Brains International School

What Brains International School does

Brains International School (legal entity: Colegio Brains, S.L.) is a privately held Spanish education group founded in 1979 that operates five own-branded international schools across two regions: the Madrid metropolitan area (La Moraleja in Alcobendas, Orgaz/Conde de Orgaz, and Arturo Soria) and Gran Canaria (Las Palmas and Telde). The group delivers a full K-12 continuum from 9-month-old nursery through university preparation, combining Spanish national curriculum with the International Baccalaureate (IB Diploma and, as of 2025, the Middle Years Programme at La Moraleja) under a proprietary five-pillar 'Método Brains' framework covering international education, values, sport and health, innovation, and academic formation. Bilingual instruction in Spanish and English, Apple Distinguished School technology integration, and student-run radio/podcast studios are core differentiators; the Arturo Soria campus features Spain's first Passivhaus Plus certified school building. The group employs approximately 306 staff and serves families across Madrid and the Canary Islands.

The business model is overwhelmingly B2C subscription tuition: families pay annual fees either as a single payment or across 10 monthly installments (September–June), with separate annual 'cuota anual' charges covering technology, materials and pedagogical services, and additional recurring revenue from extracurricular activities, four seasonal camp programs (summer, winter, ski, Easter), the School Masters academic program with Universidad Nebrija, dining services, and the only IELTS testing center in the Canary Islands at Brains Telde. Go-to-market is direct-to-family through a school website, dedicated admission managers per campus, WhatsApp/phone inquiries, open days, an active social media presence, alumni network referrals, and earned media coverage (Forbes, El Mundo, ABC, El País). The group is led by Director General Luis Tolmos with a layered campus-director and central pedagogical (Concha Pinedo) and operational (Luciano Gómez) leadership team. Financials are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Brains International School

Legal name

Colegio Brains, S.L.

Website

https://colegiobrains.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Brains International School is a privately held Spanish education group operating five bilingual international schools in Madrid and Gran Canaria, serving roughly 2,000–3,000 pupils from 9 months to 18 years through IB programs, a proprietary 'Método Brains' curriculum, and an Apple Distinguished School technology platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Language Immersion & Bilingual Private Schools (EDAJABAL), Overseas Summer School Programs (Secondary) (EDAIAHAC)

Keywords

• Private international education
• International baccalaureate programs
• Bilingual K-12 schools
• Holistic education methodology
• Private school tuition

Headquarters

HQ city

Alcobendas, Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Schooling Fees: Annual tuition fees for educational services covering infants, primary, secondary, and baccalaureate education. Fees are paid either as a single annual payment or distributed across 10 monthly installments (September-June). The school offers various services including extracurricular activities, school transport (third-party contracted), dining/cafeteria, and additional programs that generate supplementary revenue.
2. Extracurricular Activities and Camps: Revenue from summer camps, winter camps, ski camps, Easter camps, and year-round extracurricular activities. These are contracted for full academic year with monthly payments. Additional revenue streams include specialized programs like the School Masters partnership with Universidad Nebrija.
3. Technology and Materials Fees: Annual material fee (cuota anual) covering Art & Crafts materials and Educational Innovation Services including technology infrastructure and pedagogical services. Psychopedagogical services, medical reviews, and psychological assessments included in this fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Brains International Schools delivers bilingual, holistic private education from infancy through university preparation across five campuses in Madrid and Gran Canaria, Spain. The core offering is the 'Método Brains' educational experience, combining the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and Middle Years Programmes, values education, sports, and innovation. Educational services are complemented by extracurricular activities, seasonal camps (summer, winter, ski, Easter), student support services (speech therapy, diversity attention, wellbeing coordination), and university preparation through the Brains School Masters program.

Product overview

Brains International Schools operates a network of five private international schools in Spain (four in Madrid region: La Moraleja/Alcobendas, Orgaz/Conde de Orgaz, Arturo Soria; one in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and one in Telde) offering comprehensive educational services from infancy through university preparation. The institution follows the 'Método Brains' educational approach built on five pillars: International Education, Values Education, Sport and Health, Innovation, and Unique Academic Formation. Their portfolio includes IB Diploma and Middle Years Programmes, seasonal camps (summer, winter, ski, Easter), extensive extracurricular activities (sports, arts, radio/TV, theatre), support services (speech therapy, student wellbeing, diversity attention), and specialized programmes (Culinary Experience, Brains en Verde sustainability). The schools operate recording studios for student podcast production and hold Passivehaus Plus certification for sustainable facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Método Brains: The Brains Method - proprietary educational approach based on 5 pillars: International Education, Values Education, Sport and Health, Innovation, and Unique Academic Formation
• IB School
• Brains Camps
• Brains School Masters
• Arcadia Teatro
• Brains Radio

Products and services

• Brains La Moraleja Campus Private international school campus in La Moraleja-Alcobendas, Madrid serving students from 1 year old through university preparation. Features IB programs, extensive sports facilities (basketball court, 7-a-side soccer field, climbing wall, gym, swimming pool), and comprehensive infrastructure serving as the group's headquarters.
• Brains Orgaz Campus (Conde de Orgaz) Private nursery school campus in Madrid's Conde de Orgaz area serving children from 9 months to 6 years old. Specialized in early childhood education with focus on international methodologies. Ranked #1 best nursery school in Madrid by Micole in 2026.
• Brains Arturo Soria Campus (María Lombillo) Private international school campus in Madrid's Arturo Soria zone serving students from 5 to 18 years old. Home to Brains María Lombillo 9, Spain's first PassiveHaus Plus school building. Achieved 2nd position in Spain's IB ranking in 2022 with 36.5 points.
• Brains Las Palmas Campus Private international school campus in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria serving students from maternal age to 12 years old. Features recording studios and podcast production capabilities.
• Brains Telde Campus Private international school campus in Telde, Gran Canaria serving students from 12 years old through university preparation. Recognized as the only IELTS testing center in the Canary Islands with online modality and led PAU 2025 university entrance exam results in Las Palmas.
• IB Diploma Programme (DP) International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme enabling students to access universities worldwide. Available across multiple Brains campuses with proven ranking positions (2nd place in Spain in 2022 with 36.5 points at Brains María Lombillo).
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme for students aged 11-16. Brains La Moraleja received official authorization to offer MYP in 2025, expanding the group's international education credentials.
• Summer Camp Summer camp program combining English language immersion, sports, and recreational activities. Available at multiple campuses including Las Palmas.
• Winter Camp Winter camp program offering educational and recreational activities during school holidays.
• Ski Camp Ski camp program combining winter sports with educational activities.
• Easter Camp Easter holiday camp program combining educational and recreational activities.
• Brains School Masters Advanced academic program in partnership with Universidad Nebrija for specialized university preparation. More than 150 students have participated in the School Masters initiative connecting secondary/baccalaureate students with university-level academic experiences.
• Extraescolares (After-school Activities) Comprehensive extracurricular activity program including sports (futsal, basketball, volleyball, swimming, athletics, gymnastics, tennis), arts, music, radio/TV production, and theatre (Arcadia Teatro).
• Speech Therapy (Logopedia) Professional speech therapy services for students requiring language and communication support.
• CEDE (Student Development Centre) Student development and support service within the educational services framework.
• Atención a la Diversidad (Diversity Support) Diversity attention service supporting students with special educational needs and learning differences.
• Coordinadora de Bienestar (Wellbeing Coordinator) Student wellbeing coordinator service promoting emotional and social development across the school community.
• DOP (Protection Coordinator) Student welfare and protection coordination service ensuring safeguarding and pastoral care standards.
• Brains Radio/Podcast Programme Student-led radio and podcast production programme across recording studios at La Moraleja, María Lombillo (Arturo Soria), and Las Palmas campuses. Students produce programmes developing communication and multimedia skills.
• Brains en Verde (Green Project) Sustainability and environmental education project including urban gardens and waste reduction initiatives. Generated 37% less waste in classrooms.
• Experiencia Gastronómica (Culinary Experience) Healthy eating programme based on Mediterranean Diet featuring homemade menus, premium fish cooked with olive oil, superfoods, organic products, and proximity-sourced seasonal ingredients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Brains María Lombillo ranked 2nd in Spain IB ranking 2022 with 36.5 points
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Club Excelencia en GestióncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 November 2025Club Excelencia en Gestión (Club of Excellence in Management) connects education and business sectors through events at Brains, fostering dialogue between academic institutions and companies regarding future skills and educational management.
• Inspiring Girls and Matrix RenewablesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Brains Arturo Soria hosted Speed Networking event with Inspiring Girls and Matrix Renewables to connect female students with professional role models in STEM and renewable energy sectors.
• Universidad NebrijacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2023Partnership with Universidad Nebrija for School Masters program where 150+ students participate in academic activities. More than 150 students have participated in the School Masters initiative connecting secondary/baccalaureate students with university-level academic experiences.
• Lego EducationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Lego Education visited Brains La Moraleja to learn about the school's educational project, representing potential partnership for hands-on STEM learning using Lego robotics and building materials.
• TaxDownminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 May 2021TaxDown provides financial education masterclasses to Brains La Moraleja students, supporting the school's financial literacy education initiative for baccalaureate and IB students.
• SGScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 September 2020SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance) partnered with Brains to verify sanitary safety protocols across all campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing independent certification of health and safety measures for students and staff.
• Google for EducationcoreTechnology or IntegrationBrains International Schools uses Google for Education platform for student learning, administrative functions, and educational technology. Student and employee data may be stored and processed in the United States through Google's GDPR-compliant infrastructure.
• Apple Distinguished School ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrains International Schools holds Apple Distinguished School status at multiple campuses, recognizing excellence in technology integration using Apple devices and ecosystem for teaching and learning. Brains was the only school group in Spain with two ADS certifications.
• Association for the Advancement of Quality (AEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEC (Asociación Española para la Calidad) partnered with Brains to deliver the II Master's in Quality and Operational Excellence, recognizing institutional commitment to quality management and continuous improvement in education.
• IELTS (British Council)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrains Telde is the only official IELTS testing center in the Canary Islands with online testing modality, enabling students to take internationally recognized English proficiency exams locally.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hastings School (Madrid): Private bilingual K-12 school in Madrid with multiple campuses, British curriculum orientation, and premium positioning. Comparable multi-campus structure, bilingual philosophy, and family demographic.
• Casvi Group (Eurocolegio Casvi): Private international school group in Spain with multiple campuses offering IB and bilingual education. Most comparable multi-campus private international peer with overlapping methodology and geographic reach.
• Colegio San Patricio (Madrid): Private Catholic school in Madrid serving K-12 with strong academic reputation and bilingual programs. Comparable in premium positioning, although Catholic rather than secular.
• Runnymede College (Madrid): Independent British international school in Madrid offering IGCSE and A-Levels. Directly competes for IB/equivalent track students and occupies the same premium private family segment.
• King's College (The British School of Madrid): British international school in Madrid (part of King's College Schools worldwide) offering K-12 education with British curriculum. Similar premium private K-12 positioning and English-language instruction.
• American School of Madrid: Private international K-12 school in Madrid serving U.S. and international curriculum families. Closely comparable to Brains in target market, IB/American curriculum offering, and premium pricing tier.
• British Council School (Madrid): British international school in Madrid offering K-12 instruction with English curriculum and international accreditation. Directly competes with Brains for English-speaking and internationally-minded families in the Madrid market.
• Colegio Santa María la Blanca: Private bilingual K-12 school in Madrid with multiple campuses offering trilingual education. Comparable in bilingual methodology, multi-campus structure, and premium family segment.

Broad incumbents

• International Schools Partnership (ISP) Spain: Large international schools operator with multiple campuses in Spain offering IB and British curricula. Significant scale advantage and broader geographic reach than Brains.
• Cognita Spain (Colegio Europeo de Madrid, etc.): Global private schools group operating multiple premium K-12 campuses across Spain. Much larger scale and broader portfolio, but competes head-to-head for the same international family segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/aaabrains
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/brainsinternationalschools

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brains International School