Schools in Spain
 

The standard of the public school system in Spain is high. These schools are free for all children to attend, including expats, as long as they have registered on the municipal register, or Empadronamiento, at their local town hall.

Children usually attend the state school in closest proximity to their homes until secondary school, when the principle of catchment zones takes effect.

The primary teaching language of public schools is generally Spanish, or sometimes the language of the region, such as Catalan in Barcelona. Public schools tend to be best for expats with very young children who can easily overcome the language barrier and other challenges, and for expats who plan to live in Spain long-term.

Semi-private schools are former private schools subsidised by the Spanish government. Fees are low, and in some cases, non-existent.

These schools are a good option for parents who would prefer smaller class sizes for their children, but the standard of each is dependent on its location. The primary teaching language in these schools will also be Spanish or the regional language, and the curriculum will be the Spanish state curriculum.

Private schools in Spain are numerous and have annual tuition fees. These schools are assumed to have smaller class sizes, higher quality facilities and a greater array of extra-curricular activities.

Unless the private school is a bilingual school or an international school, the primary teaching language will be Spanish or the co-official language of the region.

Demand can be high for the more prestigious private schools in Spain, and in order to enrol their children, expats will have to move fast and negotiate well.

International schools in Spain are private schools that teach an international curriculum, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the curriculum of another country. Short-term expats usually favour these schools because they allow their children to continue learning the curriculum from their home country in a language they are familiar with.

Most urban centres in Spain have a good assortment of international schools, with the most popular curricula at these schools being the British or American systems.

Admission procedures vary from one school to the next, so it is best to correspond with each school individually. It is recommended that expats bring their child’s previous school year report card and their immunisation records to any interviews.