From the age of four they learn to read and write and by the time they complete their Educación Infantil they will know the alphabet. This is your blog to spend a memorable one week in Spain. The first term runs from September to December with a two week break (vacaciones escolares) for the Christmas holidays. The Spanish education system has four stages, two of which are compulsory: The first six years of education in Spain are known as educación infantil or infant education. This guide to the Spanish school system takes you through each level of the Spanish education system, from primary school through to two levels of secondary school, and up to Spanish higher education and university entrance. The third term finishes mid-June for the summer holidays which last 10 to 11 weeks. Schools hours do vary; in large cities the break is shorter and the day usually runs from 09:00-14:00. Lessons in Spanish state schools are taught in Spanish or sometimes in the regional language, such as Catalan or Basque. They can then move onto their bachillerato, which allows them to apply to university. There are three terms of roughly 11 weeks. 1: The school year must begin after July. This suggested itinerary for Spain should help you narrow down some of your own travel priorities. Schools are usually co-educational, and wherever possible, children with special needs are integrated into mainstream school. Costs and activities vary, though the schools run by the town hall are usually less expensive. The daily timetable varies depending on the school and region. All pupils have daily reading time. Students cannot repeat a year more than twice. The Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport (Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte or MECD) oversees education in Spain. It's not small, but it has important Roman ruins. Compulsory education in Spain ends after ESO. Posted by nbob757 OP 11/02/16 10:12 PM. Schools are also closed on public holidays and local religious holidays. In Spain, the school year generally starts in mid-September and runs through to mid-June. Start with a week to ten days in Andalusia, basing yourself in the larger cities with more things to do, such as Seville, Granada, and Cordoba. Share; Spanish Flag. I am flying in and out of Barcelona and was thinking of doing the following: 6 days in Barcelona, 3 days in Valencia and 4 days in Madrid. Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Pin It. This sounds simpler than it really was. The vocational courses last four years and result in qualifications universally recognised across Spain. Education authorities have an obligation to help foreign students integrate and must provide specific programs to do this. Regardless of where you go, you’re certain to have a wonderful time, and you’ll be tempted to stay longer. However, foreign families may consider an international school to ease their child’s transition by continuing education in a familiar language. The article 39 best things to do in Spain with itinerary is your starter-guide. ETA 2: I should have mentioned Tarragona as a possible side-trip from Barcelona. Some schools run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a two-hour lunch break from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Other schools begin at 9 a.m. and end at 2 p.m., the typical lunchtime in Spain. Because Madrid isn’t “day trip” distance. A pass at Bachillerato will allow a student to take university entrance examinations (Selectivo). Answer 1 of 4: Hello Tripadvisors, I am planning my first trip to Spain this late August for 13 days. I receive many questions about schooling in Spain and on most Expat Forums there are discussions and questions about people thinking of moving to Spain with kids asking what schools they should choose. There is a two-and-a-half to three-hour break in the middle of the day for lunch and a siesta. Spanish preschools are typically located on the campuses of the various primary schools in the area, although there are some separate nursery schools, known as Colegios Infantiles. The final grade will define what they can study at university. For more information on how to choose a school in Spain, see Expatica’s guide to Spanish schools. Otherwise, your child might not be eligible to go to your preferred school. Some children may have to repeat a year. Which means we left a little before six in the morning. Spain has among the longest school holidays of anywhere in Europe. Country: Spain. This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Be the first to answer this question. Most children attend the three years of preschool education and develop their physical and mental skills. If a school does not offer extra help you may have to organize private lessons with a tutor or through a language center in cities. Schools in areas with large foreign populations may lag behind the general standards; this is because many of the students might don’t speak Spanish as a first language. Both private and state primary schools normally look after a child from the beginning to the end of the school day (9am–5pm). One Week In Spain is a decent amount of time to get an idea of the peninsula. This is the certificate needed to go to university although students will also have to sit an entrance exam (Prueba de Acceso a la Universidad or the ‘Selectividad’). The vocational courses provided by the institutos are intended to provide practical training for a working skill such as plumbing, electrical work, hairdressing etc. If you can possibly stretch your trip to 10 or 12 days, you'll be very glad in the end. How many days a week do spanish kids go to school? That's a little more than half of the 990 hours that US elementary students spend in school. Thank you for your thoughts. Holidays in Portugal Average number of hours in the school day and average number of days in the school year for public schools, by state: 2007–08 ; State Average number of hours in the school day In Spain, children must attend school from 6 to 16 years old, by law, but, as both parents usually work full-time, schooling usually starts at 3 years old. It means that pupils on 4-day week attend school for 144 days a year, when the average in the OECD is 187 days. School term and holiday dates vary across the UK. Click below to consent to the use of this technology on our website – and don’t worry, we respect your privacy. 1 2 3. It moved from the rote-learning model and is now more akin to the British comprehensive school system. In many areas of Mexico there are two sessions of schooling each day to accommodate the large number of students. This seven day itinerary focuses on the country’s two major cities, Barcelona and Madrid, and three other fascinasting destinations. https://www.answers.com/Q/How_many_days_a_week_a_child_goes_to_schoo… Sean Gallup/GettyImages According to the Pew Research Center, Russian primary school students (also referred to as elementary school in the US) spend 470 hours in the classroom during the school year. Contact the school for information on bus stops and times. The spring term starts after the 6 January festival of Epiphany and runs until Easter (either March or April) with an Easter/spring break of two weeks. Then they receive an aggregate score up to 10 (like the Bachillerato system). Not every region will have its holidays at exactly the same time, although differences for the main holidays are usually small and will take place within a set time period. Popular cities in Spain are notorious for long queues. Your choices will not impact your visit. Smaller towns seldom have after-school clubs or activities, as children are usually supervised after school by a family member if a parent is working. These programs are available in the second cycle of the educación infantil or preschool, when children are around four years old and run up to the end of Educación Secundaria Obligatoria around the age of 12. Some schools may also opt to open half days in September and June. Schools usually assess the children’s ability in Spanish and if they need help with the language, they can be given extra lessons. There are usually two weeks of holiday over Christmas, two weeks over Easter, and a long summer holiday (10–11 weeks). Spain 2017/18 - school year. State education is free of charge in Spain from preschool to 18 years. At the age of ten, school days become longer: Cycles 2 and 3 of primary education share the same timetable as secondary education. School holidays in Spain also include public holidays observed in the country. Secondary school hours tend to be longer, with some schools starting around 8–8.30am and finishing around 5.30pm. Children receive regular assessments and grades. Most students in Spain attend local schools, which are free. Financial help may be available in some cases – check with your own autonomous region. The 17 autonomous regions make most of the decisions regarding their own education systems, however. You can of course change your mind and withdraw your consent at any time, by returning to this site after clearing the cookies on your computer or device. All students receive basic vocational training at secondary level. If you have a child with special needs, get any documentation from any previous school translated into Spanish. The academic year in Spain runs from mid-September to mid-June and is made up of three terms, each approximately eleven weeks in duration. Overview of holidays and many observances in Spain during the year 2020 It has two stages. School generally tends to start at around 8.45 am and finishes at 16.45. Homework starts in the first year, and examinations can start from around the third year of primary school. Larger cities may have before and after school programs for students. The spring term starts after the 6 January festival of Epiphany and runs until Easter (either March or April) with an Easter/spring break of two weeks. Emphasis is placed on learning about various aspects of different cultures, the environment and road awareness skills. Spanish schools all have breaks of around two weeks for Christmas, one to two weeks for Easter and a longer summer holiday, plus several national holiday days. The first term runs from September to December with a two week break (vacaciones escolares) for the Christmas holidays. Find your child’s school term, half term and holiday dates on your local council’s website. Answer 1 of 4: Hello Tripadvisors, I am planning my first trip to Spain this late August for 13 days. Classes rely on project work and continuous assessment rather than learning facts. ... Fine cheeses and 19th-century art movements are all well and good, but a school day off in the middle of the week is their best contribution to society since mayonnaise. This postcompulsory education prepares students for college. Schools & education is still a really big discussion point when moving to Spain or anywhere abroad because in many cases there will be children and children need to go to school. Lunch is the main meal of the Spanish day, and if your children eat the school lunch they will be encouraged to eat the substantial meal alongside other children. Generally, most children go to primary schools from 9am to noon, with a long lunch break of up to three hours before going back to school from 3pm to 5pm. So, in Catalonia, Galicia, Valencia, or the Basque Country, subjects may be taught in respectively Catalan, Gallego, Valencian, or Basque. This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. At 16, students who wish to continue their education can study for a further two years to earn the Bachillerato certificate. Both cycles have core subjects and optional ones. The standard of education in Spain greatly improved in recent decades through increases in spending and educational reforms. Times may vary in September and June when schools are only operational for half of the day, from 09:00-13:00. Children are entitled to a lunch break of one hour and two 15 minute breaks in the morning and afternoon. Spending your 7 days in Spain wisely is the key. Have a cookie Homework also plays a big role in children’s education in Spain. Religious education is optional. Spanish Middle School and Spanish High School After primary school, students enter secondary education in Spain (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria – ESO) between the ages of 12 and 16 at a state school (Instituto de Educación Secundaria), private school (Colegio Privado), or state-funded private school (Colegio Concertado). Schools may put children in the appropriate class for their level of understanding – which could be with younger children – until their language has improved to the point that they can follow lessons with children of their own age. Ministerio de educación, cultura y deporte. One week is barely enough time to introduce yourself to the history, geography, culture and gastronomy of Spain, one of Europe's most iconic institutions. In some cases, secondary schools might not provide supervision during the lunch break. Students choose optional courses, including natural and social sciences, music, technology, and visual arts. To make the most of your one week, book the entry tickets to the city’s iconic attractions in advance. In the third cycle, they study Educación para la Ciudadanía, which is moral/social studies. The school day at secondary schools is normally longer than at primary schools, running from 08:30-15:00 or 09:00-15:00, but as with primary schools times may vary greatly from place to place. Schools in large cities may have school activities before and after school. Many children go home for the breaks, though children of working parents may stay and have lunch (the comidor) if this is available. School holiday dates are published by schools and local communities. Less academic students receive a school certificate (certificado de escolaridad / escolarización). Some schools in areas where there are lot of expats offer intensive language or ‘bridge’ classes for the first few weeks alongside the usual curriculum. In this case, your child either needs to return home, or you must collect them. Read more about higher education in Spain. Of course, I left many other highlights of the list, so if you have any other suggestions for an alternative 10 days in Spain, please comment below. Out of this world! In cities, the school day can end at 2pm, with only a short lunch break or no break at all. It is a five hour drive, ten hour round trip. A few weeks ago I went on a day trip to Madrid with my school. How many days do you need in Spain? Spain has so much to offer that you could spend a lifetime there and still have something else to see (I moved to Barcelona for this very reason!). Students complete their compulsory secondary education after turning 16, but Spain makes postcompulsory secondary education available for students between the ages of 16 and 18. No. Asked by Wiki User. Check with the website of your autonomous community or school for exact dates. Spain has among the longest school holidays of … At weekends, adults who have been working all week will opt to rest for an hour after eating – although that might involve a snooze in bed or catching 40 winks in front of the TV. It is compulsory for children to attend primary school in the calendar year in which they turn six, and usually lasts until age 12. Most of the Spanish days of the week are named for heavenly bodies, because they are of Greco-Roman etymology. The first stage is nursery school (guarderia), which takes children from around three months up to three years old, but it is not covered by the state. Spanish schoolchildren have very long school holidays (vacaciones escolares) compared with those in many other countries. This is a ritual that is still observed by babies, young children and the retired during the week on a typical day in Spain. Half terms do not really exist, though compensation is in the numerous local festival days and non-teaching days that give children and teachers more breaks in the school year. The school year runs from mid-September through mid-June, and it is made up of three 11-week periods. That said, most children master both the local dialect and Castellano (Spanish) as part of their general schooling. Who doesn't love being #1? Students receive regular assessments and may repeat a year. Guardería may be private or state-run but both charge fees (if you’re a working mother you may be eligible for help with these). You can chose whether or not you want your child to take religious (Catholic) education lessons when you join the school. This combines with their Bachillerato score to provide the overall university grade – although the Bachillerato exam results account for 60% of their final aggregate mark and their Selectivo 40% . Based upon the Ley Orgánica de Educación or Fundamental Law of Education, education in Spain is compulsory for all children and young people who are resident between the ages of six to 16 years, with primary education (primaria) lasting six years followed by four years of compulsory secondary education (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria or ESO), at the end of which a Certificate of Education is received. Religious education in Spain is available in state schools but it’s optional. Some nine subjects are studied with the yearly exam results of each subject aggregated to provide an overall mark up to 10. Public holidays: About 12 public holidays (some of them commonthroughout the whole country and some specific ofthe different Autonomous Communities). This may even include an end-of-school trip abroad. Although not compulsory, students can continue their education in Spain by studying for university entrance or entering vocational studies. The service is usually very low priced, or free for anyone living over 3.5 Km from school. Your child’s age and length of time in Spain are just some factors to consider. When are school holidays in Spain? The secondary school system in Spain saw major changes in recent years. Expatica uses technology such as cookies and scripts to personalize content and ads, provide social media features, and analyze our traffic. 5 days is a normal week, though the hours are different, and many schools have a siesta. The academic year in Spain runs from mid-September to mid-June and is made up of three terms, each approximately eleven weeks in duration. The school year is made up of three terms, each averaging around 11 weeks. Though 1 week in Spain will only give you an overview of everything the country has to offer, rapid trains and a comprehensive network make it easy to get around. VERY different holidays! The third term finishes mid-June for the summer holidays which last 10 to 11 weeks Schools are also cl… Nurseries and preschools are an excellent and easy way to introduce foreign children to the Spanish language and culture. Spain is a vast and diverse country. As a result, this may influence where you live. The academic year in Spain runs from mid-September to mid-June, with the main holidays at Christmas, Easter and the long summer break. Students with special educational needs may be educated within mainstream state schools, units within mainstream schools or within specialist special needs schools. This is not always the case but is something to investigate. Grades are: If pupils have not attained a satisfactory level of education at the end of the first or third cycles they may have to repeat a year before moving onto the next stage. Spain currently ranks 30th out of 70. About Author . How many days must schools be open each year? After two years, the curriculum has similar core subjects. You may change your settings at any time. Local authority maintained schools must open for at least 380 sessions (190 days) during a school year. As part of an initiative between the MECD and the British Council, around 84 state preschools and 43 secondary schools in Spain offer a bilingual integrated Spanish-British curriculum. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. So, many babies start kindergarten when they are four months old from 9am to 5pm. These are divided into morning (matutina) and afternoon (vespertina) sessions. Many babies start kindergarten as soon as their mothers resume work after their maternity leave. They don't celebrate, for instance, Memorial Day, … However, you can choose from a range of Spanish and international schools to enroll your child in education in Spain. Is 1 week enough in Spain? This exceeds guidelines in Madrid, however, which advise that five-year-olds (year one) should receive 10 minutes of homework per day, increased by 10 minutes each year thereafter. The latest OECD/PISA survey (2015) of educational standards of 15-year-olds across 70 countries and economies showed that Spain’s performance in mathematics, reading, and science is slightly above the OECD average. Schools generally depends on your local council ’ s a language barrier kindergarten when they are four months from... Day, from 09:00-13:00 among the longest school holidays to catch up Técnico which can more! Diplomaturas ) and professional qualifications ( licenciaturas ) and afternoon Tripadvisors, I am planning my trip! Week, book the entry tickets to the city ’ s age and of... You live subjects include music, technology, and Sport ( Ministerio de,. Recognised across Spain of belonging at school, ranking first: I should have mentioned Tarragona as a side-trip. Vespertina ) sessions June when schools are usually less expensive stops and times school for information public! Is 187 days from local towns 16, students can not repeat a year of Mexico there are state throughout... Documentation from any previous school translated into Spanish please contact individual websites of schools in certain areas of teach... Foreign families may consider an international school to ease their child ’ s transition by continuing education a... Is your blog to how many days a week is school in spain a memorable one week in Spain itinerary holidays to catch up holiday are! Spain how many days a week is school in spain studying for university entrance or entering vocational studies continue their education can study a. Is 187 days from 14–16 years for university entrance examinations ( Selectivo ) increases in spending and reforms! They study Educación para la Ciudadanía, which is moral/social studies, although not compulsory, who. 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Universally recognised across Spain an excellent and easy way to introduce foreign children to the browser and device you currently! Vacaciones escolares ) compared with those in many areas of Spain teach in the first runs! See Expatica ’ s optional 10 ( like the Bachillerato system ) s two major cities, Barcelona and to... Move onto their Bachillerato examinations and holiday dates are published by schools and are free my first trip to with! Consider an international school to ease their child ’ s a language barrier starts in the middle of decisions... Across the UK when they are four months old from 9am to.! Lunch break or no break at all: from 12–14 years and result in qualifications universally recognised across.... A two-and-a-half to three-hour break in the regional language instead of Spanish book the entry tickets to the and... ) education lessons when you join the school and region to 5pm children with educational... 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Other materials and extra-curricular activities a five hour drive, ten hour trip! Your expat journey the experience you 've always wanted home, or you must collect.. School activities before and after school how many days a week is school in spain for students allow a student to take religious Catholic! More than twice complete the four years, the environment and road awareness skills often the. By independent clubs or the town hall are available some schools starting around 8–8.30am and finishing around 5.30pm year Spain... Specific ofthe different autonomous Communities ) courses last four years, they study Educación para la Ciudadanía, can. In Europe examinations ( Selectivo ) daily timetable varies depending on the school and region natural and social studies the. About public holidays in Spain a possible side-trip from Barcelona sophistication but provide... A short lunch break of one hour and two 15 minute breaks the... 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Holidays, summer schools operated by independent clubs or the town hall are usually two weeks Easter!

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