Schools on the Costa del Sol: the options for international families

Many of our enquiries come from families with children who are thinking of moving to the Costa del Sol for all or part of the year. For them, the deciding factor is rarely the home: it is schooling. The area around Málaga has a wide choice, and the right one depends on how long you plan to stay and which language you want your children to learn in.

The basics

School is compulsory in Spain from 6 to 16: six years of primary school and four years of secondary (ESO), followed by two optional years of bachillerato (sixth form). The years from 3 to 6 (infantil) are voluntary but free in state schools. Children are placed by calendar year: in Andalucía, a child starts infantil in the year they turn 3 and primary school in the year they turn 6. Foreign children have the same right to education as Spanish children.

In Málaga province, the 2026/27 school year started on 10 September (15 September for secondary), and for most year groups lessons end on 24 June 2027.

Spanish state and concertado schools

State schools teach in Spanish and cost nothing for the teaching itself. Concertado schools are privately run but publicly funded, and may not charge for the free teaching either, although extras such as meals and activities cost money. This route gives the fastest integration, and in our experience younger children adapt surprisingly quickly. Andalusian state schools also run temporary Spanish language classes (ATAL) for pupils who do not yet speak Spanish.

You apply through the Junta de Andalucía. For 2026/27, applications ran from 1 March to 7 April, with enrolment in June or July. Your address is checked against the local register, and if it does not match, you need a certificate from the padrón (municipal register) at the town hall. Families arriving later can still apply, but lose priority.

International schools

Many families choose a private international school, often teaching in English, with pupils from many countries and fees to match. Schools teaching a foreign curriculum, such as the British one, must be authorised and registered by the Spanish education authorities, and you can look a school up in the Ministry of Education's national register of schools. Some British schools abroad are also inspected under the UK Department for Education's voluntary British Schools Overseas scheme. Ask the school about both, and how its qualifications are recognised if your child later moves to a Spanish school.

Start early

Whichever way you lean, start early, ideally before the house hunting begins. School places, deadlines and location should shape where you settle, because the school run soon becomes part of everyday life. Our article on lifestyle and areas on the Costa del Sol is a good place to start.

We are happy to share our experience of which areas work well for different schools. Get in touch, or browse homes for sale, and we will talk about how home and everyday life can work together for your family.