Motto |
Latin: Iter, vultus duo (One route, two views) |
---|---|
Established | 1346 |
Type | State-funded |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Head Master | Enrique de Avilés y Arroyo |
Director of Studies | Rafael de Martín y Villa |
Founder | Alfonso XI |
Location |
Calle de Toledo 39 Madrid 28005 Spain |
Gender | Coeducational |
Ages | 12–18 |
Colours | Imperial roseate & Pantone |
Former pupils | Old Franciscans |
School song | "Floreat Collegium Imperialis" |
Website | Official website |
The Instituto San Isidro /ˈsɑːniːsiːdroʊ/, formerly known as Colegio Imperial de la Compañía de Jesús (in English: The Imperial School of the Society of Jesus), often referred to as "San Isidro", is a co-educational day school for pupils from 12 to 18 years of age. It is located in the historical Calle de Toledo, in Madrid (Spain). Founded in 1346, it is the oldest functioning school in Spain and is amongst the oldest educational institutions in the world, ahead of Winchester College (1382), and therefore of any other English public school. Originally a boys' independent school, it turned coeducational and state-owned throughout the second half of the 20th century.
San Isidro has educated eight Spanish prime ministers and generations of the European Catholic , and was formerly referred to as the nanny of Spain's statesmen. With the discovery of the Americas, the school gained importance in educating young men that would later become a credit to the Spanish Empire. It is also the third school with the most Nobel Prizes in the world, having four laureates amongst its former pupils.
Many of the old pupils went on to fight in the Spanish Civil War, the great majority of them joining the Nationalist side, with around 203 being killed during the two year war period. In addition, 12 Old Franciscans from the Blue Division died fighting in the Eastern Front during World War II.