Schools in Spain Spanish International schools education


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Spanish v international schools This is the first choice you need to make about where to educate your child. Each system has its pros and cons, so you need to look at where your child will be happiest and settle with least upheaval. About 80% of expats send their children to state schools in Spain, where the education is free and your child has the chance to integrate fully in Spanish life and to become fluent in the language. The younger the child, the easier it will be for them to integrate in this way. The problem, however, of so many foreign children in Spanish schools - a situation that is particularly acute on the Costa del Sol - is that standards are slipping as teachers are unable to deal with such high numbers of non-Spanish speaking pupils. The alternative is to send your child to what are known as 'foreign' schools, of which there are various types, including international schools. British schools teach the British curriculum and prepare pupils for GCSEs, A levels and entrance to British universities. On the Costa del Sol there are British schools in Marbella, San Pedro, Torremolinos, Mijas and Fuengirola, and on the Costa Blanca in Alicante, Jávea and Alfaz del Pi. As with private schools in the UK, classes are smaller and the range of subjects and extracurricular options is greater. The possible disadvantage of foreign schools is that pupils learn Spanish as a second language, so they will be no more advanced in the language than if they had studied it back in England (although of course living in Spain should count for something in terms of the other influences they will receive). International schools International schools accept a mixture of foreign and Spanish pupils and follow bilingual curriculum in Spanish and English, which prepares teenagers for the internationally-recognised 'bachillerato' qualification. Pupils are then equipped to attend Spanish or English universities. Private schools There are also fee-paying Spanish private schools, which teach entirely in Spanish and follow the same curriculum as Spanish state schools. Most private schools in Spain are co-educational, Catholic day schools, although some schools - including some American and British schools - take weekly or term boarders. Fees Fees for private schools in Spain vary widely, though they are generally lower than equivalent schools in the UK. Spanish private schools and some international schools which fulfill quotas of foreign and Spanish pupils receive state subsidies. For these schools, fees are around 700 euros a year. Fees at independent foreign schools start at around 4,000 euros a year, rising to 10,000 euros in the most prestigious institutions. On top of this (for state and private schools), parents need to buy books, meals and pay for extra-curricular activities such as art and sport and for school trips. These extras amount to around 800 euros a term. You will also need to buy the uniform for private schools. Spanish state schools do not usually have a uniform. Applying for a school As you would expect, there is high competition for places in private schools so you need to make applications as far in advance as possible. Most international schools have waiting lists. You will need to provide school reports, exam results and other records. Check whether the school belongs to an accredited organization - most British schools belong to NABSS (National Association of British Schools in Spain, www.nabss.org) and standards are kept in check by British inspectors. For further information about British schools in Spain, contact the British Council (www.britishcouncil.es, tel. (00 34) 91 337 3500) or ECIS (www.ecis.org, (00 44) 1730 268244). To apply for a Spanish school, you need to: Apply for an 'empadronamiento' document - for which you have to register at your local town hall. Ask here too about when to apply for specific schools, as it varies. It's usually around May for that September's intake. Take originals and photocopies of your passport (possible with an official Spanish translation), proof of address and details of your Spanish bank account. You may also need an official Spanish translation of your passport. Take your child's birth certificate or passport, immunisation records, proof of residence and two passport photographs. Obtain proof of 'convalidation' - the official record of your child's education. It is best to do this before you move to Spain, having obtained the appropriate forms from the Department of Education (Tel: (00 34) 91 701 8000). Your child cannot be accepted at any school until you have the stamped forms from the Dept. of Education and this can take up to six months.

Lighthouse Spain - Guiding you to your Spanish Home

Nursery, Primary and Secondary

Most children in Spain attend nursery school from the ages of 3-5 years.

They move on to primary school from 6-12 years. They may need to repeat a year of primary if the child has not reached the necessary standard. Classes are all mixed ability and there are no national testing exams as in England. Parents need to buy all textbooks and materials, but state schools rarely have a uniform.

Secondary education begins at 12 years old. Pupils can leave at 16 or continue for a further two years to study for the 'bachillerato' which allows them to enter university.