Guide to Spanish Schools and Education on the Costa del Sol
Moving to Spain can be a traumatic experience, even for the most adventurous of people. One of the main worries and concerns for families who decide to take the plunge and relocate to Spain is the issue of schooling for their children. This short guide is designed to help those families find the solution that best suits their needs and provide information and resources to obtain all the necessary information regarding schools in Spain.
The good news is that there are various options available to parents with children who move to Spain: Spanish state Schools, Spanish private Schools and International schools. Below is a summary of the most important information regarding each of these types of school.
1. The Spanish State School System
Enrolling your child in a Spanish State school is perhaps the quickest way to ensure they will learn the language in the shortest space of time; however, you do need to think this through carefully as it can be a very traumatic experience for children to be thrown in at the deep end without any knowledge of the Spanish language. Younger children tend to adapt more easily to their new schools. After the age of around 10, integration gets more difficult and enrolment in an international school would be the recommended option to avoid traumas.
You cannot simply choose a school and then go and speak to the headmaster or administration office to enrol your child. In Spain, enrolment is usually based around a schools catchment area; either where to live or where you work. Without going into technicalities, you basically have more chance of enrolling your child in a school that is nearby your residence or your place of work as you are given preference depending on your personal circumstances.
How to Apply
Our recommendation would be to go directly to the school you would like your child to go to and speak to them. Please bear in mind that you will need the following documents:
- Proof and verification of school records from your home country
- Birth certificate or passport
- Proof of immunisations
- Proof or residence (empadronamiento from the town hall)
- Passport size photos
Applications are usually made between February and April (this depends on the area).
Timetable
Most state schools are open from 9am to 2pm. However, there are options available which allow for the extension of the school day – especially useful for working parents.
- Aula Matinal can be translated as a “morning club” which allows working parents to leave their children at school any time from 7.30 am to 9am; there is an extra charge for this service.
- After School activities – Most state schools offer a good variety of extra curricular activities which usually run from 3pm to 5pm. Once again you will have to pay a few for these activities but they are very reasonable.
- Holidays periods are generally long in Spain although international schools tend to have a little more holiday time – mainly because of the half term holidays.
Normal holiday periods are as follows:
Christmas and Easter – 2 weeks
Summer – 10 to 12 weeks
Half term in February (known as Semana Blanca) – 1 week
Extra Costs
- You will be required to pay for books and materials; expect to pay between 80 and 100 Euros per child per year.
- Meals: as school ends at 2pm, many children eat at home; however, many schools have the option of lunchtime meals. If you want this service, you need to fill out a form at the start of the academic year. The charge depends on your specific economic situation but can be as low as €30 or €40 per month for good quality home cooked food – a bargain!
- As mentioned earlier, you will have to pay for extra curricular activities but this is usually an insignificant amount.
Other Important Information You Should be Aware Of
- It is obligatory for children to attend school from the age of 6 upwards. It is; however, very common to see children start their schooling at Nursery from the age of 3. (Note: there are state run nurseries available for children under 3.)
- Class sizes at state run schools tend to be larger than at private schools; expect to see between 25 and 30 children per classroom.
- Many schools have little infrastructure and investment in technology and science equipment; some don’t even have computers. The same goes for sports and recreational facilities.
- It’s important to note that schools in Spain, especially secondary schools, give the impression that there is not much discipline and that students are given a lot of freedom and flexibility. Students even call teachers by their first name.
- At secondary school, teachers often leave kids that cause conflict in class and do not want to learn. This is perhaps because of the little support that teachers receive when a student shows lack of respect and complete unwillingness to learn. This situation of conflict within the classroom obviously affects those students who do wish to learn. The key word here is “Discipline” and unfortunately, this is an ingredient that is lacking in many Spanish secondary schools.
- Most teachers have little knowledge of English or any other language; this makes communication between parent and teacher very difficult. We highly recommend that parents make every effort to learn Spanish – at least enough to be able to communicate with teachers – if they are to be actively involved in their children’s education.
- In large ex-pat communities, many Spanish schools provide special language coaching for new foreign children for the first few weeks.
2. Private Spanish Schools
The Costa del Sol has a wide selection of reputable private Spanish schools which follow the Spanish curriculum. This is where the similarity with state schools ends. Private Spanish schools have the following characteristics:
- Longer school day – usually from 9am to 5pm
- These schools are usually better equipped in terms of facilities such as science labs, computer rooms and sports areas.
- Fees are generally lower than fees at international schools on the Coast.
- Many schools place a high importance on teaching English as a second language from an early age.
- Unlike with state schools, you are free to apply to any private school, regardless of where you live or work.
- There is a lot more discipline and problematic students are more severely dealt with. As a result, students have more respect for their teachers.
- Uniforms, meals and transportation are usually charged separately.
3. International Schools
The Costa del Sol has a large selection of international schools to choose from. That being said, one must be aware that standards of tuition, facilities and academic results vary greatly between schools; careful research is recommended before making any decisions.
Most of the international schools on the Costa del Sol are members of NABBS (National Association of British Schools in Spain). This is an important point as only fully authorised British Schools, recognised by the British Council and its inspectors can be members. Member schools are inspected on a regular basis and provide continuous training for their teachers.
Application
If you are thinking of enrolling your children in one of the international or British Schools on the coast, it is important that you make the application as far in advance as possible. Many of the top schools have waiting lists which in some cases can mean waiting up to a year to get a place for your child! Do your homework early and visit any school you are interested in as soon as possible so that you can get your application in early and avoid disappointment.
As with Spanish schools, you will have to provide your child’s education records.
Timetable
School hours at international schools tend to vary with start times between 9am and 10 am and finishing time between 4pm and 5pm.
Schools in Spain enjoy long holiday periods, especially in the summer months. Good news kids; perhaps not such good news for their parents!
Normal holiday periods are as follows:
Christmas and Easter – 2 to 3 weeks
Summer – 10 to 12 weeks
Half term in October and February – 1 week
School Fees
Sending your child to a private international school in Spain can be quite costly. Prices vary between the different schools; however, those with the best academic records tend to be more expensive. To give you an idea, you can expect to pay approximately €1000 per month for each child that attends a secondary school (age 13 +) – this would include uniform, meals, transportation and activities. Fees for junior school would be less; you can still expect to pay around €700 per month.
Installations and Facilities
This is perhaps where international schools are in a league of their own. Most of the top schools have the latest in information technology and science labs. Arts and crafts are also well catered for, as are sports facilities which in many cases include swimming pools and multiple sports fields.
So there you have it, a quick guide which will hopefully help you when it is time to decide the best schooling options for your children when you move to Spain. Below you will find contact details for the top international schools on the Costa del Sol. If you have any queries about the information above or would like some personal advice about some of the schools, please do contact us as we have first hand experience; 3 of our directors are ex students of these schools! They will definitely be able to offer you an insider’s perspective!
These are some of the best international and british schools of the Costa del Sol. If you would like more information regarding British Schools in Spain please visit the NABBS site at www.nabbs.org.
Aloha College, Marbella: tel: 95 2814133
Swans School, Marbella: tel: 95 2776431
Web: www.swansschool.net
Sotogrande International School : tel: 95 6795902
Web: www.sis.ac
St Anthony’s College, Mijas Costa: tel: 95 2473166
Web: www.stanthonyscollege.com
Sunny View School, Torremolinos: tel: 95 2383164
English International College, Marbella: tel: 95 2831058
Web: www.eic.edu
British College Benalmadena, Benalmadena: tel: 95 2442215
Web: www.thebritishcollege.com
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