Costa Blanca International College vs Phoenix International School

	C Costa Blanca International College Alicante, Spain	P Phoenix International School Alicante, Spain
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €500 - 5,750	Fees / year €3,950 - 6,150
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Spanish Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils 300	Pupils 130
Typical class size	Typical class size 20	Typical class size 15
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Spanish	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location —	Location Phoenix International School is located in San Miguel de Salinas on the Costa Blanca in Alicante, Spain. It serves San Miguel and surrounding communities including Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Los Montesinos, Quesada, Rojales, Villamartín, Cabo Roig, Campoamor, Mil Palmeras and San Pedro. The address is Calle Albacete, Urb Las Comunicaciones, 03193 San Miguel de Salinas.
Stages	Stages —	Stages The school is divided into Primary, Secondary and College, serving pupils from age four to eighteen.
School type	School type —	School type A British international school; teaches the British National Curriculum; NABSS-accredited; Edexcel Approved Centre; Cambridge English exam preparation centre; small class sizes (no more than fifteen).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation United Kingdom
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure School hours are 8.45am to 4.00pm with registration at 8.45am for all students.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - No definitive, school-published application or enrollment fee schedule is publicly available. Third‑party listings report a one‑off admission/registration fee of €500 and an enrolment deposit of €575. Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year) - The school does not publish a public, itemised fee schedule for the current academic year; therefore there is no confirmed, school‑published per‑term or per‑year breakdown available. Third‑party listings provide sample monthly/annual figures that have been reported for comparable year groups: Preschool reported at €520 per month (≈ €5,200 per year), Primary reported at €545 per month (≈ €5,450 per year), and Secondary/High School reported at €575 per month (≈ €5,750 per year). These figures are third‑party reports and are not a verified, school‑published fee schedule. Billing schedule and payment terms - There is no publicly available, school‑published statement of the billing schedule or the precise payment calendar for the current academic year. Third‑party information that lists monthly totals implies a monthly billing option may be used, but a definitive termly/annual/instalment schedule and due dates are not published. Expect the school to require payment either annually, by term, or by monthly instalments and to require an upfront registration/enrolment payment when a place is accepted, though the exact timing and any penalties for late payment are not publicly listed. Boarding / residence fees - Costa Blanca International College is listed as a co‑educational day school; no boarding or residential fees are publicly documented. If a boarding option is required, separate boarding providers or different schools should be considered because no board (pension) fees are published for this school. Other costs and common extras - Uniform: The school is recorded as having a mandatory uniform; however the cost of uniform items is not published. - School meals / comedor: The school offers a school meals service; meal pricing is not publicly listed. - Transport: A school transport service is recorded as available; specific routes and fares are not publicly listed. - Examination and external assessment fees: The school offers the International Baccalaureate and/or British curriculum qualifications; IB, GCSE or A‑level exam fees and any external assessment charges are not published and are typically billed separately by many schools. - Books, materials, excursions, extracurriculars and insurance: These common additional costs are not detailed in any publicly available school fee schedule. Parents should plan for additional annual expenses for textbooks, school trips and optional activities. Refund information - A school‑published refund policy for deposits, tuition or extras is not publicly available. There is no published public statement of which fees (if any) are non‑refundable or on what schedule refunds (partial or full) are issued. Fee payment options - The school does not publicly list accepted payment methods. In practice, private schools in Spain commonly accept bank transfer, direct debit/standing order or card payments; specific accepted methods and details (online payment gateway, card surcharge, account details for international transfer) are not publicly listed for this school. Parents should be prepared to arrange international bank transfer or card payment if required. Summary note on availability of detailed school figures - There is no school‑published, itemised fee schedule publicly available for the current academic year. Third‑party directories and local guides list the school and report sample admission and monthly tuition figures (examples cited above), but a full, authoritative per‑year, per‑term, and per‑year‑group breakdown with billing dates, refund rules and official payment methods is not published in a publicly accessible fee schedule. Where exact, school‑issued numbers and terms are required for a database, the school's official fee schedule or formal fee communication is needed to confirm final figures and terms.	Fee details Registration and application fees - Registration fee (per family): €500. - Deposit (per child) at enrolment: Early Years €395; Primary €635; Secondary €635; College (3 A Levels) €465; College (4 A Levels) €615. - Both the registration fee and the deposit are non-refundable. Tuition fees by year group (monthly, annual total, deposit and termly material fee) - Early Years: Monthly tuition €395. Annual tuition (10 months) €3,950. Deposit €395. Material fee (termly) €38. - Primary: Monthly tuition €595. Annual tuition (10 months) €5,950. Deposit €635. Material fee (termly) €38. - Secondary: Monthly tuition €635. Annual tuition (10 months) €6,350. Deposit €635. Material fee (termly) €38. - College (3 A Levels): Monthly tuition €465. Annual tuition (10 months) €4,650. Deposit €465. Material fee (termly) €38. - College (4 A Levels): Monthly tuition €615. Annual tuition (10 months) €6,150. Deposit €615. Material fee (termly) €38. Billing schedule and payment terms - Annual tuition is divided into ten equal instalments payable for the ten months of the academic year (September–June). Payments are expected monthly. - Payment must be received in the school's bank account before the end of each calendar month. Late payments entering the following month incur a 10% administration charge and may result in exclusion from school. - A retention fee of €100 is payable in May to reserve a child's place for the next academic year; this retention fee is deducted from the invoice in September and is non-refundable if the child does not attend in September. One full calendar month's written notice is required when leaving the school; the deposit will be used to cover the next payable month (if notice is given in July/August the deposit covers September fees). Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable; the school operates as a day school with standard daytime hours for pupils. Other costs and fees - School equipment and booklist: Parents must purchase all required textbooks, uniform and items on the pencil-case list; these are additional to tuition. Material fee is charged termly at €38 per pupil. - External examination fees: International GCSE/GCSE and A Level exam fees are charged per subject and are payable in addition to tuition; the school indicates the current approximate charge is €150 per International GCSE/GCSE or A Level unit. Examination fees are invoiced separately and must be paid by the due date. - School lunches: Optional and paid separately to the restaurant each month. Costs are €5 per month for Early Years, €6 per month for Primary and €8 per month for Secondary and College students. - Sibling discount: Families with two or more children (excluding Early Years and College) receive a 10% discount on monthly school fees; this discount can be withdrawn if terms are defaulted. Refund information - The registration fee and the deposit are non-refundable. The retention fee paid in May is non-refundable if the child does not attend in September. Other refunds are governed by the school's notice and payment terms (one full calendar month's written notice required on leaving; the deposit will be applied as described). Fee payment options and bank details - The school requests payment by bank transfer via a monthly standing order, arranged to credit the school account on the first of every month; include the child's name as the payment reference. The account details provided are: Bank: Cajamar; IBAN: ES05 3058 2589 5327 2000 5846; Account name: Phoenix International School / Refael Revach. Payment must be received by the end of each calendar month to avoid late charges.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement Uniform is mandatory.	Uniform requirement Reception and Primary wear royal blue polo shirts with the Phoenix logo and royal blue sweatshirts; black trousers, mid-length shorts or knee-length skirts, with plain black or white socks or tights and plain black or white trainers with subtle logos. Secondary wear white polo tops with the Phoenix logo, black sweatshirts, and black fleeces, with black trousers or knee-length skirts and plain black or white trainers; PE kit consists of a white polo shirt with logo and black shorts or joggers. College has no uniform requirements; students should dress appropriately for the classroom.
Food options	Food options Canteen on site.	Food options Hot lunches are available from the school restaurant, with the option to bring a packed lunch. A tuck shop sells snacks and drinks during breaks and lunchtimes. Nut allergies are accommodated by avoiding peanut butter or nut products in packed lunches, and chocolate or sweets are discouraged.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details —	Curriculum details British National Curriculum is taught; ages 3–18; the school is organized into Early Years/Preschool, Primary, Secondary, and College; NABSS recognition; Edexcel/Pearson examination centre.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes; not more than 15 students per class.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results A Level results: 94% overall pass rate (August 2018); the school is registered with Pearson Edexcel and is an Edexcel Approved Centre; exam results have consistently surpassed the UK national average for several consecutive years.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning Phoenix International School fosters social and emotional development within a secure, nurturing environment and a positive behaviour framework. Small class sizes support close relationships and individualized support. The school recognises achievement across academic, sporting and personal areas and uses a rewards system to reinforce positive behaviours. A restorative approach is used to address issues, including restorative meetings to repair relationships. Staff model respectful interactions and encourage independence, self-regulation and intrinsic motivation.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) Primary teachers work with parents and learners in behaviour management and SEND provision. They liaise with and refer learners who display continuous disruptive behaviour, put in place appropriate provision for SEND children, and use data to target provision and assess outcomes beyond the policy.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language For children with English as an additional language, homework is explained verbally and in writing and is often presented in pictorial form. When possible, it is explained in the child's first language. The individual needs of EAL learners are taken into account when issuing homework, and they may not follow the standard class homework timetable.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing Engagement with learning is the primary aim and the school maintains a positive, encouraging environment. Positive behaviour rewards, such as reward points and the Good to be Green scheme, support wellbeing and motivation. When needed, staff use a structured set of steps to support learners, including redirection, reminders and restorative interventions to maintain a constructive learning climate.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students. Safeguarding policies and procedures are in place to protect pupils and ensure their welfare across school life.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview Phoenix International School is located in San Miguel de Salinas on the Costa Blanca in Spain. The school serves pupils from age three to eighteen and is divided into primary, secondary and college. The campus includes an outdoor playground used for activities and events, including Busy Bees ceremonies in the playground. Hot lunches are available from the school restaurant, and a tuck shop operates during breaks. Class sizes are small, usually no more than fifteen students.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities Sports are central to Phoenix International School. The Primary Department includes swimming, running, team games, dance, gymnastics, field games and athletics. All children participate in the school sports day, with pupils divided into house teams and trophies awarded for progress and sportsmanship. The school holds two annual sports days: a traditional winter event and a water sports day in the summer. The college allows use of the playground by students on campus under staff supervision.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities The Primary Department follows the National Curriculum, supplemented with a comprehensive Spanish Programme of Study. The school teaches the British National Curriculum and is inspected by NABSS; it is registered with the Pearson/ Edexcel exam board. Early Years uses the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum and uses Tapestry for progress tracking. ICT is used across the curriculum to support learning.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities We celebrate special occasions and hold two annual sports days, including a traditional winter sports day and a summer water sports day. The End of Year production and other school productions are part of the yearly activities. English and Spanish events and celebrations are observed throughout the year. The Busy Bees awards ceremony takes place every Friday at 3:50 pm in the playground for parents to watch. The school also conducts fundraising activities to support specialist equipment for the children.
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 Phoenix International School teaches the British National Curriculum and is NABSS-accredited, with Edexcel registration for examinations. It serves students from nursery through college, aged 3 to 18, and maintains small class sizes of no more than fifteen students. In August 2018, the school reported an overall A Level pass rate of 94%.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language Phoenix International School is a British International School in San Miguel de Salinas on the Costa Blanca, serving students aged 3–18 in nursery, primary, secondary, and college. It teaches the British National Curriculum and is NABSS-accredited, with Edexcel registration. Most teachers and staff speak English and/or Spanish. The school draws a diverse mix of nationalities and operates in a multilingual, multicultural environment.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies The school hosts the Phoenix International Cricket Tournament, an inter-school event that includes partner schools such as El Limonar International School, Kings College Murcia, Laude Newton College, and Phoenix International School. Visiting students from Norlington School for Boys served as scorers and umpires, helping to develop coaching and leadership skills. Students demonstrated good sportsmanship and a strong sporting attitude throughout the day.
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service Parents can volunteer to support the school in their child's class, read with children, help in the library, assist with Art, and offer other talents; long-term helpers require CRB checks. These opportunities invite community involvement and collaboration with school activities.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional Participation in events such as the cricket tournament fosters leadership and coaching skills among students. The event also provides opportunities for peer leadership and teamwork as part of inter-school collaboration.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing School hours are 8:45am–4:00pm with registration at 8:45am, and breaks in the morning and at lunch. Hot lunches are available; packed lunches are allowed, and healthy eating is encouraged; there are restrictions on sweets and peanut products due to nut allergies. A tuck shop offers healthy snacks and drinks. Sunscreen is encouraged and hats are advised; parents should apply sunscreen before school. Electronic devices and toys are restricted and may be confiscated if brought to school.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision Spanish is taught to all children as a core subject. A comprehensive Spanish Programme of Study supplements the National Curriculum. Spanish is taught by native Spanish teachers and follows a syllabus that leads to International GCSE examinations in Spanish. English is taught as part of the curriculum with emphasis on reading, writing and speaking and listening.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations Edexcel Approved Centre.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions Entrance is not determined by an entrance exam; the school assesses students within the first few days after joining so they can settle in and make friends. Class sizes are kept small to provide individualized attention. For Primary, Secondary and College, use the application form provided to begin the admissions process. Registration requires a completed application form and supporting documents. Include one passport-sized photograph; copies of the pupil's passport/NIE/residencia; copies of the parents' passport/NIE/residencia; a copy of the SIP card (social security) or private medical insurance; a copy of Certificado Medico Escolar; a copy of Padron dated within 3 months; and a copy of the previous school report. These documents accompany the application to proceed with enrolment. Financial terms and conditions include a non-refundable registration fee payable on completing the application form and a deposit of €575 payable on enrolment. The deposit is used should you default on payment. Monthly fees are due by the 5th of each month; after the 5th a 5% surcharge applies, and non-payment by the 12th can result in exclusion until payment is made. A 10% sibling discount is available for families with two or more children; a €100 retention fee is charged in May to guarantee a place in September; textbooks and uniforms are purchased by parents; external examination fees are charged prior to exams; and the registration fee is non-refundable.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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