Find the ideal school in Spain

Moving to Spain with school-age children means learning a system with its own stages, three kinds of school ownership and an admission calendar set by each autonomous community rather than nationally. This guide covers what matters most before you start comparing individual schools.

How the stages work

Education is compulsory and free between the ages of 6 and 16, although most families start earlier.

• Educación Infantil (0-6). Split into a first cycle (0-3) and a second cycle (3-6). Neither is compulsory, but the second cycle is close to universal and free in publicly funded schools.
• Educación Primaria (6-12). Six years, and the first compulsory stage.
• ESO (12-16). Four years of compulsory secondary education, ending with the Graduado en ESO certificate.
• Bachillerato (16-18). Two years leading to university entrance. Vocational training, Formación Profesional, is the alternative route.

Público, Concertado and private schools

The three models differ in who funds the school and who runs it, which says nothing about quality on its own.

• Público. Funded and run by the regional education authority. Teaching is free; canteen, school transport and after-school activities are paid separately.
• Concertado. Privately run but publicly funded through an agreement with the administration. Mainstream teaching is free, though voluntary contributions and charges for additional services are common.
• Private. Funded entirely by family fees, and free to set its own admission rules, calendar and curriculum.

International schools, bilingual programmes and the IB

Families arriving from abroad usually weigh three options. International schools teach a foreign curriculum — British, American, French, German and others — and often lead to the International Baccalaureate or to A-levels, which helps if another move is likely. Bilingual state and Concertado schools teach part of the timetable in English while following the Spanish curriculum. Ordinary Spanish-language schools offer the fastest immersion, and many run support programmes for pupils who arrive without the language.

In regions with a co-official language — Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian — check which language the school actually teaches in, not only which ones it offers.

Enrolling and getting previous studies recognised

Places in state and Concertado schools are allocated on points. Proximity to your home or workplace, siblings already at the school, household income and certain recognised circumstances usually carry the most weight. The application window generally falls in spring for the following academic year, but the calendar and the scoring criteria are published by each autonomous community, so confirm them with the regional education department.

Arriving mid-year is a normal situation the system provides for, and children can be enrolled outside the ordinary window. Studies completed abroad may need formal recognition; requirements depend on the level and the country, and are handled through the education administration.

What it costs

Budget beyond tuition from the start: enrolment or place-reservation fees where they apply, monthly fees at private schools, canteen, school transport, after-school activities, materials and uniform. Ask each school for the full breakdown in writing before you decide.