Jan
BIC Sa Porrassa School
Baleares International College, Sa Porrassa, is accommodated in a large, custom-built school situated in the beautiful, rural environment of Calvià. The school is in a very accessible location on the southwest coast of Mallorca and has a capacity for over 600 students from 3 to 18 years of age.
Baleares International College, Sa Porrassa, has a large number of excellent facilities including: an indoor sports centre, playing fields with sports pitches, a swimming pool, all-weather basketball, football and volleyball courts, ICT suite and science laboratories. The classrooms are all air-conditioned for the summer and heated for the winter.
All our teaching staff are trained and experienced in the UK, and bring with them the latest educational methodologies and approaches.
The school follows the English National Curriculum, and a special feature of the school's curriculum is the teaching of the Spanish and Catalan languages (from Reception) and the German and French languages (from Year 3). Native language programmes are also available in Spanish, Catalan and German.
Directions: If you are coming from Palma on the Autovia, take the Magaluf, El Toro exit, number 14, and follow Ctra. Cala Figuera for 2km. We are opposite Western Water Park. Follow the signs to the School Car Park which is a short walk to the campus grounds.
Age range
3–18
School hours
Primary school, 09.00 to 15.50
Secondary school, 08.50 to 16.05
Student / teacher ratio
9:1
Languages
- English
- Spanish
- German
- French
- Catalan
Curriculum
Key Stages 1 to 5,
IGCSE & A Level
Facilities
Indoor sports centre, playing fields with football pitches, swimming pool, all-weather basketball court, football and volleyball courts, specialist Art, Drama and Music facilities, specialist Science and Information Technology laboratories, spacious dining room plus access to local sailing club
Welcome from the Principal
It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself as principal of BIC.
As principal, my aim is to build on the school’s strong foundations and make it the number one school of choice on the island. For the children in our care, my aim is that they enjoy school and love coming here, just as I loved my own school days. However, I am firmly of the opinion that children loving school is about more than just enjoyment. It is also about them having inspiring teachers, who they look up to and admire, and who they will remember long after they leave. It is about them feeling safe, secure and confident, and acquiring values of independence, integrity and resilience. In particular, for the very many of our pupils who are bright and able, it is about them being stretched and challenged, excited about their learning, hungry to know and discover more, and always being pushed to the max. It is about no child ever being able to say in school, “I’m bored”.
Founded in 1957, the school aims to provide a British curriculum education to children of all nationalities taking advantage of the delightful Mediterranean climate and the beauty of this Balearic isle. We pride ourselves in the fact that our children benefit from a genuinely rounded education where each individual is encouraged to fulfil their own potential, not only academically but also to take advantage of the plentiful opportunities presented to them in areas such as music, sport, drama and art. Likewise, the truly international student body at the school ensures that pupils benefit from a wealth of experiences often transcending the classroom. Through contact with a variety of languages, cultures and beliefs our students leave Baleares International College ready to shape the global challenges the 21st century presents.
Students will sit public examinations at IGCSE and A'level with most obtaining the necessary grades to go to the university of their choice. In many instances, students will return to their country of origin safe in the knowledge that the A'level grade obtained will grant them access to the courses they choose – the qualification is still considered the ‘gold standard’ as far as university admittance is concerned. All subjects are taught in English and students have the option to pursue qualifications in a variety of languages including French, German and naturally Spanish.
The school ethos is found within our three key words, Believe Inspire Challenge. We must ensure students BELIEVE in themselves, their ability and their potential. Likewise, we too must BELIEVE in them and encourage them to BELIEVE in us. It is our job to INSPIRE our students; INSPIRE them to have dreams, goals and ambitions and provide them with the means to realise them. Students must CHALLENGE expectations and we must CHALLENGE them in the work we set and the standards we expect them to adhere to. We are also fortunate to have both our Primary and Secondary departments on one site, ensuring ease of transition and nurturing key values from an early age that will accompany them into adulthood, from nursery to university.
I hope you find this website informative and helpful. However, it cannot completely convey the all-important feel and warmth of the school; you will have to come and visit us and see that for yourself.
I will take great pleasure in welcoming you in person to the school.
Alison Colwell
Principal, Baleares International College, Sa Porrassa
BIC, Sa Porrassa, has a large number of excellent facilities including: an indoor sports centre, playing fields with football pitches, a swimming pool, an all-weather basketball court, football and volleyball courts plus access to a local sailing club. The College’s learning environment includes specialist Art, Drama and Music facilities. There are also specialist Science and Information Technology laboratories and a spacious dining room. The classrooms are large, air-conditioned, well-lit and newly furnished.
Show me:
Rachel Alonso-McGregor
Primary Teacher
Mrs. Alonso-McGregor began her teaching career in 2001 and worked at several schools in London, Berkshire and Wiltshire. She went on to spend seven years at The Weald Church of England School Dorking, Surrey combining the duties of a Key Stage 2 teacher with those of Maths Subject Leader across the school.
Nathalie Etienne and Teacher of French
Secondary Pastoral Lead
Madame Etienne has been teaching French at BIC since 2003 and previously she taught at the Alliance Française. She has a great deal of experience in the English curriculum and has been a “DELF” examiner for a year. She enriches her lessons with aspects of French culture and current events.
Contact Email: nathalie.etienne@balearesint.net
Alan Sparks
Head of Mathematics
Mr. Sparks joins the school having served as Second in Department at the Ilfracombe Academy, North Devon. Mr. Sparks initial career path led him in to structural engineering and then on to journalism writing for specialised publications. He joined the teaching profession in 2004. Through Alan’s leadership we look forward to seeing the department continue to grow and motivate all students to achieve their very best in this core subject.
Contact Email: alan.sparks@balearesint.net
Kriss Cunningham
Head of EAL, Teacher of English and Politics
Mr. Cunningham has years of international experience and shares his world knowledge and passion for studying Politics and International Relations with his students. With an MA in Politics and International Relations from the University of Aberdeen, Mr Cunningham has previously worked for Members of Parliament, US Congressman and UK political parties before coming to Mallorca. He has taught at BIC since January 2016.
Contact Email: kriss.cunningham@balearesint.net
Izabela Zborzynska
Teacher of PE
Miss Zborzynska will work alongside The Director of Sports as a Part time teacher of P.E. A graduate of the Academy of Physical Education in Poznan, Poland, and a professional volleyball player, Izabela has experience in teaching a variety of disciplines to all ages. Miss Zborzynska, a maternal Polish speaker is a keen linguist and able to communicate in English, German, Russian and Spanish.
Contact Email: izabela.zborzynska@balearesint.net
Our Sixth Form (age 16 to 18 years)
Baleares International College Sixth Form is the leading British Sixth Form on the island, committed to helping all our students achieve success. We provide a friendly, tolerant and stimulating Sixth Form community in which students achieve the highest standards in their Advanced Level (A Level) or career-based applied learning subjects as a vital step to their university life or career.
A Levels are recognised as the best pre-university course leading to first degree university entrance worldwide. Career-based courses have earned a worldwide reputation as applied learning qualification because it provides learners with a clear route into university or straight into their career. Students must be fluent in written and spoken English to meet the demands of their A Level or Career-based courses, apart from the language courses, which are taught in the language studied.
BIC offers a wide choice of subjects and an enriching curriculum. In the Sixth Form, we would expect most students to follow a programme that includes:
- Three or four full A Level or Career-based courses
- International Project Qualification (IPQ)
- Global Citizenship Programme
BIC offers its Sixth Form students:
- A dedicated Sixth Form study centre with a college feel
- Additional staff time and one-to-one support to mentor individual students
- Small, seminar-style classes with a focus on individualised feedback
- Help with applications to universities in the UK, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, US and others
- Experienced, qualified UK teachers, many of whom are also senior examiners in the UK
- A wide range of extra-curricular events and clubs including trips abroad, discounted gym membership, Young Enterprise and the Duke of Edinburgh Award
For more information about our Sixth Form and the options available, please view our Sixth Form Prospectus.
2021 A Level Scholarship Programme
Baleares International College and Orbital Education are delighted to introduce their A Level Scholarship Programme for the 2021 academic year. This exciting opportunity aims to support exceptionally able and motivated students who are academically gifted, dedicated to their studies and will seek to take full advantage of opportunities to extend their learning beyond the core syllabus.
We are pleased to announce that 50% of the tuition costs for the 2-year programme will be funded by Orbital Education, the group of which Baleares International College is a member.
For more information about the application process, terms conditions, please see HERE.
For a Scholarship Application Form, please see HERE.
More information about our 2020 Examination Results can be found HERE.
Exciting new opportunities for Post-16 learning
Baleares International College is proud to be offering Applied-learning courses for post-16 students across Mallorca.
Applied earning courses are high quality, hands-on qualifications grounded in the real world of work. For Applied-learning students, it’s all about learning by doing and putting what they learn into practice straight away. With their focus on skills-based learning, Applied-learning courses are designed around themed units. Rather than testing everything together at the end, Applied-learning courses are assessed throughout the course using assignments set in real-life scenarios, where students develop and apply the practical knowledge and skills employers and higher education institutions are looking for.
Most A Level courses leave the door open for students to follow many different career paths. For some students we are aware that they already have a clear career path in mind and are better suited to doing coursework rather than a 100% exam-based course. BIC has carefully selected new international A Level courses which are heavily career-based, applied qualifications, providing learners with a clear route into university or straight into their chosen careers. Today’s employers are looking for confident, work ready employees who have the practical knowledge and technical skills that are acquired through Applied-learning A Levels.
BIC’s current Career-based courses include:
- Art and Design
- Dance
- Drama and Theatre
- Information Technology (IT)
- Mathematics in Context
- Music
- PE
- Travel and Tourism
For more information about our Sixth Form and the options available, please view our Sixth Form Prospectus.
Baleares International College and Orbital Education are delighted to introduce their A Level Scholarship Programme for the 2021 academic year. This exciting opportunity aims to support exceptionally able and motivated students who are academically gifted, dedicated to their studies and will seek to take full advantage of opportunities to extend their learning beyond the core syllabus.
For more information about subject choices and school life, download our Sixth Form Prospectus.
Scholarship funding
We are pleased to announce that 50% of the tuition costs for the 2-year programme will be funded by Orbital Education, the group of which Baleares International College is a member.
Who can apply?
These scholarships are available to both current and new students who wish to start their GCE A Level studies in September 2020. Students applying who are not current students of Baleares International College may require additional stages in the application process; please contact us for more details.
Award criteria
Scholarships will be awarded on the grounds of both achievement and potential, and scholarship applicants must be able to demonstrate a high level of academic ability. For example, potential results should be: GCSE/IGCSE grades of B (or 6) and above, or equivalent for English, Mathematics and at least 4 additional subjects; GCSE/IGCSE grades of A/A* (7, 8 or 9) or equivalent for the subjects chosen for A Level study.
How to apply
Please download our Scholarship Application Form and Scholarship Information Pack.
For more information and details of how to apply, please contact Holley McMonagle, Admissions Officer at: registrar@balearesint.net or 971 133 167.
Applications for current students and external students must be received by 16th April 2021.
We are delighted to share with you the results of the December 2019 BIC Sa Porrassa Parents Survey
First and foremost, we would like to thank all parents who took the time to complete the Parent Survey. We really appreciate all the feedback, both in the areas of real strength and those where we need to keep improving.
This year, we had our highest amount of surveys completed, up nearly 30% from last year's excellent record, giving us a very well-rounded view of where you feel we are as a school on our journey to being a high-quality international educational establishment.
As a community, we embrace continuous improvement and want the best possible learning environment in school for our students, staff and parents.
Please find a copy of the 2019 Parent Survey Analysis here, shared with parents during our Information Session in January. During this session, our Principal, Ms Colwell, talked through the main areas of the findings and discussed these with parents.
BIC Sa Porrassa Parent Survey Analysis
The four areas that you believe Baleares International College excels in:
1 - Teaching staff
2 - Personalised approach
3 - Quality of education
4 - Leadership
83% of parents would recommend our school to others in the future.
The three areas you believe Baleares International College, Sa Porrassa need to improve in:
1 - Facilities
2 - Afterschool activities
3 - Quality of education
We are proud of how far we have come already and with your continued support, encouragement and confidence, we look forward to continuing to enhance the education provided by Baleares International College.
