Schools in Spain
Spain’s state-funded school system (escuelas públicas) is supported by a
comprehensive network of private schools (escuelas privadas), including many
foreign and international schools. Around one-third of Spain’s
schoolchildren attend private schools, most of which are co-educational day
schools.
Education in Spain is almost exclusively co-educational and is entirely
free, from nursery school through to university - this includes the children
of foreign resident). Over 90 per cent of children aged four or five attend
a nursery school and over 55 percent of students remain in full-time
education until they’re 18, with around 25 percent going on to vocational
training and 30 per cent to university.
Education standards in Spain
Education standards at Spain’s finest universities are comparable with the
best in Europe, although they’re generally extremely overcrowded. Foreign
parents who can afford it often send their children to foreign universities,
particularly American and British universities, where courses are shorter
and more flexible than in Spain.
Education experience for children
Many foreign parents prefer to educate younger children in Spanish nursery
and primary schools, where they quickly learn Spanish, and to send children
of secondary school age to a private school. For many children, the
experience of schooling and living in a foreign land is a stimulating change
and a challenge they relish, and it offers invaluable cultural and
educational experiences. Children become ‘world’ citizens and are less
likely to be prejudiced against foreigners and foreign ideas.
Before making major decisions regarding your children’s future education,
it’s important to consider their ability, character and individual
requirements.
Types of schools in Spain
For most Spanish children, school starts with nursery or pre-school (preescolar)
at the age of three to five. Compulsory education (escolaridad obligatoria),
termed the basic general education (Educación General Básica/EGB), begins at
six years of age in a primary school (escuela primaria) and lasts for six
years.
At the age of 12 (equivalent to sixth grade) pupils move on to secondary
education (educación secundaria obligatoria/ESO) for the next four years.
