International Schools in Ibiza: A Guide for Families Relocating to the Island


Here is something that surprises almost every family when they first start researching a move to Ibiza. The island has excellent schools. Not just one or two options to choose between, but a genuine spread of international education covering British, French, and bilingual Spanish curricula, taught in English, French, German, and Catalan, catering to children from nursery age through to sixth form and university entry.

For a small island with a population of around 160,000, that is a remarkably strong educational offer. It is also one of the main reasons that families from across Northern Europe, from Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and beyond, have been choosing Ibiza as a serious relocation destination rather than simply a holiday romance.

Getting the school decision right is the single most important practical consideration for any family making this move. Everything else, the visa, the property, the lifestyle, is genuinely easier to navigate. Schools require planning, waiting lists exist, and the right choice depends on factors that are specific to your children, your background, and how long you intend to stay. Here is what you need to know.

The three international schools on the island

Ibiza has three private international schools. Each takes a different approach to curriculum and language, and each suits a different kind of family.

Morna International College is the school most British and Northern European families gravitate towards first, and for good reason. Founded in 1973, it sits on a large, tranquil campus near the village of Santa Gertrudis in the centre of the island, and follows the English National Curriculum from nursery through to sixth form. All lessons are taught in English, Spanish is compulsory throughout, and German or French is available as a third language from Year 7 onwards. At the upper end of secondary, students prepare for Cambridge IGCSEs and A-Levels, giving them a route into universities across the UK, Europe, and internationally.

For German and Scandinavian families, the presence of German as a third language option at Morna is a significant draw. For Dutch and Belgian families, the English-medium instruction with a broadly European educational ethos tends to translate well from their home systems. Any family where the parents studied in the UK or where children are arriving from British schooling, the curriculum continuity alone makes Morna the straightforward answer.

Fees for the 2025/2026 academic year run from €12,650 to €21,550 annually, depending on year group. That sits at the higher end of what is available on the island, and it reflects the campus facilities, the breadth of the curriculum, and the strength of the sixth form offer. Admissions contact should be made directly with the college, ideally twelve months or more before the intended start date.

Colegio Mestral takes a different approach. Located close to Ibiza Town, it operates on a genuinely bilingual basis, dividing instruction between Spanish and English with Catalan also taught, and German available to students who want it. The school follows the Spanish national curriculum alongside a British pathway that allows students to work towards Cambridge qualifications, and a Dual Diploma option gives students a recognised American high school diploma alongside their Spanish qualifications.

For families planning to integrate more fully into Spanish life, or for those with children who are already Spanish-speaking, Mestral offers something Morna does not: a curriculum that prepares students for both the Spanish university system and international pathways simultaneously. The emphasis on small class sizes and a close-knit community appeals strongly to families relocating with younger children. Fees for 2025/2026 range from approximately €7,920 to €8,415 per year, making it considerably more accessible than Morna at a similar quality of provision.

The Lycée Français International d’Ibiza will be immediately recognisable to French and Francophone families. Located in Can Llambies near San Jordi, this AEFE-affiliated school follows the French national curriculum from ages three to eighteen, preparing students for the Brevet and the Baccalaureate. Instruction is primarily in French, with Spanish and English taught alongside. The campus hosts 31 nationalities and runs a strong extracurricular programme including the KIVA wellbeing initiative, arts and language projects, and an international exchange scheme with other AEFE partner schools.

For French, Belgian, Swiss, and Luxembourg families, the Lycée provides a near-seamless continuation of the education system their children are already in. Fees run from €5,590 to €6,250 per year for 2025/2026, making it by some distance the most affordable of the three international options, partly because of the French government subsidy that AEFE schools receive.

Spanish state schools – worth considering

International schools are the obvious starting point for relocating families, but they are not the only option, and for families making a long-term commitment to island life, the Spanish state system deserves a serious look.

State schools on the island teach primarily in Catalan and Spanish. The standard is generally good, class sizes are manageable, and the socialisation benefits for children who are going to be living in Spain long-term are significant. A child who arrives at age seven and attends the local state school will typically be fluent in Spanish and Catalan within a year, and will have a depth of integration into island life that private school children often take longer to achieve.

The honest caveat is that the early months can be challenging for children who arrive without Spanish, and parental support at home matters during that period. Language academies and private tutors are widely available on the island and can smooth the transition considerably. For families who are settled, confident the island is where they want to be long-term, and have younger children, state schooling combined with language support is an option worth taking seriously before defaulting to private fees.

Waiting lists and timing

This is the part where families most often get caught out. The international schools on Ibiza are popular, the island has a growing residential population, and places at Morna in particular are not always immediately available. Families who identify September as their target move date and contact schools in April are frequently disappointed.

The rule of thumb is to get in touch with schools at least a year before you plan to arrive. Explain your situation, register your interest, and ask directly about waiting list position for the relevant year groups. Some schools offer priority to siblings of current pupils or to families with existing connections to the island, so transparency about your circumstances from the outset is helpful.

It is also worth knowing that the academic year in Spain runs from September to June, and that starting mid-year is possible but can create additional adjustment challenges for children. Where timing allows, planning a September start will always be the smoother path.

The area question

Where you buy your property will inevitably influence which school is most practical. Morna’s campus in Santa Gertrudis is central to the island and accessible from most municipalities, though a school bus service or daily drive will be part of life for most families. Colegio Mestral’s location near Ibiza Town makes it most convenient for families based in the east or near the capital. The Lycée’s campus near San Jordi is closest to the south-west, though French families living anywhere on the island tend to view the drive as worthwhile.

For families prioritising school proximity as a factor in their property search, it is worth having this conversation with your estate agent before you narrow down your area shortlist. It is the kind of consideration that genuinely shapes which part of the island makes most sense, and it is much easier to factor in early than to discover after the fact.

We have been helping families find the right home on this island since 1999, and the school conversation is one we have had many times. If you are working through this decision and would like to talk through how it affects your property search, our team is here and very happy to help.

Read our blog on the cost of living on the island here.

School fees and curriculum details are accurate as of the 2025/2026 academic year. Always contact schools directly to confirm current availability, fees, and admissions requirements before making any decisions.