École Française Internationale Marbella

EFIM is located in Marbella, Málaga, Spain. The address is Calle Jacinto Benavente S/N, 29601 Marbella (Malaga). It is a French international school homologated by the French Ministry of National Education. It provides nursery and primary education with trilingual instruction in French, English, and Spanish.

Nursery and elementary education, covering Petite Section (PS) through Cours Moyen 2 (CM2).

French international school offering a French national education program, homologated by the French Ministry of Education.

France

School hours run Monday to Thursday, 8:00 to 17:30, and Friday, 8:00 to 16:30. Classes run from 9:00 to 16:00 for nursery and 9:00 to 16:15 for other levels; Friday classes are 9:00 to 12:00. A daycare service is available from 8:00 to 9:00, and optional activities run Monday to Thursday midday to 17:30 and Friday afternoons 13:00 to 16:30.

The school follows the official French National Education curriculum. All preschool and primary classes are homologated by the French Ministry of National Education and operate within the AEFE framework. It uses a hybrid system that combines the French curriculum with trilingual instruction in French, English and Spanish. Native-speaking teachers deliver instruction in these three languages. The central objective is to learn how to learn, developing executive, affective, social and metacognitive skills to adapt in a changing world.

The school aims to provide a humane education that supports each pupil's personal development and self-confidence. It uses engaging, playful pedagogies in a positive social and physical environment and seeks to balance individual and collaborative learning, recognizing personal differences through personalized learning. The school aims to develop human potential by integrating self-knowledge, savoir-être, and savoir-vivre into its pedagogical model to form fulfilled, responsible citizens.

The school offers a trilingual education with native-speaking teachers to master French, English, and Spanish.

The school implements the Félicitée method, a playful and innovative approach to help students feel better, manage emotions, and improve concentration and learning. It also uses the Respiroutine method based on respiratory coherence to promote relaxation, calm, stress reduction, emotional balance, better digestion, and improved attention. End-of-day sessions of positives and gratitude help children recall positive moments from the day and finish on a positive note, fostering well-being and engagement with school.

The school has an on-site infirmary run by the educational team. The infirmary provides care for illness, discomfort, or accidents and welcomes students; it collects medical information from families or students, and the medical service is subject to confidentiality rules. The infirmary also plays a broader role in health prevention and education. In partnership with the school community, the health education pathway covers topics such as handwashing, oral hygiene, personal hygiene, balanced nutrition, sleep, protecting senses, physical activity, home accident prevention, and emergency awareness.

Admission takes place during commissions throughout the year for a September intake. Admissions are conducted exclusively online via the EFIM site. The process consists of five steps: 1. Submit an online application at the start of the enrollment campaign by creating an account and submitting the application dossier online on the EFIM site; 2) Family interview: upon receipt, the file is submitted to the admissions commission. If requested by the commission or by the parents, a family interview can be organized. If your child is educated in France or in a school accredited by the French Ministry of National Education, admission is granted without a placement test. Otherwise, a mandatory French language placement test takes place in June 2021. Children whose level is below A1 must participate in the mandatory French language refresh sessions in July. 3. Results of the Admissions Committee: you are informed of the outcome by email. 4. Confirmation of enrollment: if your file is accepted, an offer of a place is sent. Admission is confirmed when you have paid the first registration fee (€875). If you withdraw later, this amount is non-refundable. 5. Admission: our admissions team will send you a welcome booklet in June with essential information for the start of the school year. If you move to Marbella mid-year and wish to enroll your child, contact the admissions office who will indicate the procedure to follow. Note: the admissions procedure and admission policy may evolve from year to year. Non-French-speaking families are welcome at EFIM. The tri-lingual program in a non-French-speaking family environment requires commitment and time; all parents must be prepared to expose their children to the French language and culture outside the classroom. Through our extracurricular programs, there are many opportunities for children to speak French after school. The curriculum: EFIM follows the French National Education program while integrating added-value pedagogies. The program relies largely on the five domains of learning of the National Education and is structured into three-year cycles; Cycle 1 corresponds to kindergarten (3–6 years). The school uses multi-age classes, and language learning (French, Spanish, and English) is introduced from kindergarten. In elementary, language learning is emphasized and the collaborative, project-based approach is standard.

A school scholarship is financial aid for schooling awarded to French families whose children attend a school in the AEFE network and who apply through the Consulate; the scholarship is related to resources and is provided under AEFE guidelines. Scholarships for children enrolled at EFIM will be available once homologation by the school is obtained. Under the Education Code, AEFE can provide scholarship support to children of French nationality enrolled in French education abroad; applicants should consult the Consulate of France in Madrid for general scholarship information.