The right international school — chosen on purpose.
Moving the family to the Costa del Sol means one question the visa forms never ask: where will the children go to school? We help you shortlist and apply to international and bilingual schools — British, IB, American — matched to curriculum, location and budget, in plain English.
You can change your mind about the villa. Changing schools mid-year, in a new country, is a harder conversation with a nine-year-old.
Four things that decide a good school year
Choosing a school abroad isn’t about league tables. It’s about fit, timing and getting a place before it’s gone. Here’s where we help.
Curriculum fit
British (IGCSE / A-Levels), International Baccalaureate, American and bilingual programmes each shape a different path — university destinations, exam calendars and language of instruction all differ. We help you shortlist by what suits your child and where you expect them to study next, not by whichever school has a slick brochure.
Waiting lists & fees
The best-known schools on the Costa del Sol can run waiting lists, and fees vary widely between year groups, plus registration, enrolment and materials on top. We help you read the true cost, understand the queue, and keep realistic back-ups open so a single "no" doesn’t derail your move.
Location vs commute
A school that looks perfect on paper is a different story at 8am in August traffic. We factor where you’re actually going to live — Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola, Mijas — against the daily run, so the choice works on a Tuesday morning and not just on the open day.
Admissions & assessments
Many international schools set entry assessments, interviews or language checks, and ask for reports and references from the current school. We help you gather what’s needed and time each application so you’re submitting into an open window rather than chasing a place that filled last term.
This is guidance and coordination — we’re a law firm, not a school. If the free state or concertado route suits you better, that runs through School Enrollment, and we’ll say so.
The questions parents ask first
Do you run a school or place children yourselves?
No — we’re a law firm offering guidance and coordination, not a school and not a formal admissions agency. We help you shortlist schools by curriculum, location and budget, understand each one’s process, and time your applications sensibly. The admissions decision always rests with the school.
Which curriculum should we choose — British, IB or American?
It depends on your child’s age, how long you plan to stay, and where they’re likely to go to university. British schools follow IGCSE and A-Levels; the IB is broader and widely recognised internationally; American schools suit families heading back to, or on to, the US system. There’s rarely one right answer, so we talk it through against your own plans rather than pushing a single model.
How early should we start looking?
As a rule, the earlier the better — sought-after schools on the Costa del Sol can carry waiting lists, and popular year groups fill first. Starting several months ahead of your move gives room to visit, sit any entry assessments and keep a back-up option open, rather than taking whatever is left the week you arrive.
What about the free state and concertado schools?
They’re a real and often excellent option, especially for younger children who pick up Spanish quickly, and they’re free (state) or partly subsidised (concertado). That’s a different process — municipal registration and the public school-enrolment calendar — which we cover under School Enrollment. Many families weigh both routes, and we’re happy to lay out the trade-offs honestly.
Reviewed by a lawyer
Reviewed by Alberto García López
Immigration lawyer · ICA Málaga, reg. no. 11.441
We check every page against current Spanish law. This is general information, not advice on your individual case.
Globalium is an independent law firm, not a government agency, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any public administration. Visas, permits and identification numbers are granted solely by the Spanish authorities, and you are free to apply to them directly yourself. Our fees pay for legal advice and representation, and are separate from any official fee or tax.
Tell us the ages and the area. We'll map the schools.
A straight conversation about curriculum, budget, commute and which doors are actually open this year — before you commit to a postcode.
+34 667 77 02 19 · infoglobalextranjeria@gmail.com
P.S. — the term dates on a Spanish school calendar have a way of arriving sooner than the removals van. Worth a head start.