The secondary education system in Spain, as in many European countries, is divided into three stages: primary school and two stages of secondary school. At the same time, many public and international schools in Spain practice integration programs for foreign students.
Over the past 25 years, the level of education in Spain has significantly improved due to increased spending and reforms in the field of education. Currently, the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports has overall responsibility for education, but the 17 autonomous regions make the majority of decisions concerning their own education systems.
Religious education is offered in public schools, but it is not mandatory. Schools, as a rule, provide for co-education, and, where possible, children with special needs are included in a regular school.
Education in Spain is compulsory for all children living in the country between the ages of 6 and 16. Education here begins with primary education (primaria), lasting six years, followed by four years of compulsory secondary education (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria or ESO). at the end of which a certificate of education is issued.
Secondary education (Compulsory Secondary Education - ESO) in Spain
The first year of secondary school in Spain at the age of 12 to 16 years in a Public school (Secondary School), a summer school (Private school) and a Public School (Public School).
The system of secondary school education has undergone serious changes in recent years. It has moved away from the traditional model of memorization and is now more similar to the British education system. The system is now more focused on project work and constant evaluation, rather than on the study of facts in the old style. In Spanish schools, there is a calm atmosphere with less discipline than, for example, in British schools, and it is expected that the family will help the child in his studies.
Secondary education in Spain is divided into two cycles: from 12 to 14 years and from 14 to 16. In both cycles, there are basic mandatory subjects and additional subjects. The main curriculum is usually Spanish language and literature (as well as the language and literature of the autonomous region, if applicable), mathematics, geography, history, a foreign language and physical education. Additional subjects include music, technology, a second foreign language, and social sciences.
At the end of the two-year course, the main subjects in the curriculum are similar, and students must choose several elective courses, which include: natural and social sciences, music, technology, plastic arts and fine arts. Religious education is not compulsory.
Students are regularly certified, and they may have to repeat the year if they do not reach the expected level of academic performance. Secondary school students cannot repeat the course more than twice.
If students complete four years of study and meet the expected standards, they are issued a certificate of completion of secondary education or a high school graduate. They can then move on to the next level of higher secondary education to obtain a bachelor's degree, which will allow them to enter the university. Menee académic students can be issued a school certificate (Certificate of School Education).
It is open to the public in Spain for the benefit of ESO. During the 16 years of study, the school conducts education courses and vocational education courses, which are more important.open the door to the church and let the church know.
top 10 schools to consider
1. Ágora Sant Cugat
Agora Sant Cugat International School is a private, multilingual and international school. The vehicular languages are Spanish, English and Catalan. It offers a mixed, plural and open teaching, non-denominational inspired by the values of humanism and highly respectful of the different religions and cultures that exist. "We assume the responsibility of working together with families in the education of citizens of the future," they point out from the center.
"We develop the skills and talents of each student to be a global citizen capable of shaping and improving the world." This is the motto of Agora Sant Cugat International School.
They make excellence and academic rigor compatible with the personalization of the teaching and learning process, taking into account the characteristics, abilities and motivations of the students. They give them strategies and tools so that they build and become protagonists of their own learning.
The Ágora Sant Cugat project is based on five fundamental pillars. The first of these is the development of the International Baccalaureate educational model. In addition, they are committed to linguistic immersion in several languages; music and expression; sport and health; and the commitment to education in values.
2.Brains International School La Moraleja
The educational project of the Brains International Schools promotes the development of the autonomy of the students in interaction with their peers, the meaningful learning and the motivation of the students through a unique methodology: the Brains Method. This Method, transversal in all stages, allows students of all ages to acquire the tools and knowledge necessary to have a full personal and work life by developing their psychomotor, cognitive, linguistic, emotional and social skills through the 5 foundational pillars : education in values, international education, sports, innovation and a unique academic education where the student is the protagonist of their own learning.
The Brains School encourages in its students the feeling of being a citizen of the world, not only through language learning, but also through interculturality, student exchanges in schools in Germany and France, cultural trips to Europe, programs immersion in Canada, their day to day at school with classmates and teachers from all over the world and a multitude of projects and experiences that invite them to grow as part of other cultures and nations.
3.British School
The British School of Almería is a British school recognized in Spain, which offers education from 3 years of age. An authentic international community, open and welcoming, in which students of different nationalities coexist and whose vehicular language is English. Their students study the British curriculum, preparing to obtain their qualifications in IGCSE and A LEVELS, internationally recognized exams that will open doors to universities around the world.
Students complement their studies in English with the compulsory part of the Spanish curriculum through two subjects (Spanish Language and Social Sciences) which allows them to obtain ESO homologation and finally also access the Spanish university if they so decide. Therefore, British system is fully compatible with the Spanish educational system.
As an official British school, teachers are highly qualified native speakers. In addition, They also have native Spanish teachers to teach the subjects that are learned in this language. Starting in secondary school, all students must choose a third language: French or German. In the infant stage and the first years of primary school They have double teachers for each class: one of them native British and the other Spanish or bilingual British as a teacher's assistant.
4. Canterbury School
Canterbury School is a coeducational school offering a British education based on the National Curriculum to students between the ages of 2 and 18. "Our educational philosophy, based on effort and merit, aims for students to fully develop their potential in all educational areas within a bilingual work environment," they comment from the school.
In addition, they clarify: "We have spacious and modern facilities, and a highly qualified and dedicated teaching staff. They place great emphasis on communication between parents and teachers to ensure constant progress. Young people finish at 18 years of age with a positive attitude and of interest towards learning in general and with the skills and qualifications necessary to start higher studies where they will prepare to accept positions of responsibility in our society ".
5. Colegio Alcaste
The Alcaste School began its journey in 1978 in Logroño. Belonging to the COAS Educational Group, it has a great social initiative and a clear objective: to offer society a quality education, innovative and focused on Christian values. Parents are the main protagonists in the education of their children, who are part of a moral and human legacy that still lives on.
At all stages, the learning and teaching process is carried out in Spanish, English and French and students, from the cradle, will be able to develop their skills in languages. Personalized education is one of the hallmarks of the school, in addition to providing an environment of mutual trust.
His educational project is based on routines, skills and habits with the mind, as well as promoting curiosity and admiration and all those emotions that promote learning. Its objective is to educate students so that they can function successfully in multicultural environments.
6. Colegio Base
The Base School was founded in 1962 by a group of young university students under the inspiration of the pedagogical lines of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza. From the moment the school was founded, they have been defined as a liberal, mixed, non-denominational, independent school, without political identification, and not directed at a specific cultural or professional group or establishment.
Its main objective is the comprehensive development of students, through a stimulating educational performance in all areas, balancing and weighing their action in each of them. Through this they try to ensure that students: obtain a solid academic preparation, develop to the maximum their ability to communicate perfectly in the English language and acquire and assume the values contained in their educational project.
7. Colegio Claret Askartza
Claret Askartza College has an educational project based on Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences and the latest advances in Neuroscience. "We firmly believe in providing students with a personalized quality education, where each student is different, has their own skills and abilities and in which They try to optimize the potential of each student, respecting all learning rhythms, and integrating inclusive form each learning need ", they comment.
The purpose of Claret Askartza is to offer its students and families a comprehensive education environment, so that, from Christian values, in constant dialogue with culture, and in a key of commitment, they acquire all those skills that help them face the challenges of tomorrow, and to build a more humane and just society.
Another of the fundamental aspects for center is education in different languages. They believe in multilingualism worked correctly from an early age. Thus, They are a center with 3 vehicular languages, but with a very clear linguistic commitment from the childhood stage: in addition to Spanish and Basque, They implant English from the age of 2 on a daily basis and They began to work with a British conversation assistant from 3 years onwards, in order to work specifically with each student on English pronunciation and phonetics.
In the linguistic field already in Secondary, students can choose either the French or German subject and carry out cultural exchanges with students from the USA, as well as with France or Germany. There is the possibility of taking the Dual Baccalaureate, that is, students who opt for this program can obtain the double degree: the state bachillerato and the American, the equivalent of the American High School.
8. Colegio Claret Don Benito
The Claret School has been developing its work in Don Benito and its region for more than 25 years. The educational offer includes Early Childhood Education, Primary Education, Compulsory Secondary Education, bachillerato. It also has an offer of Vocational education in particular Middle Degree of Administrative and Higher Degree of Computer Systems on the Net.
It is an educational benchmark both historically and academically. In recent years, several aspects have been reinforced, such as the didactic methodology, where cooperative work, project work and innovative methodology in the teaching of English. It is a bilingual center in all compulsory stages.
Within this period of renewal and innovation, the commitment to digital tools has meant the digitization of classrooms with digital whiteboards, internet access through WIFI, laptops, own Digital Platform, digital books, student work through the Platform, etc.
The Claret de Don Benito School is recognized by external bodies as one of the best in its environment. They work on the attention to diversity both for students with specific educational support needs and for gifted students. The Guidance Department has a diversity of professionals for this work.
9. Colegio del Salvador
The Colegio del Salvador is a Jesuit school, founded by the Society of Jesus in 1555. This center has magnificent facilities (it is the school with the most square meters in all of Aragon), a qualified and award-winning teaching staff, a daring commitment to educational innovation and attention to individuality. It is committed to academic excellence (obtaining extraordinary and striking results in all external tests).
All this has made the Jesuit College of Zaragoza take a few rankings among the fifteen best in Spain, and as the best school in Aragon.
El Colegio del Salvador aspires that all its educational activities are characterized by excellence and commitment. In the schools of the Society of Jesus, a good educational level has always been sought, both personally and academically, achieving the "maximum possible development of the personal capacities of all students." This central purpose is expressed in its motto: 'Know more to act better'.
The pedagogical project of the Center is the SBP (Permanent Basic Knowledge). Based on this, they establish their 'own curriculum' (although respecting current legislation), articulating the school vertically and horizontally. From the first of Infantile to the second of bachillerato, each area or subject establishes its permanent basic knowledge.
10. Colegio Estudio
The Colegio Estudio is a private, secular and non-profit institution that allocates all of its financial resources to the permanent improvement of your project. Founded in 1940 by Jimena Menéndez-Pidal, Carmen García del Diestro and Ángeles Gasset, the purpose of the College is to preserve and disseminate the philosophy of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza and the commitment to keep its educational model alive, aware of the role of education as motor of the social transformation of a country.
Convinced of the importance of coeducation and respect for individuality, They develop an educational model that firmly believes in the need for dialogue to convince, rather than impose, considering that students should be the protagonists of their learning, and that this should be based on reasoning, creativity and own experience. This is why one of the characteristics of the College is its non-dependence on textbooks. Here, students create their own learning materials throughout the different stages and levels, either through index cards or notebooks.