Schools in Marbella
- Maksym Vlasenko
- Apr 30
- 5 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
How We Chose a School in Marbella: Personal Experience and Key Takeaways
When a family moves to another country or city, one of the first practical questions is choosing a school. Education and the environment in which a child grows up become key factors in adaptation. We faced this when moving from Madrid to Marbella, and we want to share our experience, as well as observations gathered over ten years of living here.
First — Housing, Then — School. A Mistake?
Like many others, we started by choosing a home. We bought a property in the Nueva Andalucía area. Right across the street from us was Aloha College — a logical and convenient option. But there were no available spots, and our child was not accepted.
We decided to temporarily enroll our son in a public Spanish school until the end of the school year, with the plan to try again for Aloha. However, it turned out that public schools accept students strictly based on registered address — so we had no choice. The assigned school was 15 minutes away by car, which significantly changed our routine.
What’s the Cost of Inconvenient Logistics?
Each trip to school and back took 50 minutes, considering morning traffic and parking difficulties. Per day — 100 minutes. Per month — about 2,000 minutes, or 33 hours. Per year — 399 hours, or 16 full days spent in a car.
That’s time that could have been used to study a language, work, or simply rest. And it’s important to understand — it’s not just the parents losing time. The child also spends hours that could be used for after-school activities or rest closer to home.
A Real Case: Moving Again Because of a School
One of our clients — a family from Norway — faced a similar situation. They bought a house in Sierra Blanca, near Swans International School.
The location was ideal, the budget fit. But after moving in, their daughter failed the entrance tests, and the school rejected her. The parents had to look for an alternative.
The new school was far away, and in the end, they had to sell their home and buy another one closer to the new school. It’s a rare but not unique case — many families in Marbella face the reality of choosing a neighborhood first and then having to adjust because of school issues.
System Features: What to Keep in Mind in Advance
Public schools — accept only by place of registration (empadronamiento).
Private and international schools — require early application. In popular schools, spots may not be available even six months before the school year starts.
Entrance tests — especially in English-speaking schools, can become an unexpected barrier.
Choosing Schools in Marbella Spain: Why Timing and Location Are Everything
After ten years of living in Marbella, we’ve become familiar with nearly every private and international school. We’ve gone through the process twice with our own children, and dozens of times with families we helped buy property.
Our experience shows: school should be part of the relocation plan. Not later than choosing a home.
International Schools in Marbella :
Overview and Key Details
Below is a comprehensive guide to the top international schools in Marbella and nearby areas. This list includes key information such as academic programs, tuition fees, languages of instruction, and contact details — all tailored for families looking to relocate to the Costa del Sol.
1. Laude San Pedro International College
Curriculum: British (IGCSE, A-Level) and Spanish (ESO, Bachillerato)
Tuition: €5,000 – €11,000/year
Languages of Instruction: English, Spanish
Address: Avenida de la Coruña, 2, 29670 San Pedro de Alcántara, Marbella, Málaga, Spain.
Phone: +34 952 799 900
Website: www.laudesanpedro.com
2. Aloha College Marbella
Curriculum: British (IGCSE, A-Level), IB Diploma, Spanish national program
Tuition: €7,000 – €17,000/year
Languages of Instruction: English (main), Spanish (daily), French, German
Address: Urb. El Ángel, Nueva Andalucía, 29660 Marbella, Málaga, Spain
Phone: +34 952 814 133 Website: www.aloha-college.com
3. Swans International School
Curriculum: British national curriculum, IGCSE, IB Diploma Programme
Tuition: €5,000 – €15,000/year
Languages of Instruction: English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese
Address:
Primary: Urb. El Capricho, 29602 Marbella
Secondary: Calle Lago de los Cisnes, 29602 Marbella, Málaga, Spain
Phone: +34 952 773 248 (Primary), +34 952 902 755 (Secondary)
Website: www.swansschoolinternational.es
4. English International College (EIC)
Curriculum: British curriculum, IGCSE, A-Levels
Tuition: €6,000 – €12,000/year
Languages of Instruction: English, Spanish, French, German
Address: Urbanización Ricmar, Ctra. N-340, km 189, 29604 Marbella, Málaga, Spain
Phone: +34 952 831 058
Website: www.eicmarbella.org
5. British International School of Marbella (BISM)
Curriculum: British national curriculum, IGCSE Tuition: €6,000 – €10,000/year
Languages of Instruction: English, Spanish, French, German
Address: Calle Teba 4, Rocio de Nagüeles, 29602 Marbella, Málaga, Spain
Phone: +34 952 779 264
Website: www.bsm.org.es
6. Svenska Skolan Marbella
Curriculum: Swedish national program, Cambridge (Years 7–9), distance learning for upper school
Tuition: €8,200 – €13,000/year
Languages of Instruction: Swedish, English, Spanish
Address: Urb. La Alzambra, Centro Comercial Vasari 1-D, 29660 Marbella, Málaga, Spain
Phone: +34 952 868 252
Website: svenskaskolanmarbella.com
7. Sotogrande International School (SIS)
Curriculum: IB (PYP, MYP, DP), American High School Diploma
Tuition (Day School): €9,010 – €25,950/year
Tuition (Boarding): €16,130 – €24,620/year
Languages of Instruction: English, Spanish
Address: Avenida de la Reserva, s/n, 11310 Sotogrande, Cádiz, Spain
Phone: +34 956 795 902
Website: www.sis.ac
8. The American College in Spain (ACS)
Curriculum: US High School (Grades 7–12), GED, University 2+2 program
Tuition: €5,250 – €14,700/year
Languages of Instruction: English, Spanish
Address: Centro Comercial La Alzambra, Local 1-1, 29660 Marbella, Málaga, Spain
Phone: +34 952 763 593
Website: www.americancollegespain.com
9. Calpe School
Curriculum: British (EYFS, Key Stages 1–2)
Tuition: €4,000 – €6,500/year
Languages of Instruction: English, Spanish
Address: Calle Los Eucaliptos 60, Urb. Linda Vista Baja, San Pedro de Alcántara, 29670 Marbella, Málaga, Spain
Phone: +34 952 786 029
Website: www.calpeschool.com
10. The International School Estepona (ISE)
Curriculum: British National Curriculum (Early Years and Primary)
Tuition: €4,680 – €8,700/year
Languages of Instruction: English, Spanish
Address: Calle Azahar 12, Urbanización El Paraíso, 29688 Estepona, Málaga, Spain
Phone: +34 951 742 736 (landline), +34 635 347 023 (WhatsApp)
Website: marbellaschool.com
This is not a complete list of schools, but these are the ones I get asked about most often and the ones I know well personally. In the following materials, I’ll go into more detail on each one — covering curricula, fees, admission requirements, location, parent reviews, and my own impressions.
To be continued…
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