Hi Karen

here's an excerpt from our book A Brit's Scrapbook: Going Native In Murcia.

Hope this helps - sorry it's a long time after your request! I only just spotted it
Debs

Schools
Spain, Murcia included, did not have a good track record of basic education, which was highlighted by an indpendent International assessment in 2002, showing that Spain was about 20th in a set of 31 countries that were assessed. Although Spain was ahead of Germany and Italy.
For basic education there are state funded and private funded schools.
Most villages and towns have their own schools providing there are enough children to justify opening. Otherwise there is a school bus to take them to the nearest school.
El Limonar International School
Calle Colonia Buenavista, El Palmar
Vocational Training, Primary or Secondary Education
www.ellimonarinternational.com
968 882818
El Limonar International School is a private fee–paying bilingual school founded in 1990 and governed by a permanent Board of Directors. The School is accredited by the Middle States Association and by the Spanish Ministry of Education. The student population is comprised of over 15 nationalities including, English, German, Japanese, French, American and Russian.
Shoreless Lake School
Apdo. 239, Totana, Murcia
Secondary Education
www.slsonline.org
968 424386
Shoreless Lake School (SLS) at Murcia is the Spanish branch of SLS of New Jersey (USA), an American school established in 1991. SLS is a private, non–profit organisation accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA); authorised by the Spanish Department of Education; all boys school for American, Spanish, and foreign students.

 

I think the state schools are excellent in Spain at the primary stage. I would give that a try first as the children will pick up Spanish much more quickly than in an international school. Here´s a list of those in Cartagena and nearby.
http://www.ayto-cartagena.es/educacionn ... s/ceip.htm

I live near Torrevieja and have sent my son to state schools for nearly four years. His Spanish is excellent as a result. I am planning to move to Cartagena soon and shall be applying for a place in one of the local schools for the next year.