Education in Spain: the options for relocating families
We explore the schooling options for families relocating to Spain, with tips and advice from experts on the ground.
State schools
The primary (primaria) stage of school lasts for six years (ages six to 12). It is followed by four years of compulsory lower-secondary education, known as Educación Secundaria Obligatoria, or ESO, between the ages of 12 and 16. This prepares those students who wish to do so to progress to the non-compulsory upper-secondary stage (Formación Post-Obligatoria), where they study for the Bachillerato or undertake vocational training through the Formación Profesional programme, when they reach 16.Comparable to the UK’s A Level and the International Baccalaureate, the Bachillerato is a requirement for university entrance. It is studied over two years and consists of two parts, a core curriculum of compulsory subjects and a specialist curriculum with a choice of ‘branches’, including science and engineering, humanities, social sciences, and performing arts, music and dance.Entry to state schools is generally by catchment area, a point that parents planning this type of education for their children will need to consider when deciding where to live.International schools
Unsurprisingly, the city with the largest number of international schools is the capital, Madrid, but there are a large number of international schools spread across the country. The majority offer either the national curriculum or the UK curriculum but 113 schools offer the IB programme.King’s Group has three schools in Madrid: Soto de Viñuelas, La Moraleja and Chamartín, with the first being established in 1969. It teaches the English national curriculum with students taking IGCSEs and A levels.Thanks to its popularity with international families, Barcelona has more than 30 international schools, both foreign schools (which follow their country’s curriculum) and foreign-language schools (which teach in a foreign language but follow the local curriculum).Although the latter are described as ‘international’, most of their students are Spanish, so foreign children will be exposed to Castilian (the official language across the whole of Spain) and Catalan (the co-official language of the region of Catalonia) through their classmates.The schools follow a variety of education systems and teach in a number of languages, including German, English, French, Hebrew, Italian and Japanese.Most of Barcelona’s international schools are in the districts of Sarrià Sant-Gervasi and Les Corts, but there are also schools in parts of the wider metropolitan area that have significant foreign communities, such as Sant Cugat, Sitges and La Garriga.Says Beatriz Carro de Prada, “Most of the families who move to Spain are sent by an employer. However, Barcelona is a very cosmopolitan city, and its location by the sea, the lifestyle and climate it offers, and the fact that it has an international airport mean that a lot of families want to move there independently.”Embracing the culture
Sotogrande International School (SIS) is located in the Cadiz region of southern Spain. This year it is celebrating 40 years of teaching the IB.Headteacher James Kearney believes that environment and climate are among its attractions for parents and students, as the Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters allows for an active outdoor lifestyle all year round.Mr Kearney points out that international schools are a great way for parents and children to integrate into the community and learn the Spanish language.“The highest percentage of pupils at SIS are Spanish,” he says, “and, although our main language of tuition is English, the opportunity to practise Spanish and embrace the culture is present every day, through language lessons and making new friends to cultural events, trips and after-school activities. From a global citizen perspective, being able to speak Spanish and English opens up opportunities to work and study in many countries around the world.“A specific benefit to SIS is our proximity to Gibraltar, where many international companies are based, providing our students with fantastic links and opportunities to work and travel with them around the globe.”Sotogrande offers all three IB programmes. Explains James Kearney, “The focus of the IB on the wider world and internationalism is critical for us as an international school. We feel the IB framework allows our students to be prepared for life after school. Having a curriculum that spans the age range from three to 18 is powerful. For students, it aids consistency of language, concepts and skills.”Advice for relocating families
Beatriz Carro de Prada points out that high numbers of foreign residents have put exceptional pressure on international schools in Spain, where places have become scarce in recent years. To ensure places at the school of the relocating family’s choice, planning as far ahead as possible, together with assistance from relocation experts with local knowledge, is vital.“Timing can be a major challenge for parents,” Ms Carro de Prada says, “as schools in Spain have a very strict calendar of holidays in the summer and winter, dates during which it is very difficult to contact them. Finding a middle ground between school location, home location and work can also be a challenge, as multinational companies don’t always base themselves in the same areas as the international schools.”Relocating parents, Beatriz Carro de Prada believes, should look for a school that provides ‘welcome’ sessions designed to help students and their families forge connections as early as possible.Effects of Brexit
With the UK’s departure from the EU looming, which cities are likely to attract companies opening new offices as a result of Brexit, and why?“Barcelona is the most attractive city for companies who want to open new offices,” says Beatriz Carro de Prada. “It has a wide international community, a location by the sea, an international airport, and competitive costs for office space, labour and services.” This article is from Relocate Global's Guide to International Education & Schools 2019/20 which is packed with expert tips and information for those relocating and the professionals supporting them. For volume options, co-branded editions, digital or online licence agreements and advertising opportunities, contact Fiona Murchie at +44 (0)1892 891334 or email fiona@relocatemagazine.comNow available as an ebook on Amazon! Simply download from Amazon onto your Kindle, mobile phone or tablet to read wherever you are!
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