The academic year in Spain starts from September and finishes mid -June. School times can range depending on the area or region you are in. Some schools operate a very similar time frame as that in the UK (9am until l4 pm with one hour for lunch), where e other more traditional regions stop between the hours of 1 and 3.30 pm for the afternoon siesta period, and then return to school until 5.30pm.
In Spain, State education (escuela pública) is free, but like most European countries, parents are required to pay for school books, supplies for extra curricular activities such as sports and art.
School starts with nursery or pre-school at the age of 4 or 5. Compulsory education begins at six years within a primary school and lasts for 8 years. At the age of 14 students will receive a certificate which then determines the course of their future education. Children who receive a high mark get awarded a titulo de graduado escolar certificate and may attend a higher secondary school to study for their baccalaureate. The remaining children can attend a program specialising in training for specific careers.
In order to place your child or children into a Spanish school there are some considerations and processes you should note:
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Interview will be required
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An examination of the child's Spanish knowledge
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A copy of the child's education record is required using a process called co validation
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The school that you child attends has to be within a certain distance of your place of residence (lists of local schools can be obtained form the local Town halls or Ministry of Education office)
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You will be required to supply the child(s) birth certificate, passport, proof of immunisation, proof of residence and proof of con validation
For further information on state schools-contact the Spanish Embassy or Consulate
Private education schools (escuela privada) are also widely available, but prices can vary from region to region. It is worth checking how much time within International schools the children spend learning the native tongue - as some schools only offer Spanish lessons twice a week as part of their curriculum
One of the more popular and well renowned private schools in Murcia and Alicante is El Limonar.
This
school is an international l private school allowing pupils
from outside Spain to continue their education. The facilities
are top class with tennis courts, science labs, swimming
pools - and four schools located around the Costa
Calida and Costa Blanca.
There is of course a monthly fee - details of which can be obtained for their website.
