It's one of the most anxiety inducing factors in any parents' life - getting a good education for their children and getting them settled into the right school. That's challenging enough when you're moving to a different part of the UK, let alone having the children deal with an entirely new language and education system. But the good news is that children tend to be a lot more adapatable than their parents. In fact the earlier they start at school in Spain, the easier they'll find it to adapt - within months they will probably be speaking language better than you.
But when they start is crucial. We're not going to go too deeply into the psychology of language here, though certain studies have shown there are fundamental changes in the brain that make it harder for children to learn language the older they get - our brains seem to be hard-wired for picking up language in our first two or three years (which is of course when most of us are developing our first language).
Put a child in a Spanish nursery before the age of three and he or she is likely to be bilingual very quickly. As children get older they may need a more gentle introduction to education in Spain and it's a very good idea to have them learning Spanish for a year or so before you go, if possible. Remember how difficult the transition from primary to secondary school can be - new friends, a new regime, and a lot more subjects to cope with. Doing all that while struggling with a new language is a lot to ask of an 11 year old, so make sure they can at least understand what the teachers and their fellow pupils are saying. It helps too if you have had Spanish lessons, and so can help the children out.
There are four main choices of Spanish schooling for your child. Many expats go for the International Schools - there are British, American, German and other nationalities represented here. And they are well regulated, with all International Schools having to be approved by that country's embassy in Spain. Here, a British child will be sitting next to other British children, and the curriculum will have a hefty dose of Spanish lessons and tuition on the culture of Spain. Class sizes tend to be small, and this allows the teachers to deal with the particular individual problems that moving abroad and away from friends can bring. The international schools also tend to run holiday courses and summer schools, bringing in arts and crafts, sports and academic tuition, and this can be a good introduction to the country for those looking to start school proper in the autumn.
Schools vary of course, but they are roughly equivalent to a UK private or prep school. Standards are high, as are numbers of students going on to university. You won't be surprised to here that demand for places is high too, as are fees (which during 2008 ranged from around €4000 to €8000 a year). Do your sums then and ensure your child's name is down as early as possible. A point to note here - there are a lot of extras. Expect to pay for books, meals and other items, as well as for basic tuition.
Rather cheaper are Spanish private schools, though again you do have to budget for a lot of extras - these can insurance, laundry, transport and so forth, and can soon make the €700 or €800 a year for basic tuition (the fee is subsidised by the State, with around a third of Spanish children being educated privately) a distant memory. There may be scholarships and grants, though again these are in great demand and you aren't likely to be at the front of the queue. Spanish schools are very good though, and many teach to the British GCSE and A-level, American High School Diploma and International Baccalaureate as well as the Spanish Bachillerato.
Their core teaching is to the Spanish state school curriculum, making any transition from one to the other much easier than in the UK for example. If you are used to the British system where most schools are secular in all but law, you need to accept the fact that Spain is a Catholic country and these are Catholic schools - there will be an element of Catholic religious education here. But then you are moving to a Catholic country, so when in Andalucia... Private schools are largely mixed, in contrast to the single sex system prevalent in the UK.
Perhaps the best system, is to take the leap into the Spanish state education system. Again, schools are mostly mixed, and they are completely free from nursery school to university. If you are an EU citizen you shouldn't have a problem getting your child enrolled, though it may be an idea to break them into the system via an international school if their Spanish isn't up to speed. Just like in Britain, you'll probably want to find the best school and buy your house in the appropriate catchment area rather than vice versa - education by postcode isn't limited to Britain.
You'll also need to show a birth certificate and passport. School begins at three years, with pre-school, and primary education starts at six. Secondary schools are from 12 to 16, at which point they graduate with their 'graduado en educacion' and either go on to higher school or vocational school. Higher school leads to university - Spain has 56 state universities, with another 19 run privately or by the Church. Of course, at that point your offspring may elect to return to higher education in the UK ... and with the advantage that not many British kids have, being completely bilingual.
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