The British School of Málaga, among the best schools on the Costa del Sol

The British School of Málaga has been ranked the most popular international school in Málaga – Costa del Sol by International Schools Database

The British School of Málaga has been recognised as the most popular international school in the Málaga - Costa del Sol region byInternational Schools Database, one of the international school directories most widely used by families, featuring more than 3,800 schools in over 310 cities around the world. The ranking is based on the interest each school generates amongst families searching for a school throughout the year.

For our school community, this recognition holds special value: it reflects the trust of the families who choose us and encourages us to keep working to offer a high-quality British education on the Costa del Sol.

Why are we one of the best schools on the Costa del Sol?

Being one of the best schools on the Costa del Sol depends on many factors, but they all revolve around the same thing: the progress of each pupil. At The British School of Málaga, we support our pupils from the ages of 3 to 18 through the British National Curriculum, complemented by Spanish Language and Culture studies that also allow them to obtain the Spanish qualification.

Added to this are an international teaching staff, a community of more than 50 nationalities and a way of teaching that prepares pupils for life, not just for exams. This is reflected in the values that guide our everyday life: creativity, aspiration, resilience and empathy.

With more than 25 years of experience, one of our key strengths is the combination of the British curriculum with the recognition of Spanish qualifications. This dual educational pathway, together with a multicultural environment and an approach that encourages critical thinking, independence and practical learning, enables our pupils to develop the skills they need to approach their academic and personal futures with confidence.

Discover our school on the Costa del Sol

Since we first opened our doors in 2000, we have grown alongside families in Málaga and across the Costa del Sol. Today we are a British school with a clear international outlook, part of a global educational network, combining the British academic tradition with an active and personalised approach to learning.

We are part of ISP Schools

Since 2018, The British School of Málaga has been part of the International Schools Partnership (ISP), an international network of 121 schools in 25 countries. This membership enables us to share knowledge with teachers around the world and to offer our pupils experiences such as Model United Nations, international chess tournaments and collaborative creative projects with students from other schools in the network.

In addition, the Future Pathways programme guides our pupils on their route to university, and the ISP network has more than 100 partnerships with international universities.

We follow the British curriculum

Our school follows the British National Curriculum at every stage: Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form. In Secondary, pupils prepare for their IGCSEs and, in Sixth Form, for A Levels, one of the most widely recognised pre-university qualifications in the world.

By combining this curriculum with Spanish Language and Culture, our pupils also gain recognition of the Spanish ESO and Bachillerato qualifications and can sit the PAU, the Spanish university entrance exam. As a result, the doors are open to universities in Spain as well as in the UK and other countries.

Educational excellence and transformational learning

As an ISP school, we believe that learning should be transformational, exciting and full of possibilities. That is why we work with Learning.First™, an approach that makes each pupil’s learning visible and measurable, and in which teachers act as genuine co-pilots in their progress.

Academic excellence goes hand in hand with developing life skills. Our Life Competences Framework, developed with the University of Cambridge, helps us to develop cognitive, global, interpersonal, digital and self-leadership competencies, all of which are essential for our pupils’ future.

Our multilingual vision

English is the language of learning from Early Years, with native-speaking teachers and full immersion, whilst Spanish is developed alongside it from the earliest years. In Secondary, pupils take up French or German as a third language, which they can continue through to GCSE and A Level.

With more than 25 languages spoken in our community, in 2024 we launched Multilingual Vision, an initiative that celebrates all of our pupils’ languages and trains our teachers to support multilingual learners.

Recognised as one of the best schools in Málaga

The International Schools Database accolade adds to other recognition we have received in 2026. The newspaper El Mundo ranked us the third best international school in Spain in its list of the best international schools, on which we have featured every year since 2021.

Forbes, for its part, has included us for the sixth year running in its list of the 100 best schools in Spain, on which we are one of nine schools from the province of Málaga. MiCole also highlights us amongst the best schools in Spain and as one of the best schools in Málaga.

These recognitions are complemented by our 2026 academic results, which reflect our commitment to educational excellence. In the A Level examinations, we achieved an overall pass rate of 97%, with 36% of grades awarded at A–A*, above the UK average of 29%. At GCSE, 41% of grades were awarded at grade 7/A or above, compared with the UK average of 23%. These results highlight the hard work of our pupils and the dedication of our teaching staff.

If you are looking for a school in Málaga, look no further!

If you are looking for a school in Málaga that combines an authentic British education, an international atmosphere and close attention to each pupil, The British School of Málaga is the school for you. For more than 25 years, we have supported generations of pupils on their journey to university, and we continue to do so with the same enthusiasm as on the very first day.

We know that choosing a school is an important decision, which is why we would like you to discover first-hand what makes The British School of Málaga different.

Discover our school’s surroundings in the province of Málaga

Our school is located in the residential area of Cerrado de Calderón, in the east of Málaga, around 15 minutes from the city centre and very close to the A-7 motorway. It is a peaceful setting near the sea, surrounded by trees and green spaces, ideal for learning and growing.

We have a separate building for each stage, an outdoor swimming pool, a sports pavilion, padel, football, tennis and basketball courts, four science laboratories and music, art and technology rooms. In addition, our school bus service connects the school with various areas of Málaga and the Costa del Sol, including Benalmádena, Nerja, Añoreta and Alhaurín.

Any questions? Get in touch!

Our admissions are open all year round. If you would like to find out more about our educational programme, our stages or the admissions process, we will be delighted to help. Book a tour and discover for yourself why we are one of the best schools on the Costa del Sol.

Planning enrolment well in advance allows families to learn more about our educational approach, ask questions and prepare for the next academic year with peace of mind. Through our Early Birds initiative, we aim to make this process easier by offering special conditions to families who choose to take this step early. It is an opportunity to discover everything The British School of Málaga can offer their children and make an informed decision about their educational future.