Basically, your two choices are the Public Spanish Schools or the Private Schools.
You will find numerous articles and opinions on the education system here in Spain, but how do you really know which system is the best for you?
If you are on a budget and cannot afford an extra 400€ to over 1000€ a month for private education the fact is that you don’t have a choice. Its Public Spanish School. To find out what is available you must go to your local Ayuntamiento Office (Town Council Office) and find a list of all the schools in your area. Spanish Public School hours are normally 9am to 2pm, however most schools offer lunch and extra classes until 5 – 6pm. They are taught in Spanish and have limited resources to teach English.If you speak Spanish you can help with your child’s homework. If not there are classes of Apoyo(extra classes).
Institutos are the Spanish Public Secondary Schools. Generally Institutos are not highly regarded by either the English or the Spanish. Children are often held back a year or even 2 years if they don’t pass their yearly tests, although this does also happen in Private schools. From the Spanish point of view, if a child cannot pass the exams, then they are not ready to go up a year.
On the other hand, if you can afford private school, then you have choices. There are private Spanish Schools, International Schools, British Schools, Swedish Schools, German Schools even a Finnish School. Prices vary from school to school, but generally the International Schools are pretty much the same. If you have more than one child, some schools offer discounts for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th child. This is quite an important factor and may help your decision.Most schools will ask you for a deposit. Some are refundable, most are not! The Private Schools offer secondary education so your child can be at the same school from 3 years old up to 18 years old. There is a large selection of schools along the Costa Del Sol and school buses are popular here, so even if you don’t live near the school, a bus will stop near you.
Legally in Spain a child does not have to start school until the year they turn 6 years old. The Spanish Year System runs from January to December unlike the British System that runs from September to September. This may cause problems if your child is born between September and December and switches from an International school to a Spanish one as they will be put up a year.
So how do you choose? This depends on you and what you want for your child. Are you moving to Spain for good or is it just temporary? Do you want your child to be bilingual or are you happy with good conversational Spanish. Can you afford private education and will you continue to be able to afford it? Another question to think about is whether you will be able to help with the Spanish homework and communicate with the school?
International Schools
Aloha College
Urb El Angel, Nueva Andalucia, 29660 Marbella, Malaga
Telephone Number: 0034 952 814 133
Website for Aloha College
Laude Marbella
Urbanisation Nueva Alcántara, Avda La Coruña, 2 29670
TelephoneNumber 0034 952 799 900
Websitefor Laude Marbella
Swans
Primary School, El Capricho, Marbella, 29602
Telephone Number 0034 952 773 248
Secondary School, C/Lago de los Cisnes, 29602 Marbella
Telephone Number 0034 952 902 755
Website For Swans Marbella
EIC
Urb. Ricmar,Km.189, 29604 Marbella, Málaga,
Telephone Number 0034 952 831 058
Website for EIC Marbella
The International Primary School of Estepona
Centro Commercial La ZarzaCalleAzahar, Urbanisation El Paraiso, Estepona 29688
Telephone Number: 0034 952 884 789
Website for The International Primary School of Estepona
BSM
Calle Jacinto Benavente, 29601 Marbella
Telephone Number: 0034 952 779 264
Website for British School of Marbella
MayfairAcademy
Avenida Golandrina 16, Atalaya Park,
Estepona 29680, Málaga
Website for Mayfair Academy Marbella
Saint George´s School
San Pedro de Alcántara
Telephone number: 0034 952 786 606
GERMAN SCHOOL, DEUTSCHE SCHULE
Urbanization Coto Los Dolores,
Elviria- La Mairena
29600 Marbella
Telephone number: 0034952 831 417
Private Spanish Schools
start between 9am and 9.30am and finish quite late at around 5pm/5.30pm. In the summer they finish earlier. Most Private Spanish Schools teach English, but it can vary from 1 hour a week to 5 depending on the school.
Private Spanish School for 3 to 18 years old
ColegioAlboran
Urbanisation Ricmar, Marbella, 29604
Telephone Number 0034 952 396 645
Website for Alboran College Marbella
San Jose
San Jose Guadalmina, Urbanisation Guadalmina, Estepona 29678
Telephone Number 0034 952 883 858
San Jose Estepona, La Cala 29680
Telephone Number 0034 952 800 148
Website for San Jose Guadalmina&Estepona
Colegio La Latina
Urb. El Mirador, 70 , 29600 Marbella
TelephoneNumber 0034: 952 770 352
La Latina Marbella – no website
ColegioEcos (Boys only)
Urb.Elviria, 29600 Marbella
Telefone Number: 0034: 952 831027
Website for Ecos Boys School Marbella
Colegio Las Chapas(Girls only)
Urb. Las Chapas, 29600 Marbella
Telefone Number 0034 952 831616
Website for Las Chapas Girls School Marbella
+34 660 925 071
