Looking for a perfect school!

Hi there, 

I'm a mom of two girls. My oldest is almost 16, highly academic. Wants to go to a University to be a Pediatrician.

My youngest is 13, almost 14. Good student also, but this one wants to be a Chef. We think we need to send my daughters to a International Private school. My first question is, what's the diference between a International Baccalauret and the European? We work from home, so we are fortuned to be able to move anywhere. My sister recomended the Alicante area.We would prefer to be close to the water. I'm open to sugestions, however does anyone have an insiders scoop on the International Private Schools of this area? I do want to provide my children with a nurturing, happy and interactive learning school. I can't find any reviews anywhere.

Very grateful for any help!

Are you already living in Spain or just planning to move there? It sounds as though you are an American. Your eldest daughter at 16, is just 2 years short of university. Would she need to change countries again, to go to an English speaking one? It might be better to wait until her schooling is finished and university chosen before the move. Also, as a point of interest, young people in Spain find it very difficult to get work so your younger daughter might struggle to find work as a chef. The International Baccalauret is becoming more common in mainstream schools in the UK but I don't know the difference between that and a European one. Someone on here might be able to help with that and advice on schools in the Alicante area. Good luck with your search.

If you're two children can speak fluent Spanish then go for it ,if they don't then think again .

If you are prepared to consider Valencia, I can help with advice on schools, but as far as Alicante is concerned I can't help much there. If you do consider it let me know.

r

First I would like to thank all of you for your help. No we're not livng in Spain, planning to move there next Summer!

And yes we live in the USA. My oldest have two more years of high school, and the youngest four years to go by next Summer. Because my oldest have just two more years we think the way to go is an International Private British school is the way to go, they speak spanish but not well enough to tackle a full on spanish school with it. To minimize that the International Brithish school! She would go then to a British or American University. We check with UCSD, and they appreciate and accept the IB from the british schools. My youngest the little chef, after trainning can go anywhere to work, not an issue, but a very good point! Thank you! We wore looking at the British International Schools Cambridge House, Lady Elizabeth, King's College in Alicante, and the school in Azura. Does anyone know anything about the schools listed here? Is there any other reasons I do not want to bring my children to Spain?

Are you referring to Cambridge House in Valencia (Betera) ? 

Yes, Valencia is a possibility, em there for we wore looking at the British Private Schools in this area. I would love to hear from parents with children in does schools to, if possible. Thank you so much for all your help. I want to make this transition as painless to my children as possible.

Very grateful,

Do consider Valencia and take up Ian's offer. It's a wonderful city, combining the old and new plus beach. A great place for children as well. IMO much nicer than Alicante. I only know it as a visitor so can't help with schools I'm afraid.

Of course, I would love to hear from Ian. We wore looking at towns between Alicante to Valencia. 

I like Xabia, but I'm not certain of the schools.

If we can live outside the town of Valencia, it would be ok. I think.

We like nature and would be comimg from a small community. It seems to me it would be to much of a transition

for my children to live in a "big" city. :-)

I will wait for more information. Thanks!

Hi there. I know most private schools in the Valencia area. Some very well. My daughter went to Cambridge House and I know the school very well. As far as English schools go, it is the best in the region, in my opinion. Although sporting facilities are scarce, teaching quality and extra curricula activities were excellent. They follow the English system GCSE and A levels, not the IB. If you are interested in good sporting facilities too you would need to look at Caxton College, but I preferred the more 'homely' feel of Cambridge House personally.  

If you want to do the IB there are other schools such as The Amercian School and the The British School both are good schools, smaller but still sound teaching. The best thing I can recommend is visiting the schools and speaking to them all. Unless things have changed in the past couple of years I wouldn't hesitate at checking out Cambridge House, consistently at the top of the results table for British Schools in Spain and it is very family orientated. 

Please don't think that Valencia is a thriving city, even though it is the thrid biggest city it doesn't feel that big at all. I would consider it to be a big town with a village feel. The perfect mix. If you move to seasonal towns like Javea or Denia, Calpe, Altea ...etc   they are effectively holiday resorts with a very small popluation in the winter times so they are very quiet. Valencia offers so much more for children especially if they haven't grown up in the area. There are many lovely little villages on the outskirts of Valencia worth looking at. Cambridge House is in Betera which is just 15 km from Valencia centre.

Please feel free to ask any questions.

r

Ian