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Relocating To Marbella? Then Your First Decision is Which School? - Take A Look at The Options....

With the new school season about to start the Coast is leading the way with exceptionaly high standards in the education sector,

We continue to see the real estate market on the Costa Del Sol move in the direction of a mature market and the trends are are showing more of our clients finding property with the sole reason to relocate and proximity to schools is top priority, this continues to follow in the footsteps of other globally mature markets.

In certain areas the demand is now so high that being able to secure long term lets is almost impossible and capital growth is breaking trends in these areas.

Catering for this growing market we often get asked about which schools are best - below are the leading private schools on the coast.

ALOHA COLLEGE

Ages 3-18, co-ed day school. IGCSEs at age 16. 16-18 year olds do the IB diploma only. Founded 1982. On the outskirts of Marbella. Known for its academic and sporting achievements. Generally considered by parents as one of the top schools on the coast. By far the largest of the schools listed - around 1000 students. Has recently dropped some of its emphasis on sport to concentrate on bringing academic results back up to expectations. Pupils go on to leading universities in the UK and Continent. Many nationalities.

BENALMADENA INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

Ages 3-18, co-ed day school. British school, mostly attended by British pupils. Founded 1997. English Curriculum education with IGCSEs, AS and A Levels. For those not wanting to do A levels, the school has recently introduced vocational courses.

LAUDE SAN PEDRO INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

Formerly King’s College, Marbella, and then International College San Pedro. Pupils aged 2-18, co-ed day school. Two form entry school. Pupils follow the English National Curriculum. IGCSEs at age 16. AS and A levels at 16-18.

MAYFAIR ACADEMY

Midway between Marbella and Estepona. Pupils aged 4-18, co-ed day school. Offers I.G.C.S.E. and A Levels. It also has an alternative Sports, Skills, Study & Career (SSS) Technology Curriculum available from age 15 (Year 10 through 13). which is unique to the Costa del Sol. The SSS includes 7 GCSEs and 1 A Level. This gives an alternative university entrance route with two NVQs and a Community Sports Leaders Award, or a full gym instructor/personal trainer qualification.

ST ANTHONY’S COLLEGE

Ages 3-18, co-ed day school; an officially recognised bilingual school offering an English curriculum with GCSEs at 16 and a wide range of A Levels at 18. Established in 1968. It also offers Spanish EGB, BUP and COU. Spanish Section gives lessons in Spanish Language and Culture. Enables the validation of British studies by the Spanish Ministry of Education, leading to Graduado en Educación Secundaria (GCSE equivalent) and Título de Bachiller Español (GCE equivalent).

ST GEORGE’S BRITISH SCHOOL OF MALAGA

Situated just east of Malaga. Co-ed day school. Ages 3-18. English National Curriculum. IGCSE from ages 14-16, A Levels from 16-18. Also, Also, a number of Spanish language courses help with preparation for Universities in Spain.

SOTOGRANDE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Near to Gibraltar, this is the southernmost international school on the Costa del Sol. Situated in a particularly wealthy area. Founded in 1978. Co-ed day (ages 3-18 years) and boarding (ages 11-18). It is the only international boarding school in Southern Spain).

Students obtain good IB examination results, and do well in inter-school sports competitions. The school is highly regarded and offers PYP, MYP and IB Diploma and certificates.

SUNLAND INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Situated around 20km inland from Malaga. Lovely, spacious rural setting, this growing 300 pupil school gives a particularly friendly welcome. Mostly used by inland families, In May 2008, the growing secondary school saw its first IGCSE exam sittings, and began its first A Level course in September 2008.

SUNNY VIEW SCHOOL

Founded 1971. In the hills above Torremolinos. Over 450 pupils. Co-ed day school. Ages 3-18. Pre-School, Primary and Secondary Schools. Complete English National Curriculum education, including GCSE from ages 14-16, A Levels from 16-18.

SWANS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL (PRIMARY)

Swans School, founded in 1971, teaches children from ages 3-12. 300 pupils. Two classes in each year. English National Curriculum plus full Spanish Primary course in language and humanities. From Year 4 (age 8-9) all pupils they also study French. French, Arabic and German languages are also available extra-curriculum.

SWANS SIERRA BLANCA (SECONDARY SCHOOL)

Swans Secondary school has been growing incrementally since 2003. Co-ed day ages 11-18. It offers IGCSE, and since Sept 2008 provides the full IB diploma to Sixth Form students. It offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

THE BRITISH COLLEGE BENALMADENA

Ages 5-18. Co-ed day school. A 5 minute walk from Torremuelle train station on the Fuengirola - Malaga line, which is much used by the older pupils. In addition to its British and other European pupils, it is well represented by Spanish pupils, who are given intensive English language tuition. English National Curriculum. Students do IGCSEs for ages 14-16, A/S Levels at 17, and A Levels at 18. A bilingual school for all ages. Spanish Language and Literature, and Spanish History and Geography, are taught in the Secondary school. It has a Psychology department staffed by three psychologists where the staff are used within the school.

THE ENGLISH INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE

Founded 1982. At Las Chapas, close to Marbella. Around 500 boys and girls aged 3-18 years. Most students are British, with around 1 in 5 who have English as a second or third language

A very popular school on the coast, because of its focus on providing a traditional English National Curriculum education, and its high academic and sporting standards. Reassuring to parents who are yet to become familiar with the IB programme. It provides SATS tests for ages 7, 11, and 14, IGCSEs and A Levels. Has a large Spanish language department, also covering the Spanish national exam systems. It assesses pupils before entrance. Most pupils go on to good, mostly British, universities.

THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ESTEPONA (PRIMARY SCHOOL)

Benavista, Estepona, near Marbella. Primary School Only. Ages 2 to 12 years. Co-ed day school. Bi-lingual (English & Spanish). Small Classes. English National Curriculum. Montessori for ages 2-5. Includes an all weather sports court, landscaped gardens, school vegetable garden. Air-conditioned and heated classrooms, child sized toilets, rounded walls, a state of the art computer suite with digital smart boards, sports grounds and a soft play area for the younger children.