Article published on May 18, 2014 in LF Relocation
Oliver Marcos, the Director of The Academy International School in Mallorca talks to us about the school and his love for the island
Oliver Marcos Walker is half British, half Spanish and grew up in Mallorca. He is the Director and Owner of his family business, The Academy International School in Mallorca. The Academy is a private co-educational British school set on a beautiful old farm in Marratxi, near to Palma. Oliver spoke to Lucas Fox about running an international school and life on the island.
LB: Where are you originally from? When did you come to live on Mallorca?
OM: My mother is English and my father is Spanish. I was born in Madrid and came to live on Mallorca as a young child in 1980.
LB: Tell us about life growing up on Mallorca. What is your favourite childhood memory from the island?
OM: Growing up in Mallorca is a luxury. I have great memories. Our mother was our teacher and our house our school. We have been very fortunate to have been brought up in a very nurturing environment. My best memories are my friends.
LB: How have you seen Mallorca change and evolve over time?
OM: Mallorca has evolved yet its essence still exists, especially if you know where to find it. It has evolved in infrastructure and services and has managed to accommodate the large growing population. Of course things have to be improved but we tend to focus on the negative and Mallorca still is and will always be a privilege for all.
LB: What are the origins of The Academy International School? How did it all begin?
OM: The Academy was founded by my mother as a Summer School in 1985 and due to the enthusiasm and insistence of parents it was decided that we should continue as a school.
LB: What is the philosophy of the school and what sets The Academy apart from other international schools on the island?
OM: The Academy has a holistic approach to education. We have a strong belief in education in the broadest sense which permeates all our teaching and learning. While providing the students with a very high form of academia we also encourage the students in their development of the necessary life skills to become responsible, compassionate and successful citizens of the world. At The Academy we have combined the beauty of our natural surroundings with modern facilities and up to date resources to create an environment which is extremely conducive to learning.
LB: What curriculum does the school follow?
OM: The British National Curriculum and the Spanish National Curriculum.
LB: What sort of support networks do you provide for new families that come to the school from abroad to help them integrate and settle in?
OM: At The Academy we nurture our parents and provide a comfortable, familiar and respectful environment for our parents to develop their social networks. All members of our staff are always available to help in any way possible.
LB: Are foreign parents concerned that their children may not be getting sufficient level of Spanish?
OM: There are a lot of parents concerned but we believe it is important for them to seek this level in their social life. It depends on the parents and the children and most parents make a big effort to integrate into the local society.
LB: What is the typical profile of alumni at the school?
OM: Our alumni are varied. We have children from the island with an international background, children from expat families as well as those from 100% Spanish/Mallorcan backgrounds – and all fit in nicely.
LB: Approximately what is the ratio of local pupils to non-Spanish pupils? How many nationalities do you currently have within the college?
OM: The student population is approximately 50% Spanish with a total of 31 nationalities.
LB: How is a pupil’s day typically structured?
OM: The morning bell rings at 8:55. Primary children start the day in the courtyard with a short assembly to let them know the news for that day and any important reminders. Secondary students assemble on the tennis court to hear the morning messages and have registration. The school day is divided into 3 sessions with 2 lessons per session. In general the students have maths, literacy, science, history and geography in the morning and in the afternoon they have art, sports, swimming, computer class, drama, gardening and music. During the school day they also study modern foreign languages such as Spanish, French and German. The children have a break in the morning and an hour for lunch. At lunchtimes we run a programme called Active Lunch to promote sports during playtime. Other activities run at lunchtime such as horse riding, piano, ballet, guitar, football league, basketball league and art club. After lunchtime play the children have a quiet reading time. Many children have a reading buddy who they read to and/or listen to. The older children are paired with younger students for this activity. At 4:00 the school day ends. Many children stay to take part in the extracurricular activities.
LB: How does the school ensure that children are sufficiently integrated into the local community?
OM: From the age of 3 the children do Spanish lessons and they study Catalan from Year 2. We have many programmes at school which involve members of the local community such as the road safety programme with the local police force, and regular workshops on issues such as recycling in Mallorca, indigenous plants on the island, and marine reserves in the Mediterranean Sea. The school is linked with a Spanish school in Palma and the children exchange letters and visit each other’s schools to build up friendships and learn about each other’s school day. Students from the local education centre for people with Down Syndrome are regular visitors to our school. We play friendly basketball matches and take part in activities together. The choir takes part in many events around the island such as singing at Christmas fairs and singing in residential care homes. The students take part in local competitions and link with other schools in group events. Each term the students go on an excursion on the island to visit an exhibition, a place of interest or explore nature as part of the topics they are studying. The school is very involved in fundraising for local charities and support SonrisaMedica, Mediterranea, ASPANOB, Ondine, and SOS Animales. The students also have classes in Cultura Balear about life in Mallorca. They studied the geography, art and culture, history, festivals and cooking of the Balearic Islands.
LB: What extra curriculum activities does the school offer?
OM: The extra curricular programme is varied to reflect the many interests of the student body. In sports we have girls and boys football, tennis, taekwondo, volleyball and basketball. For musicians we have piano, flute and guitar lessons. Art and pottery is a very popular after school activity. There’s Mandarin, German, Spanish and French lessons. For the younger students there are story clubs. In the creative arts there is ballet, modern dance and drama. This year the circus lessons have been very popular. A full list of the extra curricular activities is available on our website www.theacademyschool.com.
LB: What are the future plans for The Academy?
OM: The Academy has a solid structure which has been achieved over the recent years and our main aim is to maintain and consolidate everything achieved, as well as innovate to determine what the best is for our alumni.
LB: What are the greatest advantages and benefits for a family from, or living in Mallorca, to give their children a British education in such an international setting?
OM: Spain is the world leader for international tourism and Mallorca is a top ranked tourism destination in Europe. Mallorca offers high class services and education has to be included in this. The Academy focuses in a very special way on education and we believe the British national curriculum matches this on the academic side. All our parents emphasise the importance of the English language as well as the importance of our ethos, and we trust that the British national curriculum in accordance with the Spanish system is the best way to achieve this.
LB: What is the most rewarding element of your business?
OM: We are passionate in what we do and feel very proud of being able to provide education in the broadest sense possible to over 300 pupils as well as work for over 50 employees year after year.
LB: Many people base themselves and their family on the island but have businesses or work abroad. Do you feel the commuting lifestyle is manageable from Mallorca?
OM: This is not my case – it depends on family circumstances. All I can say is that thanks to tourism Mallorca boasts one of the best connected airports in Europe and therefore it is easy to find suitable flights to and from the island.
LB: Whereabouts do you live on the island and what is it like? Why did you choose the area?
OM: We live 5 minutes away from the school. The area is known as Sant Marçal in Marratxi. It covers all our needs and provides us with the warmth and commodities beyond our expectations. Nevertheless the island is so small, all distances are short.
LB: Do you like the traditional Mallorcan rustic style houses or are you more of a modern minimalist?
OM: My preference is a Mallorcan style minimalist house, as it offers the best of both worlds. Mallorcan houses provide natural protection for the local climate in summer and winter, the use of natural materials is optimum for the island and a Mallorcan style house takes all this into consideration.
LB: What lifestyle advantages do you feel come with living on or owning property on Mallorca?
OM: Mallorca has been ranked as being one of the best places to live in the world and I could not agree more. We have a fantastic coastline and an amazing mountain range and all in less than 1 hours’ drive. The island also offers excellent healthcare, it is considered a very safe environment to bring up your children and has a very wide scope of activities to enjoy for the family. Not to mention the excellent climate we have on the island.
LB: Do you have advice from your experience for people thinking to buy a house on the island? Are there any particularities in the process?
OM: My only advice when you buy on the island is to seek advice, somebody local who can help you with the particularities this island and its politicians have. It is very easy to entangle yourself in a battle between the local authorities and the local government and all this can be avoided if advised properly.
LB: Tell us about some of your favourite places on Mallorca.
OM: Cabrera is an hour away by boat and is a natural reserve. Absolutely stunning. Portals Vells beach, Sierra de Tramuntana, Puerto Pollensa, Palma old town.
LB: Finally, can you describe The Academy in three words?
OM: Friendly, welcoming, passionate.
The Academy International School
Camí de Son Ametler Vell
Marratxi
Mallorca
+34 971 605 008
