Private Education

If you have made a decision not to educate your child in a state school then the next move is to find a good private school in your area. Be prepared to travel as here on the Costa Blanca there are very few established schools and each follows a slightly different curriculum that will suit different children. Some follow the British National curriculum throughout the child's time at the school, others switch to the International Baccalaureate (IB) at 12 years old and other curriculums followed are a combination of American systems and IB. All schools differ on the amount of Spanish taught and how it is included into the curriculum.

Another big difference will be the nationality of students, for example both The British School of Alicante and Newton College in Elche have a majority of Spanish students. Most schools have an entrance procedure and this often includes an exam for your child.

An important factor in making your decision should be based on your thoughts for where you would like your child to go to university. Here in Spain, any child wanting to go to University has to sit a two day exam called the 'selectividad'. The exam questions are taken from the obligatory subjects taught at state schools from the age of 12 - 18 and of course is in Spanish. So children need to be having lessons in Spanish following the Spanish History, Language, and Science curriculum. If the school does not incorporate these into their curriculum then find out if they offer a 'selectivdad' course.

Private schooling varies from 300 euros a month to 750 euros a month for the school fees, although there are many extras to look out for . Ask very carefully about these so you don't get caught out.

• some schools make school dinner compulsory and these can be expensive.
• Some even charge if your child takes a packed lunch with them.
• some schools charge for materials termly, some monthly, look for the small print.
• most schools sell the school uniform on site and this can add up to as much as 500 euros per child.
• Compulsory insurance policy.
• Buses.
• Find out the rough costs and frequency of school trips.

To make an informed choice, you should first look at the website of the school you are interested in to get an idea of what they offer and where they are. Make notes as you look, so that you have a list of questions ready for when you visit the school.

Phone the school and see what your initial impression is - do they answer your questions? Or do they fob you off? Make sure that the school you are interested in has all the necessary licences and permits. You can check this with the town hall where the school is based or by contacting the Education Department in Alicante on 965 934 000 (Spanish only). The local town hall will also be able to tell you if there have been any problems relating to the school.

Find out if the school is affiliated to any other bodies i.e. NABSS (see www.nabss.org ) and again contact the body and confirm the information.

Ask about staff qualifications and if you are not sure then ask to see the certificates. Wages are lower here in Spain and this may make a difference to the amount of qualified staff. Find out the frequency of staff turn over.

Turn up without an appointment and ask to see inside the school. By doing this you will get a much better idea of how the school works and what it is like on a day to day basis. If you can, speak to other parents whose children attend the school and find out what they like, or dislike, about it. You can ask if your child can attend for a day, before making the final decision, to see if he or she feels happy there.

Schools on the South Costa Blanca

IGCSE and International Baccalaureate