Our school
Welcome to El Altillo International School
As education professionals we know that the beginning of success lies in knowing well the issues and demands of today’s world. This allows us to glimpse the answers that our pupils will soon have to give to the challenges and opportunities of a society that will require them to be useful and competent, capable of offering their true potential and of asserting themselves as confident, active and resolute citizens.
From an educational point of view, in its broadest sense, our project stimulates the enrichment of our pupils’ personalities at crucial ages. This has a direct impact on their confidence, motivation, security and determination. The education they receive, of the highest standard, gives them not only knowledge, but instils in them competencies and values that make them outstanding young people.
Our aim is to achieve excellence in our students by awakening in them a passion for learning, fostering their critical intelligence and innate creativity. We prepare them for a successful, constructive and efficient progression that appreciates the value of the individual as well as the different and what is shared in the common, international and global interest.
Vanessa Moore
Directora
El Altillo International School
SCHOOL HISTORY
Founded in 1998, El Altillo International School is a recognised, private, non-denominational and co-educational educational institution, whose ideology and principles are firmly committed to excellence and the highest educational quality.
Our primary objective is that our students develop a permanent and true passion for learning.
El Altillo International School spreads and instils its educational philosophy among more than a thousand pupils from the Jerez area, the Bay and the mountains of Cadiz, the northwest coast of the province, the Janda region and the southern part of the province of Seville.
Its educational philosophy is based on the principles of inspiring excellence, promoting learning and creativity, awakening and discovering the infinite possibilities in students and providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to shape their educational and professional careers in the dynamic and demanding world of tomorrow.
OUR COMMITMENT
Vision
To be leaders in the education sector in Andalusia and to be recognised as the school of reference for educational quality, values and principles.
Mission
To form citizens committed to learning, knowledge and universal values for their full development in a changing and global society.
Our educational objectives
- To raise our pupils’ awareness of respect for the environment.
- To instil empathy, social skills and open-mindedness in pupils.
- To encourage creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit.
- To develop thinking, daring, inquiring and reflective pupils.
- To create committed, responsible, upright and caring students.
- To develop communication skills in different languages.
- To promote learning and the ability to solve problems individually and in teams.
- Encourage pupils to develop high digital skills and the rational use of new technologies.
- To educate pupils in healthy habits through sport and nutrition.
- Promote academic and human excellence.
POLICIES
ACCREDITATIONS
El Altillo International School is approved by the Ministry of Education and Science (MEC) to offer education from Year 1 to the second year of the Spanish Bachillerato course.
We are proud to have achieved accreditation in educational quality from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). WASC is a renowned international association that certifies the highest standards in teaching, organisation and finance for schools around the world.
We prepare our students to pass the exams set by Cambridge University (Young Learners, KET, PET, First Certificate, Advanced and Proficiency) and Trinity College (all levels). We are an official examination centre for both bodies.
We also prepare our students to sit the French exams of the Institut Culturel Français.
We are also authorised to teach elementary grade music and dance, and our students can take the exam to obtain the official music qualification from London’s Trinity College .
We have implemented the International Primary Curriculum – IPC, which is a comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum, with a clear process of learning and specific learning goals for every subject. It also develops international mindedness and encourages personal learning. The IPC has a global outlook. It teaches children to understand where they live and to make connections with other people in other countries.
We are part of the Microsoft IT Academy Programme to strengthen our students’ technology skills.
We are also among the schools around the world offering the Middle Years and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which are used in 147 countries. The latter is a rigorous, balanced, 2-year programme which is excellent preparation for higher education and adult life in a global society. The programme is recognised and accepted by prestigious universities around the world.
The Digital Manufacturing Workshop of El Altillo International School is a member of the world Fab Lab network.
Our full volunteering programme works with UNICEF, ACTUR and the Cambiavidas NGO, part of the Irish Bóthar charity, to promote sustainable development.
STAFF
SENIOR STAFF
Dirección de Administración
Ángel García
a.garcia@altillointernational.com
Secretaría Técnica
Emilio Moreno
e.moreno@altillointernational.com
Secretaría Académica
Roberto García
r.garcia@altillointernational.com
Cristina Benítez
c.benitez@altillointernational.com
Administración
Rocío Dorado
r.dorado@altillointernational.com
Director de Extraescolares
Sergio Rodríguez
s.rodriguez@altillointernational.com
Directora de Escuela de Música y Danza
Lourdes Fuentes Espejo
l.fuentes@altillointernational.com
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Principal
Vanessa L. Moore
Deputy Principal
José Luis García
Coordinator of Bachillerato and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Maite Martos
Coordinator of Secondary and Middle Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate
Manuel de la Rosa
Primary Coordinator
Charo Ortiz
Early Years Coordinator
Deli Leal
Head of Administration
Ángel García
Head of Admissions and Marketing
Pilar Vergara
DEPARTMENTAL HEADS
English (Early Years)
Chandra Coleman
English (Primary)
Andrea Stone
IPC (Primary)
Teresa Persoff
Maths (Primary)
Margarita Muñoz
Spanish (Primary)
José Carlos Mondaza
English (Secondary and IB)
Teresa Preston
Social Sciences and Spanish (Secondary and IB)
Roberto Bullón
Science (Secondary and IB)
Susana Duarte
Maths (Secondary and IB)
José Luis García
French
Julie Giraud
Physical Education
Sergio Rodríguez
GLOBAL EDUCATION
International Exchange Coordinator
Julie Giraud
Buddy Exchange Programme Coordinator
John Kennedy
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Health and Safety Coordinator
Charo Ortiz
MEDICAL SERVICE
Doctor
Inmaculada Mellado
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY SERVICE
Psychologist-Advisor
Sebastián Gómez
SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND DANCE
Head of Music
Lourdes Fuentes
FAQ’S
HOW CAN I APPLY FOR A PLACE AT THE SCHOOL?
You can apply for a place by filling in the application form in the Admissions section of this website. You should hand it in at the Secretary’s Office or send it to info@altillointernational.com
You can also contact us by calling 956 302 400 to arrange an appointment with Pilar Vergara, Head of Admissions and Marketing. If the student applies for a place in Primary, Secondary or Baccalaureate, the school will contact you for an interview with the student.
The documents listed below must be submitted to the Secretary, along with the enrolment fee, to complete the enrolment process.
WHAT DOCUMENTS DO I NEED TO COMPLETE THE ENROLMENT?
- Registration form, medical form, means of payment, permissions and enrolment file.
- General conditions
- Photocopy of ID card or passport of the student’s father and mother or legal guardian.
- Photocopy of the libro de familia (page with the student) or student ID card.
- 2 passport size photographs
- Confirmation of payment of the enrolment fee and deposit.
- Photocopy of the latest examinations and previous course report
- Certificate of transfer from previous school.
PRICES
Once you have requested a place, we will arrange a visit during which the Head of Admissions will provide information and explain the fees for the coming school year.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER MANDATORY SERVICES?
The classes are the only mandatory item. Other services such as canteen, transport, morning supervision or extra-curricular activities are optional.
WHY CHOOSE EL ALTILLO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL?
El Altillo International School is the only private school in Jerez that covers all school stages from Early Years to the end of Baccalaureate. It is a fully consolidated school that has achieved the best results for Selectivity or the official Cambridge or Trinity exams for many years.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BILINGUAL AND A BRITISH SCHOOL?
In Spain, a bilingual school is one which has a large proportion of subjects taught in English. Most of these, however, only offer between 6 and 10 hours of classes per week in English. El Altillo International School is a genuinely trilingual school because between 80 to 100% of its Early Years classes are taught in foreign languages.
A bilingual school is not the same as a British school. These follow the British National Curriculum to earn official British qualifications.
IS EL ALTILLO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BILINGUAL OR BRITISH?
El Altillo International School is trilingual, which means that a significant number of subjects in the Spanish curriculum are taught entirely in English and French. This means that the students will have a high level of English and French but will in no way prevent them from studying at a Spanish university. We have begun the process of offering dual Spanish and international qualifications.
El Altillo International School belongs to the British multinational group ISP (International Schools Partnership).
HOW TRILINGUAL WILL STUDENTS BE WHEN THEY REACH THE 2ND YEAR OF BACCALAUREATE?
El Altillo International School has firmly decided to use three languages and it aims to ensure that students can communicate fluently in English (level C1-C2) and French (level B2-C1) when they finish their 2nd year of Baccalaureate.
WHEN IS ENGLISH INTRODUCED?
All classes at ages 1 and 2 are given in English.
At ages 3, 4 and 5, 80% of the classes are in English.
In Year 5 and Primary education, 70% of the classes are in English.
70% of classes are in English or French in Secondary.
Baccalaureate 10% English
WHEN IS THE THIRD LANGUAGE INTRODUCED?
Children will have 1 hour of French between the age of 5 to 4th of Primary. They will have 2 hours of French per week from 5th of Primary to 4th of Secondary.
WHEN ARE CHILDREN TAUGHT ABOUT NEW TECHNOLOGIES?
They are constantly in contact with new technology from day one. All classes have interactive whiteboards and use iPads. Children have IT classes from the age of 4 and part of their maths course teaches them about programming. The school also has many sessions and workshops on programming, digital journalism, audiovisual editing, design, etc. in break time, when students can put what they have learned into practice.
AT WHAT AGES CAN MY CHILD ENTER?
We have classes for 1 to 3 year olds.
IS POTTY TRAINING REQUIRED FOR ENROLMENT IN THE SCHOOL?
No, we have auxiliaries who take care of the needs of our youngest pupils.
WHERE CAN I BUY A UNIFORM?
The college has a uniform shop on the premises.
DOES THE SCHOOL HAVE ITS OWN KITCHEN?
Yes, and the food is prepared in the school kitchen. Our menus are carefully planned by the school doctor, Dr Inmaculada Mellado to ensure our pupils have a balanced, healthy diet.
ARE THERE EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES?
Yes, the school has a wide range of extra-curricular activities from the age of 3.
CAN I ASK FOR ADAPTED MENUS?
Yes, students with allergies, intolerances or sensitivity to gluten who require a special diet must inform us so we can offer them a menu adapted to their needs.
WHEN WILL THEY GET SWIMMING CLASSES?
At the age of 5.
