Key facts about Spanish school education

School attendance is compulsory in Spain for children between the ages of six and 16. Unlike in Germany, school education in Spain ends at the earliest with the completion of the tenth grade. This means that every student in Spain receives a qualification that is close to the intermediate school leaving certificate. There are no qualifications like the German Hauptschule certificate. While in Germany there is a three-tier system of Hauptschule, Realschule and Gymnasium, in Spain there are only comprehensive schools. Whereas private schools cost parents money, public schools are free and are preferred by around 70 percent of the population. The Spanish school and education system is divided into pre-school, elementary level, secondary level I and vocational training or university. Pre-school begins at the age of three and is not compulsory. Voluntary education takes place in after-school care centers and kindergartens. Unlike in Germany, children learn the basics of reading and writing in preschool.

Private, semi-private and public schools on Mallorca

Education at public, state schools in Spain is free. This also generally applies to extracurricular activities, the costs of which are usually borne by the local authorities. In addition to state schools, there are also private and semi-private schools on Mallorca, which are usually run by the church. These schools are not free. Semi-private institutions are former private schools and usually still charge a small but monthly school fee. They vary greatly in what they offer. The extracurricular activities are generally more varied than those offered at public schools. A monthly fee of around 30 euros is usually charged for this additional range of activities. Private schools cost the most and are popular because of their smaller classes, their performance-oriented offerings and the extent of their extracurricular activities. Students here often have to wear a school uniform until they reach high school. Private schools often charge a monthly fee of 50 euros for extracurricular activities. The total monthly fee is between 250 and 800 euros. Since you have the right to choose your school freely in Spain, anyone can apply to a private or semi-private school. However, because places are limited, students are selected according to a strict points system. In all Spanish schools, at least 50 percent of lessons must be taught in Catalan. Public schools often choose Catalan as the only language of instruction.

Elementary and intermediate levels of Mallorcan school education

Whether you attend a private, semi-private or public school: the elementary level of school education is compulsory in Mallorca. It comprises six grades and teaches general knowledge in reading, writing and arithmetic. After six years, the student moves on to middle school, where the knowledge they have gained is deepened and a foreign language is also taught. This first foreign language is usually English. Completing middle school is roughly equivalent to the intermediate school leaving certificate. Another option is to take part in a social guarantee program for young people between 16 and 21, which helps participants with career orientation through internships and prepares them directly for training or further employment.

The Spanish secondary level two corresponds to the upper secondary level of a grammar school

Those who have completed secondary level I can attend secondary level II at a secondary school and complete either an artistic, scientific, humanities and social sciences or technological branch. Depending on the branch chosen and the school's sponsor, German or French, and less frequently Greek and Latin, are added as additional foreign languages. After this two-year school education, the student receives the Bachillerato degree, which is comparable to the German Abitur and qualifies for university education. This degree is now recognized in Germany as the Abitur and also entitles students to study there. The final grade is converted into the system of the respective institution, whereby an additional German test is often required by the university.

Vocational schools on Mallorca

For graduates of secondary level I and graduates of the vocational school branch, Mallorca offers a second further education option in addition to the Bachillerato. This option corresponds to the Formación profesional and also lasts two years. Graduates receive the title Técnico, which stands for a specialist vocational training. The degree enables the Initial vocational training is divided into the Formación Profesional de Grado Medio and the Formación Profesional de Grado Superior, which correspond to intermediate and higher vocational training. For the higher vocational training branch, however, the graduate must have previously acquired the Bachillerato title. Unlike the German vocational school, this training is not tied to company-based vocational training.

University training in Spain

After completing secondary level II, the graduate can gain access to a university. The applicant takes part in an entrance test, which can be repeated up to three times. The overall grade of the entrance test is offset against the final grade of the school and thus results in the university entrance grade, which serves as a selection criterion for universities when filling vacancies. University training in Spain takes place in a total of three cycles. The first cycle concludes with a qualified qualification of a professional nature. Anyone who has completed this cycle and wants to continue studying takes part in a transition course. This course is followed by the first section of the second cycle, which corresponds to the German basic course and takes place at the Facultades or Escuelas Técnicas Superiores. This section lasts three years and ends with an academic title that corresponds to either a Diplomado, an Arquitecto or an Ingeniero. The main course takes place in the subsequent section of the second cycle. This main university course lasts up to three years. Graduates receive academic degrees such as the Licenciado, the Ingeniero or the Superoir. In the third cycle of university education, the graduate receives a doctorate after a further two years of study and is then allowed to work as a university lecturer.

The most important vocabulary for the Spanish school system

• Escoleta: similar to a crèche for children between one and three years old, not part of the public school system
• Educación primaria: compulsory primary school of six years
• Educación secundaria obligatoria (ESO): compulsory secondary school of four years
• colegios concertados: fee-paying private schools
• colegios públicos: free state schools
• actividades extraescolares: extracurricular activities
• Bachillerato: further elective training lasting two years, comparable to the upper level of German grammar school, qualification corresponds to the title of the same name and qualification for university entrance
• Formación profesional: two-year vocational school branch, comparable to the German vocational school
• Técnico: completion of formación profesional
• Formación Profesional de Grado Medio: intermediate vocational training to prepare for initial vocational training, basic level of formación profesional
• Formación Profesional de Grado Superior: higher vocational training to prepare for initial vocational training, advanced level of formación profesional, which is only open to graduates of the bachillerato
• Escuelas Universitarias: institution for the first cycle of university education
• Selectividad: three-day test procedure at Spanish universities
• Diplomado: professional qualification from Escuelas Universitarias
• Curso puente: transition course for participation in the second cycle of university education
• Facultades/Escuelas Técnicas Superiores: university institutions for the three-year basic course