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Almería Local Reference INFOrmation
The basics of the education system in Spain for children in the school system in Almeria. Information includes all the stages from creche to pre-primary, primary and secondary education and international schooling.
In Spain, education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 6 and 16. Newcomers to Spain generally have two options when it comes to education: enrol their children in a school operating within the Spanish system, or send their children to one of the many international schools in the country. Funding and OrganisationState education is ultimately the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Science (Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia), although the 17 autonomous regions have some responsibility for their own education system (including higher education). The Law on the Quality of Education (Ley Orgánica de Calidad de la Educación - LOCE) covers the main points of the education law in Spain which are as follows:
This law also establishes that education authorities must promote the integration of foreign pupils and develop specific programmes in mainstream schools for those that do not have sufficient knowledge of the Spanish language. There are also what are known as "Bridge" classrooms where students can study the language before attending in an ordinary classroom. The School SystemSchools in Spain can be state or privately owned. Some of the private schools are funded by the state (concertados). Fees in these schools are generally lower than in other private schools. Even though state school is free, parents will normally have to pay for books and materials, although this is not the case for all autonomous regions. A list of what is required will be distributed at the beginning of the school year. Pre-primary education - educación infantileEducation for children under the age of six is not compulsory but many parents will choose to send their child(ren) to a pre-school (preescolar). These pre-schools are often within the same complex as a primary school. Nursery schools (colegios infantiles) are usually separate. Provision will depend on the area in which they live. Pre-school education is divided into two cycles: First Cycle (primer ciclo) for children aged one to three, and Second Cycle (segundo ciclo) for ages three to six.
Primary education - educación primariaCompulsory education (escolaridad obligatoria) begins at the age of six and lasts for six years. School begins in September for children who turn six within that calendar year. Children attend the primary school of their area of residence. Primary education is divided into three cycles: First Cycle (primer ciclo), years 1 to 2; Second Cycle (segundo ciclo), years 3 to 4; and Third Cycle (tercer ciclo), years 5 to 6. The primary curriculum includes natural and social sciences (conocimiento del medio natural, social y cultural), the Spanish language (Castellana) and literature, an autonomous language and literature if applicable (lengua cooficial), mathematics, physical education, plastic and visual arts, and a foreign language and optional Catholic religion (when a child starts school the parents will be asked whether they want their child to attend religious classes). A second foreign language may be added in the third cycle. A child that fails to achieve the set standards for a particular cycle may be required to repeat the year. Children are graded in the following manner:
Secondary education - educación secundaria obligatoriaCompulsory secondary education (Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria/ESO) begins at the age of 12 and lasts for four years. Types of schools providing this education include: Institutos de Educación Secundaria, Colegios Privados and Colegios Concertados. Pupils receive more specialised training and begin their preparation for the baccalaureate or vocational training at these schools. Compulsory secondary education is divided into two cycles, from 12 to 14 and 14 to 16. Compulsory subjects include natural and social sciences, history and geography, physical education, plastic and visual arts, Spanish and an autonomous community language (if applicable), a foreign language, literature, mathematics, music and technology.
In the second year of the second cycle, pupils choose two of the following four options: natural and social sciences, music, technology, and plastic and visual arts. The Catholic religion is an optional subject for all four years; non-Catholics may choose study periods instead. A second foreign language can be chosen during the second cycle. As with primary education, a pupil can be required to repeat a year if they do not meet the required standards at the end of the school year. Children can only repeat the year once. Once pupils have finished their four years of ESO, and have obtained the set standards, they receive the Certificate of Secondary Education (Graduado en Educación Secundaria). This certificate is necessary for those who want to continue higher secondary education (Bachillerato) studies or intermediate vocational training.
Higher secondary education - bachillerato or formación profesionalAt the end of compulsory education (usually at age 16) pupils can go on to Bachillerato studies or vocational training (formación profesional). Bachillerato: Some of the subjects studied are common to all students, such as Spanish, a foreign language, Spanish history and physical education. However, students can choose to specialise in one of five different branches: arts, nature and health sciences, sciences and engineering, social sciences or humanities. At the end of their studies they receive the Título de Bachillerato if they have succeeded in all subjects.
In vocational training, students divide their time between school studies and on-the-job training. Students who successfully complete their vocational training are awarded the Certificado de Técnico in the relevant field. This certificate allows them to work in areas related to their training, to pursue further training or study for a Bachillerato. Higher educationTo go on to further education, students must sit an entry exam (Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad, more commonly known as Selectividad). Higher education is provided by public and private institutions known as either facultades universitarias, escuelas tecnicas superiores, escuelas universitarias, institutos universitarios, and other centres, notably the colegios universitarios. In addition to Spanish higher education, there are a number of US and British universities with facilties in Spain. LanguageIn Spain, the teaching language in state schools is Spanish. However, in some autonomous regions, lessons will be in a regional language such as Basque, Catalan or Galician. For example, in Catalonia, children will be taught in Catalan with some lessons in Spanish. International schools may teach in English or another foreign language and some international schools may be bilingual. Children who don't speak or write Spanish may be set back a year in order to learn the language. Many schools provide intensive Spanish lessons for foreign children but this is at the discretion of the school and the province. International SchoolsThere are a large number of international schools in Spain which follow a variety of curricula. Some offer the British GCSE and A-Level examinations, the American High School Diploma and college entrance examinations (for example ACT, SAT, achievement tests and AP exams), the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Spanish Bachillerato. They are all private schools and therefore fee-paying. Some offer primary education only, while others can cater for all ages including pre-school and nursery age children. In many instances children are taught by nationals from their country of origin.
It is advisable to check if a school is recognised by the Spanish Education authorities and whether it belongs to an accredited organisation. Many British schools in Spain belong to the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS) whose members are approved by British School inspectors. Information is also available from one's Embassy in Spain. Finding a SchoolIn Spain, children attend a state school (primary or secondary) within a certain distance of their own home. Lists of locals school and their catchment area can be obtained from town halls and provincial Ministry of Education offices. Some rural areas may have little or no choice of schools, while in bigger cities such as Madrid it is very likely that there will be a number of possibilities.
EnrolmentApplications to private schools and international schools should be made as far in advance as possible as many of these schools have waiting lists. To enrol at an International School, private or state school, contact the school directly. Procedures for enrolment at a state school will vary from one autonomous region to another. Check with the school when enrolment takes place. This is usually over a two month period between February and April. To enrol a child in a school the following documents will be required:
For children starting school in the second cycle of secondary school or after, it will be necessary to provide proof that the child's education record has been verified by the Spanish Ministry of Education. The process is known as homologación or convalidación. An official form is provided by the Ministry of Education, available from most Consulates and Embassies. It needs to be filled in and sent with the child's school record book and/or exam qualifications and birth certificate to the following address:
Note: All documents must be translated into Spanish.
Children with Special NeedsChildren with special needs will be integrated into mainstream schools if possible and school teaching will be adapted to each individual pupils' needs.
The School YearThe academic year in Spain runs from mid-September to mid-June, with the main holidays at Christmas, Easter and the summer break. Spanish school children have very long school holidays (vacaciones escolares) compared with those in many other countries. Schools are also closed on public holidays when they fall in term time. The school year is made up of three terms, each approximately eleven weeks in duration. There are slight variations among the different autonomous communities and there may be days off and long weekends for regional holidays and religious and national holidays. Pupils transferring from primary to secondary school are sometimes given an additional two weeks' summer holiday. School holiday dates are published by schools and local communities well in advance. Normally parents are not permitted to withdraw a child from classes during the school term. Exceptions can be made if the child has an appointment at the doctor or dentist, however, the teacher should be notified in advance. The School DayIn primary schools the school day generally lasts from 09:00-14:00, school meals are not always provided, however some schools offer the option to have lunch at the school and then undertake an extra-curricular activity in the afternoon. Once students reach year 7 (beginning of secondary school) school days are longer, beginning at approximately 08:30. Travelling to SchoolSchool bus service is usually provided free of charge and stops are generally made throughout the school catchment area. Further Information
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