NovaSchool Sunland International vs The British International School of Marbella

	N NovaSchool Sunland International Malaga, Spain	T The British International School of Marbella Malaga, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €6,706 - 7,742	Fees / year €6,000 - 14,500
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 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 British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils 749	Pupils 580
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 24
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Spanish	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2001	Opened 2010
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
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 Main Campus: Calle Teba 4, Marbella 29602, Spain. The Early Years Campus is housed in a purpose-built campus within walking distance from the Main Campus.
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 Early Years, Primary, Secondary, Sixth Form
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 day school offering education based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation UK and Spain
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 The school day runs from 8:30am to 4:30pm. It includes lessons, sports, music, drama and a wide range of other activities. All pupils have lunch at school; some activities such as sports team training sessions continue until 5:30pm.
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 —
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 - No fixed public figure for an application or registration fee is published by the school; parents must contact the admissions office to obtain the current non‑refundable application and enrolment charges. Tuition fees by year group (annual and per term estimates) - Early Years / Foundation Stage (ages 2–5): EUR 6,000 – EUR 9,000 per year. Per term (three terms assumed): approximately EUR 2,000 – EUR 3,000. - Primary (Years 1–6): EUR 8,000 – EUR 12,000 per year. Per term: approximately EUR 2,666 – EUR 4,000. - Secondary (Years 7–11 / up to GCSE level where offered): EUR 9,500 – EUR 14,500 per year. Per term: approximately EUR 3,166 – EUR 4,833. - Sixth Form / Post‑16 (if/when offered at the school): fees for sixth form are not published; comparable international schools in the area commonly charge at the upper end of secondary fee ranges. Use the secondary range above as a local market reference. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school's published admissions material states that families should contact the school for a full fees schedule and that discounts are available for siblings and for payment made annually. Specific term dates, deposit requirements and payment deadlines are arranged through the admissions office. Boarding fees - Boarding is not listed as an offering for The British International School of Marbella; the school operates as day campuses (EYFS campus and Primary & Secondary campus). Therefore boarding fees are not applicable. Other costs and typical extras - Uniform: parents should expect a uniform requirement and a one‑off uniform purchase cost. Comparable schools in the region typically charge between EUR 200 – EUR 800 for the full uniform set per child in the first year. - Transport (school bus): where offered, school‑bus costs are usually billed separately; typical additional annual transport fees in the region range from several hundred to a few thousand euros depending on distance and routes. - Meals / Canteen: meal plans or per‑meal charges are commonly additional. Regionally, canteen costs typically amount to EUR 100 – EUR 300 per month. - Exam, materials and activity fees: exam entry fees (e.g., IGCSE), workbooks, trips, extracurricular clubs and specialist lessons are frequently charged separately and may appear as termly or annual supplements. Budget for additional extras during the year. Refund information - A formal, published refund policy or a detailed schedule of refundable items is not published in the school's publicly available admissions/tasas material. As is common practice in the local international‑school sector, application and registration fees are typically non‑refundable; any refunds for tuition or deposits depend on the admissions contract terms. Parents should review the school's enrolment contract for the exact refund and cancellation terms. Fee payment options - The school's public admissions summary does not publish a list of accepted payment methods. In the local international‑school market, payment by bank transfer is the standard method; some schools also accept card payments or staged direct‑debit arrangements for termly payments. Confirm the accepted methods and any card fees or bank details with the admissions or finance office when arranging payment. Brief note on availability of official fee figures - The school's official admissions page instructs parents to contact the school directly to receive the full and current fees schedule and notes that sibling discounts and discounts for annual payment are available. Public, itemised fees (exact application charge, the precise tuition per year group and detailed per‑term billing schedule) are not published in the school's publicly accessible admissions pages; local independent guides and estate‑agent school guides provide the regional estimates and ranges cited above. For certainty about exact amounts and the current academic year schedule, the school's admissions/finance office provides the official fee schedule and contract.
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 school offers an education based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales leading to GCSE and A Level qualifications. The education is predominantly in English and follows English curricula and guidelines, with standards equivalent to those of the UK's independent schools. Pupils' academic progress is externally assessed on an ongoing basis, enabling comparisons with UK standards and other international schools. Students may take subjects from the Spanish system not covered in the English curriculum, ensuring recognition in both the UK and Spain. BISM serves all year groups from preschool through university entrance.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results A Level Results – 2025: A–A 34%; A–B 72%; A–C 88%; A–E 100% (Pass = A* to E). GCSE Results – 2025: A–A 65%; A–C 95% (Pass = A* to C).
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 Our graduating pupils go on to study at universities around the world.
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 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. Submit application (including last school report if applicable). The admissions process is designed to be quick and straightforward. Applications can be submitted at any time. The next step is the family interview. 2. Family interview. The family interview is part of the admissions process. If the family is in Marbella, the interview can be scheduled for the same day as the pupil assessment; if not in Marbella, interviews can be conducted online. 3. Pupil assessment. Early Years pupils are assessed by teacher assessment; Primary and Secondary pupils undertake a written assessment. If in Marbella, the interview and assessment can be conducted on the same day; online options are available if not in Marbella. The results lead to the school's decision. 4. Decision communicated by school. The school communicates the admission decision. Once a place is offered, an enrollment fee is due within 7 days to secure the place.
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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