Studying at a Spanish secondary school is not only an opportunity to enroll in a foreign university. It is also an excellent climate all year round, excellent cuisine, friendly atmosphere, comprehensive development of the child's personality.
Types of secondary schools in Spain
Schools in Spain are divided into three types:
State schools
To enroll in a free public school, you must apply through the city services. Students are recruited on a competitive basis, applications are accepted from March, and the final lists are published in June. When checking documents, they check the residence permit, whether the child's relatives studied at this school, how close the student's house is to the institution, whether it is brought up in a large family. Each subject is evaluated on separate points. The school also provides special quotas for the education of socially vulnerable children, for example, immigrants from Latin American countries. It is more difficult for a foreigner to get into a regular school than for a Spaniard.
Public schools provide about the same level of education, but not the highest. Students of different levels of education and social status are recruited here, which often affects both overall academic performance and discipline. On average, about 30 students are recruited to the class. Some lessons in public schools are conducted in English: since elementary school, teachers try to teach simple subjects entirely in English.
Despite the fact that education in such schools is absolutely free, it is worth considering the mandatory and frequent expenses: for a set of textbooks, classes, uniforms and other things necessary for the student. On average, it turns out about 500 euros per year.
Semi-public / semi-private
The Concertado schools are partially funded by the State and the church. These are mostly former church schools of those times when Spain was a very religious country, and the teachers were monks and nuns. With the transition to state funding, schools of this type have become secular. Thus, all semi-private schools are Catholic, but their education is supported by secular ones. It uses the Spanish education system with an emphasis on in-depth study of foreign languages.
Admission to semi-private schools is organized according to the same principles as in public schools, but it is easier for foreign children to enroll in colegios Concertados. Parents are required to pay monthly voluntary contributions of about 150 euros per month. The last years of study at Bachillerato High School are always paid for.
Private
The most prestigious and high-quality education is considered to be in private, mainly international, schools. A high level of education and strict discipline are guaranteed here. Private schools are the choice of parents who want to provide their child with an international career. Schools that support IB programs or British A-Level programs give graduates the opportunity to enroll in any university in the world. Many private schools combine the Spanish curriculum with an international one, so graduates have both a bachelor's degree and an IB or A-Level certificate.
Among Spaniards, as well as among immigrants, the most popular and popular are international British and American schools. Education here is conducted in English, a confident knowledge of which is a prerequisite for admission. In many private schools, all staff is a native speaker of the relevant language. For example, at a French private college in Barcelona, even the chefs are French. English and American schools provide students with a quick immersion in the language environment: at the age of 12, children already receive an FCE certificate (First Certificate, level B2), and by the end of school they speak the language at a Proficiency level close to the level of a native speaker. In addition to English, French and German are studied in depth - at such a level that at the end of school the child confidently passes the exam for the level of language proficiency B1-B2.
When enrolling in such a school, it is worth checking its accreditation with the Spanish Ministry of Education. For example, many British schools are supported by the National Association of British Schools in Spain.
It is private schools that are becoming the leaders of a high level of education in Spain. Most of them are schools in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. Regional private schools located in the north of the country also show high rates.
15 best secondary schools
1.Agora International School Barcelona is a private school owned by the Globeducate international group. It is located in San Esteve CesRovires, 25 km from Barcelona, in a natural environment that preserves all its ecological values. Provides comprehensive international education : trilingual, mixed, respectful and open to dialogue. It offers linguistic immersion with a wide range of foreign languages and the opportunity to study an international baccalaureate program or a double degree of professional education with an official certificate of English. Its goal is to educate people with the desire to improve, social commitment and critical spirit, who are able to achieve academic and personal success.
2.Baleares International College is an international British school for boys and girls aged 2 to 18 years. They have two centers: one is located in Sa Porrassa, a beautiful and easily accessible area on the south-west coast of the island of Majorca, and the other is in San Agusti, a very special place near the city of Palm.
3.Belver International College is a non-denominational, co-educational day school located near the center of Palma de Mallorca. Founded in 1950, Bellver follows the British curriculum and prepares students for state exams: I. G. C. S. E., A / AS level.
4. British Council School
The British Council School, founded in 1940 in Madrid, is the first British school in Spain that provides bilingual education for children from two to 18 years old (80% of classes are in English, the rest are in Spanish). Its educational program promotes success and passion for languages, literature, performing arts, sports, as well as the ability to speak publicly. Always promote Spanish and British culture together, so that students learn and enjoy the best of both countries.
The Somosaguas campus of the British Council School.
The educational model is based on the English National Curriculum, which guarantees a high level of education and access to the best universities in Spain, the UK, the USA and other countries. All this contributes to the promotion of the basic values of citizens who are able to withstand such challenges of the modern world as stability, loyalty, friendly relations, flexibility and the desire to succeed.
Outside of the classrooms of the British Council, education does not stop. The school has sports facilities, a library and laboratories that complement the education with extracurricular activities.
5. European Lyceum
The school life of the European Lyceum covers all aspects of the student's life path - from preschool education to high school - and 95% complete it. The priority of this center is to teach happy children through an international educational model, free education and active learning. Education in the classroom and beyond is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, according to which education is protected in conditions of freedom, equal rights and respect for pluralism.
Make educational visits, study trips and exchange with other countries. Its students have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities such as music lessons (piano, singing or guitar), languages (English, Chinese, French and German) and sports such as football or basketball, boxing, diving, skateboarding, etc.
The technological capabilities of the European Lyceum, a leader in the field of computer services, allowed classes to continue as usual during the pandemic. Their students connected to the virtual classroom through devices provided by the center to monitor their every activity, including sports events.
6. Colegio San Patricio Madrid
This school teaches Spanish in a multilingual program from the age of two and with the possibility of obtaining both national and international baccalaureate levels. Behind this is the San Patricio Foundation, which is responsible for the development of educational, cultural, artistic, social and international cooperation programs. Its students have the opportunity to participate, among other things, in the Duke of Edinburgh's International Program and in volunteer activities.
Thanks to jazz groups, choirs and orchestras, the art in this school is consolidated as another of its pillars. Not only when it comes to ear education . As well as plastic and fine art, which are complemented by visits to galleries and museums. Science has an important weight, which is presented in the Research program, which its students attend to demonstrate their teamwork skills, perseverance, effort and rigor. The center has a scholarship system, which is received by more than a dozen students.
7. English Montessori School (TEMS)
The TEMS teaching method is based on the Montessori philosophy, which is aimed at constructively promoting the potential of each student, preparing him for the challenges of an increasingly complex and demanding society, as well as raising awareness of international cooperation that promotes peace and harmony. To do this, the education focuses on various aspects of people's lives: intellectual, social, emotional, physical, ethical and moral. The education is individual and dynamic, conducted in spacious classrooms, and teachers have support assistants who will meet all the needs of students.
The British curriculum is taught from a very early age, although it is mixed with subjects in Spanish, such as language and social sciences.
A wide catalog of extracurricular activities, such as men's and women's football clubs, judo, tennis, multisport, ballet, rhythmic gymnastics, funk dancing, African drums, theater, rock school. And, of course, other languages, such as Chinese, German or French.
8.San Patricio Toledo International School
The International School of San Patricio Toledo combines local culture and traditions with modern education. In addition to studying in a hybrid system between national and international, its students can participate in various activities, such as volunteering, social projects, individual and team sports, as well as art, music, dance and theater lessons. Teachers teach boys and girls diversity, taking into account the different characteristics that make up a person (their race, gender, origin, sexual orientation, special needs, religion and social class).
As for facilities, in addition to basic facilities such as a library, biology, physics and chemistry laboratories and sports fields, the center has a swimming pool, athletics tracks, an orchard, gardens or conference rooms. The environment is equipped with a high-quality teaching staff, medical care and a psychological office to meet all the needs of students.
9. St. Peter's School Barcelona
St. Peter's School Barcelona is a private international school for students from 12 months to 18 years old, where they are ready to face various challenges that they will face in life. To do this, it seeks to educate critical and open-minded thinkers who are ready to live, study and work wherever they want. The main element of education is bilingualism, although this does not mean that other subjects that provide scientific, technological, humanistic and communicative knowledge necessary for boys and girls are left aside.
The pedagogical project is based on providing answers to a world full of challenges and constantly changing, so it corresponds to the latest trends in education, such as the full inclusion of new information technologies in student learning tools.
The international curriculum focuses on scientific methods and contextual learning. In other words, the goal is for students to be able to independently conduct the entire research process, starting with observation, through research and ending with the development of a final hypothesis.
10.Royal College of Madrid-Alicante-Mercia
Royal College Group schools have a long and outstanding tradition of leadership in the field of education. Its mission is to deliver a high-quality British education, providing all students with a transformative learning experience.
Effective and innovative learning based on the latest trends in British educational practice, allowing students to achieve their academic goals and improve their prospects for the future. At the same time, individual talent is encouraged and the importance of comprehensive education in all areas of development is emphasized: physical, emotional and social.
New technologies are fully integrated into the educational model of Royal College Group schools. All classes in their schools are equipped with interactive whiteboards and Wi-Fi, and students have individual electronic devices to monitor their classes both in educational institutions and from home. They have a library, laboratories, computer, music and art rooms, courts, gyms and tracks for various sports.
11.Seville International School-San Francisco de Paula
The basics of studying at the International School of Seville-San Francisco de Paula are respect and work. Its goals are to promote the well-being of its students, stimulate their feelings, promote the development of citizenship and instill rights and responsibilities. All this is from a teaching with ideological and secular independence.
Students of this educational institution have the opportunity to learn bilingualism from preschool education to obtaining an international baccalaureate. Visits, excursions, theater performances, concerts and conferences, among other things, are included in school hours, which are aimed at developing entrepreneurship, reflection, critical thinking, as well as the intellectual and cultural character of the student. An example of this is the program of the National Conference, which is dedicated to different countries every year. His goal is to bring a universal and European dimension to the cultural environment of his students, so that they grow up as tolerant and open people. Volunteering and solidarity actions were not left aside.
12. Basic School
Founded in 1962 as part of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, the current educational model of this center is based on a combination of its origin, constructivism and neurodidactics. The combination of all these factors creates a pedagogical trend aimed at dynamic, collaborative and interactive learning. Thus, it strives to provide the student with tools that will allow him to develop his own procedures for solving life situations. Always accompanied by teachers and their families and taking into account the emotions that each experience awakens.
For this purpose, the school has - in addition to the national curriculum and the IB program-an educational, emotional and social intellectual project, as well as programs of coexistence and learning in diversity. It has a library of emotions for developing students ' creative abilities, scientific experiments in elementary school, robotics classes, seminars on environmental education and environmental education, as well as solidarity projects.
Other areas are also not ignored, such as languages (four, besides Spanish: English, French, German and Chinese) or cultural and sports events.
13.Agora Sant Cugat International School
The Agora International School in Barcelona is part of the Globeducate group and has an international curriculum that includes IB. The educational project is multilingual and allows students to master English (in which 50% of subjects are taught), French and German.
In addition to languages, music and visual arts, they improve students ' communication skills. The school has a direct connection with the Conservatorio del Liceo de Barcelona, which allows its students to receive a basic music diploma. In addition, there are lessons in painting, drawing or fine art. In addition to physical education and swimming lessons, the school has a sports center and a semi-Olympic swimming pool to convey to students the importance of physical activity for health.
14.Sotogrande International School
This international Baccalaureate and boarding school offers individual education that aims to interest students, help them discover their strengths, identify their hobbies and develop outstanding learning skills, while the tutor is a fundamental figure. Students take interdisciplinary programs.
education with the help of technologies is accredited by the Apple Center certificate. During the quarantine of 2020, in addition to full-fledged work in the virtual classroom, students had the necessary computer equipment to be able to monitor classes from home.
Another pillar that this school is proud of is multiculturalism. Representatives of more than 40 nationalities coexist in it, which enriches the cultural experience of the entire school community and helps to teach students diversity and values of respect for other cultures, races, religions and lifestyles.
15.Los Sauces School
The Los Sauces education methodology is active, straightforward and constantly updated. Students actively and dynamically interact with the teacher. In his system, excursions and trips are necessary for getting in touch with the city and nature. His last support is the constant updating and constant updating of pedagogical techniques.
Infrastructure: libraries, laboratories, sports facilities (courts and swimming pools), gardens and computerized classrooms with an Internet connection to be able to combine outdoor learning with technological experience (with support for cybersecurity education ). This approach made it easier to switch to telecolledge during the pandemic, when students were provided with the necessary equipment.
Los Sauces schools also have services such as a psychology room, their own kitchen and nutritionists, which they consider necessary for the growth and well-being of their students. People who have received an education in the arts and sciences come out of their classrooms with an open and comprehensive vision of the world and its diversity.