State Schools in Spain

Primary and secondary education is compulsory,
90% of children also attend pre-schools up to age 6

In Spain, primary and secondary education between the ages of 6 and 16 is compulsory. Over 90% of children also attend a pre-school, and the Spanish Central Government guarantees sufficient places to meet the demand.

Pre-school is a good idea for young children from the UK, to help them integrate and learn Spanish. Compulsory education begins in the primary schools at the age of 6, with children progressing to secondary schools when they are 12.

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The Spanish Education System

Pre-Schools

If you are planning to send your child to a state school, then enrolling him or her in a pre-school facility is a good idea. This will give them the opportunity to integrate into the local community and learn Spanish in preparation for primary school.

Whilst pre-school education is not compulsory in Spain, many children attend pre-schools. Over 90% of children aged 3 to 5 attend for at least one year before starting compulsory schooling. Central Government, committed to early years provision, guarantees a sufficient number of state-education places to ensure schooling for those who want it.

Preschool age groups

The pre-school phase lasts until your child is 6 years old, and is divided into two groups, birth to 3 years and 3 to 6 years. Many different terms are used to define pre-school education, for example - play school, nursery school (guardería), kindergarten (jardín de la infancia) and infant school (escuela infantile).

There are also many private, fee paying nursery schools, usually taking children from 2 to 6 years old. Arrangements are generally flexible and parents can choose between morning, afternoon, or all day sessions on selected days. Some nursery schools operate more as a "childminding" service than as an educational provision, offering simply an inexpensive way for you to have your children cared for.

Preschool Activities

The best pre-schools introduce children to the social environment of school, focus on basic skills such as of coordination, encourage the development of self awareness and provide children with the opportunity to mix with their peers though group activities.

Activities in pre-school facilities include arts and crafts, music, dancing, educational games, perceptual and motor activities, and listening skills. During the final years of nursery school, the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic are taught to prepare children for their entry into the compulsory education system.

Primary Education

Compulsory education in Spain begins in primary school. This period of schooling lasts for six years and is split into three cycles, each lasting two years.

Subjects taught in the primary curriculum include natural and social sciences, Spanish and an autonomous language (if applicable), literature, mathematics and Catholic religion. The latter subject is optional, when your child starts school, you will be asked whether you want their child to attend religious classes. Alternative activities may include extra reading, theatre studies, arts, PE and a foreign language (usually English or French). The learning of a foreign language is compulsory from the age of 8 years (in the second cycle), although many state schools now offer English from the age of 6.

On-going evaluation of your child is carried out throughout and at the end of each cycle, and a decision is made about whether your child should advance to the next cycle. The opinions of several professionals - teachers, inspectors and the psychological and pedagogical team - are considered when deciding whether a pupil must repeat a year. A child can only be held back once during his or her six year primary education.

Secondary Education

Compulsory secondary education in Spain lasts from the age of 12 to 16 years and provides pupils with more specialised training than their previous education, preparing them for the end of school exam - the "baccalaureate", or for vocational training. The four years of compulsory secondary school are divided into two-year cycles, similar to the primary phase of schooling.

The curriculum includes both compulsory and optional subjects. Compulsory subjects during the first cycle include natural and social sciences, history and geography, physical education, arts, Spanish and autonomous community language (if applicable), a foreign language, literature, mathematics, music and technology. During the last year of the first cycle, pupils must choose two optional subjects from natural sciences, plastic and visual arts, music and technology. The Catholic religion is an optional subject for all four years - non-Catholics may have study periods instead.

A second foreign language, classical culture and other subjects can be studied for at least one year during the second cycle. As with primary education, a pupil can be required to repeat a year if they do not pass the end of term exams. Pupils who fail three or more subjects in the end of term exams must repeat the year. There is no limit on the number of times a year can be repeated in secondary education.

At the end of secondary education, pupils who have achieved the set standards are awarded a "graduate of secondary education" certificate and may attend a higher secondary school (or the same school in some cases) to study for their baccalaureate (which is required for university entrance) or they may undergo specialised vocational training. This certificate is a basic requirement for most jobs in Spain.

All pupils, whether or not they have achieved the course objectives, receive an end of school report identifying marks obtained in each subject and recommendations regarding academic and vocational future.