WHAT/ WHERE?

El Limonar International School (ELIS) in Murcia, Spain, is a co-ed all-through school for ages 3 – 18 yrs, part of the global family of Cognita Schools. Spread across two campuses Early Years and Primary are located on the picturesque Buenavista Campus, while the Senior School and Sixth Form are a 15 min walk away at the new state-of-the-art Montevida Campus.

Considered one of the best schools in Spain (the list of accolades is long), ELIS Murcia offers the English curriculum as well as UK, EU, American and Spanish university preparation. What does this mean? Dual qualifications: British IGCSEs and Spanish ‘Graduate in Compulsory Secondary Education’ certificate, coupled with Spanish ‘Baccalaureate’ and English A-Level certificates. Languages are huge here (children are bilingual from Infants and leave Senior school trilingual), the school values are not just adorned on the wall but lived in every moment – respect, care, perseverance, kindness and honesty – create the foundation and there’s a healthy balance between academic excellence and developing passions beyond the classroom. 

Pupil numbers are strong: 875 across the whole school, 425 in the Upper School with the capacity to grow the Montevida Campus. Class sizes are between 17 and 26 depending on the subject – and some A Level classes are 5/6. Fun fact, 84% of pupils here are Spanish, with the rest made up of international students. The endless sunshine, global vibe and cultural diversity are box tickers for families right now.

As the for the Senior School’s location? The new, state-of-the-art Montevida Campus has a grown up, buzzy vibe – a bit like a mini university but with the warmth and care you would expect in a leading senior school. The three-storey concrete and glass building is impressive and has been kitted out with all the eco bells and whistles. It generates electricity for the campus, collects and stores rainwater for use across the school, has integrated air temperature control systems and there’s a mindful view of the Verdolay bringing the outside in at every opportunity. 

The big news is the opening of a new Middle School for Y7 and Y8 from September 2025. Based on the Buenavista Campus, it will offer a tailored curriculum that prepares fully for Senior school and the increased focus on exams. It’s all about quality, quality, quality – in the teaching, learning environment and curriculum. Often Y7 and Y8 can feel like you’re in an exam holding pattern, waiting for the business end of your child’s academic journey to start. Having a space dedicated to their academic and personal growth will be a huge benefit.

FACILITIES

The Montevida Campus was built in 2020 and spans an impressive 15,000 sqm. It’s by no means a small site, and the design creatively packs in all the facilities the kids need and more. Outside you find multiple astroturf pitches and courts for volleyball, basketball and handball, and an athletics running track. Inside, there’s a large theatre, music rooms, an art and design studio with incredible views, IT and science labs and light, bright classrooms with glass walls and digital screens that promote collaborative, active learning.

SPORT

It’s a sporty school with opportunities to play football, cricket, tennis, netball, volleyball, handball and athletics. The tennis club at the Buenavista Campus is excellent – and if you’re lucky you may get to see Murcian local and World No1 tennis play Carlos Alcaraz on court.

Participation is the name of the game, and by the end of Y10, all the students will have represented the school in competition. What I was most impressed with was the school’s commitment to gender-neutral sport. Football is big (hardly surprising in Spain) and there’s a pitch rotation, giving the girls protected times. Cricket is growing in popularity, and for a more alternative list of physical activity, they can sign up for taekwondo, gymnastics, Padel, dance, to name a few. 

It’s worth noting, ELIS Murcia has many high-performing athletes – footballers (some of the girls will play for Spain), tennis players, rhythmic gymnasts, golfers, talented horse riders, a snowboarder, and several elite sailors. Many of them represent Spain and have Olympic ambitions. These children are very well supported, with the school organising talks with sports psychologists, guidance to achieve sports scholarships to national and international universities and the flexibility to train and attend competition while continuing to tick all the academic boxes. The evolving plans for the opening of a new strength and conditioning suite will only add to the offer.

ART, MUSIC, DRAMA

The School of Music provides personalised teaching from Early Years through to A Levels, with opportunities to join musical groups. There are termly and annual music events and festivals for the children to showcase their talents and you’ll find practical sessions and concerts taking pace in the amphitheatre. For those who want to take their musical talents to the next level, they can take official exams by ABRSM and RockSchool. Elsewhere, you’ll find drama and art studios. 

The Art Room has been designed to maximise the school’s incredible views. Located on the first floor, with vast amounts of glass framing the superb views. Window gazing for creative inspiration is actively encouraged. There’s also a subterranean theatre space with a large stage and all the tech wizardry needed for a productions, concerts and talks.

SCHOOL

ELIS Murcia runs much like a F1 team (or any elite sport) – teamwork is essential, but with individual focus for those all-important marginal gains. Meanwhile the team bosses are collecting data, setting goals and monitoring outcomes to ensure each student achieves the best results. Upper School Head Lealand Pearce and Technical Director Toni Marín work together to ensure everyone’s on track – and there’s a rather colourful (and complex) spreadsheet that tells them if a student needs a bit of support.

Conversations about subject choices, university courses and careers start early, and pathways created. It’s only half of the picture here, wellbeing, global citizenship and extra curricular activities are in abundance, and balance out the business end of your child’s education journey.

Students graduate with dual official qualifications: at the end of Secondary, the British-International GCSEs and the Spanish ‘Graduate in Compulsory Secondary Education’ certificate; and the Spanish ‘Baccalaureate’ certificate and British-International A-Level certificates, at the end of their Sixth Form studies.

Technology is embraced here, but not at the expense of traditional skills. Laptops are issue by ELIS Murcia for students to use from Y7-Y13. All the tech is run through Lightspeed Systems to ensure students are not secretly whatsapping during maths. If students try to sneak in their phones (or any other device), it will be confiscated, and their parents must come to the school to collect. The policy is aligned with recent Spanish legislation that bans phones in schools up to age 16 yrs. ELIS Murcia has gone one step further and taken the ban to age 18. More focus, more socialising and less social scrolling is a win.

SIXTH FORM

Once you reach Sixth Form, there’s a gear change that marks the business end of the student’s academic journey. No school uniform, school lunches are no longer mandatory, and they enjoy their own inner sanctum to study and hangout.

International A Levels and the Spanish Baccalaureate provide students with dual qualifications – not forgetting the three languages – which opens the world of higher education, giving them options to study anywhere in the world (although the majority stay in Spain). Discussions about careers, degree courses and the subjects needed to reach the goal start in Y11. Once decisions are locked in, academic progress is tracked, learning support is parachuted in if necessary, and there is regular check ins. 

ELIS Murcia’s secret weapon is Technical Director Toni Marín – if you want a place at Spain’s top unis, this is the man to have on speed dial. His ability to plan pathways for the students and top-notch contacts at Spain’s top unis are gold standard. That said, many have their eye on Oxbridge – they have their own Oxbridge programme – Russell Group unis in the UK and head to the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, US and Costa Rica. The school’s global outlook gives students the confidence to spread their wings – it’s often the parents who aren’t quite ready. 

There’s a genuine commitment to ensuring these young people have the skills and mindset for life after school, offering an innovative careers guidance programme that helps arrange exchange programmes, educational trips, and prep for English and third language exams. It’s not all about A stars, you get the impression there’s as much emphasis on balance and life skills. There’s a lot to be said for that.

ACADEMICS

You don’t earn a reputation as ‘one of the best schools in Spain’ without a great staff and consistently excellent results. Exam results are impressive – 2024 IGCSE: 41% achieving grades 9-7 (A*-A). At A-Level GCE/IAL, 41% hit the A*-A jackpot. Many students go on to study at top universities all over the world. The system is a bit different in Spain: graduating students receive a final ‘Nota’ grade (combined A-Levels & ‘Pruebas de Competencia Específica’ results, for students attending Spanish Universities). An impressive 63% achieve a Nota grade between 12 and 14 with an average of 12.033.

Destinations tend to be to Spain’s top public and private universities, Russell Group unis in the UK, New York, Costa Rica, Washington, Netherlands and Austria, proving popular. Top UK destinations include Exeter, St Andrew’s, Warwick, Bristol, Nottingham and Durham. 

The commitment to languages is second to none. Children leave school fluent in Spanish and English, plus a high competency in either French, German or Chinese. Add in the strong dual curriculum, global citizenship and lots of outdoor learning and you have a cohort of confident, open-minded, respectful, forward-thinking students who are all set to make a positive mark on the world.

Entrance tests and interviews with a member of the SLT are the norm for entry into the school for Y3 and above. With 80% of the curriculum in English, linguistic proficiency is a must. I wouldn’t call it a pressure cooker, but there’s a healthy simmer as the children are encouraged to strive for excellence. The learning here is innovative, which aims to challenge and stretch through an adaptive curriculum. The result? Individual, greater depth of knowledge and understanding and a cohort of free thinkers. If you’re looking for value added learning, you’ll find it here. 

It’s a very different approach to the purely English education system, so traditionalists can struggle with the progressive offering here, but the results speak for themselves and the children I met were happy, confident and loved learning. 

SEND

There is an inclusive approach to SEND, with a fully adaptive programme to support learners with additional needs, most commonly dyslexia and dyspraxia. Through the Support Class Programme and dedicated team of specialist-trained staff the children have access to the tools and strategies they need to succeed. Stretch and challenge happens as a matter of course in the classroom, with all the kids having access to challenges. If your child has dyslexia, for example, in one part of the curriculum, it doesn’t mean they can’t have a go at higher level thinking in another subject. That kind of inclusivity is not common in many classrooms, so it’s refreshing to see here. 

PASTORAL

Prioritising wellbeing is not just a ‘nice to have’, it’s become a key part of school and an essential life skill. Whilst it boasts growing numbers it still has the feel and warmth of a relatively small school and everyone from the teaching staff to the admin and catering staff know the children well and spot any changes in behaviour. The kids are the best eyes and ears and there are leadership roles for all year groups from Eco Heroes, Student Council and Oracy Ambassadors! to Digital and Student leaders. 

Talking is something we might take for granted, but if you need to get something off your chest, there’s always someone to listen here. Class tutors keep a close eye on the kids, each child is asked to name three adults they are happy to talk to at the school, and they use the CPOMs platforms to monitor and communicate wellbeing and educational support. 

The school is full of lemons – El Limonar is a lemon grove – an infographic of a lemon tree visually reminds everyone what the school stands for. The root of everything is wellbeing, making sure families and children feel supported, safe, and valued. The trunk is the strong educational offer, and the leaves represent cultural identity, values, attitudes and responsibility to be good global citizens. 

Global citizenship is a big part of school life – underpinned by the five school values (respect, care, perseverance, kindness and honesty). There is a danger in some parts of the world that you can live in a bit of a bubble, so looking beyond your own borders can only be a good thing. 

Through surveys staff, pupils and parents – any issues flagged in the surveys are then addressed by the team. The feedback is discussed, and actions are put in place where necessary. Communication is excellent. There’s an open-door policy – so if you need to discuss something a member of the SLT will be available with a cuppa. 

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THE HEAD

Vanessa Grimward was appointed Executive Principal in 2023, overseeing ELIS Murcia Lower and Upper school as well as ELIS Villamartín in Alicante. Vanessa has her feet well and truly under the table (she’s worked in different roles at the school over 26 years) and brings a reassuring calmness and twinkle in her eyes. She’s very likeable, knowledgeable and has the quiet determination to get stuff done.

This is woman very plugged into educational developments and is interested in how it can enhance a child’s learning experience and staff development, but not at the expense of traditional teaching or for the sake of jumping on a trend. It comes from her own curiosity to learn about this stuff and to understand the negatives as well as the positives. 

Of course, a school of this size takes a top team – and they’re a well-respected bunch: Deputy Head María Dios, Yanalie Stevens is Head of Lower School and Lealand Pearce is Head of Upper School. They set the tone at ELIS Murcia and execute the school’s ethos with gusto. All the heads are very different but are united in squeezing out the potential of every pupil, nurturing global citizenship and a love of educational innovation from metacognition to AI. Just like Team GB, it’s all about marginal gains. 

QUIRKS

It’s global outlook for starters. There are 17 nationalities represented at ELIS Murcia and the school connects with other Cognita Schools around the world. Cultural differences have become its superpower – a true representation of diversity, tolerance, and a celebration of culture. Global Be Well Day is the highlight of the school year when all 100+ Cognita Schools come together every September for a day of wellbeing fun. This year’s theme was ‘Giving’ which kicked off with a dance performance, followed by activities at sensory exploration stations and friendship bracelet making.

Teens can do the Duke of Edinburgh Award! Yup, it’s as British as afternoon tea, but from Y9-Y13 students can work towards their Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards by completing activities in volunteering, physical, skills and expedition. ELIS Murcia students even complete two mountain expeditions, with the stunning Sierra Espuña, Moratalla, and Sierra Nevada among the possibilities. Let’s be honest, lugging a backpack around in the sunshine trumps the UK’s mizzy weather.

Not so much a quirk, but the vast amount of Spanish sunshine is seductive. If you’re planning a move abroad, Murcia is a beautiful, family-friendly spot. The upside for the children is the amount of time spent outside soaking up that vitamin D, splashing through science experiments (or actual puddles on eco-learning days!).

Teachers at ELIS Murcia are mostly on a first-name basis – a common practice in Spain. However, for families moving from the UK, this less formal approach can come as a surprise. That said, some English staff who have relocated from the UK prefer to be addressed as Mr or Ms. This reflects the school’s respect for tradition while ensuring that both staff and students feel comfortable in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

It’s a mobile free school for all age groups. iPads and laptops are provided by the school, with all the safety settings in place (read more here). There’s really no need to bring in their own digital devices, and it means, during a busy day of lessons, they’re able to focus, be sociable and creative. Cue grateful parents everywhere. Although it’s fair to say, once the Senior school teens leave the campus the first thing they’ll do is check their messages. 

WRAP AROUND CARE

The school day starts at 9.15am and academic lessons end at 4.30pm, with after school clubs extending the day to 5.30pm.

ELIS Murcia’s Summer and Easter Camps are crafted to inspire young imaginations and cultivate a spirit of exploration, offering an interactive mix of activities, hands-on learning, and skill development chances.

TRANSPORT

Many of the children arrive by car, but a fleet of 13 school buses scoop up the children and take them to and from Murcia City and the Provinces – La Manga, Cartagena, Mazarrón and Fuente Álamo – within an hour of the school. Depending on route, fees range from 170€ to 205€ per month. Bus transport is free for the third, and successive, child in a family.

REPORTS

ELIS Murcia has been recognised as one of the best schools in Spain. It is inspected every four years by the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS) and a certificate of accreditation from the British Council allows schools to operate. The Spanish Ministry of Education also authorise all school to ensure the standards are being met and can turn up at any time to inspect.

ELIS Murcia is also accredited by the prestigious Council of International Schools (CIS). Only three schools in Spain hold this kitemark of excellence and it is the only one in the Southeast region.

FEES

Fees are on the upper end for the area but is enticing for families living or relocating to Spain. Y8-Y11 fees are: 949€ per month (£795); Y12-Y13 979€ (£820). Lunches are compulsory until the end of Y11 and cost an extra 155€ to 182€ per month. Sibling discounts are available – 10% for the second child, 20% for the third, and 40% for the fourth child onwards. 

WORD ON THE GROUND

It’s one of the best schools in Spain and for good reason. Community is key and parents love the regular communication, any issues that pop up are not left to fester and the focus is very much in ensuring the children are happy, academically supported and have opportunities to find their passions. There’s a lot of positive talk about the individual attention and tracking to ensure students are on the right pathway for their higher education choices. Although the 4.30pm finish might take some adjustment for those new to Spain, the work-life balance outweighs the need to adjust. 

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Those looking for a modern school that produces kind, globally-minded, ambitious kids. ELIS Murcia reaches for the academic stars but with the pressure dialled down. There’s a sense of calm and openness that really resonates.

NOT FOR: If you don’t prescribe to a progressive ethos, innovative teaching and global outlook, ELIS Murcia may not be the school for you. Anyone looking for long days. Work-life balance is big here – there’s A LOT to be said for adopting the Spanish way of life.

DARE TO DISAGREE: Regular Open Days take place throughout the year, but all prospective parents are welcome to book a private tour with the Admissions Officer which will include a meeting with a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

El Limonar International School (Montevida Campus), C. Sierra de la Fuensanta, s/n, 30150 La Alberca, Murcia, Spain.