Garbí Pere Vergés

Garbí Pere Vergés Esplugues is a Catalan and secular school founded in 1965 by teacher Pere Vergés. Its mission is to keep alive an innovative educational model born at the Escola del Mar, a reference institution in the pedagogical renewal of the country, and to accompany students in their personal, academic, and social development from the early years. It offers comprehensive education from ages 3 to 18: early childhood education, primary and secondary education as a semi-private center, and Bachillerato (upper secondary, ages 16–18) in a private regime. The organization responds to the developmental stages of students, following advances in neuroscience and international reference institutions such as UNESCO. Its pedagogical project is summarized in the idea of forming competent individuals, capable of transforming the world with values and critical spirit, who know how to think, feel, and appreciate.

The building, designed by Oriol Bohigas and Josep Maria Martorell, organizes open and bright spaces that favor contact among students and group activities around a large central dining room that acts as an agora for the school community. The center has 9,390 m² of facilities and 13,015 m² of outdoor spaces, including an indoor pool, sports pavilion, football fields, basketball and volleyball courts, and spaces for athletics practice, in addition to a library, laboratory, computer room, auditorium, gym, school garden, and patios. It prepares all menus in its own kitchen and has a second separate kitchen for students with intolerances or allergies; the diet is designed by a nutritionist, and tutors accompany students during meals. Classes are taught in Catalan, Spanish, and English.

The center offers morning and afternoon reception services and extracurricular activities (Garbí Obert) at the end of the school day, as well as school transport. It also promotes the Escola de famílies, with afternoon workshops aimed at parents on parenting and education. As a semi-private school, the admission criteria for early childhood education, primary, and secondary education are those established by the Departament d'Educació de la Generalitat de Catalunya. It is located in Esplugues de Llobregat, at the entrance to Barcelona from Baix Llobregat, with good connections in public and private transport.