International, private & public schools
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International Schools in Barcelona
There are two types of International schools: schools that follow their country´s curriculum with or without Spanish and/or Catalan as second languages and schools that teach in their native language and follow the the Spanish curriculum. In the latter scenario, secondary education is from 12 to 16 and is obligatory. Students can then study the Bachillerato from 16-18 years which enables them to enter University in Europe and the US. Although these schools are classified as 'international' most of the children are Catalan/Spanish so your child will be exposed to both the Spanish and Catalan language through their classmates.
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Private & semi-private schools
As the state system cannot cope with the demand for places, so parents often choose to send their children to publicly subsidised schools or 'concertados', which are often run by religious orders. The size can range from small schools with pupils who live locally to elite institutions where fees are not much different from some of the private schools. Below we have listed some of the 'concertados' and also some the city´s fee-paying schools. This section is currently being expanded and we would love to hear from you if you child attends one of a private or semi-private school, so please do send us your comments
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State schools in Barcelona
Primary education (Educación Primaria) is currently obligatory in Catalunya from 6 years old, although there are moves to bring that down to 3 for reasons explained previously. State-funded Secondary Education (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria or ESO) is taught from age 12 until 16 in an 'Instituto d'Educació Secundària' and all pupils are taught in Catalan. Pupils study a mix of subjects, aome of which are obligatory and others optional (which can vary depending on the school). All abilities are taught together. At the end of 4 years, pupils attain the qualification of 'graduado en Educación Secundaria'. This is followed by the Formación Post-Obligatoria where students can study for the Batxillerat, for a place at University or gain more practical training (('formació professional or FP). ) such as IT or catering. Students can do the Batxillerat at the same Instituto or choose to move to another Instituto, private or semi-private school but in these cases, they need to re-enroll.
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State schools - Applying for Schools in Barcelona
Applying for a state-funded (public) school in Catalunya can be quite a daunting process for any foreign parent. Demand often outstrips supply so it can become something of a lottery as to whether your child goes to the school of your choice. The paperwork and documentation can be confusing given it is in Catalan
