Education and Schools on the Costa del Sol
Education and Schools on the Costa del Sol - There comes a point in any family’s life where you have to think about what sort of education you can offer your children. Here on the Costa del Sol there are of course the Spanish state schools and the international schools. The state schools are free, the international schools are not. It can be quite a big dilemma for many families as to what to do for the best.
If you chose one of many state schools on the Costa del Sol for your loved ones you have to realise they will be totally immersed in the Spanish language and culture. Unless you have very high level of Spanish yourself, you would not be able to assist in homework, or may even encounter problems on parents’ evenings through lack of understanding.
Education and Schools on the Costa del Sol - Spanish State Schools
Spanish state schools have come along way over the years in the quality of education they offer but I have to say it does differ from what you would expect from an education system back in the UK.
You will have to buy all their school books each and every year as well as pay for extra activities normally sport or art related as these are the areas lacking in many state schools compared to the UK. Compulsory schooling starts at the age of 6 and lasts until the child is 14.
At this point an assessment is made and those students with high marks receive their ‘Titulo de graduado escolar’ which enables them to move on to higher education and study for their Baccalaureate which in turn enables them to move up to university. Those less academic will receive their school certificate and then have to make choices as to their future career at this point to then start vocational classes in that field. (A tough choice to make at 14, did you know what you wanted to do then?)
Families with children who have just moved here need to get their children’s education record verified. This is done through a process called homolgation or convalidation. Depending on where you live this can be quite a tedious, lengthy and costly exercise, but one which has to be done.
You must attend a state school within a certain distance of your home so these are all elements you need to be aware of when purchasing or renting a property. You will need to find the public notary in your town who does this convalidation process and the cost is largely dependant on the number of years needing to be validated.
Every town has a Town Hall or an Education office. These offices will be able to supply you with a list of notary’s and local schools on the costa del Sol available from nursery through to the upper level.
The actual enrolment of the child needs yet more documents namely birth certificate or passport. These will need an official Spanish translation which can be done at a notary.
Also needed will be proof of your child’s immunisation to date, then proof of residence is required namely a utility bill in your name or proof of ownership document and finally your convalidation documents.
The schools tend to open from 9.00am – 4.00pm with an hour for lunch, but there are some that are beginning to forgo any lunch break with the school closing for the day at 1.30/2.00pm.
Students at schools with a lunch break tend to take a packed lunch in or if living close by go home for food.
The biggest difference are the school holidays with a long summer break lasting from June through to September with a half-term at Easter and Christmas. Local and public holidays are obviously observed if they fall within term time.
Pre-schoolers have the chance of enjoying nursery or Guarderia and can stay up to the age of 6 although many scholars have been started at mainstream school by this age. These tend to be fee paying although not in the same price bracket at all compared to nursery fees back in the UK.
Education and Schools on the Costa del Sol - International and fee paying Schools
These schools on the Costa del Sol will offer your child the sort of education you would expect to receive back in the UK, but the downside is it comes at a cost. Many of these schools follow the British curriculum with most ultimately offering GCSE and A level examinations. On the whole their campuses are exemplary with the schools having state of the art science labs, sports facilities, computer labs and libraries.
There are many International schools to choose from and it is best to contact them individually for information on their fees. These tend to be broken down into different categories such as non-refundable deposits, registration fees, fees payable per term (three terms per year) as well as paying for meals and of course the uniform.
All these elements need to be added up as a total yearly cost and remember that fees payable per term rise according to age so a long term picture needs to be considered, is it still an affordable option when your son or daughter reaches 15 or 16?
In this section we have compiled a list of Nurseries, Guardaria’s and International fee paying schools along the Costa del Sol for your consideration. Please contact them directly for further information on fees and what they may offer your child by way of education, they are always more than happy to oblige.
Schools on the Costa del Sol