1: GOING TO SCHOOL IN SPAIN
State education is free, apart from schoolbooks, (although many town councils partially or completely subsidise purchases in certain cases), school supplies, and extra curricular activities such as sports and arts and crafts. Children usually go to the village nursery and primary schools, although attending secondary school may entail travelling long distances. Buses are usually provided and most schools will provide a subsidised or free bus service to take children to and from their homes in outlying regions. Schools will open early (e.g. 08:00) and provide activities after school until 17:00 or 18:00, if necessary as an attempt to make child care provision easier for working parents.
Children attending a state school (primary or secondary) must do within a certain distance of their own home, so if you have a preference for a particular school, it's important to live within that catchment’s area. Town halls and provincial Ministry of Education offices can provide a list of local schools at all levels. In some rural areas there is little or no choice of schools, while in larger towns there maybe a number of possibilities.
The only schools using English as the teaching language are private international schools, of which there are excellent examples in our area. A number of multi-lingual international schools also teach pupils in both English Spanish and other European languages. If your children attend any other school they must study all the subjects in Spanish.
Some state schools can provide intensive Spanish lessons ("bridging classes") for foreign children, although this depends on the school. Foreign children are tested and put into a class suited to their level of Spanish, even if this means being taught with younger children. As a result, Children who do not speak Spanish are often set back a year to compensate for this and their different academic background. Once a child has a sufficient knowledge of spoken and written Spanish, they are assigned to a class appropriate to their age.
In Spain, about 30% of children are educated privately. Most private schools are co-educational Catholic day schools and a few which take weekly or term borders.
Under Spanish law, all foreign schools must be approved by their country's embassy in Spain and teach a variety of syllabi, including the British GCSE and A-Level examinations, the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the Spanish Bachillerato.
Most Spanish private schools are state subsidised and follow a totally bi-lingual (English/Spanish) curriculum and are authorised to accept Spanish pupils. They must follow the Spanish curriculum for primary, secondary and the bachillerato. This provides the opportunity for children to become completely bi-lingual and to choose between a Spanish and English language university and career. Private foreign and international schools usually have a more relaxed, less rigid regime and curriculum than Spanish state schools. They provide a more varied and international approach to sport, culture and art, and a wider choice of academic subjects. You should make applications to private schools as far in advance as possible as many international schools have waiting lists for places. You're usually requested to send school reports, exam results and other records. Before enrolling your child make sure you understand the withdrawal conditions in the school contract.
It is also advisable to check if a school is recognised by the Spanish Education authorities and whether it belongs to an accredited organisation. Most British schools in Spain belong to the National Association of British Schools in Spain (NABSS) whose members are approved by British School inspectors. Information is also available from your country's embassy in Spain.
An added problem in some regions is that state schools teach most lessons in a regional language such as Valencian, although parents may be offered a choice of teaching language. For example in Valencia (including some parts of the Costa Blanca) children aged between 3 and 12 are generally taught most subjects in Valencian, except for Spanish which is taught for a few hours a week. Bridging courses in the local language are even offered to Spanish speaking children.
State schools have an annual quota for pupils and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The enrolment period usually lasts for two months early in the year e.g. February to March or April to May. Individual schools will provide exact dates.
The process of enrolment depends on the age of your child but requires an interview and in rare cases an examination. To en-roll a child in a Spanish school you must provide the following documents:
Birth Certificate or passport, both original and photocopy with an official Spanish translation (if necessary) and the parents' passports (originals and photocopies). Proof of immunization. Proof of residence. Two passport-size photographs (for a an identity card and school records)
If the child is going to start a Spanish secondary school around age 14, you will also need to prove that your child's education record has been verified by the Spanish Ministry of Education by completing an official form provided by the Ministry, which is available from Spanish consulates and embassies abroad, from regional departments of education. You should also submit your child's school record book and/or exam qualifications, plus their birth certificate.
We would advise, if possible, completing this process before arriving in Spain, as a child may not be accepted at a school until completion of all paperwork and this process takes around three months. In emergencies, the Ministry's receipt of the verification documents may enable your child to attend school and your child should have no problems being accepted.
School hours can vary, but are generally from 09:00 until 16:00 with a one-hour break for lunch. Some schools offer school lunches, although many children bring a packed lunch or go home for lunch if they live nearby. An increasing number of schools are going without a lunch break and classes finish at 14:00.
The academic year runs from mid-September to mid-June. Main holidays at Christmas, Easter and a long summer break. Spanish school children have very long school holidays compared with those in many other countries.
The school year is made up of three terms, each averaging around 11 weeks. Terms are fixed and generally the same throughout the country, although they may be modified to take account of local events, such as a local fiesta. Schools are also closed on public holidays when they fall in term time.
School holiday dates are published well in advance, so that parents have plenty of time to organize a family holiday. Normally children cannot be withdrawn from classes during the school term, except for a visit to the doctor or dentist, when the school should be warned in advance.
There are also special state schools for special needs children. However, these schools are only used there when their needs cannot be accommodated in a mainstream school.
Pre school - For most children, school starts with nursery or pre-school from about the age of four. There are private, fee paying nursery schools, usually taking children aged from two to six. Arrangements are generally flexible and parents can choose attendance during mornings or afternoons, all day, or only on selected days. Fees are generally low. Some nursery schools are more nurseries than schools and simply an inexpensive way to obtain supervised childcare. The best pre-schools aim to introduce children to the school environment and encourage development and providing an introduction to group activities. Nursery school is ideal if your child is going to continue with a state education. After one or two years they will be integrated into the local community and will have learnt Spanish in preparation for primary school.
Primary School - Compulsory education or basic general education begins at six years of age and lasts for six years. Children generally have three evaluations a year. If a child fails to achieve the required standard they may be required to repeat the previous year unless they show considerable improvement in the autumn (Private schools offer "recovery" classes during the summer holidays to help pupils catch up). The opinion of the teachers, inspectors and the sectors' psychological and pedagogical team are taken into account when deciding whether a pupil must repeat a year. Pupils aren't required to repeat more than one year during their primary education.
Secondary School - At the age of 12 children move on to secondary education for the next four years which are divided into two, two-year cycles of both compulsory and optional subjects. Compulsory subjects during the first cycle, include natural and social sciences, history and geography, physical education and visual arts, Spanish and autonomous community language (if applicable) and a foreign language, literature, mathematics, music and technology. During the last year of the first cycle pupils must choose two optional subjects from natural sciences, plastic and visual arts, music and technology. The Catholic religion is an optional subject for all four years (non-Catholics may have study periods instead), and a second foreign language, classical culture and other subjects can be studied for at least one year during the second cycle.
As with primary education, a pupil can be required to repeat a year if they do not pass the end of term exams (pupils who fail three or more subjects in the end of term exams must repeat the year) or the autumn repeats, although there's no limit on the number of times a year may be repeated in secondary education.
If the child completes the four years they are awarded the graduado en educación secundaria certificate and may therefore attend a higher secondary school, which in some cases will be the same school, to study for their baccalaureate leading to university entrance. Children who haven't successfully completed the four years secondary education are awarded a school certificate (certificado de escolaridad) and may attend a vocational school for specialised training for a specific career.
Higher Education - The Spanish baccalaureate programme consists of two years academic training to prepare pupils for higher education or high-grade vocational training or to start a career. The first year is divided equally between the natural sciences, mathematics, languages and humanities, while in the second year students take optional subjects.
At the end of the second year the students take an examination known as the PGB. If they pass this and have also passed the exams during the two-year course, they're awarded the título de bachiller, which includes the average mark obtained. The bachiller together with an oral exam in a foreign language also allows pupils to study at Spanish universities and is recognised as an entrance qualification by universities throughout the world. Pupils who fail the PGB are awarded a certificate of attendance and can proceed to vocational training.
Spain has 75 universities (universidades), 56 of them state run (and attended by 90 percent of higher education students) and 21 run by private enterprises or by the Catholic Church.
There are a number of other higher education institutes specialising in physical education, tourism, dramatic arts, dance and music as well as a number of business schools. In addition to Spanish higher education, there are a number of US and British universities with faculties in Spain.
Vocational training - consists of two cycles of between 1,300 to 2,000 hours of study depending on the profession. This is divided between school studies and practical on-the-job training in commerce or industry, where they spend about 25 percent of their learning time. Vocational training is free for most pupils whether it takes place in a public centre or a private institution, as the latter are financed by the state (but employ their own teachers and have different rules from state centres).
University Studies - There are four types of university establishment in Spain:
University Schools (escuelas universitarias): which are three-year courses of a vocational or non-academic nature leading to a diploma.
University Colleges (colegios universitarios): which are three year courses of an academic nature leading eventually to a licenciatura or tesina and two-year courses for those with a diploma who want to obtain a licenciatura or tesina.
Faculties (facultades): which are five year academic courses leading to a licenciatura or tesina and two year courses for graduates of a university college who wish to obtain their licenciatura or tesina.
Higher Technical Schools of Engineering and Architecture (escuela superior de ingeniería y arquitectura): which are five year vocational and technical courses leading to an ingeniero superior y arquitecto degree.
The Spanish university system is rigidly structured: students must follow a fixed curriculum and aren't permitted to change universities during their studies (except for family of health reasons).
University studies are divided in to three cycles. The first cycle, lasting three years leads to a diploma (in vocational or technical subjects).
The second cycle, lasting two years leads to an equivalent British MA or MSc, or an vocational degree.
The third cycle is a PhD (doctorate) which results in the academic title of doctor or Doctor en Filosofía y Letras.
Applicants must pass the PGB examination and acceptance depends on the result obtained in this exam as well as the average mark gained during the two years of the study for the baccalaureate.
EU nationals are entitled to compete for places at Spanish universities on equal terms with Spanish nationals. In addition a small number of places at most universities, (5 percent are allocated to non-EU students. In general, qualifications that are accepted as entry requirements in a student's home country are accepted in Spain.
All foreign students require a thorough knowledge of Spanish, although preparatory courses are provided.
Note that in autonomous regions where there's a second official language courses may be conducted in the local language.
2: FOCUS ON BENISSA AND THE BENISSA COSTA
The Benissa Costa, is the Coastal area of Spain coming under the control of Benissa Town Hall located some 5 to 6 km inland. It is bordered to the North by Moraira and to the South by Calpe, spanning the coast road which connects the two. It is divided into a number of Partida´s or suburbs, such as Cap Blanc, Cala Baladrar, Cala Advocat, Cala Llobella, Cala Del Pinets, Calla la Fustera, Cala las Bassetes, all of which have either a cove, beach, or headland viewing point. The largest beach is Fustera and recent improvements include extended parking and a coastline walk on which are picnic sites and viewing points overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
The coast road has a convenient number of small commercial sections with supermarkets, bars, restaurants, etc, with the side roads being where most residential properties can be found. The Benissa Costa is also the home of The San Jaime Golf Course and a number of private tennis and sport clubs.
The Cosmopolitan town of Benissa its-self, which is dissected by the National Road N332, disguises the fact that at its heart is a wonderful historic old town with Cathedral square & fountains and numerous small squares and narrow streets. There are a number of Museums, a Franciscan Convent and cloisters. Benissa has many fiestas and cultural activities, particularly in the summer months, many of which are free.
The Bernia Mountain with its Fortress looking skyline of rugged pinnacles overlooks the area and has a natural tunnel which passes right through the mountain giving access to the view point looking over the landscape beyond. The area also has many well signposted hiking routes and is sparsely populated with Fincas and small hamlets, perfect for those looking to get away from it all. It is also home to a Donkey Sanctuary, an Iris Garden and there are a number of very Spanish restaurants & bars offering excellent value for money.
This newsletter is intended as a guide and to be informative and helpful in the process of searching for and purchasing a property in Spain. Total accuracy cannot be guaranteed and in all legal, fiscal and other matters a fully qualified professional should be consulted. Reproduction of any part of this newsletter is not permitted without written permission.
