Why Palma's new international school feels like home

The school is located in a quiet corner of Palma, Carrer de les Oblates 23 — so central that many parents can actually cycle to school, yet large enough to offer its own parking and safe drop-off areas. The site covers roughly 10,000 sqm: enough space for sports, a small orchard and garden areas where pupils can learn hands-on. The daily rhythm is family-friendly: early arrival times for calm learning phases, a longer midday period with supervised free time, and short, active afternoons with clubs and sports. Currently Years 1 to 8 are offered; the school grows year by year toward the A‑Levels, allowing families to plan ahead. The language of introduction is English; Spanish, Catalan, Swedish, French and German are offered at various levels. The building has interesting corners — an old chapel was repurposed and now serves as a small performance space, ideal for music lessons or theatre rehearsals. Safety is well managed: fenced grounds, controlled access and a clear drop-off/pick-up zone reduce the morning stress for parents. On visits I always notice how lively the playground is: children gardening, playing football on one of the three open areas, or meeting teachers for story time. Registrations, visit appointments and trial days are coordinated via the school website and the administration office; a tip: come in the morning to experience the real school day.

The school is situated in a quiet corner of Palma, Carrer de les Oblates 23 — so central that many parents can realistically cycle to school, yet large enough to provide parking and safe drop-off areas. The site measures about 10,000 sqm: plenty of room for sports, a small orchard and garden plots where pupils can learn practically. The daily rhythm is family-friendly: early arrival times for calm learning phases, a longer midday break with supervised free time and short, active afternoons with clubs and sports. Currently Years 1 to 8 are offered; the school expands year by year toward the A‑Levels so families can plan. The entry language is English, alongside Spanish, Catalan, Swedish, French and German in different offerings. The building has interesting corners — an old chapel was converted and now serves as a small performance room, ideal for music lessons or theatre rehearsals. Security aspects are well addressed: fenced grounds, controlled access and a clear drop-off/pick-up area ease the morning stress for parents. During visits I repeatedly notice how lively the playground is: children gardening, playing football on one of the three open areas or meeting teachers for reading sessions. Registration, visit appointments and trial days are coordinated via the school website and the administration office; a tip: come in the morning to experience the most of the real school day.

Regarding the outdoor area, RWIS is not overly large but very well thought out. The site includes sports surfaces for basketball, football and small athletics exercises, plus safe play areas for the younger year groups. I particularly like the small orchard that the children tend: in spring the almond trees blossom, and harvest time often brings improvised jam‑making workshops. Sustainability here is not just a buzzword on the website but visible: solar panels on the roofs, rainwater collection for garden care and clear waste separation that is also taught in class. The canteen tries to source local products; menus are seasonal and often include a child component where pupils vote on what will be served. Several classrooms open directly to the outside, which makes outdoor learning in autumn and spring very easy. Sportwise, the school offers regular team sport programmes and cooperates with local clubs so committed children can also train outside the timetable. For parents assessing the site: it is safe, well kept and offers plenty of room for activity — at the same time it is compact enough that children don’t disappear into an anonymous crowd. For families new to the island, that is reassuring.

The atmosphere is what stays with me most: a school that places value on relationships. Under the leadership of Dr Matthew Schulte there seems to be an intentionally lived school culture in which values like honesty, compassion, courage and initiative are not slogans but daily guidance. This shows in small things — attempted listening in class, peer‑support programmes, or short morning meetings that allow space for feelings and plans. Wellbeing is taken seriously: there is explicit support for emotional health, regular break strategies and time slots for mindfulness exercises. Teachers appear committed and accessible; many parents report that they receive quick answers to questions and that the school is very helpful when new families arrive. Community events — such as intercultural evenings, sports days or planting actions in the school garden — strengthen the connection between families, children and staff. For parents with work commitments it is practical that the school has clear communication channels: a digital learning portal, regular progress reports and fixed parent‑teacher meetings. All in all, education here feels not just like delivering performance but like working together on a good childhood — which, especially in an island city like Palma, is invaluable.