| or pre-school (preescolar) - aged 3 — 5 | | | | term time. (Also for special events / local fiestas which |
| Primary school (escuela primaria) - aged 6 — 12 | | | | are regional. |
| Secondary education (educación secundaria | | | | Integration into Spanish society |
| obligatoria/ESO) aged 12 - 16 | | | | Education is Spain is mostly co educational and entirely |
| Private school ( escuela privada) | | | | free from nursery through to university. |
| Compulsory education (escolaridad obligatoria) is also | | | | (This is inclusive of foreign resident children) |
| referred to as a basic general education (Educación | | | | Spain's state funded school system is supported by |
| General Básica/EGB) | | | | private schools, these includes many foreign and |
| At 16 years of age: | | | | international schools. |
| Pupils who haven't successfully completed four years | | | | Some schools offer lunches, although many children |
| secondary education are awarded a school certificate | | | | bring a packed lunch or go home for lunch if they live |
| (certificado de escolaridad). | | | | nearby. Although an increasing number of schools don't |
| Pupils who have completed the four years, | | | | have lunch breaks and will finish classes earlier at 2pm. |
| successfully are awarded a graduado en educación | | | | Most schools provide a subsidised free bus service to |
| secundaria certificate and may attend a higher | | | | tale children to and form their homes. You will need to |
| secondary school (or the same school in some cases) | | | | clarify this for individual schools. |
| to study for their baccalaureate (bachillerato) leading to | | | | State schools and communities may provide an after |
| university entrance.(Universidad) | | | | school nursery (guarderia) for parents who work. |
| Students may attend a vocational school (formación | | | | Having made the decision to send a child to a state |
| profesional) providing specialised training for a specific | | | | school, you should stick to it for at least a year to give |
| career. | | | | it a fair trial, as it can take a child this long to fully adapt |
| Schools which cater for children with Special Needs. | | | | to a new language, the change of environment and the |
| Pupils are taught in mainstream schools unless their | | | | different curriculum. |
| individual needs cannot be catered for. In these | | | | Please remember that it is much easier to change |
| instances children are taught in special educational units | | | | from a state school to a private school. Changing from |
| or schools. There are special state schools in Spain for | | | | a private to a state school is far more difficult, |
| pupils with special educational needs and learning | | | | especially if your children are teenagers. |
| difficulties . | | | | Many foreign parents choose to educate younger |
| A general criticism of Spanish state schools made by | | | | children in the Spanish nursery and primary sectors, |
| many foreigners is the lack of extra-curricular activities | | | | where learning the language is a quicker and simpler |
| such as sport, music, drama, and arts and crafts. State | | | | process. At secondary level the children are educated |
| schools don't have school clubs or sports teams and if | | | | at a private school. |
| children want to do team sports they must usually join | | | | Spanish universities tend to be overcrowded but their |
| a local club. However, although they aren't part of the | | | | educational standards are on a par with European |
| curriculum, sports and other activities are generally | | | | universities. Although foreign parents who can afford |
| organised through parents' and sports associations. | | | | to educate their children in foreign universities |
| Fees are low and activities usually take place directly | | | | (especially American and British) choose this option as |
| after school. | | | | the courses are more flexible and shorter. |
| Vacaciones escolares — School holidays | | | | Before making any major decisions concerning your |
| The school year is made up of three terms, averaging | | | | children's future education, it is of paramount |
| around 11 weeks each. The school year starts in mid | | | | importance that you consider their ability, character, |
| September and ends in mid June. The main holidays | | | | educational strengths and individual requirements. |
| are Christmas, Easter and a very long 3 month | | | | Attending a state school helps children integrate into |
| summer break. The majority of schools in | | | | the local community and learn the local language, and is |
| Benalmadena finish between 2:00 — 2:30 pm. | | | | highly recommended if you plan to remain in Spain for |
| Schools are closed on public holidays if they fall within | | | | any length of time. |