For any family looking for a new property, knowing that good schools are in the area is crucial. Those moving to the Costa del Sol, especially those worried about the language barrier, rest assured: the Costa del Sol is home to several highly-recommended state and international schools.
State schools are controlled by the Junta de Andalucía and can be found in almost every town on the Costa del Sol. All lessons are taught in Spanish, with some language options such as French and English offered in all schools.
The curriculum follows the Spanish Educación Primaria (Primary Education) between the ages of 6 and 12, E.S.O. (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria; Obligatory Secondary Education) between the ages of 12 and 16, followed by the optional European Baccalaureate, aged 16 to 18. Further state education can take place at the Universidad de Málaga, located just outside the city.
There are a number of international schools on the Costa del Sol, which follow the UK school year from September to August, as well as the British educational system of GCSEs and A-Levels, with some schools also offering the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB).
International Schools on the Costa del Sol
Swans International, in Marbella, is divided into a Primary School, located on the El Capricho Urbanisation, and a Secondary School, in the prestigious and exclusive Sierra Blanca neighbourhood. Both schools delivers their lessons in English and follow the English National Curriculum.
Swans International was founded in 1971 and houses in two villas in El Capricho. Today, the same space, which has since been upgraded, is still home to the primary students, with the secondary education centre having been moved to Sierra Blanca.
Aloha College, founded in 1982, offers a British International Education between the ages of 3 and 18. Lessons are taught in both English and Spanish and students are offered qualifications in both the British and Spanish examination systems. The school, located in Nueva Andalucía, currently teaches around 850 students.
EIC - English International College, offers primary, secondary and 6th Form education and follows the English National Curriculum with “an international context” to around 500 students. The school is conveniently located just off the A-7 Coastal Road between Calahonda and Marbella.
Another school offering the English National Curriculum is the aptly-named British School of Marbella, offering Early Years, Primary and Secondary Education. The school is located close to the Marbella Town Centre. The modern campus has a number of on-site facilities, including a well-equipped playground with climbing frames, astro-turf and rubber surfaces; and a library with a wide selection of books imported from the UK as well as an extensive e-book library.
The German School Marbella - Colegio Alemán Juan Hoffmann is in Elviria and follows an International educational curriculum. The school is officially recognised by the Conference of Ministries of Culture and Education of the Federal Republic of Germany (KMK). The school offers a bilingual education which, in 2008, has been named one of the best international German schools.
To the west of Marbella, in San Pedro, there are two highly-regarded international schools: Laude School, offering primary and secondary education following the British Curriculum, and the Calpe School, which offers both Spanish National and British Curriculum, allowing students the choice.
Further down the coast, in Estepona, is The International School Estepona, offering Nursery and Early Years at Montessori and then following the British National Curriculum for Primary Education, between the ages of 5 and 12.
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