As the number of places of worship and evangelical Christians in Spain increases, there is a visible impact on the development of projects that seemed like a dream just a decade ago.

Barcelona will host the 5th Forum on Christ-Centred Education on 30-31 October, to gather teachers, businesspeople, and evangelical educators working in evangelical primary and secondary schools who are guided by a shared philosophy they describe as “Christ-centred education”.

The growth taking place across various parts of Spain has naturally formed a network of contacts that now wishes to take projects a step further.

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“Up until now, it has largely been a fraternal relationship between individuals and different organisations. At this forum, we want to take it a step further and form a federation of Christ-centred schools”, explains David Philbrick, headteacher of Synergy International Christian School, the school hosting the event, in an interview with Spanish news website Protestante Digital.

One of the forum goals is the creation of the Spanish Federation of Protestant Evangelical Christian Educational Centres, which will involve an inaugural assembly, the adoption of founding documents, and the incorporation of founding centres.

That will take place on Saturday 31st, in a session that will include a presentation, a discussion, a question-and-answer session, and a symbolic commitment ceremony.

Organisers describe it as a participatory presentation of the project, rather than a formal founding ceremony.

A growing network

The forum's website currently lists 19 schools, nine of which are active, with over 627 pupils across 14 Spanish provinces. Furthermore, there are projects underway and people researching how to set a school up.

Among the organising bodies is the Association of Christian Schools in Spain, which was created to promote the development of this type of schools.

Synergy school opened in 2015 but closed after the 2018–19 academic year, as it had not yet received authorisation from the Catalan regional government. Following several years of administrative work and building renovations, the school obtained the necessary authorisation and reopened in February 2022.

It now operates as an American private school, authorised by the Catalan government and certified by two US associations. It has around 155 students from age three through to the end of secondary school.

“What we want is a federation that includes all the projects that wish to be part of it”, says Philbrick, adding that the forum and the network are open to churches, businesses, educators and anyone else interested in joining.

Christ- centred education

Philbrick explains that they use the term ‘Christ-centred education’ because they believe that education “lacks something very important if it does not recognise the Creator of the universe, failing to centre knowledge around Him”.

He states that one of the aims of education is wisdom, which is not just about acquiring facts, something that can be done today “with two clicks”, but about integrating knowledge into daily life.

In a “Christ-centred school”, he adds, “all those who teach and work there “have the ability to draw students’ attention to God in everything they do”, from school community life and rules to the way each subject is taught.

The fruits in students and families

The aim is that such schools offer an education in line with families' beliefs within the Spanish regulatory framework, to address the shortcomings they see in existing educational options and to present the Gospel to pupils.

Now that the school is up and running, he says they have seen these results “and so many more”, including the positive impact on pupils' lives in an environment that places God at the centre.

As an American school, Synergy School in Barcelona attracts evangelical families, as well as families involved in missions and ministries. This fosters a network of contacts and collaboration.

Some of them have chosen to live in the area specifically because of the school, seeing it as a safe place for their children that frees them to focus on their work.

The themes of the forum

The Forum on Christ-Centred Education has identified three areas of action.

The first is the creation of new “Christ-centered” schools, covering everything from the initial vision to the development of a viable project, including legislation and procedures, a practical roadmap, and real-life examples of operational centres.

The second is funding and sustainability, including the relationship between school, church and Christian companies, fundraising, scholarships and shared funding models.

The third is the constitution of the federation.