Spain has a state funded school system as well as private schools and a range of international and foreign schools. Around 30% of Spain´s schoolchildren attend private schools; the majority of which are co-educational.
International and foreign schools are the only schools which use English as the teaching language. If your children attend any other schools they will be taught their lessons in Spanish. Many people with younger children opt for spanish state schooling. The younger a child begins to learn a second language, the easier it is for them to speak it.
A Spanish state school will also help both pupil and parent integrate into the local community. It is also worth bearing in mind that transferring a child from state education into private education is a far easier process than transferring a child from private education into a state school.
Compulsory education begins at six years of age with the children attending primary school which, in most cases, is local. This lasts for eight years when, at fourteen, the child receives a school leaving certificate. Those with higher marks are able to attend a higher secondary school with less academic pupils moving onto a vocational school.
Different areas have different processes but most state schools will take children from the age of 3 or 4. There are also a number of high quality nurseries available across the coast. Enrolling in a Spanish school requires an interview. New arrivals in Spain must have their children's education record verified which can be a long and expensive process. This is called convalidation.
A pupil will not be accepted without the necessary paperwork so it is best to get this done before arriving in Spain so the child can immediately enter upon arrival in the Country. To enrol you must also have: ·
- proof of convalidation· (see above),
- your child's birth certificate or passport,
- proof of immunization,
- proof of residence in the form of a bill in your name (if you haven't got one then a rent receipt, or lease is acceptable)
- and a passport-size photograph (for a student ID card) for a child entering secondary school.
- Registration in most state schools begins in May for September enrolment.
Spanish school hours
These vary from place to place and according to type of school. One typical schedule would run from 0900 until 1700 with a two hour break for lunch; another typical schedule would go from 0900 with no break and finish classes for the day at 1400.
Qualifications
The Spanish system of education is split into three categories
- ESO - Compulsory Secondary Education
- BUP - Equivalent of British GCSEs
- COU - Spanish version of A level
Those wishing to go on to further education such as university must complete the Selectividad exam.
Please remember that your child will be attending a non-English speaking school, bear in mind that their knowledge of learning the English language should not be taken for granted. All students in Spanish state schools have to take English as a subject. A good idea would be to purchase text books from the UK or purchase from the internet (amazon.co.uk, leets-education.com) so that your child can take advantage of the rudimentary English lessons, use this opportunity to keep their English to excellent standards.
If you are interested in your child following the British curriculum and seek advice about British schools in Spain then you may contact the following department:
British Council - Paseo Martinez Campos, 31, 28/010, Madrid. +34 913 373 500.
If you are considering Spanish state run schools, contact the Town Hall in the area that you are planning to move to. Public education is free, but books and materials are not supplied. Grants are available on a need basis for books and also for lunch programs.
There are special schools too that offer courses in Music, Dance and The Arts. If you live in a rural area then there are state run residential schools as well as private boarding schools. Children with special needs are integrated into mainstream schools wherever possible.
Fourteen is the age when a child's progress in school shapes their future academic possibilities.
Curriculum Areas in Spain
- Ciencas de la Naturaleza (Natural Sciences) - Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geology
- Ciencas Sociales, Geografía e Historia (Social Sciences) - Geography, History
- Educación Plástica y Visual (Visual education, plastics) - Art and Design, DT
- Lengua Castellana y Literatura (Spanish Language and Literature)
- Matemáticas (Mathematics)
- Música (Music)
- Tecnología (Technology) - DT, IT
- Filosofía (Philosophy) - Law
- Latín, Griego y cultura clásica (Latin, Greek and the Classics)
- Lenguas extranjeras (Foreign Languages) - English, French/German
Private Education
Private schools can be funded by individuals, cooperatives, businesses or subsidised by the state. Spanish state schools that are subsidised are called Concertados.