1. EDUCATION IN SPAIN

2. The current system of education in Spain is known as LOE (Ley Orgánica de Educación), or Fundamental Law of Education. State education in Spain is free and compulsory education lasts from 6 to 16 years of age.

3. Up toSecondarylevel Below Higher Education the system can be seen as consisting of four levels: • Pre-school (Educación Infantil, segundo ciclo) - 3 to 6 years of age. • Primary School (Educación Primaria) six years of schooling - 6 to 12 years of age. • Compulsory Secondary Education (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria) four years of schooling - 12 to 16 years of age. • Post-Compulsory Schooling (Bachillerato) two years of schooling - 16 to 18 years of age.

4. Preschool Structured as two cycles of three years each: • Nursery or Kindergarten (Jardín de Infancia) (0–2 years of age) • Preschool (Preescolar) (3–5 years of age). The second of these two cycles is included in the general state provision of education and, although not compulsory, is followed by nearly all children. The first 'cycle', nursery care, is largely privately provided and funded although there are some subsidies.

5. PRIMARY SCHOOL Structured as three 2 year cycles: • First Cycle (6–8 years of age): Primary 1 & Primary 2 • Second Cycle (8-10 years of age): Primary 3 & Primary 4 • Third Cycle (10–12 years of age): Primary 5 & Primary 6 The main subjects are Spanish language, co-official language (in case of Catalan, Basque and Galician) Maths, Science, English, Physical Education, Music, Art and Catholic religion (optional).

6. CompulsorySecondaryEducation (ESO) Compulsory Secondary Education (Educación Secundaria Obligatoria or ESO) is structured as two cycles of two academic years each (total 4 years): • 1st Cycle (12–14 years of age) • 2nd Cycle (14–16 years of age) Upon finishing ESO the student has a number of options, including: • Spanish Baccalaureate (post-compulsory diploma) • Vocational Training. • Work (it is only possible to get a job from 16 onwards)

7. SpanishBaccalaureate The post-compulsory programme offered by Spanish schools is the Spanish Baccalaureate, or Bachillerato. It is the normal option for those wishing to go on to university. Upon completion, it entitles the student to sit the university-entrance exam (selectividad), or to follow some kind of higher vocational training.

8. The Spanish Baccalaureate is made up of two parts: The core curriculum: Spanish Language and Literature,Co-official language (in case of Catalan, Basque and Galician), First foreign language (English), Philosophy, Physical Education, Spanish History, Optional subject (2nd foreign language, psychology, information technology...) and Catholic Religion/Religious Studies (Optional) The specialist part (chosen out of five branches): • Arts, • Nature and Health Sciences: • Sciences & Engineering: • Social Sciences: • Humanities:

9. Vocational Training The vocational training is also a common possibility after ESO or after the Spanish Baccalaureate. There are two different types of programmes: • Middle Grade Training Cycles (Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio), which have the ESO diploma as a requeriment. • Superior-level Training Cycles (Ciclos Formativos de grado Superior), which have the Spanish Baccalaureate as the principal requeriment. After completion of the Superior-level Training Cycle, students are entitled to direct entrance to several related University degrees.

10. Provision and Costs • Schools in Spain can be divided into 3 categories: • State schools (Colegios Públicos) • Privately run schools funded by the State (Colegios Concertados) • Purely private schools (Colegios Privados) According to summary data for the year 2008-2009 from the ministry, state schools educated 67.4%, private but state funded schools 26.0%, and purely private schools 6.6% .

11. Schoolhours Primary school hours at present are typically from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., except during June and September when they work mornings only, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. In Extremadura, there are full time classes from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Extra curricular activities are offered from 16:00p.m. to 18:00

12. Schoolterms • A three term system, but with holidays at Christmas (December 23-January 7) and Easter (one week), and in the summer (July and August). • The half-term holiday does not exist, but there are frequent odd days and long weekends relating mainly to religious holidays and regional and national holidays.

13. University • The normal durationforUniversitycoursesis 4 years, except Medicine and some more, which are 6. • Postgraduatecourses are Master'sdegrees (Máster), and Doctoral degrees (Doctorado). Theaccessisregulatedbytheuniversityitself, throughtheDoctorateCommission. • Theuniversitiesregulateaccesstotheirowndegrees and theyfixtheacademicfees. They can alsoofferunofficialpostgraduatedegrees.

14. THE END Feria, October 2010