Admissions
Thank you for considering Aloha College Marbella,
The Leading International School in Spain.Whether you are living locally or thinking of relocating to the area, choosing the right school is a decision that one does not take lightly. As a mum of two, having lived in 4 different countries before relocating to the Costa del Sol, I understand how important it is to find the school where our children will thrive in a happy environment. I will endeavour to make the admissions process smooth while allowing you to gain a real insight into our school.
Mercedes Colmenar
Head of Admissions
Get started
At Aloha College Marbella, our admissions process is designed to provide an opportunity for both the family and the school to get to know each other. Our goal is to determine whether our school is the right fit for your child’s academic and personal development.
Parental Partnership
At Aloha College Marbella, we deeply value the importance of fostering strong and respectful partnerships with our families. We believe that students thrive best when there is a close and supportive collaboration between home and school. We encourage all parents and guardians to actively engage with and support the school’s ethos, decisions, and policies. We warmly welcome applications from families who share our core values of Care, Resilience, Effort, Honesty, and Respect.
Admissions criteria
Aloha College Marbella welcomes students from all religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. While we celebrate diversity, all students are expected to respect and follow the school's values, codes of conduct, and traditions as outlined in our guidelines.
We seek students who demonstrate:
- Age-appropriate fluency in English, enabling full access to the curriculum without the need for additional language support (including speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension). This is not required for children applying to Nursery or Reception classes (3 and 4 years old).
- A positive attitude towards learning and a genuine enthusiasm for academic growth.
- Adaptability to a high-achieving, dynamic learning environment.
- Learning needs that can be supported within the mainstream classroom setting, without the requirement for significant individual support or one-to-one assistance.
- Strong support from parents or guardians, including active engagement with school life.
- Willingness to adhere to all school policies and contribute positively to the school community.
Students with Special Educational Needs
If a child has any known special educational needs (SEN), families must provide full written documentation at the time of registration or during the enquiry stage. This ensures that we can assess whether the school is able to meet the child’s individual needs effectively.
Get to know us
Welcome! Here are some of the most common questions families ask about life at Aloha College Marbella. We hope this helps you get to know us better.
1. What curriculum does Aloha College Marbella follow?
We offer a British international education for students aged 3 to 18. From Early Years to Year 6, we follow the English National Curriculum with the addition of the International Primary Curriculum. In Years 10 and 11, students prepare for the IGCSEs, and in Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13), they can choose between the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or the International A-Level programme.
2. Can students go to university in Spain and abroad after graduating?
Absolutely! Our graduates access universities all over the world. For students who wish to attend a Spanish university, we provide personalised support to ensure they meet all the necessary qualifications.
3. What languages are taught at the school?
All classes are taught in English. Spanish is introduced from Nursery, and by Year 2, students have up to 6 hours of Spanish per week. From Year 7, students can also choose to study French or German as an additional Modern Foreign Language. Spanish studies are optional in the Sixth Form.
4. What sports are available?
Our students enjoy a wide variety of sports including football, basketball, volleyball, rugby, gymnastics, athletics, table tennis, dance and many more. With outstanding facilities and a strong sports programme, we regularly compete with other international schools both locally and abroad.
5. How can parents be involved in school life?
We love welcoming parents into school! In Primary, parents are invited to assemblies, performances and Stay & Play sessions. We also hold workshops for parents to better understand how we teach and support learning at home. In Secondary, parents are welcome at events like the Science Fair and Art Exhibition.
6. What co-curricular activities are offered?
We offer over 65 co-curricular clubs for students from Year 1 upwards. These activities run mostly from 4–5pm and range from creative arts to sports, music, languages, and personal development. Most are free and led by our teachers, though a few provided by external experts may carry a small fee.
7. What does the school day look like?
In Primary, school runs from 9:00 to 15:40, with supervision available from 8:30 and until 16:00. In Secondary, the day runs from 9:00 to 16:00 and includes six lessons per day, plus breaks for lunch and social time.
8. How are students assessed?
Students are assessed regularly to ensure they’re progressing well. In Primary, this happens throughout each term. In Secondary, we use regular Progress Check Tests and final assessments. Students also sit Cambridge Checkpoint exams (Years 6 and 9), IGCSEs, A Levels or IB exams (Years 11 and 13), and GL assessments at the start of each Key Stage.
9. What is the school’s phone policy?
We have a strict no-phone policy during the school day to encourage focus, interaction and a healthy balance between screen time and social engagement.
10. What makes Aloha students so globally minded?
We believe in teaching students to care for others and the world around them. Each key stage leads a special solidarity project, from helping the elderly and protecting animals, to raising awareness of cancer and neurodiversity. These projects help students grow into compassionate, socially responsible individuals.
11. What is the Aloha Parents Society?
Our wonderful Parents Society is a group of volunteers who help organise many of our most loved events—like the Welcome Party, Christmas Bazaar, and Family Fun Day. They also run coffee mornings and a second-hand uniform shop. Their support is a big part of our community spirit!
12. What are the lunch options like?
We serve nutritious, high-quality meals every day. Our menus are carefully planned to promote healthy eating, and we can cater for specific dietary needs, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free options.
13. Is there a school bus service?
Yes! We offer supervised bus routes from areas like Fuengirola and Estepona. Our trained bus monitors ensure your child’s journey is safe and comfortable.
14. How does the school ensure student safety and wellbeing?
Student safety is a top priority. We have full-time security at the entrances, secure access doors, and a qualified school nurse on site. We also have a partnership with a local medical centre for emergencies during school hours.
15. How do students perform academically?
Our students consistently achieve outstanding exam results. In 2024, we had a 100% pass rate in both IB and A-Level programmes, with impressive scores across the board. At IGCSE, 93% of exams received grades 4–9 (equivalent to A*–C), and nearly half achieved the highest grades (7–9). We're incredibly proud of their hard work and success!
How to apply
Enquiry Stage
This initial phase allows you to learn more about the school while enabling us to understand your child's educational background and individual needs.
- The admissions process begins with the completion of an initial enquiry form on our website. Once submitted, you will gain access to our admissions platform, OpenApply, which we use to manage the application process. This platform allows you to log in at your convenience, upload required documents, track the progress of your enquiry, and submit the full application when you are ready.
- As part of this process, we will share relevant information about the school and request details about your child’s academic background. This helps us ensure that Aloha College Marbella is the right fit for your child. You will be asked to provide:
- Recent school reports
- Copies of passports for both the child and parents
- Proof of English proficiency (if English is not the first language), either in the form of a recognized language certificate (CEFR or similar) or detailed information about how English has been acquired.
- Communication during this stage may take place via email, phone, or an online meeting before a school visit is arranged.
- Note that school visits are scheduled only after we receive the enquiry form and initial documentation, and a preliminary exchange of information has taken place.
Due to the high volume of enquiries, visits cannot always be accommodated at short notice. We kindly encourage families to begin the enquiry process well in advance of their preferred visit date.
We appreciate your interest in Aloha College Marbella and look forward to supporting you throughout the admissions process. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Admissions Team: admissions@aloha-college.com
Application Stage
At the conclusion of the enquiry stage, families may be invited to submit a formal application.
This stage includes:
- Completion of an application form and payment of a non-refundable application fee (200€). This can be done through the Open Apply platform.
- For applicants to Year 3 and above, an entry assessment will be scheduled. If successful, this will be followed by an interview with a member of the School Leadership Team.
- For applicants to Nursery to Year 2, only an interview will be required.
- A reference from your child’s current school will also be requested. The reference will be requested directly to the person in the school whose details you provide: Head of school, Head of Key Stage, tutor or class teacher.
We appreciate your interest in Aloha College Marbella and look forward to supporting you throughout the admissions process. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Admissions Team: admissions@aloha-college.com
Acceptance Stage
Successful applicants will receive an offer letter from the school:
- If a place is available, the offer will be firm for admission.
- If no places are currently available, the offer will be for a position on the waiting list.
To confirm acceptance of an offer:
- A non-refundable reservation fee of 2500€ will be paid within one week of the receipt of the offer. This reservation fee will be deducted from your first payment.
If the offer is for the waiting list, the reservation fee of 1250€ will be paid within one week of the receipt of the offer. This reservation fee is refundable should the school ultimately be unable to offer a place. If a place becomes available, the balance up to 2500€ will be paid within 48 h for the place to be secured.
We appreciate your interest in Aloha College Marbella and look forward to supporting you throughout the admissions process. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Admissions Team: admissions@aloha-college.com
