Education and Schooling in Spain
Quality education is available in Spain with a wide selection of both private and state schools.
Enrolment
Ideally you should travel to Spain prior to moving, to investigate the different educational possibilities. If your child will be going to a state school you will need to be registered at the local Town Hall and bring in a copy of this registration, a copy of your child’s proof of immunisation, their transcripts from school, and a parent’s passport along with your child’s passport. As in British state schools, the catchment area is all-important, so having decided on your chosen school it is essential to ensure that your house (whether purchased or rented) is located in the correct area. Most schools prefer to interview prospective pupils, with exams being set in some cases to ascertain the level of Spanish attained.
International Schools Private Schools
Privately run schools come tailored to suit the needs of foreign. Many are bi-lingual and offer a curriculum parallel to that offered in the UK . Generally speaking, these schools tend to have a higher teacher to student ratio.
State Schools
If you are considering Spanish state run schools, contact the Town hall in the area where you are planning to move. On the other hand, total immersion in the Spanish culture has its benefits. Children integrate into the Spanish culture quickly and they are state subsidised and provide a quality education.
Qualifications
The Spanish system of education is divided into three stages: ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education), BUP (the equivalent of British GCSEs) and COU (the Spanish version of the A level course). In addition, university applicants must complete the Selectividad, an entrance exam.
Further Information
If you are interested in your child following the British curriculum and seek advice about British schools in Spain, contact the British Council (Paseo Martinez Campos, 31, 28/010 Madrid , Tel: 91 337 35 00).
ALOHA COLLEGE
Located in Nueva Andalucia, a mile or two west of Marbella town, an up-market residential area. Aloha College has expanded rapidly in the last three years.
Tel.: 952 81 27 29
Fax: 952 81 27 29
www.aloha-college.com/en/index.php
CALPE COLLEGE
Calpe College was established in January 1973 as a one-classroom school. Since then it has expanded into a junior and a senior school, which cover two separate sites in San Pedro, making it one of the longest established schools on the Costa del Sol.
Tel.: 952 78 14 79
Fax: 952 78 94 16
BENALMADENA INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE
Situated in Nueva Torrequebrada. Co-ed opened in 1997 and offers international education from 3 years to 17. Provides special needs education.
Tel.: 952 56 16 66
COLEGIO LAS CHAPAS
This is a mixed first-grade school, and then the boys move to Ecos in Elviria. Girls continue to university level. Classes are in Spanish, but it has a first-class reputation, and many foreign students attend.
Tel.: 952 83 16 16
Fax: 952 83 59 13
Email: chapas@cece.es
SWANS COLLEGE
In Marbella Town, with an excellent reputation.
Tel.: 952 77 32 48
Fax: 952 77 64 31
Email: swans@swansschool.net
ST. ANTHONYS COLLEGE
This has been established for over 20 years, an is situated in Fuengirola.
Tel.: 952 47 31 66
Fax: 952 46 20 21
SUNNY VIEW SCHOOL
One of the first International Schools on the coast, located in the foothills of Torremolinos.
Tel.: 952 38 95 81
Fax: 952 37 26 95
THE ENGLISH INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE
Situated a few miles East of Marbella town. Very popular with the British residents, and ideal for those living in the Mijas-Costa/East of Marbella town area.
Tel.: 952 83 10 58
Fax: 952 83 89 92
THE SOTOGRANDE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Located in Sotogrande, which is the Gibraltar end of the coast.
Tel.: 956 79 59 02
Fax: 956 79 48 16
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MALAGA
A new school, situated in Benalmadena, halfway between Torremolinos and Fuengirola, near to the railway station. British and Spanish curricula, leading to Cambridge Universitys IGCEs and A-Levels. Qualified British and Spanish teachers, sports facilities, music, theatre, computer studies and a wide range of extra curricular activities, this school offers a bi-lingual education enabling students to gain qualifications from both the British and Spanish examinations systems.
Tel.: 952 29 01 49
Email: info@interschoolmalaga.com
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