Schools in Spain
The subject of education in Spain is one which can be confusing unless you know the system, how it works and the best way forward for your family. Whether your children are coming from a primary school background, secondary school or higher education background there are ways and means of ensuring the best quality education for them, something which will suit their strengths and build on their weaknesses. However, if you’re moving to Spain with a young family it can be very difficult to know where to start and exactly what your choices are.
Those of you who have looked at moving to Spain will be well aware that there are large numbers of immigrants and expats in the region which has seen an expansion of English-speaking schools and other more common languages. These sit aside the Spanish primary school, Spanish secondary school and further education facilities offering expats the choice of putting their children into the state run education system, going private or looking towards the international schools. So where do you start?
The school day in Spain
As a starting point let us take a look at the average school day in Spain and what your child can expect when they enrol. While the average school will was start at 9 AM and finish at 5 PM, with a two hour break for lunch, it can vary from area to area as Spain has some very distinct differences between the various regions. Some schools may start at 9 AM and finish at 2 PM with no breaks in between or a mixture of the two.
There are options with regards to lunch which can be taken on the school premises or, as more Spanish nationals do, lunch can be taken at home with the family.
Types of schools available
Before we begin discussing the types of schools available in Spain it is worth reminding ourselves that there are great similarities between the Spanish education system and the UK education system. Over 90% of children under the age of six will attend nursery school before they move to the primary school and over 50% of Spanish students will remain in full-time education up until the age of 18. A further 30% will then move on to university or some kind of work experience training facility.
Primary School
A child living in Spain would be expected to attend primary education, which is compulsory and free, from the ages of 6 to 12. The six years which are spent in primary education are split into three different areas, from 6 to 8 years old, from 8 to 10 years old and from 10 to 12 years old. The teaching of languages will begin in the first stage as the Spanish authorities are keen to begin language classes as soon as possible with English one of the more prominent foreign dialects. Classroom sizes are in the region of 25 students.
Secondary school
Secondary schooling in Spain is also compulsory and free with children expected to attend from the age of 12 years old to 16 years old. A child’s time in secondary education is split into four courses and two cycles of two years each during which time students will be giving a grounding in various areas of education to give them a base for the future, whether this be higher education or employment. The average class size at this stage of the Spanish education system is around 30 students.
Each child who successfully completes this stage of their education we receive a certificate of secondary education graduate which will give them access to higher education if they so choose to go in this direction.
Post secondary education
After receiving a certificate of secondary education graduation, a student will then have access to higher level education and two particular options. The first option is the Bacillerato which lasts for two years and offers students the opportunity of further education in the areas of arts, natural and health sciences, communities and social sciences and technology.
The second option is more of a vocational education which allows students to train for particular areas of the employment market and offers on-the-job experience which can prove worth its weight in gold. Children attending this particular level of education will be between 16 years old and 18 years old.
Further education
After completing the various education stages detailed above there is then the opportunity to move on to university and other higher education institutions.
Private education
Private education is becoming more and more popular in Spain especially for those who have moved to the country with young children still at education age. There is a difference between private education and international schools which we will cover in due course suffices to say that private education schools are effectively a fast-track system allowing your children to learn the Spanish language at a greater pace as well as improving their academic skills. While the fees for private schooling in Spain will differ from area to area many have quoted a ballpark figure of around €400 a month for a good quality school which will give your child a good grounding.
International schools
The difference keeping international schools and all of the ones above is the fact that lessons in the above schools will be taught in Spanish and in International schools the main language is English. The cost of an International school can vary widely and it is worth investigating further before you move to Spain to ensure you are in an area where the type of education you require is actually available.
In simple terms, International schools should be seen as an extension of your child’s education prior to moving to Spain because ultimately they are removed from the state Spanish system and are very specific in their education techniques with many one-to-one experiences available.
School funding in Spain
As you might guess from the above, the Spanish state education system is funded by the government and free to those living in the country with compulsory school attendance required from six years old to 16 years old. As with the UK, there are also an array of religious-based schools which are also part funded by the state and offer a particular bias towards a certain religion although they predominantly follow the same educational patterns as mainstream Spanish state schools.
As you would expect, those looking towards the private education system in Spain and International school education system will obviously have to pay for this privilege. As we touched on above, the cost of private and International school education can vary significantly from area to area and you need to be aware of the cost in the region you are looking to move to and whether ultimately you can afford it.
The standard of education in Spain
On the whole there is a very high standard of education available in Spain across the board, from the primary state-run schools to the International schools. However, as with countries such as the UK, there is also what are known as “sink schools” which is an unfortunate term but one which you need to be aware of. The massive influx of immigrants to Spain both in the past and on an ongoing basis has in some areas led to a lower level of education for the children of some immigrants although there are plans to increase the standard of education afforded to this particularly group of society.
State, Private or International schooling?
There are many different ideas as to whether the children of expats should attend state run schools, private schools or International schools. A number of people believe that if your child is under 13 then it is possible that they would fit into the Spanish state education system because due to their young age they should be up to pick up the language and academic skills together.
Private schooling is in effect a fast-track system which mirrors the Spanish state education system and will ensure your child is given the opportunity to learn Spanish while also increasing their academic skills and knowledge. Many people believe that International schools are more geared towards those of 13 years of age and over who may find it difficult to learn both a new language and improve their academic skills in the state education system. The bottom line is that nobody wants to take a chance with their child’s education and if you are unsure which you should choose then you need to take advice from parties who have been there and done it.
Language issues in Spain
Language barriers in Spain are slightly more complicated than you may think because while there is the traditional Spanish language, a number of areas of Spain also have their own particular language so in effect your child could be forced to learn two new languages and also try to grasp what is actually being taught to them. This is an issue which is more prominent in certain areas of Spain and one that you must be aware of before moving to the country and ultimately choosing the education system and individual school of choice for your child or children.
As you might expect, English is a very prominent language in Spain and one which continues to be promoted heavily by the Spanish government which has promised English language lessons from a very early age for Spanish nationals.
Choosing a school for your child
There are various comments on the Spanish Forum with regards to schools in Spain with many people falling into the same trap of choosing a home first and then looking around to see what education facilities are available in the area. A number of people have commented that the education of their children should come first and many have chosen the area in which they are going to live because of the education system available in the region. It would be wrong to give the impression that there are massive differences in the standard of education across the regions of Spain, although ultimately you need to find a school to suit the needs and requirements of your child.
Financing the education of your children
While finance will ultimately not be an issue if you look towards the state education system, which is compulsory and free, they will be charges if you look towards the private Spanish school sector and International Spanish school sector. How much you are able to pay and how much are willing to pay will obviously vary depending upon your circumstances and degree of wealth, but many people have chosen to buy “smaller homes” in order to ring fence the finance required to see their children through the education system.
There is no hard and fast rule regarding whether you put money aside for educational costs or indeed pay them out of your ongoing income but either way you need to be sure that the funding is available both now and into the future. Places in the better International education schools can be difficult to come by and the last thing you want is to run out of finance and have to move your child into another education facility which will obviously disrupt their education.
Conclusion
We have detailed all of the relevant education facilities available in Spain right through from nursery care to higher education as well as private and International schools. It is also worth remembering that no two regions will offer an identical standard of education and you need to find educational establishments which both suit the requirements of your child as well as your own financial status.
It is hard enough for your children to move to a new country and continue their education, but if they are of an older age they may have difficulty combining the tasks of learning a new language and continuing their education – let alone also learning the various local dialects which are spoken in some areas of Spain!
Do you homework, speak to expats in Spain and remember that your child’s education in a
foreign land could be even more vital to their later life than education in their former homeland!
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