Expat Life in Spain, Choosing the Right Schooling Option

When British expat and COO of Cloud Nine Spain Darren Simons relocated to the Costa del Sol with his young family, he faced the same question that confronts many international parents: which schooling route would offer his children the best start in their new life abroad?

Having experienced both the Spanish state system and an international private school through his daughters’ educational journeys, Simons has gained a uniquely balanced perspective on the realities of schooling in Spain. Now, years later, he reflects on the move with conviction that it was the right decision, one that gifted his children a rich, internationally minded upbringing. 

Drawing on his personal experience and a recent discussion with two fellow parents on the Cloud Nine Spain YouTube channel, Simons explores the advantages and challenges of both state and private education. Here are his insights, offering practical guidance for parents evaluating the Spanish education landscape.

Darren Simons’ Expat Schooling Experience

Darren Simons made the move from the UK when his children were young and has never regretted it. His children went to both state school and international school and felt that the education they have received and the life they have lived in Spain has been very beneficial for them.

He commented, “We moved to Spain when our two children were just 3 and 4. Many of our close friends and family were concerned that the children wouldn’t perhaps receive the best education due to being in a foreign country and the language and education system possibly being a challenge. Upon reflection we felt it was the very best decision we ever made for our young family. 

Initially our girls attended Colegio Diadin in Benahavís – a state school providing education in Spanish and due to the high volume of British children attending, some of the classes were bilingual. We soon realised that this was a fantastic foundation, as it provided a natural immersion into the Spanish way of life and more importantly a grounding of the Spanish language in which they are now fluent. 

Three years on, we moved the children into an international private school in Elviria, Marbella where they were educated in Spanish and English following the Cambridge and Spanish Baccalaureate curriculums. It has been an amazing journey for both and has given them skills for life, enabling them to speak two languages with the local Andalucian accent. The out of school activities were also excellent, with horse riding, gymnastics and even after school chess. Our children made many friends of many nationalities and they continue to thrive living here in the Costa Del Sol with their further studies.” 

He recently interviewed two parents about the pros and cons of state versus private school for the Cloud Nine YouTube channel, to help any families planning to make the move to understand their options and has pulled out the key takeaways from the interview to help any parents understand the situation and get prepared.

The Benefits of State School Education in Spain

Language Acquisition

If you are a non-Spanish family and want your child to be truly bilingual, then sending them to a Spanish school (state or private) and speaking your native language at home is the very best way to achieve that. In Darren’s case, he was also passionate about his children having the opportunity to integrate fully and actually chose his area due to the reputation of the local state school.

Integration

If you go to your local state school you have the opportunity to be completely integrated into the society and your local town, with local friends and a true understanding of the culture and lifestyle. 

It’s Free!

State education in Spain is free, with costs associated with materials and books in primary and lunch for those who want it, but no costs for education or for school buses or some of the extra curricular classes offered within the school 

Caring and nurturing environment at Infants and Primary in particular

The teachers and school staff are very loving and caring for the students.

The Challenges Associated with State School Education in Spain

The Application Process

The application process can be confusing for international families and must be completed by April for the next school year to ensure a place. It is not possible to do online, and requires a bit of planning and paperwork, but there are people who can support you with the process. You want to be settled in an area with a good school and registered on your local council register by February or March of the year that your child will be starting school, so you have everything in place to apply for your place in April for the following September. 

The Facilities

You do need to be realistic with the facilities and funding that the state schools receive, often with old buildings and no air conditioning, large class sizes and minimal sports options. 

Starting Young

Children start school the calendar year they turn 3 years old, so if they are a younger student, with a birthday from October to December, they are only 2 when they start. This can seem young and is too early for some children, however it is a nurturing environment for them, where they learn how to learn and be in the school environment and with their peers. Children must be out of nappies in order to start state school and parents will be called into class to change their kids if they have an accident. 

Shorter Hours and more Parental involvement required

The hours are more challenging for working parents, with school running from 9am-2pm, and it being usual for the kids to come home for lunch and then back out for extracurricular activities, which the parents arrange and pay for separately. There’s much more homework and the parents need to be highly involved in ensuring homework is done and tests are studied for in order to get the most out of the Spanish system. 

The Language Barrier for Parents

The meetings are all conducted in Spanish, the instructions and homework is all set in Spanish. If the parents can’t speak Spanish to a high level it’s a challenge to be involved at the level required to support your child like you would want to, unless you use the services of a translator. 

The Plus Points for Choosing an International Private School in Spain

Ease of Communication in your Own Language

For most international families who come to the area, an international private school is the best option because neither the parent nor the kids speak Spanish, and so moving them straight into a Spanish speaking education system is a very hard transition, particularly for older children.

Choice of Curriculum

On the Costa del Sol, there are options to study the different curriculums, including GCSES and A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate (which is recognised worldwide), as well as schools which follow the US, German, French and Swedish curriculums. It’s also a case of parental preference, that they want their children to continue with the curriculum that they’ve been doing and then also graduate with a qualification that is recognised by their home universities or more international universities. 

Flexibility in Case of Moving to Another Country

For most parents an international school is an easier and more logical choice, particularly if their work may mean that they return to their home country or travel elsewhere while the children are still studying. Many teach the IB system which can be used anywhere in the world. 

Amazing Facilities

Whereas there are limited facilities for state schools, the facilities at private schools are spectacular, with the schools trying to outdo each other to attract more students. Of course there’s air conditioning, excellent IT facilities, playing fields, technology, theatre, a varied food offering and much more. 

No Need to Change School for Secondary

Most private schools cover the ages of 3-18, so there’s no need to move for secondary school. That makes it really easy if you have kids of different ages, and eases the transition between primary and secondary. 

Longer Hours and Lots of Extra-Curricular Activities

Private schools normally run from 9am to 3 or 4pm and then there are in-house after-school activities; basketball, football, music, all sorts of options, which makes it easier to manage for working parents. 

Excellent Education and Support for Children

Private schools do as much as they can to make sure that they have the support that they need to achieve their potential. They also take ownership of making sure that they produce well-rounded children. Of course it depends on the child, but the academic results are well above average and the students are able to get into top universities. 

The Downsides to Choosing an International Private School in Spain

Fitting into Life in Spain

When you attend an international school, you don’t get the cultural integration or the language in the same way. They have to take one hour of Spanish every day, but this really isn’t enough to achieve fluency. Some parents pay for tutors to improve their children’s language, or put them into Spanish after-school activities and camps, but if being bilingual is the top priority, an international school is not the right choice. 

The Cost

Private schools are fee paying schools and can be expensive. However, they are significantly cheaper than UK and US private schools. The older your child is, the more expensive it is, and although it varies from school to school, you can expect to pay around €20,000 per school year in the final few years of education.

The Waiting Lists

It’s important to note that the private schools have waiting lists, so you need to get started looking at schools in the autumn of the year before you move here. The earlier you can get your skates on and start applying, the better off you are, especially if you have more than one child.

How to make schools in Spain work for your child

Many parents who have some Spanish, or are willing to learn, and come to Spain with young children of primary age or younger will benefit from sending their children to state school for the early years. They will likely need to pay for support with the language for themselves and their children at the beginning, but it’s an excellent opportunity if they can cope with it. 

The key is to keep assessing and checking what is working for their child and if they are happy and coping with the language and the level of homework and testing required. Many international families take it year by year and move to an international school towards the end of primary or beginning of secondary. 

Even with International Schools, they are very different in terms of approach, curriculum, strictness and academic level. Many families need to try a few schools before they find the right fit for their child. Try to visit several international schools and do your research before choosing the right one.  

You can watch the conversation with Darren Simons, Rebecca Want from Marbella Interiors and Marjorie Blach from Next Nest about their experiences with private and state schools in Spain on the Cloud Nine Spain YouTube Channel. 

Find recommendations for the leading international schools in Spain on MumAbroad.