Swans International School - Primary Campus vs The British International School of Marbella

	S Swans International School - Primary Campus Malaga, Spain	T The British International School of Marbella Malaga, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €8,750 - 20,500	Fees / year €6,000 - 14,500
Age range	Age range 3 - 11 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils 800	Pupils 580
Typical class size	Typical class size 12	Typical class size 24
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Spanish	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1971	Opened 2010
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Marbella, Málaga, Spain. Primary Campus: El Capricho s/n, Marbella 29602. Secondary Campus: Lago de los Cisnes, s/n, Marbella 29602.	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 Stage for ages 3-5; Primary School for ages 5-11; Secondary School for ages 11-16; Sixth Form for ages 16-18. GCSE/IGCSE are offered in Years 10-11 and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is offered in the Sixth Form.	Stages Early Years, Primary, Secondary, Sixth Form
School type	School type International school following the British curriculum with GCSE/IGCSE in Years 10-11 and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in the Sixth Form.	School type British international day school offering education based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix More than fifty nationalities represented.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Learning Support is available; a dedicated Learning Support team identifies and provides linguistic or academic support for new students and those with additional needs.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Spain	Country affiliation UK and Spain
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	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 —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & Entrance Fees - Entrance (non-returnable) fee by stage: EUR 1,975 (Foundation Stage), EUR 2,975 (Year 1–Year 6), EUR 3,975 (Year 7–Year 13). - Refundable deposit on acceptance: EUR 1,000. The deposit will be refunded in June provided the School receives written notice of withdrawal at least one full term in advance by the published deadlines; the deposit is forfeited if a place is accepted but not taken up. Tuition fees by year group (per year / per term) - The school does not publish a full, detailed tuition table by year group and per term in its public materials; published third‑party listings report annual day‑student fee ranges rather than a complete per‑year, per‑term schedule. Reported annual fee ranges vary by source and by year group, with typical estimates for the current academic year falling approximately in these bands: Primary/early years roughly EUR 6,500–11,000 per year; Secondary (up to IGCSE) roughly EUR 8,700–16,000 per year; Sixth Form / older students reported at the higher end up to around EUR 20,000–21,000 per year. These figures are reported as annual day fees and are presented as ranges rather than a published per‑year fee table. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition and other school fees are payable in advance and must be paid no later than the end of the first week of each term. A surcharge applies to any fees unpaid by the end of the first week of term. Parents who expect difficulty must meet the School's Managing Director before term begins to agree alternative arrangements. A full term's written notice is required to withdraw a pupil; specific notice deadlines for deposit‑refund consideration are 1st September (Autumn term), 20th December (Spring term) and 30th March (Summer term). Boarding fees - Swans International School operates as a day school; boarding provision is not applicable and no boarding fees are published. Other costs and mandatory extras - Uniform: Parents are responsible for providing and maintaining the full school uniform for the academic year. The school operates an on‑site uniform shop with published opening hours. Costs for uniform items are not published in the public uniform policy. - Stationery and materials: Parents must supply specified stationery and equipment by year group; stationery is available at the school stationery shop. Specific prices for stationery packs are not published in the terms and conditions. - School meals: The school provides freshly prepared, home‑cooked meals daily; meal provision is described but individual meal prices or charging arrangements are not publicly listed. - Additional support and specialist provision: If a pupil requires additional tuition or placement in a smaller support group, this provision is chargeable to parents at the current private tuition rate (or at a reduced support‑group rate where applicable) and must be paid in advance. Other ancillary costs that may be charged include specialist assessments, optional trips, examination fees and ad‑hoc activity costs, where applicable; specific charges for these items are not published in the publicly available terms. Refunds and cancellation - Fees are non‑refundable for absence during term and are not reduced except in exceptional circumstances at the School's sole discretion. The refundable deposit is returned in June if written notice of withdrawal is given at least one full term in advance by the published deadlines; the deposit is forfeited if a place is accepted but not taken up. A surcharge is applied for late payment. Fee payment options - The School's public terms and quick‑link pages do not list specific payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, direct debit) in the published materials. Payment method details and a full, itemised fee schedule are provided in the School's admissions/fee documentation rather than in the public terms; therefore specific accepted payment methods are not available in the public materials reviewed here.	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 Swans follows the British curriculum alongside the Spanish ESO Curriculum, structured into distinct educational stages. Foundation Stage covers ages 3-5 (Early Years and Reception). Primary Education covers ages 5-11. Secondary Education covers ages 11-18, with the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams in Years 10-11. Sixth Form covers ages 16-18, preparing students for higher education with the International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations. The Spanish ESO Curriculum includes specialised Social Sciences and Spanish Languages and Literature for both Primary and Secondary Education.	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 The Swans IB and IGCSE Class of 2025 achieved remarkable results. The IB cohort posted a 100% pass rate, with eight students scoring over 40 points and one achieving a perfect 45. IB scores of 38+ roughly equate to AAA at A Level, and 45 points roughly equate to 4 A*s. Graduates have secured places at top universities worldwide, including LSE, ESADE, Cambridge, Imperial, and University College Utrecht.	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 Graduates have secured places at top universities worldwide, including LSE, ESADE, Cambridge, Imperial, and University College Utrecht.	Higher education progression Our graduating pupils go on to study at universities around the world.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented Enrichment activities are available beyond the standard curriculum, including Arts, Music and Theatre and sports. The school offers the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award since 2013, and enrichment opportunities such as the Debate Club, Student Council and various charity initiatives.	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 The school charges an entrance fee of €1,975 for Foundation Stage, €2,975 for Year 1–Year 6, and €3,975 for Year 7–Year 13, payable when a place is offered; a refundable deposit of €1,000 is payable on acceptance of the school place, with the deposit refunded in June provided written withdrawal is received at least one full term in advance; the deposit is forfeited if a place is accepted but not taken up; if the deposit is not collected by 1 September, it may be transferred to the Swans Library Fund. If no place is immediately available, applicants are placed on a waiting list for the relevant year group and the School will notify parents/guardians when a place becomes available; applicants who do not maintain contact with the School within one academic year of placement on the waiting list will be removed; parents/guardians must notify the Admissions Secretary of any change of contact details. All new entrants are subject to a six‑month trial period, which may be extended for a further six months where a pupil's effort or behaviour does not meet required standards; during the trial or extension the School may take appropriate action, including termination of enrolment, if standards are not met. A full term's written notice is required to withdraw a pupil, with deposit refund deadlines of 1 September (Autumn), 20 December (Spring) and 30 March (Summer). Fees are payable in advance, no later than the end of the first week of each term; if parents anticipate difficulty in making payment they must meet the School's Managing Director before the term begins to agree alternative arrangements; failure to comply may result in loss of place. A surcharge is applied to any fees unpaid by the end of the first week of term. Fees are non‑refundable for absence unless exceptional circumstances apply. Sibling discounts apply to tuition fees: second child 3%, third child 15% and fourth child 20%. Where a pupil is assessed as requiring additional tuition or placement in a smaller support group, provision will be charged to parents at the current private tuition rate (or at a reduced rate where applicable) and must be paid in advance, no later than the end of the first week of term. Progression to the next year group is not automatic; the School may withhold progression where a pupil's academic performance, effort or English language proficiency is insufficient; the School will notify parents of any required interventions; costs for assessments may be charged to parents unless expressly stated otherwise. Pupils must wear the uniform and comply with the Uniform and Appearance Policy; items must be clearly labelled; the School accepts no liability for unlabelled items; stationery and equipment must be supplied as specified for the year group; a list of compulsory items will be provided at the start of term; the School may require assessments to determine a pupil's needs at cost to parents unless stated otherwise. The Home‑School Agreement requires parental support; there is a zero‑tolerance policy toward aggressive or abusive behaviour by pupils or parents/guardians; the School reserves the right to terminate the contractual relationship for serious or repeated breaches; digital conduct, safeguarding and medical protocols apply; consent to use pupil images is granted by enrolment (with opt‑out possible in writing); the School may amend these Terms and Conditions with 28 days' publication notice; deposit forfeiture provisions apply as stated; Administrative Procedures are published by the School.	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 The school awards a scholarship covering the entire Primary Education phase (Year 2 to Year 7) in collaboration with Marbella Town Hall; the scholarship was announced July 31, 2024 and was awarded to a local Marbella student.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist If no place is immediately available, applicants are placed on a waiting list for the relevant year group; the School will notify parents/guardians when a place becomes available; applicants who do not maintain contact with the School within one academic year of placement on the waiting list will be removed; parents/guardians must notify the Admissions Secretary of any change of contact details.	Waitlist —
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