The International School Estepona

What The International School Estepona does

The International School Estepona (ISE) is a single-site British primary school and nursery located in El Paraiso, Estepona, on the Costa del Sol, Spain. Founded in 2004 by Principal Gillian Godbold, the school serves children aged 2 to 12 across Nursery, Foundation Stage, and Key Stages 1–2, combining a Montessori approach in the early years with the English National Curriculum thereafter. It is fully licensed by the Junta de Andalucía (Cert. No. PP/1923/2011) and its curriculum delivery is monitored by the British Council. The campus comprises a 3,700 sq metre secure compound with purpose-built climate-controlled classrooms, digital smart boards, a computer suite, a grassed garden for younger children, and an all-weather sports ground. The student body draws from over 30 nationalities, reflecting the school's positioning around the expat community in western Marbella, Benahavís, and Estepona.

The school operates a tuition-based subscription revenue model billed three times per academic year, with three age-tiered price points ranging from €1,690 to €3,150 per term, plus a one-off €1,050 registration fee. Ancillary revenue streams include an annual Summer School (€45 per session or €1,050 for the full five-week programme), an optional daily catering service at €6.50 per day via a partnership with Feel Happy Food, and a portfolio of after-school clubs (ESL, Spanish, Dance, Sports, Drama, Arts & Crafts, Homework, Drawing, EYFS Phonics). Distribution is direct-to-consumer: parents contact the school via phone, WhatsApp, or email and are encouraged to tour the facility before enrolling, with limited class sizes driving managed demand. The school has 11 employees and uses third-party digital learning platforms (Mathletics, Reading Eggs, ClassDojo) alongside in-classroom smart boards. Marketing is conducted through the school's website, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and word-of-mouth, with 13 pages of parent testimonials displayed on-site as the primary social proof mechanism.

Name

The International School Estepona

Legal name

The International School Estepona

Website

https://marbellaschool.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International School Estepona is a single-site British primary school and nursery in El Paraiso, Estepona, Spain, serving expat children aged 2–12 with Montessori early years and the English National Curriculum, operating on termly tuition fees since 2004.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Primary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611), Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Montessori Preschools (EDACABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Literacy & ELA Instruction (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAF), Nursery School Programs (2–4 Years) (EDACACAB)

Keywords

• British curriculum education
• Primary school education
• Nursery school programmes
• International primary education
• Early childhood education

Headquarters

HQ city

Estepona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Academic Tuition Fees: Primary revenue stream from termly tuition fees charged across three age groups: Foundation Stage 1 (ages 2-3) at €1,690/term, Foundation Stage 2 and Academic Years 1-2 (ages 4-6) at €2,695/term, and Academic Years 3-6 (ages 7-12) at €3,150/term. Fees are payable three times per year prior to each term commencement.
2. Registration Fee: One-time non-refundable registration fee of €1,050 charged upon enrolment. No deposit is required.
3. Summer School and Holiday Clubs: Optional summer school programme at €45 per session or €1,050 for the full five-week programme. Holiday clubs offered during breaks. This is a separate revenue stream available to both current pupils and non-pupils.
4. School Catering Service: Optional daily catering service provided by Feel Happy Food at €6.50 per day, with monthly payment options available. Adaptable for allergies, intolerances, and special dietary requirements.
5. After-School Activities: After-school clubs including ESL Club, Spanish Club, Dance Club, Arts & Crafts, Homework Club, EYFS Phonics Club, Sports Club, Drama & Expression, and Drawing Club, available for a small additional charge from 4:00 to 5:00 PM.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The International School Estepona is a British primary school and nursery in El Paraiso, Estepona, delivering the English National Curriculum to children aged 2-12 through Montessori early years (Foundation Stage) and Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 instruction. It also sells ancillary services including an annual Summer School, Holiday Clubs, After-School Activities, and an optional catering service, all delivered from a single 3,700 sq metre purpose-built campus on the Costa del Sol.

Product overview

The International School Estepona operates as a single-site British primary school and nursery in El Paraiso, Estepona, Spain. Its core product is a full-time educational programme for children aged 2–12, combining the Montessori approach in early years with the English National Curriculum (KS1 & KS2) for primary. Supplementary offerings include a Summer School Programme running each July, an After-School Activities Club (ESL, Spanish, Sports, Drama, Homework, Drawing, Arts & Crafts, Dance, and EYFS Phonics), and an optional catering service. The school also offers Holiday Clubs during school breaks. All components share the same campus, student body, and teaching staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Full-Time British Primary School and Nursery Programme Full-time British curriculum education for children aged 2-12 (Nursery through Year 6), covering Foundation Stage 1, Foundation Stage 2, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2; Foundation Stage follows Montessori principles, Years 1-6 follow the English National Curriculum. Pricing is tiered by age group, from €1,690 per term (ages 2-3) up to €3,150 per term (ages 7-12), with a one-off €1,050 registration fee.
• Summer School Programme Annual English-speaking summer school for children aged 4-12 combining sports, arts, crafts, music, and outdoor activities; open to current pupils and non-pupils, priced at €45 per session or €1,050 for the full five-week programme (with a €75 discount for full booking).
• After-School Activities (Clubs)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 30 nationalities represented among pupils
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Feel Happy FoodminorOthersFeel Happy Food is a Marbella-based catering company with over 30 years of experience in school catering. They provide the optional daily meal service at €6.50 per day, offering healthy, freshly prepared school meals adaptable for allergies, intolerances, and special dietary requirements. This is a vendor relationship for ancillary services rather than a core business partnership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Nord Anglia Education: Global operator of premium international schools including British-curriculum campuses. Represents the scale-driven incumbent model that could eventually enter or expand on the Costa del Sol, with a technology, marketing, and capital base far exceeding ISE's.
• GEMS Education: One of the world's largest K–12 private school operators with multiple British-curriculum campuses globally. Comparable to ISE only in segment (British-curriculum premium private education), but operates at vastly greater scale with strong brand recognition among globally mobile expat families.
• Cognita Schools: International group operating K–12 schools across Europe, Asia, and Latin America including British-curriculum schools. A potential consolidator or new-entrant threat given its institutional scale, multi-site operating model, and capability to add a Costa del Sol campus.

Direct peers

• English International College (EIC) Marbella: British/international college in Marbella delivering the English National Curriculum through to sixth form. Competes for the same primary-entry expat cohort with a fuller K–12 pathway, making it a substitute for families who prioritize long-term continuity on the Costa del Sol.
• St Anthony's College Marbella: British-curriculum school in the Marbella area serving primary and secondary years. Competes directly for the same expat primary-school intake and offers secondary school continuity that ISE does not.
• Aloha College Marbella: Long-established British international school in Marbella serving ages 3–18 with the British National Curriculum. Closest direct peer — same Costa del Sol market, same curriculum, same expat family segment, but with a broader age range including secondary that ISE lacks.
• Swans International School Marbella: British-curriculum school in Marbella serving primary and secondary years. Direct competitor for the same expat family segment on the Costa del Sol, with the advantage of secondary-school continuity that creates retention pressure for ISE.

Regional players

• The British School of Málaga: British-curriculum school in Málaga serving a similar primary expat segment but in a separate city ~50 minutes east of Estepona. Regionally adjacent rather than directly competing in Estepona, but draws from the same broader British-expat population on the Costa del Sol.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/internationalschoolestepona
• Instagraminstagram.com/isemarbellaschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-international-school-estepona

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The International School Estepona