Alma Forest School vs Svenska Skolan Marbella

	A Alma Forest School Malaga, Spain	S Svenska Skolan Marbella Malaga, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €7,500 - 13,750	Fees / year €8,200 - 13,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 14 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 112	Pupils 220
Typical class size	Typical class size 15	Typical class size 13
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Swedish
Opened	Opened 2019	Opened 2003
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Located on a Spanish finca just outside Sotogrande, Spain. Expansive views across to Gibraltar and Morocco, with fields to play on, trees to climb and animals to care for. Surrounding natural parks and beaches are used to immerse learning in the natural environment. The school is internationally accredited and staffed by experienced educators.	Location Marbella, Málaga, Spain. The school is located in a scenic area near Puerto Banús. Address: Urb La Alzambra Local 1D, CC Vasari, 29660 Marbella, Málaga. The campus sits in the La Alzambra area of Marbella.
Stages	Stages Escuela Bosque Ages 3-6; Primary School Ages 6-11; Middle School Ages 11-14.	Stages Primary and Secondary. The Swedish primary school and the International secondary school learn together, blending Swedish values with an International curriculum taught in English. The secondary programme follows the Cambridge pathway (Years 7-9).
School type	School type Microschool; intentionally small school; internationally accredited and staffed by experienced educators.	School type International school (Swedish primary education and International secondary program).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 24 nationalities represented; 80% of families relocated to join Alma Forest School.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Tailored support is provided; small class sizes ensure each student receives the necessary support and attention.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Spain	Country affiliation Overseas Swedish school following the Swedish curriculum; approved by the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and inscription fees - Inscription (application) fee: EUR 500. This is a one‑off charge invoiced at the time of application and only one payment is invoiced per family. This fee is non‑refundable. - Deposit: a deposit is charged when an application is processed to secure a place. Deposits are refundable only if the school is notified in writing with a full term's notice of the student's intention to leave (see deadlines below). Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑term figures) - Escuela Bosque (ages 3–6): EUR 750 per month (membership fee). Per‑term and annual figures below are calculated from the published monthly amount using the school's monthly billing basis. (See calculation note below.) - Published: EUR 750 per month. - Calculated annual (example, based on a 10‑month billing basis): EUR 7,500 per year (EUR 750 × 10). - Calculated per term (annual ÷ 3): EUR 2,500 per term (calculated). - Grade 1 (age 6 turning 7): EUR 10,500 per year — Per term (calculated): EUR 3,500. - Grade 2 (age 7 turning 8): EUR 10,500 per year — Per term (calculated): EUR 3,500. - Grade 3 (age 8 turning 9): EUR 11,750 per year — Per term (calculated): EUR 3,916.67. - Grade 4 (age 9 turning 10): EUR 11,750 per year — Per term (calculated): EUR 3,916.67. - Grade 5 (age 10 turning 11): EUR 11,750 per year — Per term (calculated): EUR 3,916.67. - Grade 6 (age 11 turning 12): EUR 13,750 per year — Per term (calculated): EUR 4,583.33. - Grade 7 (age 12 turning 13): EUR 13,750 per year — Per term (calculated): EUR 4,583.33. - Grade 8 (age 13 turning 14): EUR 13,750 per year — Per term (calculated): EUR 4,583.33. (Calculation note: per‑term amounts shown above are calculated by dividing the published annual tuition by three to produce termly figures consistent with the school's term structure; where the school publishes a monthly fee (Escuela Bosque) the annual and per‑term figures shown are calculated using the school's published monthly billing basis. These per‑term/annual figures are provided for clarity and are calculated from the published amounts. ) Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment frequency options: monthly, termly, or annually. - Monthly payments: due before the 5th of each month. - Termly payments: a 2% discount is applied to fees paid termly. Termly payments are due before 15 August, 20 December and 20 April. - Annual payments: a 5% discount is applied to fees paid annually. Annual payment is due before 15 August. - Sibling discount: EUR 500 annually for each sibling after the first; the discount is calculated according to the family's preferred payment terms. - Residentials and school trips: these incur additional charges invoiced during the year. Boarding fees - Boarding provision or boarding fees are not listed in the school's published fee document. No boarding fee schedule is published. Other costs and optional extras - Catering (lunches): - Escuela Bosque catering: EUR 93 per month. - Grades 1–7 catering: EUR 110 per month. - Per‑meal rates: Escuela Bosque EUR 5.50 per meal; rest of school EUR 6.50 per meal. The monthly catering fee is averaged over 10 academic months. Parents must still provide a daily snack. Cancellation rules apply (see refunds/cancellation). - After School Club (for ages 3–6 and Grade 1; until 4:30pm Mon–Thu): monthly rates by number of days per week: - 1 day per week: EUR 55 per month. - 2 days per week: EUR 96 per month. - 3 days per week: EUR 125 per month. - 4 days per week: EUR 155 per month. - Other optional charges: transport nominal fees for day trips, residential and excursion charges, and other extras which are invoiced as they arise. Fees and extras are subject to annual review. Refunds and cancellation terms - Inscription fee (EUR 500) is non‑refundable. - Deposit refund: deposits are refundable only when the school is given written term's notice of intent to leave. The published notice deadlines for refund eligibility are: - On or before 1 September if leaving at the end of December. - On or before 31 December if leaving at the end of March. - On or before 31 March if leaving at the end of June. - Catering cancellation: canceling catering must be provided in writing before the 25th of the next month and cannot be cancelled in the middle of a month; adjustments may be charged if joining or cancelling partway through the year. - After School Club: changes or cancellations to selected days must be notified before the 25th of the next month and cannot be cancelled mid‑month. Spaces are limited and allocated on a first‑come, first‑served basis. Fee payment options (methods) - The school's published fee schedule specifies payment frequency, due dates and discounts but does not list specific accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, credit card, PayPal). For information about accepted payment methods or to arrange a payment, contact the school directly via the published school contact channels. Short practical summary (key numbers) - Inscription fee: EUR 500 (non‑refundable). - Escuela Bosque: EUR 750 per month (published). Calculated example: EUR 7,500 per year; EUR 2,500 per term (using 10‑month monthly basis). - Primary / Middle (published annual tuition): Grade 1 & 2 EUR 10,500; Grades 3–5 EUR 11,750; Grades 6–8 EUR 13,750. Per‑term figures for each grade are published annual ÷ 3 (calculated values shown above). - Catering: EUR 93/month (Escuela Bosque) or EUR 110/month (Grades 1–7); per‑meal rates EUR 5.50 / EUR 6.50. - After School Club: EUR 55–155 per month depending on days per week. - Discounts: 2% termly payment discount; 5% annual payment discount; sibling discount EUR 500 per additional sibling. (Where per‑term or annual totals are shown as calculations, they were derived from the published monthly or annual figures and the school's published billing structure.)	Fee details Application fee - A non‑refundable registration (inskrivnings) fee of EUR 1,000 is payable per pupil when a place is offered; payment secures the place and the registration fee is not refunded. Tuition fees (per term) and annual equivalents by year group / programme - Förskola (ages 3–5): EUR 4,300 per term (includes lunch). Annual equivalent (two terms per academic year): EUR 8,600. - Förskoleklass – Årskurs 6 (pupils not eligible for Swedish government grant / icke statsbidragsberättigade): EUR 5,200 per term (includes lunch). Annual equivalent: EUR 10,400. - Förskoleklass – Årskurs 6 (pupils eligible for Swedish government grant / statsbidragsberättigade): EUR 4,100 per term (includes lunch). Annual equivalent: EUR 8,200. - Fritids (after‑school care): - 1–2 days per week: EUR 600 per term. Annual equivalent: EUR 1,200. - 3–5 days per week: EUR 1,100 per term. Annual equivalent: EUR 2,200. - Sofia Distans (supervised Swedish distance education for Åk 7–9) and Hermods Distansgymnasium (gymnasium via distance with on‑site supervision): EUR 3,350 per term (includes lunch). Annual equivalent: EUR 6,700. - International Secondary programme (Svenska Skolan Marbella International) — Years 7–9 (where applicable): registration fee EUR 1,000 plus tuition charged per semester: EUR 6,750 per semester (two semesters per year); annual tuition equivalent: EUR 13,500. Additional typical costs for this programme include an annual materials/books fee of EUR 400 and optional costs for external exam fees, end‑of‑year trips, school photographs/yearbook and school‑logo T‑shirts/hoodies/caps. A Swedish support option via Sofia Distans for this programme may have a supplementary fee (e.g. EUR 200). Billing schedule and payment terms - Places are offered for a full academic year (two terms). Accepting a place commits the family to the full year fee. - For the Swedish day‑school and the Sofia Distans / Hermods supervised programmes, school invoices are issued by e‑mail and payment is made in advance. The contract specifies the payment deadlines as follows: the payment deadline for the autumn term is 20 April and the payment deadline for the spring term is 31 October; unpaid invoices may be sent to collections. Parents must notify the school in writing before the stated deadline (28 February) if the pupil will not continue the following school year, otherwise the family remains liable for the following term's fee. - For the International Secondary programme, academic fees are divided into two annual payments (one in May and one in November). Registration fees remain payable upon acceptance. Boarding / internat fees - Boarding is not offered; the school operates as a day school (förskola, grundskola and supervised distance secondary studies) and therefore there are no boarding or internat fees. Other costs and optional charges - School meals (lunch) are included in the stated tuition for the listed programmes where noted. - Optional or additional costs that families commonly encounter: - Materials and textbooks (example: EUR 400 per year for the International Secondary programme). - External examination or assessment fees (where applicable). - End‑of‑year school trips and related travel costs. - School photographs, yearbook and optional branded clothing (school‑logo T‑shirts, hoodies, caps). - Additional support for pupils with extra needs is charged to guardians at an agreed price and is invoiced in advance. Refunds and cancellation / early‑departure rules - The registration (inskrivnings) fee of EUR 1,000 is non‑refundable. If a local school grant ("skolpeng") is later awarded by a home municipality, the registration fee is not returned. - No tuition or other fees are refunded, in whole or in part, if a pupil leaves the school during the academic year or is absent for an extended period; this rule also applies to school meals. Failure to notify the school in writing by the stated deadline for leaving may result in billing for the subsequent term. Fee payment options and bank details - Bank transfer (international bank transfer/IBAN) is accepted. The school's account details are provided for payments to the account holder COLEGIO SUECO MARBELLA, S.L. IBAN: ES31 2100 2676 1102 1040 0979; BANK: CAIXABANK; SWIFT/BIC: CAIXESBB. Families should state the payer's name on transfers. Cash payments are restricted by Spanish law to a maximum of EUR 2,500; card payments are accepted. Invoices are sent by e‑mail one month before each payment deadline. Summary (key figures at a glance) - Registration fee: EUR 1,000 per pupil (non‑refundable). - Förskola (3–5 years): EUR 4,300 per term (EUR 8,600 per year). - Förskoleklass–Åk 6 (non‑subsidised): EUR 5,200 per term (EUR 10,400 per year). - Förskoleklass–Åk 6 (subsidised): EUR 4,100 per term (EUR 8,200 per year). - Fritids: EUR 600–1,100 per term depending on days per week. - Sofia Distans / Hermods (Åk 7–9 distance with on‑site support): EUR 3,350 per term (EUR 6,700 per year). - International Secondary Years 7–9 (where applicable): EUR 6,750 per semester (EUR 13,500 per year); additional typical charges apply (materials, trips, exams, optional clothing). (End of fee overview)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Escuela Bosque is the pre-school for ages 3-6, and the Primary School serves ages 6-11 with Middle School for ages 11-14. The curriculum is built around three overlapping strands: the Imposed strand of Literacy and Numeracy workshops; the Emergent strand of class- or school-wide Explorations that integrate Science, Humanities and the Arts; and the Explorations framework that is co-created with students and guided by their interests. The curriculum draws from international, self-directed, democratic, project-based and outdoor education models, adapting these strengths to Alma Forest School's unique learning environment. Academic workshops align with international standards and use materials developed by leading international schools; most subjects are taught through Explorations rather than in isolated lessons. About 25% of school time is spent on self-directed projects chosen and planned with peers and teachers. Learning emphasizes outdoor, nature-based contexts and mixed-age group work, with a focus on intrinsic motivation and real-world application across disciplines.	Curriculum details Preschool (3–5 years) and primary school (F–6) follow the Swedish curriculum, with after-school care. Students can also study in middle school (7–9) through Sofia Distans and gymnasium via Hermods Distansgymnasium, with teachers supporting throughout the school day. The school has an international emphasis with an extended timetable devoted to Spanish and English. The school is supervised by Skolverket and authorized by Junta de Andalucia.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio In the Escuela Bosque, the teacher-to-student ratio is 1:8. In the Primary School, younger groups are supported by a teacher and teaching assistant while older groups have a class teacher; class sizes do not exceed 15 learners.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results Academically, students achieve at par with counterparts in other international schools. Teaching materials are drawn from curricula used by leading international schools globally. Graduates depart Alma Forest School with skills that empower independent, self-directed learning and the ability to apply knowledge across contexts.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Step 1: Get to Know Us. A video call or a physical tour of Alma Forest School is arranged to walk you through our approach and ethos. Before the meeting, read the website and our social media pages to understand the school's ethos and activities. This helps families determine if the environment aligns with their expectations. Step 2: Complete an Application Form. After the tour, complete the Application Form to apply for a free space or to join the waitlist. Provide as much information as possible about the prospective student and family, and include supporting reports and assessments with the completed forms. Create an account to view your application after submitting it. Step 3: Student Trials. When logistically possible, prospective students are invited to attend trial days before an offer can be extended. This ensures Alma Forest is the best environment for the child. Step 4: Invitation to Join the Alma Tribe. Following the successful outcome of the above steps, an offer to enrol with Alma Forest is issued.	Admissions 1. Guardians submit an Interest Form on the school's website, including all contact details and other important information about the pupil. All fields must be filled. 2. The school assesses the possibility of a place. Space and capacity are considered, and to achieve the best stability in the groups and high-quality learning, priority is given to applicants who apply for one year or more. 3. The pupil's admission is always decided by the principal. The school works according to the Swedish curriculum and follows applicable laws and policies; if the pupil has special needs, contact the principal for further information about admission. 4. Guardians receive an admission decision or rejection by email; decisions are communicated in March or April. 5. To secure the child's placement, the following documents are required: a completed definitive registration; a copy of the paid enrollment fee of 1,000€ per student; a copy of the pupil's passport and guardians; the pupil's birth certificate; and any assessments performed on the pupil and information about any prior support. The enrollment fee must be paid after an offer is made. The enrollment fee is binding and non-refundable.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist Waitlist overview: A waitlist is used for enrolment at Alma Forest. Completion of the Alma Forest Waitlist Enrolment Form entitles the Applicant to be added to the waitlist. A separate form is required for each child. The form collects Child Details, Parental Details, and the intended enrolment dates, along with Additional Information. The form includes an Agreement between Parent/Guardian and Alma Forest Primary outlining commitments such as active parent participation, ensuring the child is well nourished and rested, and outdoor learning in all weather. Completion of the form entitles the Applicant to the waitlist. A separate Application for Enrolment and a registration fee are required for each child when moving from waitlist to enrolment. Return completed form to info@almaforestschool.com.	Waitlist We strive to offer places to all applicants. Sometimes a class is full. Siblings are given priority, and it is important to register interest on the website and schedule a visit.
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