Princesa de Girona Escuela 2025 Award: IES Gerardo Diego Named Best School of the Year. In Madrid, the public institute IES Gerardo Diego has won the prestigious Princesa de Girona Escuela 2025 Award. The jury highlighted its achievements in both academic and social fields. Five schools from different regions competed in the final.
In Madrid, the state institute IES Gerardo Diego from Pozuelo de Alarcón has received the national Princesa de Girona Escuela 2025 award. The official ceremony took place in the amphitheater of the Palacio de Linares, gathering around 200 guests. This recognition became one of the main events of the year for Spain’s education system: the jury singled out IES Gerardo Diego for outstanding results in academic achievement, inclusivity, and international programs.
The institute’s victory was secured by its long-standing strategy: a focus on equal opportunities, the integration of students with special needs, and the implementation of international educational standards. School principal Jesús Álvarez, accepting the award, emphasized that the achievements of the public sector can change society and break down stereotypes about the possibilities of public education.
Five educational institutions reached the award finals, three of which represented Madrid. In addition to IES Gerardo Diego, the finalists included Colegio Nuestra Señora del Carmen from Móstoles, known for its robotics projects, and IES Luis Vives from Leganés, one of the leaders in vocational education. Also in the final were CEIP Virgen del Mar from Cádiz and IESO Matías Ramón Martínez from Badajoz. All finalists received diplomas, and their representatives met with previous years’ laureates.
Special attention at the ceremony was given to the future: Guillermo Sánchez, director of IES Ramón y Cajal from Zaragoza and the 2021 winner, presented a project to create a national network of Princesa de Girona schools. This initiative aims to unite best practices and foster the exchange of experience among winners from different years. Similar formats are already used in other areas, for example, in organizing large-scale events, as described in the article on new parking rules at Manuel Carrasco concerts in Seville — details on logistics and participant interaction.
IES Gerardo Diego stands out not only for its academic achievements, but also for implementing International Baccalaureate programs. The school became the first public bilingual institution in Spain to launch the Middle Years Programme (MYP). The focus is on developing critical thinking, research skills, and social responsibility. This year, students presented over 50 short films as part of the pilot Escuela de Cine y Audiovisual project, opened a Japanese culture exhibition, and are preparing personal projects for public presentation.
In recent years, the institute has actively integrated artificial intelligence into the educational process. According to the administration, the goal is to teach students to use new technologies consciously and for the benefit of learning and inclusion. The international aspect is not limited to trips: the school integrates different cultures through literature, art, and languages, shaping students’ global mindset.
The Princesa de Girona Escuela Award was established to support innovation and the exchange of experience among schools in Spain. In recent years, interest in educational reforms has been growing in the country, with public institutions increasingly becoming platforms for implementing new methodologies. According to the Ministry of Education, in 2025 Spain had more than 34,000 schools, about 70% of which are public. The recognition of IES Gerardo Diego highlights the role of the public sector in developing a modern education system and sets a benchmark for other regions.
