Spanish Schools Costa del Sol

Spanish Properties SiteMap | Direct Estates

Spain has a state funded school system along with private schools and a range of international / foreign schools. Around 30% of Spains' school children attend private schools the majority of which are co-educational. The line between public, private and church schools can be blurred, with many nominally private or church schools receiving their principal support from the state.

The only schools that use English as the teaching language are the international and foreign schools. If your children attend any other schools they will be taught their lessons in Spanish.

Compulsory education begins at six years of age with the children attending primary school which, in most cases, is local. This lasts for eight years when, at fourteen, the child receives a school leaving certificate. Those with higher marks are able to attend a higher secondary school with less academic pupils moving onto a vocational school.

You are required to have an interview to enroll in a Spanish school. New arrivals in Spain must have their children's education record verified which can be a long and expensive process. This is called convalidation. A pupil will not be accepted unless the necessary paperwork is completed, it is best to get this done before arriving in Spain so the child can immediately enter upon arrival in the country.

To enrol you must also have:

• proof of convalidation
• your child's birth certificate or passport, proof of immunization
• proof of residence in the form of a bill in your name. If you haven't got one then a rent receipt, or lease is acceptable
• a passport-size photograph (for a student ID card) for a child entering secondary school

Spanish school hours: These vary from place to place and according to type of school. One typical schedule would run from 0900 until 1700 with a two hour break for lunch; another typical schedule would go from 0900 with no break and finish classes for the day at 1400. When there is a lunch break of more than hour, students typically have the option to go home for lunch, which many do to take lunch with their entire family.

Below we have listed some school resources to help you along the way:

• Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture | www.mec.es
• Mijas department of education | www.mijas-digital.es
• University of Cambridge International Examinations | www.cie.org.uk
• The International Baccalaureate Organization | www.ibo.org
• National association of British schools in Spain | www.nabss.org
• Aloha College - Marbella -| www.aloha-college.com
• Calpe College School - San Pedro | www.calpecollegeschool.com
• Sotogrande International School | www.sis.ac
• Sunny View School - Torremolinos | www.nabss.org
• Swann School - Marbella | www.swansschool.net
• English International College - Marbella | www.eic.edu
• Sunland International School - Cartama | www.sunland-int.com
• Benalmadena International College | www.bic-benal.com
• St Anthony's College - Fuengirola | www.stanthonyscollege.com
• Mayfair academy school - San Pedro | www.mayfairacademy.com