Education and Schooling in Spain
Quality education is available in Spain with a wide selection of both private and state schools.
Enrolment
Ideally you should travel to Spain prior to moving, to investigate the different educational possibilities. If your child will be going to a state school you will need to be registered at the local Town Hall and bring in a copy of this registration, a copy of your child’s proof of immunisation, their transcripts from school, and a parent’s passport along with your child’s passport. As in British state schools, the catchment area is all-important, so having decided on your chosen school it is essential to ensure that your house (whether purchased or rented) is located in the correct area. Most schools prefer to interview prospective pupils, with exams being set in some cases to ascertain the level of Spanish attained.
International Schools Private Schools
Privately run schools come tailored to suit the needs of foreign. Many are bi-lingual and offer a curriculum parallel to that offered in the UK . Generally speaking, these schools tend to have a higher teacher to student ratio.
State Schools
If you are considering Spanish state run schools, contact the Town hall in the area where you are planning to move. On the other hand, total immersion in the Spanish culture has its benefits. Children integrate into the Spanish culture quickly and they are state subsidised and provide a quality education.
Qualifications
The Spanish system of education is divided into three stages: ESO (Compulsory Secondary Education), BUP (the equivalent of British GCSEs) and COU (the Spanish version of the A level course). In addition, university applicants must complete the Selectividad, an entrance exam.
