An Introduction
The education system in Spain is divided into the following levels:
- nursery education
- primary education
- compulsory secondary education
- bachillerato (school leaving certificate)
- vocational training
- university education
Nursery education: 0 to 6 years, organised in two stages of 3 years
each. This is voluntary with the second stage from 3 to 6 years being widely
taken up.
Primary education: From 6 to 12 years of age, compulsory and free of
charge in public and grant-aided schools.
Compulsory secondary education (CSO): 12 to 16 years. Taught in
Secondary Education Institutes. Successful pupils leave school with a secondary
education school certificate.
Bachillerato: After obtaining the compulsory secondary education
school certificate, the student may opt to continue with middle level vocational
training studies or bachillerato studies.
The bachillerato (high school certificate) lasts two years, normally from 16
to 18, and confers the qualification of bachiller (baccalaureate). It provides
the foundation for higher level vocational training or, if the students pass the
necessary access tests, to university education.
Vocational training: A broad range of mid or higher level vocational
training courses are available, organised on a modular basis and of variable
duration, which prepare students to work in a variety of jobs. Special pathways
exist, generally via exams, for access to university education or higher
vocational courses. Passing mid-level vocational training entitles the student
to the qualification of technician while higher level vocational training
entitles the student to the qualification of higher technician.
University education: Divided into three courses. In some cases, the
first course gives access to the qualification of a university diplomado
[diploma] The second course entitles the student to the qualification of
university licenciado [batchelor’s degree] and the third course confers the
qualification of PhD.
Universities are independent bodies able to design their own educational
courses. They may be public or private. The qualifications of private
universities must be officially recognised by the Ministry of Education for them
to have official value.
Special training courses are also available, eg. artistic courses
(music, dance, plastic arts and design and dramatic art) and language teaching.
Kindergarten
Pre-school education is available up to 6 years and is divided into two
groups: up to 3 years and from 3 to 6 years. This stage is not compulsory
although the Central government will guarantee the existence of a number of
sufficient places to ensure schooling for those who request it.
The maximum number of students per classroom is from 20 to 25.
Primary Education
Primary education is compulsory and free, for children aged 6 to 12 years,
and consists of 3 cycles of 2 years each:
- First cycle: 6 - 8 years
- Second cycle: 8 - 10 years
- Third cycle: 10 - 12 years
- The minimum number of students per classroom is 25.
Education at this level is intended to provide all children with a common
education that making it possible for them to acquire basic elements of culture,
to learn oral expression, writing and arithmetic, and, gradually, to become more
autonomous in their environment.
Teaching of foreign languages begins in the first year of the second cycle (8
years of age).
Secondary Education
Structure and duration: Upper secondary education is optional. Two
systems of post-compulsory education currently exist in Spain: one established
by the LGE and one by the LOGSE.
The first, called enseñanzas medias, consists of the bachillerato
unificado polivalente or BUP, which lasts three years and normally prepares
pupils between the ages of 14 and 17 for access to university. However, to get
into university they have to follow a one-year university orientation course (curso
de orientación universitaria or COU).
The second system, incorporating the new bachillerato, lasts for two
years (between the ages of 16 and 18), and prepares pupils for higher education
institutions.
In both systems, vocational training (formación profesional) is also
offered as part of post-compulsory education.
School year: The academic year normally begins in the second half of
September and ends in the last week of June.
Entry requirements:
- BUP: pupils must possess the school-leaving certificate (graduado
escolar). In order to enter the COU, pupils must have successfully completed
the BUP.
- Bachillerato: pupils must hold the certificate of secondary
education (graduado en educación secundaria). Citizens of other Member
States should have their qualification recognised as equivalent in order to
get into post-compulsory education. The International Baccalaureate is
recognised as equivalent to having successfully completed the COU, after
validation of the subject areas. Only the diploma is recognised, and not
partial studies. There are no language requirements.
Tuition feesPost-compulsory education is free of charge in state
schools, although parents must cover the costs of additional services, such as
canteens and transport.
Languages:
- BUP and COU: the learning of a foreign language is compulsory and
the study of a second foreign language is optional.
- Bachillerato: the learning of a foreign language and the language
of the autonomous community is part of the curriculum.
Graduation
BUP and COU: Pupils are assessed continuously and at the end of the
year receive an overall mark determined by all the teachers. There are two
examination periods (convocatorias) per year, in June and September. Pupils who
fail in any subject in June may retake it in September, while those who fail in
more than two subjects in September must repeat the year. The COU procedures are
almost the same, but pupils who fail cannot enrol more than three times.
Bachillerato: to move up from the first to the second year, pupils
must not fail in more than two subjects. Those who fail more than three subjects
at the end of second year are obliged to repeat the year. However, pupils may
not take more than four years to complete their studies.
Certification:
- BUP: pupils who successfully complete the three-year course are
awarded the bachillerato; there is no final examination.
- Bachillerato: if pupils are successful in all subjects they receive
the bachillerato; there is no final examination.
Counselling is part of educational practice and is provided to pupils
throughout the bachillerato.
Financial Assistance: Grants and scholarships are available to assist
pupils from low-income families and are meant to cover travelling expenses,
teaching materials, etc.
For More Information
- Consult Eurydice,
which provides information on the national education systems of the Member
States. The information is available only in English
- Visit the Ploteus
website (Portal on Learning Opportunities throughout the European Space),
which has information about education and training opportunities throughout
Europe
Last updated 08/08
Source: European Union
© European Communities
Reproduction is authorised.
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