What is worth knowing about primary education in Spain?

Thinking of buying a house or flat in Spain and moving to the Costa del Sol? Wondering what school your children will go to, whether crèches are paid or when the baccalaureate is taken? Read our short guide to the education system in Spain.

Children in Spain, as in Poland, are allocated to schools on a district basis. It is therefore advisable to seek the opinion of a school in the area where you plan to buy a property. Today, schooling in Spain includes compulsory primary education, compulsory secondary education and optional general and vocational education.

How do nurseries, pre-schools and schools work?

In Spain, it is possible to enrol children aged 0-3 years in a nursery(guarderia). There is a choice between private and public facilities – both of which are paid.

Pre-school education in Spain(Educación Infantil) for children up to the age of 6 consists of two stages. The first concerns the youngest children up to the age of 3. The second, on the other hand, covers the care of children between the ages of 3 and 6. It is worth noting that the second stage of education is now universal throughout Spain. Hence, free education between the ages of 3 and 6 benefits almost 100% of children.

The next stage of education for the youngest is the so-called primary education(Educación Primaria), which is compulsory and free for all pupils. As was the case in Poland until a few years ago, it comprises six school grades and therefore applies to children between the ages of six and twelve. Compulsory schooling begins in the calendar year in which the future pupil turns six. At this level of education, children must possess the basic knowledge and skills in speaking, reading, writing, mathematics and the use of so-called basic cultural concepts.

Education of teenagers

In the next step, pupils benefit from secondary education(Educación Secundaria Obligatoria – ESO). It covers education for four consecutive years for children and young people between the ages of 12 and 16. At the same time, male and female pupils can benefit from secondary education until they reach the age of 18. Since the 2015-2016 school year, the ESO education stage has been divided into two pathways: the first, a 3-year pathway, and the second, a 1-year pathway. In the last year of their education in this education stage, students can decide whether they want to benefit from preparation for high school or for further education towards vocational training.

In Spain, as in the Vistula, students can go to high school and take the Baccalaureate exam(Bachillerato). Study at this stage of education is voluntary and lasts two years. It is mostly dedicated to students between the ages of 16 and 18. At the same time, young people can choose a different educational path by opting for vocational skills(Formación Profesional). Particularly importantly, in vocational schools, great importance is placed on the analysis of the labour market situation. Hence, courses of study are tailored to the current needs of employers. Currently, the so-called vocational training offers students 150 training cycles in 26 vocational families.

After completing their secondary education, students can gain knowledge at universities. Higher education in Spain is made up of:

university studies,
art studies,
advanced professional studies,
vocational studies in fine arts and design and sport.

How do I start my education in a Spanish school?

The recruitment process for educational establishments concerns:

Children between the ages of 3 and 6 who are accessing the education system(Educación Infantil) for the first time. This requirement is not only limited to public establishments, but also applies to private ones.
Pupils who want to change schools.
Children who start school in public primary schools.
Pupils who wish to enter a public secondary school or high school.

Recruitment starts on 24 April and runs until 10 May. Application forms can be obtained from any publicly-funded centre, from the premises of the educational support centres(Servicios de apoyo a la escolarización – SAE) or simply online. What is particularly important for parents planning to send their children to Spanish educational institutions, each pupil or pupil can only submit one application. A dedicated helpline has been set up for the whole country, offering assistance in the field of education and supporting parents in the enrolment process.

When to go to school?

It is worth noting that the start of the school year in Spain is mobile. It usually starts at the beginning of the second week of September. The end of the school year is usually organised around 20-25 June, which is the same as in Poland.

As in the Vistula, pupils have a winter break in the form of holidays organised from 20 December to 7 January. Spring holidays (which fall around Easter) start a week before Good Friday. In addition, school principals have single days off (about three to four in total throughout the school year).

Children in schools in Andalusia usually have lessons from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., during which there is a half-hour break for lunch and playing on the patio. At secondary school, classes usually start around 8 a.m. and finish between 2 and 5 p.m. The comedor, or school canteen, has a fee. In the aula matinal, or common room, children wait to be picked up from school by their parents.

Support for non-Spanish students

Support centres(Servicio de apoyo al. alumnado inmigrante – SAI) are available to students throughout the country. Their task is to help with the educational process, so-called school counselling, and to help the youngest learners find their way in their new language environment. SAI teachers help male and female pupils attending public schools to improve their language and communication skills. The situation is slightly different in Catalan and Balearic schools. Here, special classes are organised to linguistically integrate foreign children(aula d’acollida).

In the education process, parents are supported by local authorities. It is the local authorities that organise transport for pupils who cannot use the school transport organised by the Ministry of Education and Research. They are also responsible for lending books to pupils in the second cycle of early childhood education, and the youngest pupils can benefit from a day care centre or dining hall or scholarship schemes to pay for the first cycle of early childhood education. Pupils can count on assistance in the event of financial hardship. Basic scholarships or performance scholarships are available to them.

It is worth noting that there are no permanent social benefits per child in Spain. Parents can, however, count on support measures after the birth of their child (the so-called ‘becikowe’ amounting to approximately € 3,000). Support and privileges in Spain are available to large families with a so-called Large Family Card. The card can be obtained by families with at least five members, as well as single parents with at least two children and families who are raising adopted children.

Education in Andalusia

Andalusia offers a wide range of educational options, and there is no shortage of public schools in and around Marbella either – rivaling the level of the best in Spain.

When looking for a suitable institution for your child, it is worth starting by researching the various private schools in the area, their offerings, and their opinions on the quality of education. It is also important to find out which languages are spoken, what kind of qualifications the teachers and teaching staff have, what extra-curricular activities are on offer. A lot of information can be obtained by visiting schools’ websites.

During the enrolment process, it will be important to complete important documents: proof of the child’s identity and a copy of the child’s birth certificate, as well as copies of the child’s and parents’ passports. The school will also expect proof of residence – including the NIE(Número de Identidad de Extranjero) and the child’s identification number, which serves as proof of residence and legal status in Spain. For higher education, including academic education, transcripts, report cards or certificates from previous schools may be necessary. It is worth noting that Spanish educational establishments require documentation of all childhood vaccinations at the time of registration.

Due to high interest from students, some schools organise entrance examinations or interviews with parents and students. Be sure to pay the appropriate enrolment fee to secure a place on the waiting list. The Spanish education system places great emphasis on integration and familiarising the youngest with their new reality. Hence, so-called orientation days or integration programmes are organised to support students in acclimatising to their new environment.

Educational offer in Marbella

It is worth noting that the international nature of Marbella and its growing appeal has meant that a variety of curricula are available to students. The Spanish National Curriculum is the official teaching system, implemented throughout Spain, providing students with a comprehensive education and emphasising language skills in Spanish and regional languages.

The British curriculum typically takes students through the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), Primary (KS1 and KS2), Secondary (KS3 and KS4), ending with GCSEs and A-levels. The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an internationally recognised programme that offers Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP).

The American curriculum covers a wide range of subjects with flexibility in subject selection. This culminates in the award of an American high school diploma, often supplemented by Advanced Placement (AP) courses. It is worth noting that some educational institutions in Marbella use alternative pedagogical methods such as the Montessori approach, emphasising independent learning, mixed-age classes and hands-on experiences.

Students can also take advantage of a wide range ofextra-curricular activities(actividades extraescolares) starting after 4pm, such as dance lessons, playing an instrument, hockey, martial arts, visual arts, robotics, foreign languages or gymnastics. There is a fee for these classes (usually around €15-20).

Another type of school in Spain is the Colegios concentrados, which is a combination of public and private – adhering to the educational laws of the region. These schools are set up by private individuals, but funded by both the state and parents. There is more freedom in the establishments to design the curriculum than in public schools.

American school

Atlas ASM in Málaga is a primary school combined with a high school, offering an American curriculum for children from 3 to 18 years of age. The school emphasises the development of individual academic achievement and excellent mastery of skills and knowledge that will help students to continue their studies in Spain or abroad.

Each Atlas ASM student is assigned to individual houses (sort of like fraternities), which compete against each other in sports and entertainment activities during the school year. This system is designed to help integrate the students and build a sense of belonging to the group.

age of the child	system british	Polish system	example tuition fees	costs materials additional
2-3	Foundation	crèche	700 €
3-4	Nursery		750 €	105 €
4-5	Reception		800 €	105 €
5-6	“Key Stage 1”	zeroing	900 €	215 €
6-7	“Key Stage 1”	1 class	1 000 €
7-8	“Key Stage 3”	2nd class	1 100 €
8-9	“Key Stage 3”	3rd class	1 200 €
9-10	“Key Stage 4”	4th grade	1 250 €
10-11	“Key Stage 4”	5th class	1 300 €
12-13	“Key Stage 5”	6th grade	1 500 €

Secondary School – secondary school (11-16 years) compulsory
Further education – post-secondary school (young people aged 16-18)
Higher education – college (young people over 18)

You can find more information about the school, fees or admissions policies on their website.

British school

Many people who move to Spain choose to send their children to a British school. There are many public schools on the Costa del Sol that teach children according to the British system, usually according to the school calendar of the province. Classes are taught by highly qualified British teachers. Parents are involved in the life of the school, have access to online diaries to see their child’s progress and can contact the teacher.

For British schools in Spain, the school year starts a week earlier than in state schools. Lessons last from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The lunch break lasts for 30 minutes or an hour, and pupils can have a hot lunch in the canteen, or bring dry provisions from home and eat them in the canteen. Children also have time to play on the patio.

This school follows the British model of education, which is divided into stages:

Pre-nursery – nursery (children 0-3 years)
Nursery and Pre-school – pre-school (from 3 years)
Reception – zero (3-4)
Primary School – compulsory primary school (5-11 years)

Tuition fees

Schools may differ in tuition fees, timetables and extra-curricular activities on offer. A one-off entrance fee applies. If, for example, the fee is paid during a promotion or for one year in advance, a discount can be obtained. A discount is also available if more children are enrolled in the same school. Educational materials at the primary school, including all books, stationery and subscriptions, are provided by the school. The monthly tuition fee depends on the institution and the stage of study, and there is an additional charge for boarding and compulsory uniform.