The Spanish education system

Early childhood (Educación Infantil) in two stages: 0–3 (nursery, often not free) and 3–6 (kindergarten, free in public schools).

• Primary school (Educación Primaria) six years from six to twelve.
• Compulsory secondary (ESO) four years from 12 to 16 ending with a certificate (Graduado en ESO).
• Then the student chooses upper secondary (Bachillerato) with tracks (science, humanities and arts) for two years, leading to the university exam (PAU/EBAU/EvAU) and university study, or intermediate (Grado Medio) and higher (Grado Superior) vocational training.
• Spanish and curriculum subjects are taught, and in regions with a co-official language Catalan, Basque, Galician or Valencian is also taught, as well as English and a second foreign language.

The admission application (proceso de admisión) is submitted via the autonomous community or town hall in a set period often between February and May for the next school year, and several schools can be chosen in order of preference.

• Seats are distributed by points: proximity to home, family income, siblings at the school, disability and the parents' work.
• So you cannot always freely choose any school, and the nearer your address the higher your chances.
• You need the padrón, the child's passport, the vaccination record and previous certificates.
• Children arriving mid-year are registered by the region according to available seats in the matrícula viva, so contact the education office in your region or the nearby school.
• And check the region's exact dates.

For children who do not speak Spanish or the region's language schools provide language support classes (aulas de enlace or aulas de acogida or programas de inmersión lingüística) that teach them the language for several months while taking part in other subjects with peers, then they move gradually to the regular class.

• The child is often placed in a class suited to their age or a year lower according to an assessment of their level.
• In regions with a co-official language the child may learn two new languages.
• Keep Arabic at home since it supports learning other languages.
• And many schools and associations offer free homework support lessons.
• Health centres and migrant organisations work on raising awareness of educational rights.
• And if you face unjustified refusal ask for help from the education inspectorate or social services.

Parents are expected to cooperate with the school: attend parents' and teachers' meetings (tutorías), follow homework and report the child's illness absence on the same day.

• Absence without excuse is an offence that may lead to social services intervention.
• Schools communicate via apps (Educamos, iPASEN and Clickedu) and emails, so ask for help if you do not understand.
• The parents' association (AMPA: Asociación de Madres y Padres de Alumnos) represents families and organises activities, and the school council (Consejo Escolar) includes parent representation.
• Schools offer services: the canteen (comedor), morning care (aula matinal) and after-school activities, at a cost.
• And religion is taught optionally with the alternative Valores.
• And the school day may differ: continuous or split.

Education in public schools is free, but there are costs: school books (lent or bought depending on region), school uniform in some schools, the canteen, school transport, and trips and activities.

• Regions and town halls offer grants (becas) and aid for books, canteen and transport to low-income families, so ask the school or education office.
• Burdens are higher in subsidised and private schools.
• After secondary university study is possible with grants and loans (Becas del Ministerio) for the eligible, and annual university fees are reasonable and differ by region and field.
• And vocational training (FP) and dual training (FP Dual) combine study and work and provide in-demand jobs.
• And the system allows equivalence of foreign certificates (homologación) for students and workers.

From what age is education compulsory?