Services & Schools
Newcomers to Sotogrande can rest assured that they will have access to excellent local services. You’ll find everything from nurseries, schools and colleges, pharmacies, health clinics, vets, banks and property and garden management facilities in the area.
Health is a concern for us all; fortunately there are three pharmacies plus a number of private health clinics in the area. Residents and visitors may also use the Spanish health service “ambulatorio”, although it is important to remember that you need either a resident’s health card or a European Health Insurance Card. There are two general hospitals nearby: one on the city of Algeciras and the other in the town of La Línea.
Sotogrande International School (SIS) is both a day and boarding school for ages 3 to 18+. The school’s curriculum is based on the International Baccalaureate providing the Primary Years Programme ( 3-11), the Middle Years Programme (12-16) and the Diploma (16-18).
The school is truly international, with students from over 40 nationalities and a 100-member staff of full and part-time teachers, administrators and support staff from the UK, Ireland, USA, Spain and several other countries. The school campus is surrounded by woods and golf courses and the school’s growth from a small British-style school in 1978 to its current status as one of southern Spain’s top international schools with 650 pupils, is a testament to SIS’s result-based reputation.
A strong focus on the individual plus progressive in values and a network of support mechanisms for learning or language difficulties ensures that students achieve the best they can, and many SIS diploma students have gone on to study at the world’s top universities.
SIS can also boast that its staff tend to stay long-term. Retaining staff is often a challenge for international schools in any country. SIS prides itself on employing fully-qualified specialists who enjoy good salaries and benefits, including opportunities for professional development. As a result, students benefit from committed staff who provide a stable learning environment.
Technology plays an important role at SIS and the school is an Apple-certified high tech school that integrates technology into learning. Four iMac labs are available for all ages and SIS has worked closely with Apple to create a cutting-edge teaching environment. In addition, every child has access to laptop and desktop computers and it is also a “Google Apps for Education” school, which promotes a truly 21st century method of education.
Students with a talent for the performing arts and music are well-catered for at SIS, where these subjects are strongly supported and the facilities include a theatre.
Sporty students will find an astroturf pitch, a swimming pool and fully-equipped gymnasium. SIS has always encouraged use of the many recreational activities available in Sotogrande and students can tennis, sailing, horse-riding and, of course, golf are also offered. Indeed, SIS offers scholarships for budding golf professionals who can complete a full IB diploma and develop golf skills with professionals.
Sotogrande International School is fully accredited by the Council of International Schools, the IBO and the Association of British Schools in Spain. In addition, the school is also authorized by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science and offers a convalidated programme for students wishing to go to Spanish universities.
