Are you wondering if the International Baccalaureate (IB) programs are the right choice for your children? As parents, it's natural to want to thoroughly understand the educational model that will shape our children. The IB is not just a curriculum: it is a philosophy that prepares students for a globalized world, fostering curiosity, critical thinking and an international mindset.
Our German International School and the IB
At Zürich Schule Barcelona, our international German school integrates the IB programs. (PYP and MYP) with a bilingual education in Spanish and German. This unique combination allows our students to benefit from an innovative and world-renowned pedagogical approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the International Baccalaureate (IB)?
The IB is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1968, offering four high quality, internationally recognized educational programs. Its mission is to develop inquiring, informed, caring and internationally minded young people who contribute to creating a better world.
What IB programs does Zürich Schule Barcelona offer?
We offer two programs:
PYP (Primary Years Programme): For children from 3 to 12 years old. It focuses on the development of the whole child through transdisciplinary units of inquiry.
MYP (Middle Years Programme): For students aged 12 to 16. Challenges students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world.
How do these programs benefit my child?
Both programs develop essential skills for the 21st century: effective communication, self-management, research, critical thinking and collaboration. Students learn to be autonomous inquirers, able to connect knowledge from different areas and apply it to real situations.
Is the IB compatible with the Spanish educational system?
Yes, Zürich Schule Barcelona is accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Education and the Departament d'Ensenyament de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Students obtain the official Spanish qualification in addition to the benefits of the IB curriculum, which opens doors for them both in Spain and internationally.
5. What are the advantages of multilingual education?
Scientific research has consistently shown that multilingualism brings significant cognitive benefits:
Improved executive functions: Multilingual students show greater attention span, better working memory and greater cognitive flexibility (Bialystok, 2012).
Problem solving: Constant switching between language systems strengthens divergent thinking and creative problem solving skills (Kroll & Dussias, 2017).
Long-term cognitive protection: longitudinal studies indicate that bilingualism can delay the onset of dementia symptoms by approximately 4-5 years (Bialystok, Craik & Freedman, 2007; Alladi et al., 2013).
Greater empathy and cross-cultural understanding: Multilingual children demonstrate better ability to adopt others' perspectives (Romero et al., 2025).
6. How are students assessed in the IB?
The IB uses a comprehensive assessment that goes beyond traditional exams. It assesses the learning process, personal reflection, collaborative projects and practical application of knowledge. In the MYP, students complete a Personal Project that demonstrates their capacity for independent inquiry.
7. What learner profile does the IB develop?
The IB develops learners who are: inquirers, knowledgeable and literate, thinkers, communicators, communicators, upstanders, open-minded, caring, bold, balanced and reflective. These attributes prepare students to be responsible and engaged global citizens.
8. What makes Zürich Schule Barcelona unique?
We combine academic rigor with the IB philosophy and a quadrilingual environment (German, Spanish, English and Catalan). Our students not only learn at languages, but they learn to think in different languages and cultures, preparing them to be true citizens of the world.
Scientific References
Alladi, S., et al. (2013). Bilingualism delays age at onset of dementia, independent of education and immigration status. Neurology, 81(22), 1938-1944.
Bialystok, E. (2012). Bilingualism and the development of executive function. Journal of Cognition and Development, 15(4), 468-493.
Bialystok, E., Craik, F.I.M., & Freedman, M. (2007). Bilingualism as a protection against the onset of symptoms of dementia. Neuropsychologia, 45(2), 459-464.
Kroll, J.F., & Dussias, P.E. (2017). The benefits of multilingualism to the personal and professional development. PNAS, 114(24), 6311-6316.
Romero, C., et al. (2025). Multilingualism and cognitive advantages in children. Autism Research.
Frequently Asked Questions about the International Baccalaureate | A Parent's Guide to the PYP and MYP Programmes
Are you wondering if the International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes are the right choice for your children? As parents, it's natural to want to fully understand the educational model that will shape our little ones. The IB is not just a curriculum: it's a philosophy that prepares students for a globalized world by fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and an international mindset.
Our International German School and the IB
At Zürich Schule Barcelona, our international German school integrates the IB programmes (PYP and MYP) with a bilingual education in Spanish and German. This unique combination allows our students to benefit from an innovative and globally recognized pedagogical approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the International Baccalaureate (IB)?
The IB is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1968, offering four high-quality, internationally recognized educational programmes. Its mission is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, caring, and internationally minded young people who help create a better world.
Which IB programmes does Zürich Schule Barcelona offer?
We offer two programs:
PYP (Primary Years Programme): For children aged 3 to 12 years. It focuses on the holistic development of the child through transdisciplinary units of inquiry.
MYP (Middle Years Programme): For students aged 12 to 16 years. It challenges students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world.
3. How do these programmes benefit my child?
Both programmes develop essential 21st-century skills: effective communication, self-management, research, critical thinking, and collaboration. Students learn to be autonomous inquirers, capable of connecting knowledge from different areas and applying it to real situations.
4. Is the IB compatible with the Spanish educational system?
Yes. Zürich Schule Barcelona is accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Departament d'Ensenyament de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Students obtain official Spanish qualifications in addition to the benefits of the IB curriculum, opening doors both in Spain and internationally.
Scientific research has consistently demonstrated that multilingualism provides significant cognitive benefits:
Enhanced executive functions: Multilingual students show greater attention capacity, better working memory, and increased cognitive flexibility (Bialystok, 2012).
Problem-solving: Constant switching between linguistic systems strengthens divergent thinking and creative problem-solving skills (Kroll & Dussias, 2017).
Long-term cognitive protection: Longitudinal studies indicate that bilingualism may delay the onset of dementia symptoms by approximately 4-5 years (Bialystok, Craik & Freedman, 2007; Alladi et al., 2013).
Greater empathy and intercultural understanding: Multilingual children demonstrate better ability to adopt others' perspectives (Romero et al., 2025).
6. How are students assessed in the IB?
The IB uses comprehensive assessment that goes beyond traditional exams. It values the learning process, personal reflection, collaborative projects, and practical application of knowledge. In the MYP, students complete a Personal Project demonstrating their capacity for independent inquiry.
7. What learner profile does the IB develop?
The IB develops learners who are: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. These attributes prepare students to be responsible and engaged global citizens.
What makes Zürich Schule Barcelona unique?
We combine German academic rigor with the IB philosophy and a quadrilingual environment (German, Spanish, English and Catalan). Our students don't just learn in several languages; they learn to think in different languages and cultures, preparing them to be true citizens of the world.
Scientific References
Alladi, S., et al. (2013). Bilingualism delays age at onset of dementia, independent of education and immigration status. Neurology, 81(22), 1938-1944.
Bialystok, E. (2012). Bilingualism and the development of executive function. Journal of Cognition and Development, 15(4), 468-493.
Kroll, J.F., & Dussias, P.E. (2017). The benefits of multilingualism to the personal and professional development. PNAS, 114(24), 6311-6316.
Romero, C., et al. (2025). Multilingualism and cognitive advantages in children. Autism Research.