People always say your school years are “the best of your life”, though I’m not sure my teenage self would have agreed!
When we moved to Spain, my biggest worry wasn’t the sunshine or the paperwork (though there’s plenty of that), it was my daughter starting school in a new country.
We timed our move so she arrived just as schools broke up on the Costa Blanca. That meant three months of daily Spanish lessons before September rolled around. Even so, I was nervous. School in a second language? At age five? Thankfully, little ones really do soak things up like sponges, and by the time she started, she was pretty good at the lingo.
Spain gives you three main options when it comes to schooling:
School in Spain: Public Schools (Colegios Públicos)
These schools are:
- Free to attend.
- Lessons are in Spanish (and sometimes Valencian, depending on the region).
- Great for younger kids who can adapt quickly.
Semi-Private Schools (Colegios Concertados)
These schools are:
- Partly funded by the government.
- Lower fees than private schools.
- A blend of public and private education.
Private & International Schools
These schools are:
- Best if you want your child to continue in English (or another language).
- Usually smaller classes and more extracurricular options.
- But… they come with higher tuition fees.
How to enrol in a Public School in Spain
If you are going down the public route, here’s the usual process. Note that schools may vary from region to region:
- Register your address (padrón): Generally, you need to be officially living in the town.
- Apply via the local education office: Enrolment is typically May–June, though mid-year places sometimes pop up.
- Hand in the paperwork: Again this can vary from area to area but this usually includes:
- Your child’s passport or NIE
- Vaccination records
- Previous school reports (if you’ve got them)
Then it is a waiting game for placement. Spots are allocated by how close you live to the school and whether spaces are free.
How to enrol in Private & International Schools
If you choose private or international, things are simpler:
- Contact the school directly.
- Fill in their forms and provide passport copies, school reports, and medical records.
- Pay the enrolment fee.
If you have missed the main enrolment window, all is not lost. Spain has a system for late applications, especially for expat families who arrive mid-year. Pop into your local education office or speak directly to the school, spaces do come up.
