Finding the Right School

A shortlist built around your child, not a generic ranking

With over 32 international schools in Valencia alone — plus hundreds of local options across different curricula, languages, and pedagogies — finding the right fit takes more than a Google search.

We assess your family’s priorities, your child’s age and language level, your location, and your budget. We then present a shortlist of schools genuinely suited to your situation — whether you’re looking for a British, American, IB, French, Montessori, or Spanish bilingual environment.

1. Understanding your priorities

Before we recommend anything, we get a clear picture of what matters most to your family — language of instruction, curriculum continuity, proximity to home, fees, class sizes, or a specific pedagogy. Families moving from abroad often have very different priorities from those already living in Valencia, and the right school for one family is the wrong one for another.

2. The main options in Valencia

Valencia has a wider range of school types than most Spanish cities. The main categories are:

• Public schools (colegios públicos) — free, Spanish-language, with varying levels of bilingual provision
• Concertada schools — partially state-funded, lower fees than fully private, mix of religious and secular options
• Private Spanish schools — fully independent, often stronger bilingual programmes
• International schools — following British, American, French, or IB curricula, taught primarily in English or French; higher fees but full curriculum continuity for families who may move again

3. Curriculum continuity

For families who have moved from another country or may move again, curriculum continuity matters. A child who has followed the British curriculum benefits from staying within it; switching mid-way can create gaps. We factor this into our recommendations and flag where transitions may require additional academic support.

4. Language level

A child arriving with no Spanish has a very different experience in a Spanish-language school than one who is already conversational. We are honest about what to expect in each environment and recommend accordingly — including schools with stronger integration support for non-Spanish speakers.

5. Fees and availability

International and private school fees in Valencia vary significantly. We give you a realistic picture of current fee ranges and flag waiting list situations so you’re not building your plans around a school that has no availability for your child’s year group.

6. Visits and next steps

Once we’ve agreed on a shortlist, we help you organise school visits and prepare the right questions to ask. A visit tells you far more than any ranking or website.

Want us to arrange school visits or accompany you to the schools in person? That’s covered in our Settlement Pass.