Guide to Private and international schools in Spain
Choosing an International school might be a sensible option if your child is older than seven.
Private foreign and international schools may have smaller classes and a more relaxed, less rigid regime and curriculum than Spanish state schools. They provide a more varied and international approach to sport, culture and art and a wider choice of academic subjects. Approximately one third of the children in Spain are educated in private schools.
Placing a child in a Spanish speaking school at or above the age of 7-8 can affect a child’s confidence if he is unable to understand the teacher or communicate with his peers.
In most foreign schools, Spanish language and culture are taught daily and your child will build language skills gradually. Once your child has a grasp of the language, assimilation into a state school will be far easier. In addition to American and British schools there are also French, German, Swedish and other foreign-language schools in Spain. Under Spanish law, all foreign schools must be approved by their country’s embassy in Spain.
Many also provide English-language summer school programmes combining academic lessons with sports, arts and crafts, and other extra-curricular activities.
The focus in these schools is on the development of a child as an individual and the encouragement of his unique talents. This is made possible by small classes, which allow teachers to provide pupils with individually-tailored lessons and tuition. The results are self-evident and many private secondary schools have a near 100 per cent university placement rate.
On the other hand, one of the major problems of private foreign-language education in Spain is that children can grow up in cultural ‘ghettos’ and be ‘illiterate’ as far as the Spanish language and culture are concerned. Although attending a private school may be advantageous from an academic viewpoint, integration into Spanish society can be severely restricted.
Applications to private schools should be made as far in advance as possible, as some international schools have waiting lists for places. You may be asked to provide school reports, exam results and other records.
Most are co-educational, Catholic day schools, although a number (including some American and British schools) take weekly or term boarders.
Private schools in Spain teach a variety of syllabi, including the British GCSE and A-level examinations, the American High School Diploma and college entrance examinations (e.g. ACT, SAT, achievement tests and AP exams), the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Spanish bachillerato.
Most Spanish private schools teach wholly in Spanish, are state-subsidised and follow the Spanish state-school curriculum. To receive state subsidies and accept Spanish pupils, 25 percent of a school’s total number of pupils must be Spanish and at least 20 per cent in each class. As a condition of receiving government funding, schools with Spanish pupils are subject to inspection by the Spanish school authorities.
School fees
Private school fees in Spain vary considerably depending on the quality, reputation and location of a school. Fees are relatively low compared to the cost of private education in northern Europe and North America. Not surprisingly, schools located in Madrid and Barcelona are among the most expensive.
Fees at subsidised Spanish schools start from around EUR 700 a year, whereas fees at independent foreign schools range from around EUR 4,000 a year to well over EUR 8,000 at senior schools (particularly for boarders).
Fees don’t usually include registration, books, materials, laundry, insurance, extra-curricular activities, excursions, meals and transport (most private schools provide school buses). You should allow around EUR 800 a term for meals and other extras.
Most private schools subscribe to insurance schemes covering accidents, both in school and during school-sponsored activities. Some schools award scholarships and offer grants to help parents pay fees, depending on their financial circumstances.
English speaking private and international schools in Spain
International schools in Alicante area
Newton College
School Address: Camino Viejo de Elche, Alicante Km. 3Partida de Maitino PI-82A03295 Elche Alicante
Telephone: +34 96 661 02 38
Fax: +34 96 545 14 28
Email: newtonc@cif.es
The Lady Elizabeth School
Address: Seniola 70, Javea , 03730 Alicante
Mailing Address: Apartado de Correos 298
Javea (Alicante) 03730
Telephone / Fax: +34 96 579 0252
Sierra Bernia School
School Address: La Cañeta s/n, San Rafael
03580, Alfaz Del Pi (Alicante)
Telephone: +34 96 687 51 49
Fax: +34 96 687 36 33
Email: duncan@ctv.es
International schools in Andalucia area
Almunecar International School
School Address: Urb. los Pinos, s/n, 18690 – Almuñecar Granada, Andalucia
Telephone: +34 958 63 59 11
Fax: +34 958 63 90 03
Aloha College Marbella
School Address: Urbanización el Angel, Nueva Andalucia, Marbella 29660 Málaga
Telephone: Secretary: +34 95 281 41 33
Fax: 95 281 27 29
Email: aloha-admin@vnet.es
Calpe School
Est in 1973, located in San Pedro, on the west side of Marbella, close to the sea. An international school, offering the British National Curriculum, for boys and girls from ages 2 ½ to 11.
Tel: + 34 952 78 60 29
Fax: + 34 952 78 88 37
Email: info@calpeschool.com
Website: www.calpeschool.com
Address: Calle Los Eucaliptos nº 60,
Urb. Linda Vista Baja,
San Pedro de Alcántara
29670, Malaga, Spain.
Sotogrande International School
School Address : Apartado 15,
11310 Sotogrande Pcia de Cádiz,
Cádiz (Andalucia)
Telephone: +34 956 79 59 02
Fax: +34 956 79 48 16
Email: director@sis.ac
Sunny View School Torremolinos
School Address: C/Teruel, 32 Urb. Cerro del Toril Apartado 175
29620 Torremolinos Malaga (Andalucia)
Telephone: +34 952 38 31 64
Fax: +34 952 37 26 95
Email: sunny@acade.es
Swans International Primary School Marbella
School Address: Urb. El Capricho 2, 29600
Marbella, Malaga (Andalucia)
Telephone: +34 95 277 32 48
Fax: +34 95 277 64 31
http://www.swansschoolinternational.es/en/
The English International College
School Address: Urb. Ricmar CN. 340, km. 189,5
29600 Marbella, Málaga (Andalucia)
Telephone: +34 95 283 10 58 / 95 283 10 59
Fax: +34 95 283 89 92
Email: head@eic.edu
Mayfair Academy
Mayfair Academy was established in 1997 and offers continuous education from the age of 4 through to 18.(Reception, Primary Secondary and Sixth Form) as well as the Regular Curriculum leading to IGCSE and A Levels,
Tel 952 784 923
International Schools in the Barcelona Area
Oak House School
School Address: San Pedro Claver 12, 08017, Barcelona
Telephone: +34 93 252 40 20
Fax: +34 93 252 40 22
Email: sec@oakhouseschool.com
The British School of Barcelona
School Address: C/ Ginesta, 26 , Apartado 172 , 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona
Telephone:+34 93 665 15 84
Fax: +34 93 664 14 44
Email:britishschool.bcn@retemail.es
International Schools in the Madrid Area
Hastings School
School Address: Infants School, Paseo de la Habana 204, 28036 Madrid.
Junior & Secondary School, c/ Azulinas 8, 28036 Madrid
Telephone: +34 91 359 99 13 – 359 06 21
Fax: +34 91 359 35 21
Email:hastings@tsai.es
Kensington School
School Address: Av. de Bularas, 2, 28023. Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid
Telephone: +34 91 715 4797
Fax:+34 91 351 0901
Montessori School
School Address: Paseo de Belmas, 2, 28400
Collado Villalba, Madrid
Telephone:: +34 91 8501053 or +34 91 8579117
Fax:+34 91 851 3584
International School of Madrid
School Address: Rosa Jardón, 3, 28016, Madrid
Telephone:+34 91 359 21 21 – +34 91 359 07 22
Fax: +34 91 359 07 22
King’s College
School Address: Paseo de los Andes, Soto de Viñuelas, 28761 Madrid
Telephone:+34 91 803 48 00
Fax: +34 91 803 65 57
Email: soto@kingsgroup.com
Numont School
School Address: C/ Parma, 16, 28043
Madrid
Telephone:+34 91 300 24 31 /+34 91 388 20 85
Fax:+34 91 300 24 31
Runnymede College
School Address: Calle Salvia 30, 28109
La Moraleja, Madrid
Telephone: +34 916 508 302
Fax: +34 916 508 236
Web Page: www.runnymede-college.com
Email: mail@runnymede-college.com
St Anne’s School
School Address: Avda Alfonso XIII, 162
Madrid 28016
Telephone:+34 91 345 90 60
Fax: +34 91 345 36 68
The English Montessori School
School Address: Av. LaSalle,
s/n Aravaca, 28023 Madrid
Telephone: +34 91 357 26 67/68 or
+34 91 307 15 42
Fax: +34 91 307 15 43
Email:english@acade.es / tems_2000@hotmail.com
International Schools in the Valencia Area
Cambridge House
School Address:Primary School: C/ Camarena, s/n Apartado 4, Campo Olivar-Godella, Valencia
Secondary School: C/ Pintor Eustaquio Segrelles, 7 Montealegre-La Eliana, Valencia
Telephone: +34 96 363 76 02/16 55 715
Fax: +34 96 390 21 28
Email: info@cambridgehouse-valencia.com
El Plantio International School
School Address: Urbanización. El Plantio, Calle 233, Nº 36, La Cañada, 46182 – Paterna, Valencia
Telephone: 96 132 14 10
Fax: 96 132 18 41
Email: plantiointernational@retemail.es
English School Los Olivos
School Address: Avda. Pino Panera, 25, 46110
Godella, Valencia
Telephone: (96) 363 99 38
Fax: (96) 364 48 63
Email : primary@school-losolivos.es
Email: secondary@school-losolivos.es
The British School
School Address: Avda. Peris y Valero, 53 – 57
46006 Valencia.
Telephone:96 374 29 30
Fax: 96 334 96 10
Email: children@acade.es
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