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Education in Spain is regulated by the Organic Law on Education (LOE) of 2006, with reforms introduced by the Organic Law for the Improvement of Educational Quality (LOMCE) of 2013. It is a national right of all children to have access to education. In Spain, learning is mandatory until the age of 16. Primary Education (EP) and Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) constitute basic Spanish education.
Basic education is compulsory and free for all students, consisting of ten years of schooling between six and sixteen. Outside of the obligatory education, there is the option of a Bachelor’s Degree (Bachillerato) or Vocational Training (FP).
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 established a decentralized model of the State in which educational provisions are divided among the General Administration of the State (represented by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training), the departments of education of the autonomous communities, local administrations, and educational centers.
Infant education (IS) serves children from birth to age six. This schooling stage is voluntary and aims to contribute to children’s physical, social, and intellectual development. Infant schooling s divided into two cycles: the first for children between 0 and 3 years old; and the second for children between the ages of 3 and 6. Only the second cycle is guaranteed free by law.
Basic Education in Spain is compulsory and free for all pupils. However, educational materials and textbooks are usually not free. Spanish schooling encompasses 10 academic courses that, in principle, 7 correspond to the ages of 6 to 16 years; these courses are distributed in the two sections of Primary Education and Compulsory Secondary Education.
Primary Education (EP) is an educational stage comprising six academic courses, which are standard between six and twelve. Students can stay one on for one more course at this stage in exceptional circumstances such as special educational needs, a disadvantaged population, or late incorporation into the Spanish education system. These studies take place at a Center for Child and Primary Education, CEIP. This level of education aims to provide all children with a formal education that makes it possible for students to acquire apprenticeships or go on to further education.
The curriculum includes cultural basics, oral and written expression and understanding, mathematics, study practices, individual and cooperative projects, and promoting progressive autonomy to encourage a students’ full development. This stage is organised into subjects and areas developed throughout the six academic courses, which are mandatory and inclusive.
The curriculum areas of this educational level are structured into the following blocks:
Subjects: Spanish Language and Literature, Mathematics, Nature Sciences, Social Sciences, and a First Foreign Language.
Specific: Physical Education, Religion or Social and Civic Values, and Artistic Education.
Free autonomic configuration: Cooficial Language and Literature (in the case of communities with two official languages), Second Foreign Language, or other subject matter that the school can choose.
Methodology: The didactic methodology is oriented to the student’s general development, integrating their different experiences and learnings. Teaching is personal in nature and adapts to each child’s learning rhythms.
The Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) stage comprises four courses, typically followed between the ages of twelve and sixteen. In turn, this stage of schooling is divided into two cycles of three and one academic course each:
First Cycle: 12–15 years (if not repeating a course)
Second Cycle: 16 years (if not repeating a course)
At the end of the ESO, students who have achieved the basic objectives of this school stage will obtain the title of Graduate in Compulsory Secondary Education (GESO). This qualification allows access to take a Bachelor’s Degree, THE FP I, the mid-grade cycles of art and design, middle-grade sports education, or the potential to apply for work. Students who do not earn the ESO degree can take part in a professional qualification program, such as an apprenticeship.
The Spanish Vocational Training System aims to improve worker skills and company productivity and meet labour market needs. Social security contributions fund vocational training along with the European Social Fund and the Spanish Public State Employment Service. Employees can claim 20 hours of free training annually. There is a broad range of vocational training courses in Spain that can be completed in various ways. Sessions may be in-house at the place of employment or an educational institution or online. Courses taken need to be related to the employees’ company’s enterprises.
The Bachelor’s Degree is optional and trains students to access higher education. The degree is a requirement for those who wish to attend university and students will study for a further two years after finishing mandatory education at the age of 16. It comprises two courses (1st and 2nd Bachelor’s Degree). Students who successfully complete high school in any of their modalities will receive a Bachelor’s degree.
As well as the Bachelor’s degree, access to university requires the passing of a single test, the University Entrance Exam, Pruebas de Acceso a la Universidad (PAU), commonly referred to as the Selectividad. La Selectividad is divided into two parts: the “general” section, which is compulsory for everyone, and the “specific” segment, which consists of focus topics based on the pupils’ academic interests. This part is optional. La Selectividad scores out of 14 points. The student’s average grade, plus the PAU score, is used to calculate students’ overall grade average. Sixty percent of this overall score is composed based on the students’ average grades in their bachelor degree studies, and 40% is based on their Selectividad performance.
The lessons in this section are not integrated into the basic schooling levels that constitute the general curriculum. They have their own structure and levels, ranging from elementary classes to studies equivalent to a diploma or a bachelor’s degree. The extra curriculum subjects are:
Sports lessons are organized on the basis of sports modalities, and, where appropriate, their specialties, following the recognition granted by the Higher Sports Council. Sports lessons are structured in two grades, middle grade, and higher grade. To enter the middle grade, students need the Graduate in Compulsory Secondary Education certificate. The Bachelor’s degree and a Sports Technician degree are required to access the higher degree in the corresponding modality or specialty. Both grades are also available to those who pass an entry test in each grade. Sports lessons are organised into blocks and modules. Those who pass the sports lessons of the middle grade will receive the title of Sports Technician in the corresponding modality or sports specialty. Those who pass the sports lessons of the higher grade will receive the title of Superior Sports Technician in the related modality or sports specialty. The title of Superior Sports Technician allows access to approved university studies.
Schools in Spain come in 3 categories:
As a rough figure, around 68% of pupils in Spain attend a state school, 25% go to a State-funded private school, and 7% attend private school. Usually, primary education takes place in a colegio and ESO and the bachillerato in an instituto. Basic and the Bachelor’s Degree state education is free in Spain, but parents have to buy or partly pay for books and other materials. Grants, loans, and second-hand book sales are usually available for those who have problems finding the money for school materials. School uniform is not always worn in state schools but is usually mandatory in private schools. There is a mostly consistent admissions process for state-funded schools throughout the country. The main admission procedure for pupils wishing to join a school in the autumn is carried out in the spring of the same year.
There is a mostly consistent admissions process for state-funded schools throughout the Spanis education system. The main admission procedure for pupils wishing to join a school in the autumn is carried out in the spring of the same year.
The state school (primary or secondary) a child will attend depends on the school’s distance from their own home. A list of schools and their catchment areas is available at town halls and provincial Ministry of Education departments.
If you live in a rural area, you may have only one option, while those living in cities such as Valencia will have several possibilities.
To obtain a school place, a family must register in the town hall Padrón then visit the Education Department at the town hall. A school registration application and a medical certificate are issued, and parents must supply their NIE or TIE number. The medical report must be completed by a doctor from the local health centre, include the child’s complete medical history, and confirm that vaccinations are up to date.
When filling out a school registration form, it may be possible for a parent to select if they prefer the child is taught in Spanish or the local language, in this case, Valencian. Parents can also choose if a child should be taught religion. Catholicism is standardly taught in state schools, but some schools teach other religions in ethics classes. While you can state your school preference, The Education Department at the town hall will finally decide which school a child will attend.
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Just like in most parts of Spain, most of the Javea schools are state-funded, or parents can opt to go private. As per Spanish law, it is compulsory for children living in Javea to attend school between the ages of six and 16 years of age. While attending school is free, parents will usually have to pay for books, uniforms, and other materials that may be required. After the age of 16, a student can then go on to study for a Bachelor’s Degree at one of the two town institutes, the IES Antoni Llidó, or the IES Numero 1. Only pupils who successfully finish two years of high school can attend a university.
Kindergarten and primary classrooms are often housed on the same site, which is the case in Javea. Javea has five state-funded primary-secondary schools, which are Spanish and Valencian language-based. There are also three private schools (one of these, the Colegio Maria Inmaculada, which is semi-private) that cater to pupils from infancy to age 18. The Laude Lady Elizabeth and Xabia International College, are international private schools that also cater for all ages from infants to 18 years.
As they reach the corresponding school year to their 12th birthday, the infant-primary school pupils feed into the two institutos, where they will receive compulsory education to the age of 16, completing four years of ESO (Obligatory Secondary Education). Once ESO is completed, pupils may leave school or continue to the age of 18 and take selective exams to gain entry into university or other forms of higher education. Students leaving at 16 must have an ESO certificate to access vocational or government training courses.
Private and international schools In Spain often have smaller class sizes, and a more informal teaching strategy and curriculum than Spanish state schools. They usually offer more opportunities to practice sport, culture, art, and a wider variety of academic subjects. Many also provide summer school programs taught in English, combining schooling with fun extra-curricular activities.
International schools in Javea focus more on the children as individuals and encourage their unique talents, rather than teaching a group as a whole. This would be much more difficult in schools with large classes, where custom lessons would be nigh on impossible.
Due to the large ex-pat populace, parents have the choice to select education in Javea for their children from the Spanish or British systems. We are fortunate to have two international schools of a high standard in Javea. The advantages of a paid private education in an international school are clear, as the two private schools in Javea have a near 100 percent successful university placement rate.
If you are interested in enrolling your child in a private school in Javea, you are advised to apply as far in advance as possible; the international schools usually have waiting lists for places. If your child has attended another school previously, you will likely be asked for school reports and exam results. Be sure to ask about withdrawal terms before applying for a place in a Spanish private school.
Phone: (0034) 670 698 764
Address: Entrada Norte de la Cumbre del Sol, s/n, 03726 Benitachell
Website: http://www.laudeladyelizabeth.com
Parents can choose the Laude Lady Elizabeth School, located on Cumbre del Sol, for KS1 and KS2 (2 -11 years) students. Elder KS3 pupils (aged 11- 18) attend a second branch of the school in Llíber. This school follows an IGCSE and A level exams in KS3/4 itinerary. The Lady Elizabeth School currently has pupils from 26 different countries.
The school aims to create a culturally diverse atmosphere where pupils can learn about other cultures, to prepare them for careers in an ever-shrinking and fast-changing world. The Laude also offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, and boarding is available, even for the odd over-night stays when a parent might be absent due to business, etc.
Tha Laude Lady Elizabeth is a private school. It offers a full international curriculum taught in English and Spanish and caters for children from nursery age up to 18 years; the equivalent of staying on at an Instituto for the full four years.
Phone: (0034) 966 471 785
Address: Ctra. del Portitxol, 70, Javea
Website: https://xic.college/
The other international school for those looking for private education in Javea is the Xàbia International College, situated in Javea on the Carretera de Portichol. It has a site for KS1/KS2 pupils and another currently under construction in the Calle Cantallops in Javea for KS3. The school teaches the British curriculum and like the Lady Elizabeth school operates IGCSE and A level exams.
School Values
When starting the school in 1994, the goal of the founder of Xàbia International College was to provide a quality education based on the English National Curriculum within an international environment. There are currently around 250 pupils attending XIC from more than 20 countries. The school prides itself on small class sizes to ensure each pupil receives the individual attention they need.
The XIC is a fully private school.
Phone: (0034) 965 791 703
Address: Avenida Ramón Llidó, 1, Javea
Website: http://www.cpgraull.org/site/
CP Graüll is a state-funded public school that caters to children aged 3 to 12 years. The school has around 400 students and has operated as an infant/primary school since 1997. However, the Graüll building housed the first school in Javea, and many older citizens of the town were taught in the building. Before the school opened as the Graüll in the 90s, it was formerly called the Vicente Tena. The Vicente Tena school continues to exist, but it is currently housed in a nearby building and has been renamed the Colegio Público Mediterrània.
School Values
According to the school website, the CP Graüll is a non-denominational school that welcomes children of all beliefs. “It defends and promotes individual and collective freedom. Committed to the process of linguistic and cultural normalization of the Valencian people. It is a school that educates for life, active, comprehensive and integrative, coeducative, that teaches and prepares students in interculturality, plurilingualism, and new technologies.”
Phone: (0034) 965 796 814
Address: Calle Bruselas, 101, Javea
Website: http://mestreacasa.gva.es/web/cplarenal
The CP L’Arenal caters to infant to primary school pupils. The school is located on L ’Arenal beach, in the heart of Jávea’s tourist area. These residential catchment areas are Muntanyar, Cala Blanca, and Tossalet.
Due to its location, the school welcomes a high number of students from all over the world.
School Values
This variety of languages and origins of pupils has created an opportunity to work on universal values such as acceptance and knowledge of different cultures.
Phone: (0034) 966 428 860
Address: Alicante Alacant ES, Carrer de Joan Fuster, 1, Javea
Website: https://portal.edu.gva.es/portdexabia/
The CEIP Port de Xàbia is located in the neighborhood of Duanes de la Mar in Javea.
The school has one class for all levels from 3 years to 12 and currently has approximately 235 students.
More than 60 nationalities live collectively in Javea, with a similar percentage of foreigners and Spanish making up the population. This is reflected at the Port de Xàbia, which strives to ensure all pupils learn a high standard of the Spanish and Valenciano languages while at the school.
The school is developing an Action Program for Improvement (PAM) and an Educational Research and Innovation Project for Curriculum Development. Furthermore, in collaboration with Javea City Council, Road Education, and Chess classes take place within school hours.
School Values
The CEIP Port de Xàbia encourages coexistence and the development of all aspects of children’s personalities in to evolve pupils into free, responsible, and competent future citizens. The staff pursues the goal of teaching equality by eliminating any discrimination on the grounds of race or sex. Boys and girls are schooled together at all levels.
Phone: (0034) 965 793 343
Address: Carrer del Tenista David Ferrer, Javea
Website: http://trencdalba.edu.gva.es
The CEIP Trenc d’Alba state school was initially known as the Colegio Público Amanecer. It opened in 1984 as the third school in Xàbia. Many former pupils are now parents of current pupils.
The school caters to children from 3 to 12 years old.
The Col·legi Públic Trenc d’Alba is very well-equipped, with classroom computers, an internet connection, printers, DVD palyers, television, and air conditioning. All the classrooms have digital whiteboards.
The school has a central kitchen, and a project is underway to build a pavilion for the dining hall. The school library is extensive with many books.
School Values
The Trenc d’Alba school encourages activities beyond those that appear in the curriculum, with a significant focus on sports and arts. The school has put on several shows at the Jávea cinema, and above all, a musical, which was extremely popular with audiences coming in from other areas outside of Javea to see the show. Well-known ex-pupils include tennis player David Ferrer, footballer Xavi Torres, and sailor Rafa Andarias.
Phone: (0034) 965 790 737
Address: Avenida Ramón Llidó, 10, Javea
Website: https://portal.edu.gva.es/ceipmediterrania
The Vicente Tena school was the first state school in Javea, attended by many of the town’s senior residents. It was originally housed on the current site of the CP Graull school but was changed to its current location in the 90s. In 2019 it was decided the school should have a name change, as Vicente Tena was famous for his involvement in the Spanish Civil War. The school is now called the Colegio Público Mediterrània, and caters to pupils aged 3 to 12 years.
The school prides itself on offering an above-average number of extra-curriculum activities, and although lessons officially begin and end at 9:00 a.m. to 14:00 p.m., the school provides pupils with activities until 17:00 p.m. which is very useful for working parents.
School Values
The CEIP Mediterrània encourages pupils to be involved in projects to improve communal areas in the Javea municipality as part of their ‘Nosaltres Proposem’ project. Thus far, the school has been involved with three important projects; the revival of the classroom of natura del Portitxol, used to study the coast, the recovery of public water sources such as drinking fountains in Javea, and the remodeling of the Central Cinema to provide leisure space for small children in Javea.
Phone: 966 42 82 05
Address: Av. de Augusta, Javea
Website: https://institutosfp.com/centro/ies-numero-1-javea/
The IES Número 1 is a state-funded Instituto for pupils aged 14 to 18 years. Pupils can either leave after finishing the two years of mandatory education or continue from 16 to 18 to gain a bachelor’s degree. Students from the Número 1 who intend to go to university will also have the opportunity of studying abroad as part of the EU Erasmus+. Erasmus is an initiative that organises student exchanges to improve communication, language skills, and intercultural assimilation while acquiring other highly valued universal skills beneficial for candidates looking for work.
School Values
The IES Núm 1 de Xàbia aims to transmit enthusiasm to students, promote knowledge and academic training, and encourage debate and reflection. The IES No. 1 tries to stimulate students’ appreciation for local businesses that provide opportunities and improve society locally and in surrounding areas.
Phone: (0034) 965 792 720
Address: Av. Ángel Domenech, 22, 03730 Jávea, Alicante
Website: http://iesantonillido.edu.gva.es/http://iesantonillido.edu.gva.es/
The Antoni Llidó is a public Institute of Secondary Education (IES) centre. It caters to secondary school pupils and those who wish to take the Bachelor’s Degree that is compulsory for students wishing to attend university in Spain.
Subjects taught are:
Colegio Maria Inmaculada
Phone: (0034) 965 791 170
Address: Carrer Mestre Àngel Ribes, 7, Javea
Website: http://mariainmaculadajavea.com
Colegio Maria Inmaculada is a concerted center for Infant, primary and secondary students, owned by the Instituto Secular Obreras de la Cruz.
The Colegio Maria Inmaculada is currently the only concerted school in Javea. A concerted school is a private school, usually Catholic (or at least 80%), that accepts a long-term agreement with the government. The school becomes fully subsidised in exchange for fulfilling a state school-like admission procedure. The concert specifies that teachers’ salaries are paid directly by the government. A concerted school should have an external governing body that holds the power to hire or fire the school’s headteacher.
As the college is represented as Catholic, it has a tradition to start the day with a short prayer that helps students face the day and make them aware of God’s presence. It acknowledges many religious events throughout the school year.
The school holds a popular summer camp in Altea every year.
School Values
The college website states its mission is to educate pupils in fundamental rights and freedoms and develop balanced, responsible, and tolerant people. They offer a full syllabus, which allows students to mature into their own identity. The school aims to create positive human relationships that help the educational process and teach students to develop a more fair and humane society.
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