In planning their children’s lives in the long term, some parents prefer to send their children beginning to study Spanish at school, so then they do not experience any difficulties with any language, or with the arrival to the Spanish universities.
There is an extensive network of public and private schools as well as schools funded church. For the Spanish primary and secondary education to 16 years is compulsory and free, but for foreign nationals to enter the free education in public school eis not real. Preference is given to students from poor Spanish families, whose parents can not afford to send their child to a private school.
Of particular note is the presence in Spain of a large number of private secondary schools, teaching the double programs. Typically, this is English – or American-Spanish schools (Caxton College, King’s College, etc.). These programs are of particular interest to foreign children, as they give the opportunity to learn two languages and received two certificates of secondary education – English and Spanish, and the cost is almost two times lower than, for example, in the UK. To enroll in English-Spanish schools boarding enough knowledge of English, but also welcomed the initial and in-depth knowledge of Spanish.
Stages of school and pre-school education in Spain
- Kindergarten (Jardin de enfancia) – 2 to 4 years;
- Pre-school training (Escuela de parvulos) – 4 to 6 years;
- primary education (Educacion Primaria) from 6 to 12 years;
- secondary compulsory education (Educaion Secundaria Obligatoria) – 12 to 16 years; upper
- secondary education (Bachillerato) or first level of professional education (Formacion Profesional I) – from 16 to 18 years.
Students learn core subjects (geography, history, Spanish, mathematics, art, music, science and elective courses and basic training in any area).
Upon completion of compulsory education graduates can continue their education or vocational education, or after successfully passed testing to enter the two-year program Bachillerato, necessary for the subsequent admission to the university and to complete upper secondary education. During the training program Bachillerato are separated by streams with specialized subjects in the area in which the student plans to specialize in the future. Usually schools offer four areas of specialization: art, science, humanities and social sciences, and technology. After graduation you need to take an examination Selectividad, which is the key to entrance to the Spanish universities.
Spain, more than any other country in Europe, features a large number of English-language schools where tuition is in English or American system. They are united by the National Association of British Schools in Spain NABSS and are accredited by the British Council as well as the Ministry of Education of Spain.
The main obvious advantage of such schools is the possibility of both the British (or American) and Spanish classical education, with the subsequent issuance of two certificates. This opens the door student in almost any English-speaking university in the world and provides an opportunity to enroll in Spanish universities.
Also provides an education to foreign students proficiency in two foreign languages – in English and Spanish, that can provide good career opportunities in the future. Moreover, training in Spain for many children more comfortable than in England, due to climatic conditions and cuisine of the country, the psychological characteristics and attitudes of Spaniards that a relation of heat and relate to students, foreigners and provide continuing psychological support.
Note, however, that this is not only a promising and exciting, but complicated programs as they fit together very different training schemes related to the peculiarities of the content of national education systems.
Formally compulsory secondary education (Educacion Secundaria Obligatoria-ESO) in the Spanish schools took 4 years – from 12 to 16 years, after which students take tests and assigned skill from Insuficiente (poor) to Sobresaliente (excellent). Spanish program for time parameter is identical to the English – at 16 students enrolled in the British system, take an examination for a certificate GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education), basic training which is conducted over 2 academic years – from 14 to 16 . In both countries, this can put a full stop – compulsory schooling is completed, you can begin working career. However, for admission to the university in both countries, educational attainment is not enough – need 2 more years of training under the program post-secondary: Six Form (England) and Bachillerato (Spain).
The main differences are observed in the training at this stage. This is not only a feature of the national programs, but also the limitations of the tests and rules of admission to higher education institutions in the UK and Spain.