Elementary
The Elementary programme at International Montessori School Sotogrande is for children aged 6 to 12, split into Elementary 1 (6-9) and Elementary 2 (9-12). Children work with an individual work plan, large research projects and monthly outings, in Spanish, English and French. Hours run from 9:00 to 16:00, extendable to 17:00, with lunch included.
- 6 to 12 years
- 9:00 to 16:00
- Spanish, English and French
Key facts
- Ages: 6 to 12 years (Elementary 1 from 6 to 9 and Elementary 2 from 9 to 12).
- Hours
- 9:00 to 16:00
- extendable to 17:00
- Snack, lunch and afternoon programme included.
- Breakfast Club available from 7:30.
- Languages: Spanish, English and French.
- Individual work plan, research projects and monthly outings.
- Areas: mathematics, language, history, geography, science, technology, music, culture and art and emotional education.
- Accredited by AMI and NEASC and authorised by the Junta de Andalucía.
What a day looks like
Each child works to an individual plan agreed with their guide: they know what has to be finished this week and decide in which order to do it. That autonomy is the real skill being trained at this stage, beyond the subject content.
Learning is organised around projects, so subjects connect instead of being studied in isolation: research on a river can involve geography, history, mathematics and language at once.
Monthly outings take the work outside the classroom (museums, nature, visits to professionals) and projects usually end with a presentation to the group, which is where speaking in public and defending your work are practised.
What your child works on
The prepared environment
The Elementary room looks more like a workshop than a classroom: group work tables, research material within reach, a reference library and space for projects that run for weeks. Mixed ages remain the key, older children consolidate what they know by explaining it, younger ones see every day where they are heading.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Elementary 1 and Elementary 2?
Elementary 1 groups children aged 6 to 9 and Elementary 2 those aged 9 to 12. What changes is the depth of the projects and the autonomy expected: in Elementary 2 the work plan runs longer, research is more independent and presentations are more demanding.
Can my child move on to a conventional secondary school?
Yes. The programme combines Montessori pedagogy with curriculum content, and project work trains exactly what tends to be hardest in secondary school: organising yourself, researching independently and sustaining a long piece of work to the end.
How is a child assessed without constant exams?
Through daily observation, the individual work plan, project presentations and tutorials with the family. The goal is for the pupil to know where they stand and what is missing, not to rank them against the group.
What are the hours and what do they include?
From 9:00 to 16:00, extendable to 17:00. Snack, lunch and the afternoon programme are included. A Breakfast Club is also available from 7:30 for families who need an earlier start.
Can a child join Elementary from another school?
Yes. Each case is assessed with an interview and an observation day, to see how the child fits the group and what support they need at first. Many pupils join Elementary from conventional schools.
Come and see Elementary at work
Book a 30-minute visit and watch pupils working to their plan: it is the clearest way to understand how Montessori Elementary works.
