Families sue Majadahonda school over bullying after student suicide

Three families have filed a complaint against the semi-private San Jaime school in Majadahonda for allegedly humiliating their children, as reported by ABC. One of the affected minors, aged 14, jumped from a bridge on the M-50 highway in February.

The case at **San Jaime** school in **Majadahonda** has moved beyond mere rumors. Three families have lodged a formal complaint against the center for what they describe as humiliation of their children, according to **ABC**. This trinc the death of one of the affected minors, aged **14**, who fell from a bridge on the **M-50** last February. The institution is a *colegio concertado*, a private school subsidized with public funds.

## What is alleged and who is targeted

The complaint states that the school's treatment of certain students was not just strict, but degrading. Families report humiliations directed at minors who did not fit the profile expected by the school. The incident has deeply affected the classmates of the deceased, teenagers at an especially vulnerable age, for months.

San Jaime is known locally for its distinct model: mandatory ties for male students, strict discipline, and a traditional educational approach. This profile attracts many families from the area, one of the highest-income regions in Spain. Critics argue this very exclusivity is the problem.

## A subsidy with a monthly fee

The center charges families around **€250 per month** for a proprietary educational project, which is not legally mandatory and takes up half the day. According to the complaint, those who do not pay are stigmatized by peers. The fee is collected by a separate company because the school cannot legally charge it directly.

This is the core issue. A subsidized school receives public money while effectively selecting its student body based on economic capacity. The fee is not tuition, but it acts as a filter. Some argue that educational inspectors should review this mechanism.

## The underlying debate: public funding and elitism

The question raised by this case is not merely legal. A *colegio concertado* is funded by taxes and, in return, must adhere to rules of openness and equity. If the proprietary program and monthly fee exclude lower-income families, that social contract is broken.

Proposed alternatives include school vouchers or income-adjusted discounts, reviewed annually. Essentially, public funding should trinc the student, not the institution. Given the implications for minors' mental health and institutional liability, it is prudent to await the investigation before drawing conclusions.