Schools in Spain

expat network

Finding schools for your children when you move to Spain is one of the most fundamental priorities. State or private, Spanish-speaking or International? In most areas of Spain, there are several types of schools from which expatriate families can choose.

State-funded schools. Partially state-funded private schools, called concertados, may require tuition, but must still adhere to national education guidelines and requirements. Private schools require tuition, and may or may not offer coursework in non-regional languages. Private schools in Spain are often sponsored by the local Roman Catholic parish, or other area church. The principal language of instruction in state-funded schools is either the regional language, or Castilian Spanish.

National schools and international schools.

There are a number of schools in Spain designed to accommodate expatriate children. Some offer a curriculum based on that of a home country, some follow the Spanish educational system, and some offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. All schools offer kindergarten programmes through the secondary level, and some offer prekindergarten programmes.

Special needs education.

Educational law in Spain advocates full integration of special needs students into regular classroom environments when possible, and accommodation when needed. Assessment is generally conducted by the guidance staff at the school in which a child is enrolled. Parent and expatriate groups can be good sources of information.

Local School System

Education in Spain is compulsory and free from ages 6 to 16, with an optional pre-school programme offered throughout. The literacy rate in Spain is 96 percent, 98 percent for males and 94 percent for females. Private education, provided mainly by religious foundations and the Roman Catholic Church, plays a major role in the system, incorporating about one-third of the country’s student population. Spanish schools have larger class sizes and less flexible instruction methods than some expatriate children have experienced. Secondary schools concentrate on preparing students for the national exam that determines entrance to universities. The higher education system, consisting mainly of about 30 universities in the main cities and a network of course offerings in the provincial capitals, is heavily subsidised by the state. Students enrol typically by age 18 or 19. The cycle of higher education begins with a three-year programme, followed by second and third cycles of two years each. According to UN figures, Spain has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of university students – one of the highest in Europe. Among people aged 16 to 25, more than 34 percent are now enrolled in some type of higher education.

Moving Abroad Checklist

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.