The spanish education system

The Spanish education

system

THE SPANISH EDUCATION SYSTEM

1. INTRODUCTION 2. TYPES OF SCHOOLS 3. SCHOOL TIMINGS 4. PRE-SCHOOL 5. PRIMARY EDUCATION 6. COMPULSORY SECONDARY

EDUCATION (ESO) 7. POST-COMPULSORY SCHOOLING

(BACHILLERATO) 8. VOCATIONAL TRAINING (CICLOS

FORMATIVOS)

1. INTRODUCTION

DIAGRAM OF THE SPANISH EDUCATION SYSTEM

1. INTRODUCTION

In Spain, schooling is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 16 years.

The system consists of four levels:

PRE-SCHOOL

• 3 TO 6 YEARS (NON- COMPULSORY)

PRIMARY EDUCATION

• 6 TO 12 YEARS (COMPULSORY)

COMPULSORY SECONDARY

EDUCATION (ESO)

• 12 TO 16 YEARS (COMPULSORY)

POST-COMPULSORY SCHOOLING

(BACHILLERATO)• 16 TO 18 YEARS• (NON-

COMPULSORY

1. INTRODUCTION- Textbooks are free in primary school and secondary school in our region: the school buys them with the money that the government gives for it.- Students have to buy their workbooks and materials.

2. TYPES OF SCHOOLS Schools in Spain can be divided into 3 categories:

STATE SCHOOLS

PRIVATELY RUN SCHOOLS FUNDED BY THE STATE (colegios concertados). They are purely private for the Bachillerato years.

PURELY PRIVATE SCHOOLS. There are private schools for all the range of compulsory education. Parents must pay a monthly/termly/yearly fee. Most of these schools are run by religious orders.

3. SCHOOL TIMINGS

First term: September to December

Second term: January to Easter

Third term: After Easter to late June

The school year is divided into THREE TERMS with a long summer holiday break of almost three months:

In Spain, there are frequent long weekends relating mainly to religious holidays and regional and national holidays.

3. SCHOOL TIMING

The school day for primary schools can vary but is normally from 09.00 – 14.00.

For ESO or Bachillerato, the school day is usually from 08.30 – 14.30.

4. PRE-SCHOOL Children who are 3 to 6 years old have the

option of attending the Pre-school stage, which is non-compulsory and free. It is considered as an integral part of the education system and there are preschool classes at almost every primary school.

Children enter pre-school in the autumn of the calendar year in which they turn three years old.

4. PRE-SCHOOL

5. PRIMARY EDUCATION

It is structured as three 2-year cycles:

First cycle(6 to 8 years)

• First year• Second year

Second cycle(8 to 10 years)

• Third year• Fourth year

Third cycle(10 to 12

years)• Fifth year• Sixth year

5. PRIMARY EDUCATION

At this stage, students get the essential and basic knowledge and skills for their learning life.

The main subjects they learn are: Maths, Spanish Language, Science, Music, English, Art and Physical Education.

6. COMPULSORY SECONDARY EDUCATION (ESO)

This secondary stage of education is compulsory and also free.

Students are usually between 12 and 16 years.

Secondary education consists of four years. There are two 2-year cycles :

First cycle

•First year•Second year

Second cycle

•Third year•Fourth year


There are approximately 30 students in every classroom



FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH

NATURAL SCIENCES 3 3 4 3*

SOCIAL SCIENCES 3 3 3 3

PHYSICAL EDUCATION 2 2 2 2

CITIZENSHIP - 2 - -

VISUAL ARTS - 3 2 3

SPANISH LANGUAGE 4 4 4 4

ENGLISH 4 4 3 4

MATHS 4 4 3 4

MUSIC 3 - 2 3*

TECHNOLOGY 3 - 3 3*

RELIGION 1 2 1 1

OPTIONAL 2 2 2 -

TUTORIAL 1 1 1 1

CIVICS - - - 2

BIOLOGY AND GEOLOGY - - - 3*

PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY - - - 3*

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES - - - 3*

LATIN - - - 3*

2nd FOREIGN LANGUAGE - - - 3*

FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH

NATURAL SCIENCES 3 3 4 3*

SOCIAL SCIENCES 3 3 3 3

PHYSICAL EDUCATION 2 2 2 2

CITIZENSHIP - 2 - -

VISUAL ARTS - 3 2 3

SPANISH LANGUAGE 4 4 4 4

ENGLISH 4 4 3 4

MATHS 4 4 3 4

MUSIC 3 - 2 3*

TECHNOLOGY 3 - 3 3*

RELIGION 1 2 1 1

OPTIONAL 2 2 2 -

TUTORIAL 1 1 1 1

CIVICS - - - 2

BIOLOGY AND GEOLOGY - - - 3*

PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY - - - 3*

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES - - - 3*

LATIN - - - 3*

2nd FOREIGN LANGUAGE - - - 3*

6. COMPULSORY SECONDARY EDUCATION

CURRICULAR DIVERSIFICATION PROGRAMME

It’s a programme for those students who are in the 2nd cycle and can’t get the educational objectives but they have a good learning attitude. They share subjects with other students who have a common curricula but they go to another class just for them in Linguistics and Communication, Mathematics and World knowledge.

6. COMPULSORY SECONDARY EDUCATION

INITIAL PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION PROGRAMME

In Spain, the Initial Professional Qualification Programme aims at providing the students with learning problems an opportunity to:

- Obtain their Certificate.- Receive professional learning in fields such as

Electronics, Carpentry, Computer or Business.- Offer easier access to Middle Grade Training Cycles.


If a student has achieved their Certificate of Secondary Education, then they can decide to:

•Continue their education by studying for the BACHILLERATO (necessary for University)

•Continue their education by taking a VOCATIONAL COURSE (Ciclo Formativo)

•Leave school

7. POST-COMPULSORY SCHOOLING: BACHILLERATO

Students are usually between 16 and 18 years.

It consists of two years: First Bachillerato. Second Bachillerato.

It is comparable to the A Levels.

7. POST-COMPULSORY SCHOOLING: BACHILLERATOThere are three kinds of Bachillerato:

Humanities and Social Sciences

Nature and Health Sciences

Arts


COMPULSORY SUBJECTS

SOME SPECIALIZED

SUBJECTS

HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

-Spanish Language and Literature-First foreign language (mostly English)-Physical Education -Spanish History-Science to the contemporary world- Optional subject (2nd foreign language, Information Technology, Psychology…)

-Latin and Greek- Applied maths and Economy

NATURE AND HEALTH

SCIENCES

-Physics-Chemistry- Biology- Maths

ARTS -Artistic drawing-Technical drawing- History of art- Design


The students who get their Certificate and want to go to University have to take a University entrance exam. It is the same exam for the whole region. They are tested on the compulsory subjects of their Bachillerato (English, Spanish Language, History or Philosophy) and the subjects of their field of specialization.

8. VOCATIONAL TRAINING (CICLOS FORMATIVOS)

The vocational training is another possibility after ESO or Bachillerato.

There are two different types of programmes:1) MIDDLE GRADE TRAINING CYCLE (2

years), which have the certificate of Secondary Education as a requirement. Students get a certificate as a Technician.

2) SUPERIOR GRADE TRAINING CYCLE (2 years) for the students who finish Bachillerato. After its completion, students are entitled to direct entrance to several related University degrees.

8. VOCATIONAL TRAINING (CICLOS FORMATIVOS)

NURSING

ELECTRICITY

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO

SEEING YOU IN FEBRUARY IN

SPAIN!