Learnlife Urban Hub - Barcelona

Founded in 2017, Learnlife is more than a school. We are a global learning community that prepares and empowers lifelong learners to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Our full-time learning programmes, delivered in our unique and groundbreaking Learn Hubs, inspire children aged 6 to 18 to explore their passions, develop a love of learning and cultivate the essential skills and competencies needed now and in the future.

Learnlife Urban, located in central Barcelona, offers full-time secondary education to children aged 12 to 18 years. Learnlife Urban Hub is our first evidence-based Learn Hub with innovative studios, including robotics, 3D printing, culinary expertise, carpentry and multimedia.

Primary Language(s)

English

Curriculum

American, Catalan / Spanish

Qualifications

American High School Diploma, AP Courses, GESO

Age Range

12 - 18 years old

Welcome Note

Welcome to Learnlife Urban Hub, a united learning community where we cultivate positive relationships, ignite passions, and empower learners on their educational journeys. Nestled along the beautiful coastline of Castelldefels, our Hub offers a dynamic, learner-centered environment that nurtures personal growth, resilience, and a deep connection with each learner’s own sense of passion and purpose.

At Learnlife, we believe in empowering young people to take ownership of their learning journey, fostering autonomy and developing those skills that will prepare them for an ever-evolving world. Our approach is rooted in experiential, hands-on learning, with a strong emphasis on impact, well-being, and innovation. Learners are encouraged to explore their passions, work on real-world projects in our professional state-of-the-art studio environments, and develop competencies that go beyond traditional academics. Through a supportive and inclusive environment, we seek to ensure that every young person receives the guidance they need to flourish both academically and personally.

We invite you to visit us and experience first-hand the joy, wonder, and purpose that define learning at Learnlife.

School Ethos

Every day at Learnlife, children enjoy learning, exploring their passions and developing the essential skills they need to thrive.

Learners are guided on personal learning journeys that help them become curious, happy and autonomous lifelong learners ready to make a positive impact in the world.

Our learning programmes provide a modern learning experience that empowers your child to take control of their learning journey, express their creativity and go deep in their learning. We do not believe in making learners memorise and repeat information.

Instead, your child will explore their passions through authentic, real-world learning, grow their autonomy and gain the most in-demand real-world skills, such as analytical and creative thinking, resilience and curiosity. At the same time, they'll also develop the foundational skills they would do at traditional school in a more impactful way through real-world transdisciplinary learning.

Languages

Primary Language

English

Additional languages offered

Spanish
Catalan
Opportunities to engage in other languages and multilingual experiences through the building blocks and personal learning plan that each student draws up and follows.

Language support available

We do have a number of small group formats to support with languages based on a learners' level. For example, we have Spanish for Beginners for families who are new to Barcelona or recently moved from abroad, and then we also have English, Spanish and Catalan for both native and non-native level speakers at the relevant age and stage.

Curriculum

We offer a competency-based curriculum that focuses on learners' development and growth of skills and competencies from primary stages, at age 6, through to the end of secondary at age 18. Our curriculum aligns to the American and UK standards, as well as the local Spanish and Catalan frameworks, to ensure that our passion-based and purpose-led approach aligns to the skills and competencies that learners would be developing elsewhere at the same age and stage. Our curriculum offers real world application of those skills and competencies, encouraging lifelong learning, so that our learners can dive deep into their passions and explore and discover their desired future paths -- whether that be entrepreuneurship, employability or further study.

Qualifications

We are an accredited international school recognised both locally by the Ministry of Education in Spain, as well as by our American counterpart: NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges). As such, we offer learners to obtain both the American High School Diploma and the Spanish ESO certificate. We also support learners to obtain the AP (Advanced Programs) qualifications for those learners who seek this for university entrance, and provide guided support for learners to obtain the qualifications they need based on their intended future path and associated requirements.

Facilities

Our full-time learning programmes, delivered in our unique and groundbreaking Learn Hubs, inspire children aged 6 to 18 to explore their passions, develop a love of learning and cultivate the essential skills and competencies needed now and in the future.

At a secondary level, in Urban Hub, our space offers a myriad of different studio options for learners to grow their skills and competencies in real-world professional studio environments. Ranging from culinary studios, carpentry and fashion, to multimedia, science, music and robotics, there are numerous opportunities for learners to put their learning into action and translate theory into practice.

First Year Joining Fee

Annual enrolment fee: equivalent to one month of tuition. Payable each year.

Annual Tuition

Monthly tuition: €930/month from September to June.

Additional Fees

Lunch (optional): daily school lunch provided on-site or learners can bring lunch from home.

Discounts

Sibling discounts and annual payment discounts available.

Current Fees

www.learnlife.com

Fees

School in Numbers

School size

250 in total across primary and secondary ages. 160 learners at Urban Hub.

Classes per grade / age

3 programme groups at both primary and secondary levels, with learners grouped together in two traditional academic years (e.g. 6-7, 8-9, 10-12 at primary level. 12-14, 14-16, 16-18 at secondary level)

Class sizes

Our ratio is on average 15 learners per Learning Guide (teacher) or Learning Guide Assistant.

Nationalities

We consider our diversity one of the strengths of our community. Learnlife currently comprises over 30 nationalities across all three hubs in the Barcelona-based area. We believe the diversity of backgrounds contributes to the vibrant mix of traditions and cultures at Learnlife. Currently approximately 30% of families are local Spanish/Catalan-speaking families and many of our international families have been based here on a long-term basis, or their children have been born here and speak Spanish too. We welcome families of all cultures and backgrounds.

Student Support

What learning needs the school can support

At Learnlife Urban Hub, we are committed to adapting to the needs of our learners through a personalized, learner-centered approach. We recognize that each child has unique strengths, challenges, and aspirations, and we work closely with families to provide the right support while maintaining a balanced and inclusive community.

Our Learning Support Lead oversees the coordination of support services, ensuring that learners receive the guidance they need while fostering autonomy and self-confidence.
For learners with diagnosed learning or social-emotional needs, we offer Individual Learning Plans tailored to the child's personal growth. In cases where a higher level of support is needed, families may be asked to provide additional assistance through 1:1 support.

To ensure that all learners thrive, we maintain a cap on the number of learners with additional learning needs that we can support within the Hub.

We offer guidance for:

• Learners who benefit from a flexible, self-directed approach to education
• Language acquisition for non-native Spanish speakers
• Gifted learners seeking extended, self-driven learning opportunities
• Learners developing executive functioning, literacy, and numeracy skills
• Social-emotional development, including tools for self-regulation and well-being

Our goal is to create an environment where every learner feels empowered, capable, and inspired to grow.

What support staff are available

To ensure a holistic and personalized approach to education, our team includes:
• Learning Guides (teachers and mentors) who facilitate self-directed learning
• Learning Assistants who provide additional guidance in the learning environment
• A Learning Support Lead who oversees individual support, coordinates with families and provides targeted interventions and individualized guidance
• Referrals to external professionals for specialized interventions and assessments, like psychologists, speech and language therapists, or occupational therapists (available on request).

Admissions

Details of entry criteria

Learnlife Urban Hub welcomes learners who are eager to explore, create, and grow in a dynamic learning environment. We value diversity and work closely with families to ensure that our approach aligns with their child’s needs and aspirations.
Entry is based on a combination of:
• A family meeting to understand the family and learner’s needs, interests, and learning style.
• A placement determination in English, Spanish, and math to determine the group that best meets the learner’s needs.
• Review of report cards & feedback from previous school experiences, including the most recent.
• A collaborative decision-making process involving the learner, family, and Learnlife team.
Our model is based on personalized learning pathways rather than standardized levels. Entry criteria are a combination of conversations and meetings to get to know the family, the learner, and the Hub, ensuring the best possible fit for everyone.

Details of entry tests

Learnlife Urban Hub does not conduct traditional entry tests. Instead, we invite prospective learners to experience our environment through a trial day, during which we assess how they engage with our learning approach. This process allows us to collaboratively determine the best way to support each learner.

Further Information

Additional Information About Admissions:

• The admissions process begins with an inquiry and an initial conversation with our team.
• Families are invited for an on-site visit or virtual tour to explore our space and approach.
• Admission decisions are made in collaboration with families, considering the learner’s needs and goals. Learners are welcome to join us for a trial day to experience our learning environment first-hand.
• We support a rolling admissions process, meaning learners can join throughout the year, depending on availability.

Extra Curriculars

Our extra-curricular activities are designed to complement our learning philosophy, providing learners with opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills, and connect with their peers. Activities take place during afternoons, usually from 5pm onwards, and evolve each year based on the interests of our learners and the opportunities available within our community.
Some activities we have offered, aligned to our state-of-the-art studio environments, include:

• Creative arts – music, filmmaking, fashion design, illustration, drama
• STEM and innovation – robotics, coding, science, 3D printing, carpentry
• Sports and movement – skateboarding, yoga
• Language learning – Spanish as a second language, other second languages (e.g. German)
• Well-being and mindfulness – meditation, breathing techniques, and emotional resilience workshops

We continuously adapt our offerings based on learners’ interests and feedback, ensuring that each child finds meaningful opportunities for growth and exploration.