are also two ancient olive trees to read under or to climb!
We follow the British Curriculum and are members of The National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS), who inspect both our Primary and Secondary schools in collaboration with the British Council every four years.
We have grown significantly, and currently have around 200 pupils. However, our aims remain the same: Our priority for all ages is excitement for the world of ideas and learning.
Additionally, we have small classes (a maximum of 20 pupils) to ensure your child’s learning is personalised, and to provide the best emotional support possible as your child grows.
In the local community, we are known for our creative approach: our gallery of artwork, our theatre productions, our concerts and our engineering projects where maths comes to life. We are also committed to regular Forest School, fieldwork and other outdoor learning opportunities.
And, when young adults complete their time with us at 16, our GCSE exam results are well above the British schools’ average, both internationally and in the UK.
High academic standards and performance are the result of an environment where learning is everyone’s passion.
We’d love to meet you and your child, so please come and visit us at one of our Open Days to find out more.
Our Approach at Secondary
In-depth learning leading to academic success
At 11, pupils enter secondary, which culminates at 16 in the British GCSE examinations.
Our strong academic success is due to an environment where each pupil is challenged and supported in their learning- on an hourly basis.
Everyone succeeds.
Our small classes have a maximum of 20 pupils.
We are holistic: intellectual development is balanced with the arts (drama, music, and art) and a wide range of sports.
Click on this link to see our 2023 GCSE results
One-to-one welfare
A young adult needs warm, positive support from a trusted adult in order to grow socially and emotionally.
Each pupil has regular meetings with the same trusted mentor, every two weeks as a minimum, or more often if the pupil chooses.
What is Special About The Olive Tree Secondary?
Academic
We have a strong academic record; our 16-year olds’ final exam (GCSE) results are well above the UK national average.
This is because we create an environment of deep thinking and an excitement for learning in all its forms.
We balance academics with daily sport, creativity in music, drama and art, and social commitment.
Welfare & Community
Our young adults are cared for. Each pupil has a trusted mentor to speak to as often as is required.
Our pupils develop their voice and social commitment: they do charity work, they debate at the Model United Nations conference in Madrid, they write and publish their ideas, and they debate and explore issues of global importance.
Deep Thinking
High order thinking is part of every lesson: analysis, evaluation, justification and hypothesis are part of the creative thinking process in every hour.
We also awaken curiosity in the world with our calendar of Inspiring Speakers who visit the school.
Find our more about our approach to secondary here
What kind of school are we?
Do contact us to learn more about our school. We’d be delighted to hear from you!
2 Reviews on “The Olive Tree School (Secondary)”
My experience with this school has been incredibly frustrating and disappointing. While it may initially appear welcoming, there are significant issues with how the administration handles problems. Instead of addressing concerns directly, their approach seems to be to sweep everything under the rug.
More troubling is that teachers often turn a blind eye to student behavior, creating an environment where disruptive students are allowed to misbehave without facing consequences. Additionally, the classrooms are rarely kept tidy and are often messy, which further contributes to a lack of order and discipline. It’s also not uncommon to see students’ clothes left on the hall sofa or scattered on the floor at the entrance, which adds to the overall untidy and disorganized atmosphere.
What’s even more concerning is how the school places the blame entirely on the students, regardless of the situation. When parents raise concerns about their child’s behavior, academic performance, or overall experience, they are often told that the problem lies with the students or, in some cases, even with the parents themselves. This lack of transparency and accountability makes it difficult to trust that the school is genuinely addressing the issues at hand.
Furthermore, students often roam in groups across the school without supervision from teachers, creating an unsafe environment where misbehavior and chaos can go unnoticed.
Rather than working collaboratively with parents to find solutions, the school administration often deflects responsibility. They create a narrative that always puts the blame on the students, ignoring the role teachers and staff play in maintaining order and addressing behavioral concerns effectively.
As a parent, it’s disheartening to see how little support there is for children who may be struggling in such an environment. It’s clear that the school could benefit from stronger leadership and a more committed effort to foster a disciplined and respectful atmosphere. Until these issues are addressed, I would have a hard time recommending this school to other families.
One of the worst experiences of my life. My daughter was bullied and not cared for at all. She has ADHD and I had to pay for a specialist to help as the school had no interest whatsoever in helping us. Their answer to everything was: We haven’t got the resources or your daughter is the problem. In her new school, she is top of the class and there’s no problem they are not willing to discuss and approach.
I wouldn’t recommend them to my worst enemy. The fact that they sell themselves as “holistic” is laughable to me.