A guide to education in Spain

If you're moving to Spain, here's a guide to Spanish education to help

enrol your child into the Spanish school system from primary to
secondary school.
Understanding the education system in Spain can be a daunting task, which can be made
more difficult if there's a language barrier. However, you can choose from a range of
Spanish and international schools to enrol your child into the education system in
Spain. This guide to to the Spanish school system will take you through each level of the
Spanish education system, from primary school through to two levels of secondary school,
and up to Spanish higher education and university entrance.
Spanish education
The standards in Spanish education have greatly improved in the last 20 years through
increases in spending and educational reforms. However, the latest OECD/PISA survey
(2012) of educational standards of 15 year olds across 65 countries and economies
showed that Spains performance in mathematics, reading and science was still just below
the OECD average. Spain is currently ranked 33 out of 65. According to PISA, the
standards could be raised if schools were allowed more autonomy and by increasing
teacher morale. Others feel that the government should take back more control. Currently
the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport (Ministerio de Educacin, Cultura y Deporte or
MECD) has overall responsibility for education in Spain but the 17 autonomous regions
make most of the decisions regarding their own education systems.
Religious education is offered in state schools but its optional. Schools are usually coeducational, and wherever possible, children with special needs are integrated into
mainstream school. It is legal, although not popular, to home school children in Spain.
Choosing a school in Spain
Entrance to state schools is generally allocated according to your catchment area (for both
primary and secondary education), so this may influence your decision on where to live.
Some state schools in certain areas of Spain will teach in the dialect of the given region,
instead of Spanish. So, in Catalonia, Galicia, Valencia or the Basque country, subjects may
be taught in respectively Catalan, Gallego, Valencian or Basque. This is not always the
case but is something to investigate, as it will mean your child will be taught in the regional
dialect before learning Spanish. That said, most children master both the local dialect
andCastellano (Spanish) as part of their general schooling.
Schools vary considerably in size and sophistication but often provide a strikingly caring
and kind environment for small children. Schools in areas with concentrated foreign
populations may lag behind the general standards, as students don't speak Spanish as a
first language and it can hold back the academic progess of the classes. You may want to
find a satisfactory school for your children before choosing a property, otherwise your child
might not be eligible to go to your preferred school.

Local and international schools in Spain

Most students in Spain attend local schools, which are free. However, foreign families may
consider an international school to ease their child's transition by continuing education in a
familiar language and curriculum. Your child's age and length of time in Spain are just some
factors to consider. For more information on how to choose a school in Spain, see
Expatica's guide to Spanish schools: local, private, bilingual and international schools.
Compulsory education in Spain
Based upon the Ley Orgnica de Educacin or Fundamental Law of Education, education
is compulsory for all children and young people who are resident in Spain between the
ages of six to 16 years, with primary education (primaria) lasting six years followed by four
years of compulsory secondary education (Educacin Secundaria Obligatoria or ESO), at
the end of which a Certificate of Education is received. All students receive basic vocational
training at secondary level.
Education authorities have an obligation to help foreign students integrate and must
provide specific programmes to do this.
State education is free of charge in Spain from preschool to 18 years, although in some
regions parents may be asked to pay for books, other materials and extra-curricular
activities. Financial help may be available in some cases check with your
own autonomous region.
For more information about different types of school in Spain, see Expatica's guide on how
to choose a school in Spain.
School holidays in Spain
The school year will vary from one region to another and will also be affected by what a
child is studying, their level and their particular school. In Spain the school year generally
starts in mid-September and runs through to mid-June. There are three terms of roughly 11
weeks.
Spain has among the longest school holidays of anywhere in Europe. Half terms do not
really exist, though compensation is in the numerous local festival days and non-teaching
days that give children and teachers more breaks in the school year.
There are usually two weeks of holiday over Christmas, two weeks over Easter and a long
summer holiday of around 1011 weeks. Children moving up from primary to secondary
school will sometimes get an extra week or two of summer holiday, which may even include
an end-of-school trip abroad.
Check with the website of your autonomous community or school for exact dates. Schools
are also closed on public holidays and local religious holidays. For information about public
holidays, see Expatica's guide topublic holidays in Spain.
The school week in Spain

The daily timetable varies depending on the school and region. Generally, most children go
to primary schools from 9am to noon, with a long lunch break of up to three hours before
going back to school from 3pm to 5pm. Both private and state primary schools normally
look after a child from the beginning to the end of the school day (9am5pm). School lunch
may be available, although some children bring a packed lunch or children return home.
Lunch is considered the main meal of the Spanish day, and if your children eat the school
lunch they will be encouraged to eat the substantial meal alongside other children.
In cities, the school day can end at 2pm, with only a short lunch break or no break at all.
Some schools may also opt to open half days in September and June. Schools in large
cities may have school activities before and after school.
Secondary school hours tend to be longer, with some schools starting around 88.30am
and finishing around 5.30pm. In some cases, secondary schools might not provide
supervision during the lunch break, and your child will either need to return home, or you
will need to collect them. Older pupils can expect homework most nights.

The structure of the Spanish education system

The Spanish education system is divided into four stages, two of which are compulsory:

Nursery and preschool (educacin infantil) optional

Primary (educacin or escuela primaria) compulsory

Compulsory secondary education (educacin secundaria obligatoria)

Upper secondary education (bachillerato) optional

Nursery/preschool in Spain (educacin infantil)

The first six years of education in Spain is known as educacin infantil or infant education.
It is divided into two stages.

The first stage is nursery school (guarderia), which takes children from around three
months up to three years old, but it is not covered by the state. Guardera may be private or
state-run but both charge fees (if youre a working mother you may be eligible for help with
these).
The second stage is preschool (escuela infantil) which take children from three to six years
old. Preschools are often attached to state primary schools and are free. Most children
attend the three years of preschool education and develop their physical and mental skills.
From the age of four they learn to read and write and by the time they complete
their Educacin Infantil they will know the alphabet. Emphasis is placed on learning about
various aspects of different cultures, the environment and road awareness skills
Nurseries and preschools are an excellent and easy way to introduce foreign children to the
Spanish language and culture. For more information, see our guides
to childcare and preschool in Spain.

Spanish primary school (educacin/escuela primaria)

Primary schools are known as escuelas or colegios (although the latter term is sometimes
used to refer to semi-private and private schools). It is compulsory for children to attend
primary school in the calendar year in which they turn six, and usually lasts until age 12.
There are three, two-year stages or cycles, making a total of six academic years:

Primer ciclo age 68 years

Segundo ciclo 810 years

Tercer ciclo 1012 years

Children study Spanish language and literature (and the language and literature of the
autonomous region if applicable), mathematics, natural and social science (such as history,
geography and biology), arts, a foreign language (and sometimes a second foreign
language in the tercer ciclo) and physical education. All pupils have daily reading time. In
the third cycle, they study Educacin para la Ciudadana, which is moral/social studies. You
can chose whether or not you want your child to take religious (Catholic) education lessons
when you join the school.
There is no streaming in Spanish primary education; classes are all mixed ability, and
parents can see teachers if they need to discuss their child's progress and problems.
Homework can be given from the first year onwards, and examinations can start from
around the third year of primary school.
Children are regularly assessed and graded. Grades are:

insufficient (IN) insufficient

suficiente (SU) sufficient

bien (BI) good

notable (NT) very good

sobresaliente (SB) outstanding

If pupils have not attained a satisfactory level of education at the end of the first or third
cycles they may have to repeat a year before moving onto the next stage. It is common for
pupils to attend classes during the school holidays to catch up.
Spanish compulsory secondary education (Educacin Secundaria Obligatoria)
After primary, students go onto compulsory secondary education or Educacin Secundaria
Obligatoria (ESO) between the ages of 12 and 16 years old, at an Instituto de Educacin
Secundaria, Colegio Privado orColegio Concertado.
The secondary school system in Spain has seen major changes in the past decade. It has
moved away from the traditional rote-learning model and is now more akin to the British
comprehensive system. The ethos is now more geared towards project work and
continuous assessment than the old-style fact learning. Spanish schools have a relaxed
atmosphere with less discipline than British schools, for example, and the family is
expected to help the child with their studies.
Secondary education is divided into two cycles: from 12 to 14 years and from 14 to 16. In
both cycles, there are core compulsory subjects and optional subjects. The core curriculum
is usually Spanish language and literature (and the language and literature of the
autonomous region if applicable), mathematics, geography, history, a foreign language and
physical education. Optional subjects include music, technology, a second foreign language
and social/moral studies. At the end of the two years, the curriculum has similar core
subjects and students have to choose some optional courses which include: natural and
social sciences, music, technology, plastic and visual arts. Religious education is optional.
Students are assessed regularly and may have to repeat a year if they dont reach the
expected level of attainment. Secondary students cannot repeat a year more than twice.
If students complete the four years and passes (aprobado) the expected standards they will
be awarded a Graduate of Secondary Education Certificate or Graduado en Educacin
Secundaria. They can then move onto the next level of higher secondary education to do
their bachillerato, which will allow them to apply to a university. Less academic students
may be awarded a school certificate (certificado de escolaridad/escolarizacin).
Compulsory education ends at the end of ESO. At 16, students can choose to study for
the bachillerato,undertake intermediate vocational training (formacin profesional, or Ciclos
Formativos), which will be geared towards a specific job, or leave education
completely. Some students combine lessons in school with workplace training in order to

earn a Certificado de Tcnico which can lead to a job, further training or

ontoBachillerato studies.
Spanish upper secondary education
Although not compulsory, students can continue their education by studying for university
entrance or entering vocational studies.
Bachillerato
At 16, students who wish to continue their education can study for a further two years to
earn the Bachilleratocertificate. It is roughly equivalent to UK A Levels. This is the
certificate needed to go to university although students will also have to sit an entrance
exam (Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad or the Selectividad).
All students take a number of core subjects including Spanish, a foreign language and
history but they also have to specialise in one area: natural and health sciences, sciences
and engineering, social sciences, the humanities or the arts. Some nine subjects are
studied with the yearly exam results of each subject aggregated to provide an overall mark
up to 10.
A pass at Bachillerato will allow a student to take university entrance examinations
(Selectivo).
To undertake the state-supervised Selectivo, the student will take 78 examinations over
three days that mimic their Bachillerato examinations. Then they will be provided with an
aggregate score up to 10 (like theBachillerato system). This will be combined with
their Bachillerato score to provide the overall university grade although
the Bachillerato exam results will account for 60 percent of their final aggregate mark and
their Selectivo 40 percent. The final grade will define what they can study at university.
Ciclos Formativos
The vocational courses provided by the institutos are intended to provide practical training
for a working skill such as plumbing, electrical work, hairdressing etc. The vocational
courses last four years and result in qualifications universally recognised across Spain.
There are two parts to the Ciclos Formativos:

Grado Medio this lasts two years and provides a basic level of training.

Grado Superior this lasts a further two years and can only be started when a
student is 18 years old. If a student passes his Grado Superior he obtains
access to the university system. Grado Superior is open also to direct entry
from students who have passed their Bachillerato.

State universities and polytechnic universities

Those who have passed the Bachillerato with acceptable marks and who want to go on to
university take an entrance exam in June. There are state universities throughout Spain

that provide degrees (diplomaturas) and professional qualifications (licenciaturas) and

post degree education. Read more about higher education in Spain.

Languages assistance in Spanish schools

Lessons in Spanish state schools are taught in Spanish or sometimes in the regional
language, such as Catalan or Basque. Schools usually assess the childrens ability in
Spanish and if they need help with the language, they can be given extra lessons. Schools
may put children in the appropriate class for their level of understanding which could be
with younger children until their language has improved to the point that they can follow
lessons with children of their own age. As a rule, the younger the child, the quicker the new
language is acquired. Some children may have to repeat a year.
Some schools in areas where there are lot of expats offer intensive language or bridge
classes for the first few weeks alongside the usual curriculum. If a school does not offer
extra help you may have to organise private lessons with a tutor or through a language
centre in cities.
As part of an initiative between the MECD and the British Council, around 84 state
preschools and 43 secondary schools in Spain offer a bilingual integrated Spanish-British
curriculum. These programmes are offered in the second cycle of the educacin infantil or
preschool, when children are around four years old and run up to the end of Educacin
Secundaria Obligatoria around the age of 12. Contact the British Council in Spain for more
information.
Special needs schools in Spain
Students with special educational needs may be educated within mainstream state schools,
units within mainstream schools or within specialist special needs schools. If you have a
child with special needs, get any documentation from any previous school translated into
Spanish.
Home schooling in Spain
Not many parents choose to home school their child in Spain but its not illegal and there
are organisations such as the Association para le Libre Educacion (ALE) to advise and
support those who do.