Education in Spain

Preescolar or Educación Infantil is encouraged for children under the age of six. There are two cycles of preschool which are divided by age; 0-3 years old and 3-6 years old. The first cycle is often held in daycare centers or preschools, Escuela Infantil colloquially Guardería, and most of the time it isn't free for students, although some city councils offer scholarships for their public preschool centers with limited places. The second cycle is free for all students enrolled in public schools that offer Educación Infantil (early childhood education), and is often held in Centro de Educación Infantil y Primaria, colloquially Colegio.[4] The second cycle of preschool in public schools focus in on emotional development, movement and control of body habits, communication and language, and positive body image. The documents required for public registration include proof of residence, passport or residence card, or child's birth certificate, and, in some areas, proof of the child’s vaccinations and a medical certificate of health.[5][6]

Primaria or Educación Primaria, consists of six years, structured as three cycles, from first grade through sixth grade.

• First Cycle: 1st and 2nd grade
• Second Cycle: 3rd and 4th grade
• Third Cycle: 5th and 6th grade

Subjects

• Spanish Language and Literature
• Mathematics
• Natural science
• Social science
• Physical education
• First Foreign Language (English)
• Artistic education: Arts and Crafts and Music
• Second Foreign Language
• Citizenship and Human Rights' Education
• Ethical Values / Religion (Catholic, Jewish, Muslim or Evangelic)
• Regional Language: Catalan, Galician, Basque, Valencian, Aragonese, Occitan-Aranese or Asturian (if so)

Secundaria or Educación Secundaria (E.S.O.), consists of four years, structured as two cycles, from seventh to tenth grade:

• First Cycle: 1st and 2nd year ('core academic subjects' + basic social science)
• Second Cycle: 3rd and 4th year ('core' academic subjects + liberal studies + optional courses which relate to the specific ambitions of the student)

Subjects

Spanish Baccalaureate or Bachillerato consists of two optional additional final years in high school (mandatory education is until students are 16 years old), required if the student wants to attend University. Once students have finished Bachillerato, they can take their University Entrance Exam, Pruebas de Acceso a la Universidad (PAU), popularly called Selectividad. La Selectividad is composed of two parts: the "general" section, which is mandatory for everyone, and the "specific" section, which consists of focus topics based on the students' academic interests and is theoretically optional.[7] La Selectividad is scored out of 10 points and students grade average and this score is then used to calculate students overall grade point average. In fact, 60% of this overall score is composed based on the students' GPA in Bachillerato and 40% of the score is based on the Selectividad grade.

Subjects

Science: Mathematics I 
 
Social science:Mathematics oriented to social sciences I
Humanities: Latin I   
Arts: Basics of Art I

Science: Mathematics II 
 
Social science:Mathematics oriented to social sciences II
Humanities: Latin II
 
 Arts: Basics of Art II

Schools run directly by the public authorities or privately with public assistance (concertada) provide education free of charge, but (depending on the family's financial status), parents may be required to supply consumables such as textbooks and school uniforms as well as contributing to after school activities.

Primaria public schools (6-12 years old) are called centro de educación infantil y primaria (CEIP), colloquially colegio or cole, and secundaria public schools (12-16 years old) are called instituto de enseñanza secundaria (IES), colloquially instituto. Public (state) schools in Spain are free.

Private schools in Spain vary:some of the schools teach entirely in Spanish; some are run as Catholic schools; some are private and bilingual or trilingual and some are international schools which place emphasis on a second language, generally English.[10] Private schools that are state subsidized (educación concertada) are required to follow the Spanish syllabus, while international schools are free to follow other curriculums typically from other countries such as the US or UK. Private schools tend to be more costly especially in Barcelona or Madrid. Fees include tuition as well as school supplies and uniform.[11]

Basque Country historically provided three teaching models: A, B or D.[13] Model D, with education entirely in Basque, and Spanish as a compulsory subject, is the most widely chosen model by parents.[14] In addition, Navarre offers the G model, with education entirely in Spanish, without a Basque language subject option.[15] Model A offers Spanish as tuition language and Basque is learnt as a language subject. Model B offers 50% of the classes in Spanish and Basque.

The Basque Country approved its bilingual model in a decree of 1983.[13] Navarre enacted its corresponding decree in 1988.[15]

Catalonia and the Balearic Islands employ language immersion in Catalan.

After the 1970s, when Spain became a democracy, Catalonia was given rights over its own education system. A law passed in 1983, "Llei de Normalització Lingüística", defined the language immersion system of Catalonia. By 1986 the entire region the whole country was already switched to it.[16][17]

The Balearic Islands took more time to make language immersion effective. A decree enacted in 1997 established that Catalan must be used in at least 50% of lessons. Schools have freedom to add more lessons, and usually they do.[18]

Valencian Community offers different levels of immersion in Catalan (also known as Valencian in this region),[19] with the highest level having the widest adoption.[20] Before implementing that model, the community offered two paths. One path taught Catalan in the Catalan language subject and used it as tuition language in either Social or Natural Science. The other path provided immersion in Catalan, approaching the level of the newer advanced immersion.[19]

The immersion models have faced strong opposition by Spanish nationalists. They allege that schools are used as indoctrination centres and that this imposes barriers which worsens academic performance.[17][18][21][22] There is no serious investigation that proves that academic results are worse for bilingual students. Also proficiency in spanish amongst Catalan students is the same as the Spanish average. [23]

In Galicia Galician is used as tuition language in 50% of classes, except in preschool education which uses the majority mother tongue. This model approved by the People's Party has received criticism from the European Council.[12]