SIMS Coordinator

Runnymede College is a leading private non-denominational British school in Spain offering a British education to boys and girls of all nationalities from the age of two to eighteen. The School regards its task as being to provide its pupils an academically excellent, all-round liberal humanistic education and the necessary basis to succeed in the adult world, and above all, to help them to acquire a moral sense as members of the international, world-wide community.

Ethos

Runnymede is committed to academic excellence and sets the highest standards of behaviour and social conduct, fostering the development of mutual respect and responsibility. Above all we want our children to develop a love of learning and to become independent learners.

Fair play is also encouraged – learning to win without gloating and to lose with good grace, to accept the decision of the appropriate authority, be that of the referee in sport or the teacher in class, and to derive satisfaction from having done one’s best even when others have done better.

Teachers are encouraged to stimulate thinking and discussion about absolutely any subject, always bearing in mind the sensitivity of youth but without indoctrinating children in their personal attitudes.

Runnymede’s Values provides a framework within which pupils and all members of the School community can work together to achieve our common aims. The Values defines what we expect from every pupil and aim to promote a sense of pride and belonging to the School.

A necessary background to our rich variety of activity is discipline, conceived as respect for oneself, for others and for the School. We believe that children flourish best when their personal, social and emotional needs are met and where there are clear, developmentally appropriate expectations for their behaviour. Pupils are rewarded for effort, behaviour and achievement and sanctioned in cases of misbehaviour pursuant to the terms of the applicable Discipline System implemented in the Pre-Prep, Prep, and Senior Schools.

The aims of the School are:

• To provide an all-round, academic, liberal humanist education to all students regardless of their sex, race, religion or nationality.
• To help each child to maximise his or her potential, whether intellectual, artistic or physical, by expecting high standards and using methods appropriate to achieve this.
• To encourage positive social attitudes and respect and consideration for others, of all ages and backgrounds.
• To create the conditions of a happy atmosphere and structured environment where children feel secure, through reasonable discipline and School rules known to all.
• To educate pupils in preparation for adult life and orient them towards pursuing the most suitable higher education course and professional career.
• Special importance is given to helping students derive the maximum advantage from living in Spain. All students receive classes in Spanish language and where suitable literature, history and geography up to Year 11. This will be broadened to include Years 12 and 13 over the next three years. Spaniards and those who are bilingual follow courses of language and culture prescribed by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science.

Academic levels are high at Runnymede College. In June 2026, 85% of our students achieved A*-B at A level, making Runnymede one of the highest-achieving schools in Spain. In addition, 72% of our pupils gained 7-9 (A/A*) grades at IGCSE. Once again, this figure is far above the 48% of 7-9 grades at GCSE obtained in the English independent (private) school sector.

In the graduating class of 2026, just over half of our pupils will be attending UK universities, 89% of them to Russell Group institutions. The most popular destination this year was St Andrews (12) followed by UCL, LSE, Oxford, Edinburgh and Warwick. Most of our remaining students have chosen the US. Five are starting at Ivy League universities, with others at Stanford, Boston College and Tufts. A similar number will be staying in Spain, at elite institutions including ICADE, IE and ICAI.

A number of our students will be staying in Spain, at top-notch places including ICADE, IE and ICAI; others will continue their education elsewhere in Europe in world-leading institutions in France and Ireland.