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

	S Swans International School - Primary Campus Malaga, Spain	T The British School of Málaga Malaga, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €8,750 - 20,500	Fees / year €8,780 - 11,080
Age range	Age range 3 - 11 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils 800	Pupils 960
Typical class size	Typical class size 12	Typical class size 23
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Spanish	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1971	Opened 2000
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
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 The school is located at Centaurea, 8, 29018 Málaga, Spain.
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 The school offers Early Years through 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 The school is a British international school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix More than fifty nationalities represented.	Pupil nationality mix The school has over 50 nationalities represented and more than 25 languages spoken.
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 The school has an ALN Department providing support for ALN, including English as an Additional Language (EAL) and signposting to professionals such as psychologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists and play therapists.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Spain	Country affiliation The school has a British affiliation.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The school day runs from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, with a Breakfast Club from 8:00 am and a Snack Club from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details The school has a bus service with seven routes.
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 - Registration fee (one-off, new students only): EUR 1,100 per child. The registration fee is a single, non‑refundable payment. - Annual enrolment fee (renewal): EUR 1,100 per child, charged each year for enrolled students. Tuition fees by year group (published annual amounts, and monthly / per‑term conversions) Note: The school publishes annual tuition and offers a default 10‑month instalment option; the monthly figure below is the published annual fee divided by 10. The per‑term figure below is the published annual fee divided by 3 (three academic terms) and is shown for convenience. - Early Years - Nursery (age 3): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 8,780. Monthly (10 payments): EUR 878. Per term (approx.): EUR 2,927. - Reception (age 4): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 8,780. Monthly: EUR 878. Per term (approx.): EUR 2,927. - Primary (Ages 5–11) - Year 1 (age 5): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 9,530. Monthly: EUR 953. Per term (approx.): EUR 3,177. - Year 2 (age 6): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 9,530. Monthly: EUR 953. Per term (approx.): EUR 3,177. - Year 3 (age 7): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 9,780. Monthly: EUR 978. Per term (approx.): EUR 3,260. - Year 4 (age 8): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 9,780. Monthly: EUR 978. Per term (approx.): EUR 3,260. - Year 5 (age 9): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 9,980. Monthly: EUR 998. Per term (approx.): EUR 3,327. - Year 6 (age 10): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 9,980. Monthly: EUR 998. Per term (approx.): EUR 3,327. - Secondary (Ages 11–16) - Year 7 (age 11): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 10,680. Monthly: EUR 1,068. Per term (approx.): EUR 3,560. - Year 8 (age 12): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 10,680. Monthly: EUR 1,068. Per term (approx.): EUR 3,560. - Year 9 (age 13): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 10,850. Monthly: EUR 1,085. Per term (approx.): EUR 3,617. - Year 10 (age 14): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 11,650. Monthly: EUR 1,165. Per term (approx.): EUR 3,883. - Year 11 (age 15): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 11,650. Monthly: EUR 1,165. Per term (approx.): EUR 3,883. - Sixth Form / A‑Levels (Ages 16–18) - Year 12 (age 16): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 12,050. Monthly: EUR 1,205. Per term (approx.): EUR 4,017. - Year 13 (age 17): Registration EUR 1,100 • Enrolment EUR 1,100 • Annual tuition EUR 12,050. Monthly: EUR 1,205. Per term (approx.): EUR 4,017. Billing schedule and payment terms - Default billing method: 10 monthly instalments (September to June inclusive) by direct debit. Returned direct debit charge: EUR 20. Unpaid invoices must be settled within 10 days; a 3% interest is applied to outstanding amounts. Annual upfront payment (paid in full before 31 July) receives a 5% discount. Third‑child discount: 50% discount applicable from the third child on the enrolment fee and tuition fees only. Annual payments are non‑refundable. Boarding fees - Boarding: not applicable. The published fee schedule lists day‑school tuition and additional day services (bus, clubs, breakfast/snack) but does not list boarding facilities or boarding fees. Other costs and additional fees - School lunch: included in the published tuition fee (school lunch is mandatory and included). - School accident insurance: included. - Uniform: compulsory for Nursery through Year 11; uniform must be purchased through the school (prices not listed in the fee schedule). - Chromebook/device: compulsory purchase required for students in Year 3 through Year 11 (price not listed in the fee schedule). Chromebook licences and some digital licences are included in the listed “included” items. - Intensive EAL (English as an Additional Language) programme (for new students): EUR 1,150 per year in KS1 and EUR 2,200 per year in KS2 and KS3; payable in monthly instalments. - External examinations (IGCSE, A‑levels, and official validations) are not included in the published tuition and are charged separately. School trips are not included. - After‑school clubs and extra activities: charged separately. Sample published rates (termly / additional services): - Breakfast/Snack Club (termly): Single ticket EUR 6; 1 day/week EUR 65; 2 days/week EUR 110; 3 days/week EUR 155; 4 days/week EUR 185; Full week EUR 200 (combined with bus or after school lower rates apply). - After‑school general activities (termly, sample): Standard (2 sessions/week) EUR 175; Basic (1 session/week) EUR 145; Extended (3 sessions/week) EUR 205. - Other activities (termly, sample): Standard EUR 200; Basic EUR 170; Extended EUR 220. - School bus (annual/termly options shown as published): Local stops (within Málaga city): Return EUR 555; One‑way EUR 345. Suburban stops (outside Málaga city): Return EUR 600; One‑way EUR 390. (September only/first month pro‑rata termly figures are listed separately in the schedule.) Refund information - The registration fee is explicitly non‑refundable. Annual payments per child are stated as non‑refundable. No other refundable amounts or a broader refund schedule is published in the school's fee document. Returned direct debit charge and late‑payment interest provisions apply as noted under billing terms. Fee payment options - Published payment options and mechanics: default method is 10 monthly instalments by direct debit; the school accepts an annual upfront payment (with a 5% discount if paid before 31 July). The published fee document specifies returned direct debit penalties and late‑payment interest. Specific alternative payment channels (for example, credit card or bank transfer) are not detailed in the published fee schedule. If you need these amounts presented in a different format (for example, separated by monthly instalments per line or per‑term rows for a database import), the figures above are given as published (annual), with the monthly instalment shown as the published annual fee divided by 10 and the per‑term figure shown as the published annual fee divided by 3 for convenience.
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 Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) British curriculum with language immersion. Primary School uses the British national curriculum, complemented with Spanish Language and Cultural Studies. Secondary School progresses with the British national curriculum and leads to IGCSE results, while continuing Spanish classes and ESO preparation. Sixth Form advances to A Level and Spanish university access exams, with a personalised curriculum and the option to study Spanish alongside English to support access to universities in Spain and worldwide. The school holds accreditations from Cambridge International Examinations, Pearson Qualifications, AQA, Cambridge English, and OxfordAQA.
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 —
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 Graduates progress to universities in Spain and worldwide.
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 01 Get in touch today. Get in touch to schedule a campus visit or online meeting, or participate in our monthly virtual open days. Enrolment is open all year round, and the admissions team provides personalized guidance throughout the onboarding process. 02 Join us for a tour. Visit the campus in person to gain a deeper understanding of your child's needs and interests. We discuss the curriculum and show the facilities, offering a glimpse into the learning environment. 03 Taster Day/Online interview. Your child's previous school report may be requested if applicable. We may invite them to experience a taster day at the school or arrange an online interview with the admissions team. 04 Acceptance. After the taster day or online interview, you'll receive a written offer. You'll have 10 days to accept and proceed with the registration process while a registration fee is mandatory to secure a place. 05 Welcome. Congratulations! You're now part of the BSM Family. Families are welcome to attend a Taster Day to experience firsthand how a school day operates, and ongoing communication with the school supports the onboarding journey.
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 Scholarships & university partnerships exist as part of the International Schools Partnership (ISP) network. The school has 100+ global university partnerships that open doors to top institutions, with students awarded over €2.6 million in scholarships to support their success. Through exclusive scholarships, students have opportunities to study with some of the world's most renowned institutions.
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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