Education and Schooling in Spain

Most British educate their children in state schools, but there are also many good private establishments

Education and schooling in Spain Moving to Spain and have children needing to complete their education? Their schooling will be one of your most important and difficult decisions. The move is usually easier if your child is young - but these can be difficult times for some young children. If your child is older, he or she may find it more difficult to adapt to the changes.

But Spain has a very good education system and many British children have settled into the Spanish school system and are enjoying their new experiences and their time learning.

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Schools in Spain for British families with children completing their education

How will your child deal with the language?

Education in Spain is compulsory from the age of 6 until 16 years old, and is free to all children resident in Spain. Read more about enrolling your child in a Spanish school...

Read more here if you prefer your child to attend a private international school...

Most families moving to Spain from the UK choose to continue their children's education in local state Spanish schools - called public schools. About 80% of families choose to educate their children this way and are very proud that their children grow up to be completely bilingual. But remember that Spanish state and private schools do not teach pupils to read and write in English. So it will be your responsibility to make sure they can read and write in English.

In state schools, children are taught in Spanish, with English taught as a second language. Lessons are usually divided into teaching periods of 45 minutes. The form teacher teaches all subjects, except for specialist subjects such as music, PE and specialist languages.

Some schools also provide intensive Spanish lessons ("bridging classes") for foreign children.

Due to the language differences, these early times can be difficult for children but schools do take some steps to help make things easier. For example, if children are not literate in Spanish they may be held back a year, progressing to an age-appropriate class once they have a sufficient knowledge of spoken and written Spanish. Some schools also provide intensive Spanish lessons ("bridging classes") for foreign children.

There are also ways you can help your children settle into schooling. For example, if you learn to speak Spanish and have an understanding of the Spanish culture you will be able to communicate with the class teachers, support your children in their learning and have a greater understanding of what is happening in your child's school life.

Read more about pre-schools, primary and secondary schools in Spain...

School Hours of Attendance

School hours vary from school to school. For example, in infant and junior schools, the morning period may start at 9.00 and end at 12.00 or 12.30 pm for lunch. The afternoon period will start at 3.00 or 3.30 pm and may finish at 5 pm. Some schools open from 9.00 until 4.00 pm with a one-hour break for lunch, and an increasing number of schools operate the school day from 8.00 right through until 2.0 pm with no break for lunch.

In the hot summer months of June and September, school hours are shorter, generally from 9.00 am until 1.00 pm - with no afternoon lessons.

Some schools provide after-school activities in an attempt to make child care provision easier for working parents. Some schools offer school lunches, although many children take a packed lunch or go home for lunch if they live nearby. Most schools provide a subsidised or free bus service for children living in outlying regions.

The Academic Year

The academic year in Spain runs from mid-September to mid-June and is made up of three terms, each of about 11 weeks. School terms are fixed and generally the same throughout the country. In autonomous regions, these may be changed to take account of local circumstances and special events, such as local fiestas.

The main holidays are at Christmas, Easter and summer. Spanish school children have very long school holidays compared with those in many other countries - about 10 weeks for younger children and 3 months for older children. Pupils transferring from primary to secondary school are sometimes given an additional two weeks' summer holiday, which usually includes an "end of school" trip.

Schools and local communities publish holiday dates well in advance so that parents have plenty of time to arrange family holidays. Schools are closed on public holidays when they fall in term time. It is not normally allowed to withdraw a child from classes during the school term except, for example, doctor or dentist appointments and teaches should be given warning well in advance.