Shoptilludrop

Hi, I also live in Alhaurin El Grande and came out here 8 years ago with my four children. We initially put our 3 eldest children in International School - what a big mistake and a complete waste of money. To cut a long story short our son who was doing his A levels had to get extra tuition in as his teacher was inadequate to teach most of the time so he just about scrapped through and thankfully went to Uni back in the UK and has now got an excellent job in the Middle East. We therefore put our two daughters into the local schools in Alhaurin and I cannot fault them. Yes it was hard at first as they only had limited Spanish, but my youngest daughter who is now 16 excels in her school and her grades are excellent. The Spanish system seem to keep the kids on track with monthly tests and the teachers seem to have a good rapport with the kids. They do though hold the kids back a year if they do not pass certain grades or they get given the chance to retake at the end of the school year. Obviously it is a matter of choice which school you choose but in my opinion the Spanish Education is definitely on the up. Hope this information is useful.

chukkiesmum

very useful indeed so are your kids in the Alhaurin School? and are there a few other English children to help them fit in? I really appreciate your advice because I am not sleeping worrying about my 13 year old lol I want to do it all right and prepare them the best way i can and any advice from people in a similar situation to me is really apprciated, did you find it easy to get them all into the school as that is another worry of mine? x

Shoptilludrop

There are 2 secondary schools in Alhaurin, my daughter is in Fuente Lucena and there are a few British children there along with many other nationalities. She spent one year at one of the Primary schools. It is very easy to get them into the Spanish system, but you need to register on the Padron at the local Town Hall and have an NIE number plus a lot of paperwork which you will get used to in Spain. Your 13 year old should be fine and before long will be speaking Spanish and making lots of new friends. We run a local business in Alhaurin and there are many young families here so I don´t think you will have any problem integrating both with the locals and all the other nationalities that live out here. Hope this helps.

chukkiesmum

It really does thank you so much have pm'd you too x