Under the title“Building Well-Being to Inspire Learning,”from November 19 to 21, Escuela IDEO hosted the 20th CICAE Educational Benchmarking Conference
Madrid, November 2025. The IDEO School hosted the 20th CICAE (Association of Private and Independent Schools) Educational Benchmarking Conference, under the theme “Building Well-Being to Inspire Learning.” The event brought together approximately 100 administrators and professionals from more than 30 private schools across Spain to reflect, share, and experience firsthand educational approaches centered on well-being and innovation.
Over the course of three days —November 19, 20, and 21—attendees had the opportunity to delve into the IDEO School’s pedagogical model through experiential workshops, classroom observations across all educational levels, pedagogical coffee breaks, roundtable discussions, interactive presentations, and project exhibitions. Going beyond theory, attendees were part of a real-world, hands-on experience in which student-centered learning, school architecture, and active listening guided the process of shared learning.
A Comprehensive Look at Educational Well-Being
This 20th benchmarking exercise has focused on five key areas: well-being, pedagogical architecture, shared inspiration, creativity, and practical reflection. As experienced at Escuela IDEO, these elements are not viewed in isolation, but rather as threads that are woven together to shape a transformative educational experience.
The opening day featured a moving panel discussion titled “Restoring Values in Schools, ” followed by a screening of the documentary “The Last Tandem Flight” and a roundtable discussion among schools moderated by Chema Lázaro.
Thursday, November 20 was marked by a full immersion in school life: classroom observation tours organized by grade level (Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School, High School, and Vocational Training), examples of best practices such as the use of art in learning, responsible eating, multilingualism, and sustainability, as well as a “pedagogical coffee break” for informal, topic-based discussion.
Architecture also educates
On Friday, the 21st, the presentation “Architecture for Well-Being” kicked off the day with talks by Juan Mera (architect at Escuela IDEO), Juan Peral, and Pablo Molinero, who reflected on how the design of school spaces can be an active agent in student learning and well-being.
Subsequently, opportunities for exchange between schools, educational exhibits organized by department, and an artistic performance by the “Estebanón” Theater Group were organized.
A network that continues to grow
This gathering has reaffirmed that educational transformation occurs when doors are opened, practices are shared, and a community that exchanges knowledge is fostered. “The purpose of these gatherings is to share, learn, exchange ideas, and return to our classrooms and teams with new perspectives. “Innovation is not a destination; it is an ongoing journey, a way of being in education. And spaces like this remind us that moving forward together is always more enriching than doing so alone,” said José Antonio Rois, president of CICAE.
“The CICAE Benchmarking Meetings have established themselves as a leading forum for shared pedagogical reflection, direct observation of best practices, and the strengthening of our collaborative network,” he added.
During the benchmarking session, the exchange of experiences and best practices was encouraged, with the participation of educational institutions affiliated with CICAE, such as: Agora Lledó International School, Alameda International School, Arcángel International School, Arturo Soria School, British School of Aragon, Manuel Peleteiro School, Swiss School of Madrid, Ideo School, Estudio School, Aravaca International School, Torrequebrada International School, Liceo Sorolla School, Salliver School, San José School, Virgen de Europa School, San Patricio Foundation, Lope de Vega International School, Los Sauces International Schools, Mirasur School, Montessori Palau Girona, Santa María del Camino, SEK International Schools, St. Peter’s School, TEMS.
