Schools in Spain for Expat Children: State, Private, International and Everything In Between
Choosing the right school is one of the biggest decisions when relocating with children. Spain's education system offers excellent options at every budget — from free state schools with bilingual programmes to world-class international schools. Here is what you need to know.
Understanding the Spanish Education System
Spain's education system is divided into distinct stages, each with its own characteristics. Understanding the structure helps you plan which school type best suits your child's age, language ability, and your family's long-term plans in Spain.
Voluntary but almost universally attended. Two cycles: 0–3 (nursery/guarderia) and 3–6 (pre-school). Free in state schools from age 3.
VoluntarySix years of compulsory primary education. Six year-groups (1st to 6th curso). Broad curriculum with Spanish, maths, natural sciences, social sciences, arts, PE, and a foreign language (usually English).
CompulsoryFour years of compulsory secondary education. Equivalent to GCSE years in the UK. At the end, students receive the Graduado en Educacion Secundaria Obligatoria qualification.
CompulsoryTwo years of optional post-compulsory education. Equivalent to A-levels or Leaving Certificate. Leads to university entrance exam (EBAU/Selectividad). Three tracks: Sciences, Humanities, or Arts.
OptionalVocational qualifications at grado medio (16+) and grado superior (18+). Strong and increasingly valued alternative pathway to university or direct employment.
OptionalRegional Variation
Education in Spain is managed at the regional (autonomia) level, meaning there are significant differences between regions. In Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia, children are also educated in the regional language (Catalan, Euskera, Galician) alongside Castilian Spanish. Valencia has its own language too. This is an important consideration when choosing where in Spain to settle with children.
State, Concertado, and International Schools: The Key Differences
Estado (State Schools)
Publicly funded, open to all resident children. Full Spanish (or regional language) immersion. Many have bilingual programmes. Good quality overall.
Concertado (Semi-Private)
Privately owned but publicly subsidised. Often Catholic or religious. May have smaller classes and stronger bilingual programmes. Voluntary contributions.
International Schools
British, American, IB and other curricula. English instruction. Ease for children who don't yet speak Spanish. Not always accredited for Spanish university.
State Schools (Colegios Publicos)
Spain's state schools are funded entirely by the regional government and are free to attend. Teachers are civil servants with permanent contracts, giving state schools a stability that some private providers lack. The curriculum is set nationally with regional variations.
For expat children, the main challenge is language. Unless your child already speaks Spanish, the first year in a state school can be demanding. However, children are remarkably adaptable — most non-Spanish-speaking children achieve fluency within 6–12 months through full immersion. The language support available (see below) varies significantly by school and region.
The quality of state schools in Spain is generally good. In PISA international comparisons, Spain performs at or above the OECD average in reading and science. Madrid's state schools regularly score above the national average.
Concertado Schools (Colegios Concertados)
Concertado schools are a distinctive feature of Spanish education. They are privately owned — most often by Catholic religious orders, though secular ones exist — but receive government funding in exchange for following the state curriculum and keeping fees at capped levels.
Concertado schools typically charge small voluntary contributions (cuotas voluntarias) of €100–500 per month, plus materials and uniform costs. Some families are drawn to them for smaller class sizes, stronger bilingual provision, or religious values. They often have more parental involvement and activity-based curricula than state schools.
A significant portion of Spanish middle-class families choose concertado schools over state schools, particularly in Madrid and Barcelona. Admissions work the same way as state schools — through the regional education authority — and are subject to similar oversubscription rules based on proximity to home.
International Schools
Spain has a well-established international school sector, particularly in Madrid, Barcelona, the Costa del Sol, the Costa Blanca, and the Canary Islands. Most teach in English — following British, American, or IB curricula — though French, German, and Scandinavian international schools also exist.
International schools are the natural choice for families who:
- Are planning to stay in Spain for fewer than two to three years and want curriculum continuity
- Have older children (11+) for whom full Spanish immersion would be very challenging
- Want their children to maintain an English-language education for UK, Irish, or American university applications
- Have children with SEN or learning difficulties where Spanish-language support may be limited
| School Type | Annual Cost | Language | Curriculum | Admissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State (colegio publico) | Free | Spanish (+ regional language) | Spanish national curriculum | Via consejeria — priority by address |
| Concertado | €100–600/month (voluntary) | Spanish, often bilingual | Spanish national curriculum | Via consejeria — same rules as state |
| International (British) | €8,000–18,000/yr | English | British (GCSE/A-level) | Direct to school — rolling admissions |
| International (American) | €10,000–22,000/yr | English | American (AP/SAT) | Direct to school — rolling admissions |
| IB School | €12,000–25,000/yr | English (mainly) | IB Programme | Direct to school — rolling admissions |
Bilingual State Schools: A Practical Middle Ground
One of the best-kept secrets of the Spanish state system for expat families is the network of bilingual state schools (colegios bilingues). These are standard state schools that teach a significant proportion of their curriculum in English — typically 40–60% of subjects — through immersion programmes called PAB (Programa de Aprendizaje Bilingue) or BRIT (British Schools of Excellence programme) depending on the region.
In Madrid, the Comunidad de Madrid's bilingual programme covers over 450 primary and secondary state schools. Children receive significant English-language instruction while remaining within the free state system. Teaching is conducted by both Spanish teachers and native English-speaking language assistants.
For expat children who speak English natively, these schools can be excellent — their English ability becomes an asset that is reinforced rather than unused, while they still acquire Spanish through the remaining curriculum. The programmes are popular and oversubscribed, so applying early (and ideally moving to the catchment area of a good bilingual school) is important.
Regions with the Strongest English Provision
- Madrid: Largest bilingual state school network in Spain; Community of Madrid bilingual programme; most schools have native English assistants
- Basque Country: Trilingual education (Basque, Spanish, English); high PISA scores; excellent overall quality
- Catalonia: Many international schools; strong English in private sector; state system primarily in Catalan
- Andalucia: Growing bilingual programme (Plan de Bilingüismo); more variation in quality than Madrid; popular with British and Northern European expats on the Costa del Sol
- Valencia: Bilingual programmes available; state system partly in Valencian; large expat community on the Costa Blanca
How to Enrol Your Child in a Spanish School
The enrolment process differs depending on whether you are applying to a state or concertado school (managed by the regional education authority) or an international school (managed directly).
State and Concertado Schools
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Obtain your padron certificate
Register your address at your local town hall (ayuntamiento) and obtain a padron certificate (certificado de empadronamiento). This is used to establish which schools are within your catchment zone and is essential for the application.
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Check the admissions period for your region
Each regional education authority (consejeria de educacion) runs an annual admissions period, typically from February to April for September entry. Outside this window, out-of-cycle admissions are possible but places are allocated from waiting lists. Moving families should check their region's specific dates immediately on arriving.
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Research and prioritise schools
Use the regional consejeria's school finder to identify state and concertado schools in your area. Look up their bilingual status, EBAU results (for secondary), and reviews. Many schools allow prospective parent visits in January and February before applications open.
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Submit your application to the consejeria
Applications for state and concertado schools are submitted to the regional education authority, not to individual schools. You can typically list up to six school preferences in order. Applications are submitted online, by post, or in person depending on the region.
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Await placement and accept the offer
The consejeria allocates places based on scoring criteria — primarily proximity to home (using your padron address), siblings already at the school, and family income. Results are published in April or May. Accept your place within the specified deadline.
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Complete school-level enrolment
Once placed, contact the school directly to complete the formal enrolment (matricula). This involves submitting all required documents directly to the school and may include meetings with the head teacher or pastoral coordinator, particularly for children arriving with limited Spanish.
International Schools
International schools manage their own admissions independently of the regional authority. Applications are made directly to the school, with most accepting applications on a rolling basis throughout the year. Most schools require:
- Application form and application fee (typically €100–400)
- Previous school reports and transcripts (usually translated)
- Assessment interview or placement test (particularly for secondary)
- References from previous school
- Copies of passports and residency documents
Documents Required for School Enrolment in Spain
- Child's birth certificate — with official translation and apostille stamp if not Spanish
- Child's NIE (Numero de Identificacion de Extranjero)
- Padron certificate (certificado de empadronamiento) — must be recent, typically within 3 months
- Parents' NIE or residency documents (TIE, EU residency certificate)
- Vaccination record (cartilla de vacunacion) — Spanish healthcare schedule or translated equivalent
- Previous school reports or leaving certificates — translated if not in Spanish
- Passport-sized photographs of the child
- Medical report if the child has any health conditions or special educational needs
Apostille tip: Foreign birth certificates usually need an apostille stamp from the relevant authority in your home country (e.g., the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for UK documents) plus an official Spanish translation by a sworn translator (traductor jurado). Allow 2–4 weeks for this process.
Spanish Language Support for Non-Spanish-Speaking Children
One of the most common concerns for families moving to Spain is how their children will cope in a Spanish-language school. The good news is that children are considerably more adaptable linguistically than adults, and most settle successfully into Spanish schools within a few months.
Aulas de Acogida and Apoyo Linguistico
Most regional education systems provide structured Spanish language support for newly arrived children who do not speak the language. These go by different names in different regions:
- Aulas de Acogida (Welcome Classrooms) — used in Madrid and Catalonia: children are withdrawn from regular classes for intensive Spanish instruction, typically for several hours per day, while gradually integrating into mainstream lessons
- Apoyo Linguistico (Language Support) — additional classes provided within or alongside mainstream lessons
- ATAL (Aulas Temporales de Adaptacion Linguistica) — used in Andalucia: temporary language adaptation classrooms for newly arrived pupils
The intensity and quality of support varies significantly between schools and regions. Madrid and the Basque Country have the most developed provision. Some smaller schools in less urbanised areas may have limited experience with non-Spanish-speaking pupils.
What to Expect in the First Year
Typically: the first two to three months involve a challenging settling-in period where children may be frustrated and anxious. By months three to six, basic communication is usually established. By month nine to twelve, most children are functionally fluent in social Spanish. Academic Spanish (needed for written work and complex subjects) typically takes two to three years to fully develop. This is a well-documented pattern in language acquisition research.