Stay in Barcelona or move back to UK?

Ah..... Barcelona! We moved to Sydney years ago and I still miss it dearly! and people here don't get it. They moved all the way from UK to Australia for the beaches, the weather, the outdoor.... when they have it on their doorstep in Barcelona. I was insanely happy in Barcelona. Beach from April - late October, skiing 1 hour away in Winter , immense cultural activities, affordable theatre, great food, happy people, kids everywhere, day and night. The museums, the Castellers, ....
Schools are in Catalan but a few offer some kind of bilingual programs.
Kids learn languages in a flash and you should make an effort too. I enrolled at the escuela de idiomas in Drassanes for both Catalan and Castellano . Very cheap, intensive, high quality .
Parental involvement in Spanish school is minimal to non existent. You interact with the teacher if they are issues, otherwise, there are no assemblies, limited volunteering. Barcelona is so multicultural , teacher are used to non-Catalan families.

You love it ! Why move!

Hi. We were in exactly the same situation, but a different location, until a year or so ago. We'd lived there for 8 years and we had an awesome lifestyle. We left when our DC were around 10yo for the exact reasons you describe - not being part of school community as much as I'd like, distance from family/old friends, language barrier (although we did know the language just not fluent) etc. I am very happy with the experience and opportunities my DC had but I'm also pretty pleased to be back, though I have down days too. FWIW I would make the most of it while your DC are small, that's what we tried. It becomes harder when they get older and you need to help with homework, afterschool clubs and the like.

many reasons to stay in Barcelona

Kids learn languages like sponges Just put them in a normal state school and they will become multiligual . Spanish schools dont have parent interaction the same as UK schools so it really isnt a worry

Brexit also needs to be considered. If you return to the uk and hate it it will be very difficult to return and regain residency

From your OP it sounds like you aren't mentally ready to come back and may well regret leaving when you feel like that. I think we all know when it's time to go home and I don't get the sense from your OP that that is where you're at yet.

Used to live in Barcelona and if you can afford to stay, do. Even if it's just for a few more years. The opportunities for your DC learning to speak Catalan and Castilian are amazing. Don't give them up to come back here. The UK is an absolute paroquial shithole at the moment and you and your DC are best off out.

If you're worried about the Catalan aspect, could you move out of Catalunya? But agree with PP that DC are sponges and will not struggle to learn all languages they encounter. In fact, the more the better. And all staff at the school will speak Castilian so you will be able to speak to them in that, if you need to.

Stay in Barcelona. UK education is pitiful. Both your children will be fluent in the local language quickly. And they will speak it way, way better than you and be able to translate school stuff for you.

There is no right or wrong answer here as there are many positives to both options.

As for my experience; we were you 10 years ago (Kids 6 and 1 when we moved) but France not Spain. We are still here 10 years on and love it. I think like you it was the outdoor life, kids being able to play out, lovely community feel locally.

Kids in state school and happily bilingual, I pay for a french tutor 1x a week now as although I can speak french I am still far from fluent / truly comfortable and their needs at secondary are beyond my comprehension but its fine for other subjects eg maths / sciences etc.. I know enough to help with those.

Like a pp said schools don't have much parent participation (no plays or assemblies etc..If the teacher wants to talk to you it's generally not good) but they were very welcoming and I volunteered at my ds pre-school on Fridays and with swimming lessons when he was at primary. They were very happy to have an extra pair of hands and were never worried about my poor language skills, very welcoming and the kids were always happy to help me learn 😃

We miss family / friends but it's a short flight and we have skype. My dd is 16 and is heading to the UK in a few weeks with her best friend to stay with grandparents.

I am sure we would have been equally happy if we had gone back, just a different adventure, different challenges. Happy we stayed though and now really couldn't imagine going back. This is home now.

You will feel much more integrated when you learn the language. Don't worry about your kids they'll pick it up quick, but you need to learn asap.