Schools in Spain

Find the right school when relocating to Spain

Relocating to Spain is a life-changing experience that brings cultural richness, an exceptional quality of life, and outstanding education opportunities for your children. Whether you’re moving for work, lifestyle, or family reasons, choosing the right school in Spain is one of the most important steps in ensuring a smooth transition for the whole family.

At Five Lands International Education, we understand that every child is unique—and so is every school. Our School Advisory program is designed for international families who are relocating to Spain and want an expert, and tailored guidance in selecting the best-fit educational environment for their children.

From understanding the types of schools to evaluating language options and admission procedures, we help you make informed decisions with confidence and select those schools that match your requirements and have availability for the school year you select. With our support, families have found excellent schools in Valencia, Alicante, Madrid, Barcelona, and beyond—always aligned with their children’s needs, goals, and future plans.

Types of schools in Spain

Spain offers a wide variety of school types, both public and private, that can suit different educational philosophies and family expectations:

- Public Schools (colegios públicos): Funded by the government and free for all residents. The school is assigned based on your place of residence.
- Charter Schools (colegios concertados): Semi-private schools with partial government funding; often Catholic and more structured than public schools.
- Private Schools: Fully independent, often with smaller class sizes and more individualized attention. More expensive schools.
- International Schools: Offering foreign curricula such as the British, American, French or German systems, ideal for expat families.
- IB World Schools: Authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB), providing globally recognized education with an inquiry-based approach.

Understanding the school system in Spain is key to aligning expectations with the realities of each type of institution.

Languages spoken in schools in Spain

One of the most distinctive aspects of living in Spain is its multilingual environment. Spanish (Castellano) is the official language nationwide, but several regions have their own co-official languages that are taught in the schools:

Catalan: Language taught in schools in Barcelona and the rest of Catalonia.
Valencian: Language taught in schools in Valencia, Alicante and Castellón.
Basque: Language taught in schools in the Basque Country
Galician: Language taught in schools in Galicia

Public schools often teach in both Spanish and the regional language, depending on the location. In schools in Valencia, for example, you may encounter both Spanish and Valencian as part of the curriculum.

International schools typically teach in English or the language of their curriculum (e.g., French, German), often with Spanish as a second language and the co-oficial language as a third.

Choosing the right language environment is essential to your child’s integration and academic success.

International and IB Schools in Spain

Spain hosts a large and growing number of international schools, especially in major cities and coastal areas. These schools offer:

The International Baccalaureate (IB) programs (PYP, MYP, DP).
British IGCSE and A-Levels.
American HighSchool Diploma and AP courses
French Baccalauréat and German Abitur

These institutions often combine academic rigor with a global mindset, making them ideal for families who value continuity with international standards. Whether you’re looking at schools in Alicante with the IB Diploma or a British school in Valencia or somewhere else, our advisors will guide you to the best options.

If you want to learn more about IB Diploma and its benefits click on Choosing International Baccalaureate subjects for the best universities.

Other alternative and innovative schools in Spain

In addition to traditional and international curricula, Spain is home to a growing number of alternative education schools that focus on child-centered, holistic approaches to learning. These schools are especially appealing to families who value creativity, emotional development, and non-traditional assessment methods.

Montessori schools: Emphasizes independent learning, hands-on materials, and mixed-age classrooms.
Waldorf (Stenier) schools: Integrates academic learning, arts, and spiritual development.
Other Innovative schools: Spain is also embracing project-based, democratic, and forest schools, often inspired by Nordic systems.

These educational paths are ideal for families who wish to explore non-traditional models that align with their personal values and parenting philosophy. If you are relocating to Spain and searching for schools that nurture the whole child—not just academics—alternative schools may be the perfect fit

What to look when searching for schools in Spain

When planning your relocation to Spain, choosing a school that supports a smooth transition for your children is essential. Expat families often prioritize international environments, English-speaking instruction, flexible admissions, and strong integration support. Fortunately, Spain offers a wide range of schools that meet these needs.

English main language with Spanish language support
Cultural diversity and experience with international relocations
Rolling admissions to accommodate mid-year relocations
Support services for new students and families
Proximity to expat-friendly areas and well-connected throughout bus routes or public transportation

Choosing the right school in Spain is not only about academics—it’s about long-term success, well-being, and personal growth. With the right criteria and expert guidance, your family can find the ideal school that turns your relocation to Spain into a fulfilling educational journey.

How we help you find the right school in Spain

We follow a six-step process that assures we fully understand your requirements, search for the right schools and maximize admissions options:

Understanding your needs

In this first step, we will collect all the necessary data to get to know you better and your relocation plans. You will have to complete a data form with all the information about your school requirements.

Making the best-fit plan

Once all the data has been collected, we will design a personalized Action Plan where we will show a proposal of schools matching your needs and with availability at the time we contact them.

Scouting visit & Selection

Now, you make the final selection of the schools you like based on our plan. We can also organize a scouting visit to those schools either virtual or in person.

Submitting the applications

In this step we will assist you in the application process at each of the selected schools. We are in close contact with the school in the same time zone which allow us to react quickly to any pending items.

Taking final decision

In case you children gets accepted at several schools,, we will help you decide, based on several parameters such as total cost, quality of education, availability of transportation or other important aspects.

Enrolment suport

In this last step, the chosen school will contact you to give you instructions. However, we will support you in those aspects that you do not understand or need help with, such as school transportation, uniform, meals, etc..

Your children's well-being is our goal