Alicante combines top schooling and culture « Euro Weekly News

The presence of foreign students presents both challenges and opportunities
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Alicante is emerging as one of Spain’s leading provinces in education, recognised both for the quality of its private schools and the growing diversity of its student population. Recent reports highlight the region’s efforts to combine academic excellence with inclusivity, reflecting its status as a popular destination for families from across Europe and beyond.

Six private schools in Alicante have been named among the top 100 in Spain by Forbes magazine, an accolade that underscores their academic achievements, international curricula, and extensive extracurricular programmes. These include:

• King’s College Alicante – Offers a British-style education alongside the International Baccalaureate, with activities such as music, theatre, sports, and robotics. The school emphasises bilingualism and global citizenship.
• El Limonar International School Villamartín – Provides a dual Spanish-British curriculum and encourages volunteering, international trips, and community service, fostering leadership skills and social responsibility.
• La Devesa School (Elche) – Follows the Grupo Sorolla Educación pedagogical model and offers extracurriculars including swimming, football, ballet, and martial arts. Its innovative approach prioritises personalised learning.
• Lady Elizabeth School (Benitachell) – British curriculum with native teachers and extracurriculars such as karate, yoga, science, and public speaking. Students are encouraged to develop confidence and creativity.
• Newton College (Elche) – A multilingual, international school integrating the IB programme with the Spanish curriculum, emphasising critical thinking, problem-solving, and intercultural awareness.
• Xàbia International College (Xàbia) – Follows both the British National Curriculum and the Spanish system, offering cultural and artistic activities, trips, and opportunities to engage in international competitions.

Alongside these centres of excellence, Alicante also stands out for its high proportion of foreign students. Recent statistics show that approximately 29% of primary school pupils in public schools are of foreign origin, making the province one of the most internationally diverse in Spain. Families from UK, Colombia, Algeria, Ukraine, and other countries are increasingly choosing Alicante for its climate, quality of life, and educational opportunities. To meet this growing demand, the city opened the CEIP Pla-Carolinas in September 2025, a new school designed specifically to accommodate students enrolling mid-year from various national backgrounds.

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The integration of foreign pupils presents both challenges and opportunities. Schools must adapt teaching methods to overcome language barriers, varying educational backgrounds, and differing cultural expectations. However, educators note that classrooms with mixed nationalities promote intercultural understanding, collaboration, and empathy, providing students with a broader worldview. Parents also report that exposure to diverse cultures helps their children develop communication skills, resilience, and adaptability, qualities essential in today’s globalised society.

Beyond the classroom, the presence of foreign students encourages local schools to implement innovative support programmes, including language assistance, tutoring, and cultural exchange projects. These initiatives not only benefit newcomers but also enrich the learning environment for all pupils, fostering a sense of community and inclusion. Alicante’s focus on top-tier private education and inclusive public schooling demonstrates the province’s commitment to providing a high-quality learning environment for all students. By balancing excellence with diversity, Alicante sets an example for other Spanish regions. With ongoing investment in infrastructure, teacher training, and support for foreign students, the province continues to strengthen its reputation as a hub of educational achievement and cultural integration, preparing young people for both academic success and global citizenship.

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