NovaSchool Sunland International vs The British College of Benalmádena

	N NovaSchool Sunland International Malaga, Spain	T The British College of Benalmádena Malaga, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €6,706 - 7,742	Fees / year €4,000 - 7,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 1 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils 749	Pupils 805
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 20
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Spanish	Instruction language English, Spanish
Opened	Opened 2001	Opened 2000
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Located at Crta. De Cártama Estación a Pizarra, 29580, Cártama Estación, Spain, in the Málaga region, the Sunland campus spans 40,000 square meters of facilities surrounded by countryside. The catchment area covers the suburbs around the metropolitan area of Nueva Aljaima; the school operates nine bus routes across Málaga within about 30 km, with journeys of 45–60 minutes. A bus monitor accompanies students on each route, and routes serve Alhaurín de la Torre, Alhaurín El Grande, Benalmádena, Cártama, Coín, Málaga, Pizarra and Torremolinos.	Location Urb. Torremuelle, Paseo del Genil s/n, 29630 Benalmádena Costa, Málaga, Spain
Stages	Stages Foundation (3–4 years old); Primary/Key Stage 2 (5–10 years); Secondary/Key Stage 3 and 4 (11–16 years, IGCSE); Sixth Form/KS5 (17–18 years, pre-university with AS/A Levels).	Stages Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Reception; Primary School; Secondary School; AS/A Level
School type	School type Private school in Málaga with a British Curriculum and the possibility to obtain a dual British-Spanish degree.	School type British international school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix Over 40 nationalities represented; the largest groups are Spanish and British
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Highly personalised, targeted interventions and adjustments in learning objectives coordinated by the special educational needs coordinator
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation British and Spanish
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Preschool and Reception: 9:30am–4:00pm; Years 1–6: 9:30am–4:15pm; Years 7–13: 9:30am–4:30pm. Morning Classroom is offered from 7:45am.	School day structure School day starts at 09:00 and ends at 16:00. Infants, Primary and Secondary have a 20-minute break from 10:30 to 10:50. Nursery and Reception have lunch from 12:00 to 13:00 and a break until 13:30. Primary lunch is from 13:05 to 14:05. Secondary lunch is from 13:45 to 14:30. Secondary is divided into eight 45-minute periods; after-school activities and support lessons are offered daily.
Bus service details	Bus service details Sunland provides transport with 9 bus routes across Málaga within a 30 km radius; journey times range from 45 to 60 minutes; a bus monitor accompanies students on each route and the routes include Alhaurín de la Torre, Alhaurín El Grande, Benalmádena, Cártama, Coín, Málaga, Pizarra and Torremolinos.	Bus service details The school has a bus service with two routes: Las Chapas – Torremuelle and Guadalmar – Torremuelle; pick-up and drop-off times/points are published for each school year
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Enrolment / Application fees - Enrolment fee (renewal for returning students): EUR 433. - Enrolment fee (new students, one-off at admission): EUR 630. - Timing: New students pay the enrolment fee at the time of enrolment; returning students pay the renewal enrolment fee in a single payment between 1 and 5 March each year. A commitment to remain for the full school year applies; if a pupil is withdrawn after 31 July a penalty of EUR 1,500 is charged immediately. Tuition fees by year group (annual amounts) - Preschool and Reception: EUR 6,280 per year. - Year 1 – Year 2: EUR 6,550 per year. - Year 3 – Year 4: EUR 6,970 per year. - Year 5 – Year 6: EUR 7,240 per year. - Year 7 – Year 9: EUR 7,520 per year. - Year 10 – Year 11: EUR 7,580 per year. (Note: Year 11 follows a different instalment schedule; see billing schedule.) - Sixth Form (Years 12–13): EUR 7,632 per year. - Canteen: the annual tuition figures above include the school canteen service valued at EUR 1,870 per year. Per term and per-instalment breakdown (by year group) Note: the school operates monthly instalments; for clarity the figures below show (A) a per-term estimate (annual divided by 3) and (B) the regular monthly instalment amount based on the school's billing schedules. - Preschool & Reception - Per term (annual ÷ 3): EUR 2,093.33. - Monthly instalment (10 monthly instalments, Sep–Jun): EUR 628.00. - Year 1 – Year 2 - Per term: EUR 2,183.33. - Monthly instalment (10 months): EUR 655.00. - Year 3 – Year 4 - Per term: EUR 2,323.33. - Monthly instalment (10 months): EUR 697.00. - Year 5 – Year 6 - Per term: EUR 2,413.33. - Monthly instalment (10 months): EUR 724.00. - Year 7 – Year 9 - Per term: EUR 2,506.67. - Monthly instalment (10 months): EUR 752.00. - Year 10 – Year 11 - Per term: EUR 2,526.67. - Monthly instalment for Year 10 (10 months): EUR 758.00. - Monthly instalment for Year 11 (9 instalments, Sep–May): EUR 842.22. - Sixth Form (Years 12–13) - Per term: EUR 2,544.00. - Monthly instalment (9 instalments, Sep–May): EUR 848.00. Billing schedule and payment terms - Regular billing method: fees are collected by direct debit. Monthly direct-debit collections run from the 1st to the 5th of each month. For most year groups payments are taken over ten monthly instalments (September–June). Year 11 and Sixth Form instalments are collected over nine monthly instalments (September–May). - Early-payment discounts for full-year payments: a 4% reduction applies to full-year payments made before 30 June; a 2% reduction applies to full-year payments made before 5 September. - The annual school services and extracurricular services are contracted on an annual basis. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable; the school operates as a day school and offers day services only (transport, morning care, canteen, etc.). Other costs and optional services - Two-way school transport service (annual): EUR 1,850 per year (two-way service; subject to annual enrolment and deadlines). - Morning service (aula matinal) from 07:45: EUR 65 per month (the school lists a morning-care charge in its rates information). - Public/external examination fees (Years 11, Sixth Form and Checkpoint): charged separately and vary by subject. - Textbooks and materials: textbooks are to be purchased by parents; a book service is available from Preschool to Year 9. School materials (stationery, project materials, etc.) are purchased by parents. - Uniforms: compulsory for all pupils from Preschool through Year 13; uniforms are purchased from the school uniform shop (on-site and online). - Canteen: included within the annual tuition package (included value EUR 1,870). Additional optional activities, trips and overnight immersion projects (Novaschool Nature Classroom) may incur separate charges when applicable. Discounts and family reductions - Third and subsequent children from the same family receive a 44% discount on school tuition fees (this discount excludes the annual canteen amount of EUR 1,870, which remains payable). - Specific enrollment plans and other special discounts or agreements may be available under the school's special fees / enrollment plans. Refunds and withdrawal charges - Enrolment and fee commitments: enrolment is subject to a commitment to remain for the whole school year. If a pupil is withdrawn after 31 July a penalty of EUR 1,500 is charged immediately. (The school's published rates specify this withdrawal penalty.) - Public/external exam fees and certain trip charges are billed separately and are not necessarily refundable; specific refund conditions for trips, services or exam fees are applied according to the terms for each service. Payment methods and options - Regular recurring payments are collected by direct debit on the 1st–5th of each month. - Full-year payments are accepted and qualify for the stated early-payment discounts when paid by the deadlines listed. - Additional services (transport, morning care, exams, trips, books, uniforms) are charged separately and are payable according to the school's invoicing for those services.	Fee details Application / registration fees - The school does not publish a stated, public one‑time application or enrolment fee for the current academic year. External Costa del Sol school guides report that a one‑time registration/enrolment fee for similar British international schools typically ranges from approximately EUR 100 to EUR 2,000 (amounts vary by school). Tuition fees by year group (annual and per‑term guidance) - The British College of Benalmádena does not publish a year‑by‑year, per‑term fee schedule that is publicly available for the current academic year. The following figures are market estimates from independent guides for this school and comparable British international schools on the Costa del Sol; they are presented as estimated annual tuition ranges by stage (not official published school figures): - Early Years / Nursery & Reception (Pre‑Nursery to Reception): approximately EUR 4,000 – EUR 9,000 per year. - Primary (Years 1–6): approximately EUR 6,000 – EUR 11,000 per year. - Secondary (Years 7–11 / Sixth Form Years 12–13): approximately EUR 7,000 – EUR 15,000+ per year depending on year group and programme. - Per‑term or per‑installment amounts are not published by the school. As a practical guide, if a school bills termly, expect roughly one‑third of the annual figure per term; if billed in 10 monthly instalments, expect roughly one‑tenth per month. Some regional school practices (examples from comparable British schools) include 10 monthly instalments or termly billing and discounts for a single annual payment. These are common regional billing patterns rather than the British College's published policy. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school's publicly accessible pages do not include a detailed billing schedule or formal payment terms for tuition (due dates, penalties, sibling discounts, etc.). Market guides indicate common local practice is annual, termly or multi‑instalment billing with a one‑time enrolment/matriculation payment in many schools; specific terms for this school are not publicly published. Boarding fees - The British College of Benalmádena operates as a day school; there is no published boarding provision or boarding fee schedule. Other costs and typical additional fees - Uniforms: Uniform items are mandatory and can be purchased at the school; no public price list is published for uniform items. - Lunch / catering: School lunch is compulsory for Nursery, Reception, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3; the school operates an in‑house catering service, but per‑pupil lunch pricing is not published. - School bus: The school runs bus routes (detailed routes/times are published), but bus fares / seasonal rates are not published on the site. - Extracurricular activities and clubs: The school offers extracurricular programmes; some activities may carry additional charges but specific prices are not publicly listed. - Examination and external assessment fees: External exam boards (IGCSE, A‑Level) typically charge per exam; exam fees for candidates are common at British international schools though the school's public pages do not list the amounts. Refund information - The school does not publish a public refund policy or a detailed statement of refund conditions for enrolment, tuition or ancillary charges in its publicly visible information. Regional practice for comparable schools commonly treats certain one‑time enrolment/matriculation fees as non‑refundable, but no specific published refund rules for this school were found. Fee payment options - The school's public pages do not list accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit/debit card, direct debit). Contact details are published for direct enquiry (telephone and email) for admissions and accounts, but explicit payment method options are not posted. Brief summary of availability and reliability of the figures provided - A complete, itemised, year‑by‑year and per‑term fee schedule for the current academic year is not published in the school's publicly available materials. The tuition ranges above are independent market estimates from Costa del Sol and international school guides and should be treated as indicative rather than official school rates. Key operational items (uniform purchase at school, compulsory early‑years lunch, school bus service and day‑school status) are stated by the school in its public pages.
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 Novaschool Sunland International follows a British International Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18, with an adapted programme in courses equivalent to Spanish Secondary and Baccalaureate that allows students to obtain IGCSEs and A Levels through Cambridge and to homologate their studies to the Spanish university system. Foundation starts at age 3 (Preschool) and ends at age 4 (Reception); a bilingual Infant School, Novaschool Baby Sunland, supports early English learning. Key Stage 2 (ages 5-10) covers Years 1-6, Key Stage 3 and 4 (ages 11-16) provide IGCSEs, and Sixth Form (ages 17-18) follows the Cambridge International Examinations for AS/A Levels. The British curriculum is aligned with Spanish ministry requirements and the school enables access to both Spanish and international universities. The campus has 40,000 square meters of facilities surrounded by countryside.	Curriculum details The British College of Benalme1dena follows the Cambridge curriculum pathway. After being awarded the IGCSE certificate, students undertake a two-year AS/A Level course leading to Cambridge GCE Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level examinations. A broad range of AS/A Level subjects is offered, including English Language, English Literature, History, Geography, Mathematics, Global Perspectives, Biology, Spanish, Physics, French, Chemistry, Art and Design, Business Studies, Physical Education, Travel & Tourism, Music, Information Technology, Further Mathematics, Computer Science, Digital Media and Design, and Economics. The senior pathway combines IGCSE preparation in the secondary years with progression to A Levels in the Sixth Form. The curriculum is delivered across Pre-Nursery to Primary and Secondary School levels, culminating in Cambridge qualifications at AS/A Level.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results IGCSE results 2025 show 97 students sat IGCSEs, with 78% achieving A–C grades; First language English achieved 97% A–C; Co-ordinated Sciences 92% A/A/B; Extended Mathematics 98% A–C; Additional Mathematics 100% A/B; History 99% A–C; Art and Design 99% A–C; French 100% A–C. AS/A Level results 2025: 96 students sat four AS/A Level examinations; 97% of students passed all subjects; Mathematics 100% pass rate; Further Mathematics 99% A*; Chemistry 100% pass; Physics 100% pass; Biology 99% pass; History 100% pass; Art and Design 100% A/B.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Sixth Form follows the Cambridge International Examinations curriculum, obtaining AS / A Levels. Students decide whether to pursue Spanish or foreign universities, with study plans adapted in Years 12 and 13 to their future goals. The school also hosts UNITOUR university fairs in Málaga to support higher education progression.	Higher education progression In 2023/2024, 100% of Year 13 students gained places at universities for entry at the start of the 2024/2025 academic year. Graduates attend a range of universities including the University of Westminster, IE University (Madrid), University of Granada, University of Manchester, and others listed on the school's progression page.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards celebrate high achievement by our students; Cambridge Examination Board information shows that each year some students achieve Top in Spain or Top in the World for IGCSE, AS and A Level. Notable examples include Top in Spain for Cambridge A Level Business Studies (June 2025) and Top in the World for Cambridge IGCSE Foreign Language Mandarin Chinese (June 2024). The school credits students and teachers for these achievements, reflecting the school 0s commitment to high attainment.
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 Novaschool Sunland International welcomes students between the ages of 3 and 18 whose needs can be served by the School, regardless of race, nationality or religion. Admission decisions are determined by the Principal in consultation with the Heads of Primary and Secondary and families seeking admission for their child(ren) and should make an appointment with them via the school secretary. It is sometimes possible and desirable by prior agreement for a prospective student to spend a day at the school. Admission is based on previous school reports and references and a statement from the parents and a self-written essay (for students aged 8 and above). The School seeks to admit students of good academic ability, with the appropriate motivation and self-disciplinary skills to participate in and benefit from an international education. All students are eligible for admission if it is believed that the school can meet their particular needs. Students with learning difficulties who meet the above criteria may apply. If a student requires the help of a support teacher, this will incur an additional charge that reflects the costs to the School. All children whose native language is not English and who are older than 10 years must take an oral and written assessment to determine whether they can be admitted. English as an Additional Language (EAL) support may be recommended and can be available to a limited number of students in the school but at additional cost to parents. Students are admitted throughout the year, subject to the availability of places. Applications are normally considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Siblings may be given priority provided the school is given at least two terms notice. Otherwise sibling admissions are subject to the availability of space in the class. Where a class is full a waiting list will be created, again on a strictly first-come basis. Placement in all classes will be made on the basis of the student's previous record and the assessment of the school. The initial placement is tentative, and the school may advise a change of class after the student's abilities have been thoroughly observed. Year level placement is normally always on the basis of chronological age. If a student is not placed in a year by age it is because his/her level of emotional and social development and/or academic ability does not warrant it. Year placement is the prerogative of the Principal upon consultation with staff, parents and others concerned.	Admissions 1. Fall 2025/2026 applications are now open. Registration can be completed by calling the school office to make an appointment, or through the school's web page. If you request a place online, fill in the corresponding form. The school will contact you after receiving your request. 2. To register a student, the father/mother/guardian must make an appointment with the principal and come accompanied by the child. This is listed as part of the admissions process. The appointment takes place at the school to begin the registration. You will receive further instructions after the appointment. 3. Depending on the year you are requesting a place for, the student might need to sit an entrance examination. The entrance exam is noted in the admissions information. Exams may be described as part of the entry requirements for certain cohorts.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist Where a class is full a waiting list will be created, on a strictly first-come basis.	Waitlist —
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