Phoenix International School vs The O'Brien International School

	P Phoenix International School Alicante, Spain	T The O'Brien International School Alicante, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €3,950 - 6,150	Fees / year €4,300 - 4,950
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 5 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Pearson Edexcel IGCSE	Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum, Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils 130	Pupils 50
Typical class size	Typical class size 15	Typical class size 12
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Spanish
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2013
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Phoenix International School is located in San Miguel de Salinas on the Costa Blanca in Alicante, Spain. It serves San Miguel and surrounding communities including Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Los Montesinos, Quesada, Rojales, Villamartín, Cabo Roig, Campoamor, Mil Palmeras and San Pedro. The address is Calle Albacete, Urb Las Comunicaciones, 03193 San Miguel de Salinas.	Location San Miguel de Salinas, Alicante, Spain. Located in the town of San Miguel de Salinas, about ten minutes from the city of Torrevieja.
Stages	Stages The school is divided into Primary, Secondary and College, serving pupils from age four to eighteen.	Stages Primary through college, including A-levels.
School type	School type A British international school; teaches the British National Curriculum; NABSS-accredited; Edexcel Approved Centre; Cambridge English exam preparation centre; small class sizes (no more than fifteen).	School type British international school following the British curriculum.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation United Kingdom	Country affiliation United Kingdom (British curriculum).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure School hours are 8.45am to 4.00pm with registration at 8.45am for all students.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Registration and application fees - Registration fee (per family): €500. - Deposit (per child) at enrolment: Early Years €395; Primary €635; Secondary €635; College (3 A Levels) €465; College (4 A Levels) €615. - Both the registration fee and the deposit are non-refundable. Tuition fees by year group (monthly, annual total, deposit and termly material fee) - Early Years: Monthly tuition €395. Annual tuition (10 months) €3,950. Deposit €395. Material fee (termly) €38. - Primary: Monthly tuition €595. Annual tuition (10 months) €5,950. Deposit €635. Material fee (termly) €38. - Secondary: Monthly tuition €635. Annual tuition (10 months) €6,350. Deposit €635. Material fee (termly) €38. - College (3 A Levels): Monthly tuition €465. Annual tuition (10 months) €4,650. Deposit €465. Material fee (termly) €38. - College (4 A Levels): Monthly tuition €615. Annual tuition (10 months) €6,150. Deposit €615. Material fee (termly) €38. Billing schedule and payment terms - Annual tuition is divided into ten equal instalments payable for the ten months of the academic year (September–June). Payments are expected monthly. - Payment must be received in the school's bank account before the end of each calendar month. Late payments entering the following month incur a 10% administration charge and may result in exclusion from school. - A retention fee of €100 is payable in May to reserve a child's place for the next academic year; this retention fee is deducted from the invoice in September and is non-refundable if the child does not attend in September. One full calendar month's written notice is required when leaving the school; the deposit will be used to cover the next payable month (if notice is given in July/August the deposit covers September fees). Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable; the school operates as a day school with standard daytime hours for pupils. Other costs and fees - School equipment and booklist: Parents must purchase all required textbooks, uniform and items on the pencil-case list; these are additional to tuition. Material fee is charged termly at €38 per pupil. - External examination fees: International GCSE/GCSE and A Level exam fees are charged per subject and are payable in addition to tuition; the school indicates the current approximate charge is €150 per International GCSE/GCSE or A Level unit. Examination fees are invoiced separately and must be paid by the due date. - School lunches: Optional and paid separately to the restaurant each month. Costs are €5 per month for Early Years, €6 per month for Primary and €8 per month for Secondary and College students. - Sibling discount: Families with two or more children (excluding Early Years and College) receive a 10% discount on monthly school fees; this discount can be withdrawn if terms are defaulted. Refund information - The registration fee and the deposit are non-refundable. The retention fee paid in May is non-refundable if the child does not attend in September. Other refunds are governed by the school's notice and payment terms (one full calendar month's written notice required on leaving; the deposit will be applied as described). Fee payment options and bank details - The school requests payment by bank transfer via a monthly standing order, arranged to credit the school account on the first of every month; include the child's name as the payment reference. The account details provided are: Bank: Cajamar; IBAN: ES05 3058 2589 5327 2000 5846; Account name: Phoenix International School / Refael Revach. Payment must be received by the end of each calendar month to avoid late charges.	Fee details Application / Registration fee - Registration (non-refundable): EUR 450.00. Tuition fees by year group (quoted amounts and annual equivalents) - Primary: EUR 430.00 per month. Annual equivalent (monthly × 10 months): approximately EUR 4,300. - Secondary: EUR 495.00 per month. Annual equivalent (monthly × 10 months): approximately EUR 4,950. - A-Level programme (4 A-Levels): EUR 565.00 (quoted for the 4-subject A-Level package). Annual equivalent (if billed over a 10-month academic year): approximately EUR 5,650. (Annual totals above are shown as monthly rate multiplied by 10 months to give a standard academic-year equivalent; the school publishes the monthly figures and published yearly ranges align with these annual equivalents.) Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is quoted on a per-month basis. Specific term invoicing frequencies are not listed alongside the monthly figures on the published fee schedule. - Exam fees: all exam fees must be paid by 31 January in the year prior to taking the examination. Late entries incur penalties (100% penalty for late entry periods as stated). Amendment fees apply when changing entry level and equal the entry fee plus any penalties incurred. An "Exams Fees in Advance" scheme is offered (payments from September to January may be accumulated for subsequent exam fees). - A 5% sibling discount applies to tuition. Boarding fees - No boarding provision or boarding fees are published for The O'Brien International School. No boarding fees are listed in the school's published fee material. Other costs and fees - Stationery fee: EUR 135.00 per annum. - Exam entry fees: charged per subject; costs for language and some international exam entries vary by exam board and subject (languages, Art & Design and some optional courses may have higher charges). These subject-specific exam charges and optional course costs are applied in addition to tuition and may require separate payment. - Optional additional costs: some optional courses may require study or investigation trips at additional cost; Art & Design and some international language exam entries can be markedly more expensive. Refund information - The registration fee is explicitly non-refundable. Exam-entry penalties for late entries are charged at the stated percentages and are not refundable. No separate general tuition refund policy is published alongside the fee schedule. Fee payment options - No specific payment methods (for example, bank transfer or credit card) are listed on the published fee pages. Contact details for the school's admissions/accounts team are provided for arranging payment and enquiries: telephone 965 076 678, mobile 615 466 398; e-mails theobrienlanguagecentre@gmail.com and info@theobrienlanguagecentre.es.
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 British National Curriculum is taught; ages 3–18; the school is organized into Early Years/Preschool, Primary, Secondary, and College; NABSS recognition; Edexcel/Pearson examination centre.	Curriculum details The O'Brien International School follows the British Council School Curriculum from the English Early Years Foundation Stage through Year 11, with mandatory Spanish instruction to ensure bilingual and bicultural learners. Early Years (Reception) is delivered in English, with 10–15% of the EYFS curriculum taught in Spanish. Primary and Lower Secondary (Key Stages 1–3) follow the English National Curriculum, taught primarily in English, with 80% of the 35-period week focused on core subjects in English and 20% dedicated to Spanish language and cultural studies. Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4 – Years 9–11) typically offers 10 International GCSE subjects, with 8 compulsory—English Language, Mathematics, Single Science, and Spanish—and 2 or more optional subjects including Computing, Economics, History, Geography, Sociology, Statistics, ESL, Business, Art, Music, Psychology, Physical Education, and Religious Studies; Career Guidance begins in Year 9 through the PSHE/Tutorial Programme and continues in Year 11 for post-16 planning. Sixth Form (Key Stage 5 – Years 12–13) requires English, Spanish Language, and Mathematics plus one from Business, Spanish, Geography, Economics, History, or Sociology, with individualised career counselling and university guidance to prepare for higher education. The curriculum includes a broad range of subjects across the arts, humanities, and sciences, with a strong emphasis on bilingual education and global citizenship.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes; not more than 15 students per class.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results A Level results: 94% overall pass rate (August 2018); the school is registered with Pearson Edexcel and is an Edexcel Approved Centre; exam results have consistently surpassed the UK national average for several consecutive years.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression All Sixth Form students receive individualised career counselling and university guidance to prepare for higher education.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented The school provides for students who are particularly 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 Entrance is not determined by an entrance exam; the school assesses students within the first few days after joining so they can settle in and make friends. Class sizes are kept small to provide individualized attention. For Primary, Secondary and College, use the application form provided to begin the admissions process. Registration requires a completed application form and supporting documents. Include one passport-sized photograph; copies of the pupil's passport/NIE/residencia; copies of the parents' passport/NIE/residencia; a copy of the SIP card (social security) or private medical insurance; a copy of Certificado Medico Escolar; a copy of Padron dated within 3 months; and a copy of the previous school report. These documents accompany the application to proceed with enrolment. Financial terms and conditions include a non-refundable registration fee payable on completing the application form and a deposit of €575 payable on enrolment. The deposit is used should you default on payment. Monthly fees are due by the 5th of each month; after the 5th a 5% surcharge applies, and non-payment by the 12th can result in exclusion until payment is made. A 10% sibling discount is available for families with two or more children; a €100 retention fee is charged in May to guarantee a place in September; textbooks and uniforms are purchased by parents; external examination fees are charged prior to exams; and the registration fee is non-refundable.	Admissions 1. The school uses rolling admissions; applications are evaluated as they are received, interviews are conducted, and admissions are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until all class places are filled. Families are encouraged to submit an application and participate in an initial discussion to assess whether the school can meet the child's needs. 2. If places are not immediately available, the child's name will be added to a waiting list upon receipt of the application and the registration fee. Parents may request to remove their child's name from the waiting list at any time. 3. Upon offer and acceptance, families agree that their child will be subject to the school's Rules and Regulations. The school promotes values such as Respect, Honesty, and Consideration for others; bullying and all forms of anti-social behaviour are strictly unacceptable. 4. The Head has sole authority to exclude a student from the school. Exclusions may be fixed-term (up to 45 school days in one academic year) or permanent for serious misconduct. Before expulsion, a meeting is typically held with the student and parents; the Head may expel immediately if warranted. The Head informs the Proprietor of exclusions and, where applicable, the management reviews to determine reinstatement; there is a right to appeal.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships Scholarship Information: The school invites Year 11 students from the local area to apply for the annual Scholarship Program. The scholarship is open to students from any local school, and the award is valued at over €11,900. To register interest or reserve a place, contact 615 466 398, or visit the school website. Past scholarship winners include Logan Barbour and Rosanna de Leo (joint) – 2025, Ellie Warren – 2024, Taylor Hirst – 2023. Register now to take the Scholarship Examination during May half-term.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Rolling admissions policy means applications are evaluated as they are received and interviews are conducted, with admissions on a first-come, first-served basis until all class places are filled. If places are not immediately available, the child's name is added to a waiting list upon receipt of the application and the registration fee. Parents may remove their child's name from the waiting list at any time. Offers are made as places become available.
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