HOW TO REGISTER YOUR CHILD IN THE SYSTEM
To register your child in the local state school you will have to live in the catchment area which means they will be
on the local town hall register (padron).
You will also need to supply the school with most of the documents listed below:-
birth certificate
copy of child's passport or identity document
medical certificate
copy of the child's vaccination certificates
copy of child's registration on the town hall register
two photographs
copy of mother's passport or other identity document
marriage certificate (if applicable)
social security card
THE SCHOOL STRUCTURE
There is no uniform requirement and the teachers are normally called by their first names.
Schooling in Spain is compulsory from 6 to 16 years. Children start school in the September of the calendar year in
which they are 6.
If you are looking for a nursery place, these are usually fee paying and the children may start at three.
Most nurseries are usually open from 8am to 5.30pm.
The first 6 years of compulsary education are spent in the primary school (age 6 to 12) called Educacion Primaria.
The school hours are 9am to 12.30pm and 3.30pm to 5.00pm, except in June and September when the hours are 9am to 1.00pm
only.
The second 6 years are spent in secondary education (age 12 to 18). From age 12 to 16 the students attend Educacion
Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO), successful students are awarded a Secondary Education Certificate which is necessary for
entering further education (vocational or 6th form) or employment.
If students wish to continue education from 16 to 18 years, they may attend the equivalent of the UK 6th form and
successful students are awarded a Bachillerato, similar to A levels.
The school hours in secondary school are 8am to 3pm.
SCHOOL TERMS
The Spanish system operates a three term system, similar to the UK, but with slightly shorter holidays at Christmas
and Easter. Most schools break up for the summer about the third week of June and go back the first week of September.
There is no half-term holidays, but there are plenty of National, Regional and Fiesta day holidays throughout the
year.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
This is taught in all school following the doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church. You will be given the option when
enrolling, whether you wish your children to take religious education.
How to successfully choose a school in Spain
|
THE FOUR STAGE PLAN TO SUCCESS
Stage 3 - BRITISH SCHOOLS |
| ASTURIAS |
| The English School of Asturias |
0034 985 23 71 71 |
www.colegioingles.com |
| ANDALUCIA |
| Almuñecar International School |
0034 958 63 59 11 |
|
| Aloha College |
0034 952 81 41 33 |
www.aloha-college.com |
| The British School of Cordoba |
0034 957 76 70 48 |
www.colegiobritanicodecordoba.com |
Sotogrande International School |
0034 956 79 59 02 |
www.sis.ac |
| Sunny View School |
0034 952 38 31 64 |
|
| St. Anthony's College |
0034 952 47 31 66 |
www.stanthonyscollege.com |
| St George´s International School of Malaga |
0034 952 29 01 49 |
www.interschoolmalaga.com |
| Swans International Primary School |
0034 952 77 32 48 |
www.swansschool.net |
| The British College Benalmádena |
0034 952 44 22 15 |
www.thebritishcollege.com |
| The English International College |
0034 952 83 10 58 |
www.eic.edu |
| BARCELONA |
| The British School of Barcelona |
0034 936 65 15 84 |
www.britishschoolbarcelona.com |
| Oak House British School |
0034 932 52 40 20 |
www.oakhouseschool.com |
| CANARY ISLANDS |
| The British School of Gran Canaria |
0034 928 35 11 67 |
www.britishschoolofgrancanaria.com |
| The British School of Lanzarote S.A. |
0034 928 81 00 85 |
|
| British Yeoward School |
0034 922 38 46 85 |
www.britishyeowardschool.com |
Canterbury School |
0034 928 43 09 10 |
www.canterbury-school.com |
| Colegio Hispano Britanico |
0034 928 17 30 66 |
|
| Oakley College |
0034 928 35 42 47 |
www.oakleycollege.com |
| Trinity School |
0034 922 34 54 50 |
|
| VALENCIA |
| British School Alzira |
0034 962 58 93 68 |
www.bsalzira.com |
| Cambridge House |
0034 963 90 50 19 |
www.cambridgehouse.es |
| Caxton College |
0034 961 42 45 00 |
www.caxtoncollege.com |
English School Los Olivos |
0034 963 63 99 38 |
|
| El Plantio International School of Valencia |
0034 961 32 14 10 |
www.plantiointernational.com |
| The British School of Valencia |
0034 963 74 29 30 |
www.bsvalencia.com |
| ALICANTE |
| Elian's British School |
0034 966 87 70 55 |
www.elians.com |
| The Lady Elizabeth School |
0034 965 73 19 60 |
theladyelizabethschool.com |
| The British School of Alicante |
0034 965 10 63 51 |
www.bsalicante.com |
Newton College S.L. |
0034 966 61 02 38 |
|
| Sierra Bernia School |
0034 966 87 51 49 |
|
| Xabia International College |
0034 966 47 21 21 |
www.xabiainternationalcollege.com |
| BALEARIC ISLANDS |
| The Academy International School |
0034 971 60 50 08 |
www.theacademyschool.com |
| Baleares International School |
0034 971 40 31 61 |
www.balearesint.net |
| Bellver International College S.A. |
0034 971 40 16 79 |
www.bellver.baleares.net |
Morna International College |
0034 971 19 76 72 |
www.mornainternationalcollege.com |
| Queen's College |
0034 971 40 10 11 |
www.qcmallorca.com |
| CASTELLON |
| British School of Vila-real |
0034 964 50 01 55 |
|
| MADRID |
| El Enebral Montessori School (Madrid) |
0034 918 50 10 53 |
|
| The English Montessori School S.A. |
0034 913 57 26 67 |
|
| Hastings School |
0034 913 59 99 13 |
|
International School of Madrid |
0034 913 59 21 21 |
www.internationalschoolofmadrid.com |
| Kensington School of Madrid |
0034 917 15 46 99 |
www.kensington-school.es |
| King's College (Madrid) |
0034 918 03 48 00 |
www.kingscollege.es |
| Numont School |
0034 913 00 24 31 |
www.telefonica.net/web/numontschool |
| Runnymede College |
0034 916 50 83 02 |
www.runnymede-college.com |
| St. Anne's School |
0034 913 45 90 60 |
www.stannesmadrid.com |
How to successfully choose a school in Spain
THE FOUR STAGE PLAN TO SUCCESS
Stage 4 - USEFUL QUESTIONS TO ASK
Some schools have a parent who takes on the role of a form representative. Ask the school for details. The parent
Form rep can answer all those, seemingly, trivial questions which you might not want to bother the school with. They
can also help let you know what involvement parents have in the school, such as committees or charity events.
It is a good idea to check what subjects are on the curriculum including the kind of sports taught, so you can match as
closely as possible what subjects your child has already started to learn. Some schools have swimming pools, gyms,
etc. Some use the local sports facilities. If there is any specific subject that the school does not cover during the
official school day, you may find out there is an extra curricular club run by the school or a club the local area.
After school clubs vary from school to school, depending on teaching resource, expertise and demand, subjects covered
often include languages, chess, judo, music and dancing. If a school is able to offer a “favourite” subject, even
though it is after school it can be helpful to ease the transition to another school.
Check with the school whether the children wear school uniform. Most Spanish state schools do not wear uniform,
most private schools do. If they do, does all the uniform have to be purchased from a particular supplier. Is there a
second hand uniform shop?
Ask about arrangements for snacks and lunches. Some schools provide both, some expect the children to bring in their
own. It is a good idea to try and get your children to try some traditional Spanish food before moving to Spain. Even
if you take a pack lunch it would help your child to integrate if the lunch box looked similar to their Spanish friends
and would help when the invites to come to play with a friend or party arrives. Most children will try serrano ham,
chorizo, olives, churros etc, if introduced gradually. There is a good selection of ideas on our
Spanish Recipes
section.
Do the children provide their own books or stationery? The Spanish state schools expect parents to pay for books
(although free books are being introduced in some areas) and materials and extra cirricular activities. The basic
minimum cost would be around £50 per year. Is there a rule about the type of book bag required? Essential to make sure
your children fit in!