Spanish Schools

[saucysnook]

Hi everyone,
I caught the Spanish bug last year and now my life is revolving around Spain! I'm studying for GCSE's and have spent time in Madrid and Valencia on language courses and exchanges. My Spanish level is high intermediate/advanced. The thing is that I would LOVE to go to school in Spain for the last two years of school (like Sixth Form). Madrid would be my city of choice but there are problems. Firstly, if I went to a Spanish school I'd need a family to live with, Secondly, I dunno if the Spanish system would suit me as I find maths and sciences hard and if I had to stay in England would drop them for ALevels as I think for the bachillerato they're compulsory?! So I guess my main question is "What is the best thing I can do?" Go to a Spanish school or an Inernational School in Spain? Hopefully there's someone out there that can explain the Spanish Education System to me and give advice on the best thing that I can do. Gracias!!! :D

[Ben]

Hi Saucysnook (cool name!), and welcome to the forum.

First of all I think this sounds like an amazing idea, you will have the best time of your life, and be practically Spanish by the end of it! In fact you will never want to return to the UK :)

I'm afraid I don't know much about the schooling system here, maybe someone else can help, but an International School sounds like a good place to start looking. Most of the other people studying there should be Spanish, and there must be one that can help with accommodation too. I would start with a google search like this (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B2GGGL_enES176&q=international+school+madrid), and maybe look up the British Council school in Madrid too (or email them?)
-Ben

[saucysnook]

Thanks, I've e-mailed a couple of schools asking for more info, so am waiting for replies...my mum isn't sure it's a such good idea though so I need to persuade her! It's Spain? What more of a reason does she need? :D If anyone could still explain the bachillerato system that would be great...Thanks

[Marbella]

If you went to an international school then you could take A levels in your choice of subjects, just as you would in the UK. I've looked at most of the schools in Madrid and thought that King's College (http://www.kingscollege.es/secondary_school.php)was one of the best. This school offers boarding so your accommodation problems would be solved but of course like any independent school, in Spain or the UK, this comes at a price. Cheaper than the UK though if your mum is keen!

If your Spanish is at a high level then you could consider a Spanish school that offers the International Baccalaureate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Baccalaureate_Diploma_Programme). I think it will be tough to gain a place but you never know. The reason I mention the IB is that if you want to come back to uni in the UK then the IB will probably have some value. I am not sure how transferable the current Spanish qualification is to the UK. Of course if Spanish uni is what you wanted then this wouldn't be an issue.

I'm sure your mum will be worried about you if you go abroad at aged 16 to study but best of luck to both of you.

[saucysnook]

Thankyou!! :D I'm looking into Kings College which does look good, and they give scholarships for people going into Sixth Form to cover part or all of the school fee (so now I just need to study, study, study...) I've asked for more information about the school so now we'll just have to wait and see...thanks! Oh, and my mum thinks you're a very nice person understanding her concerns...!

[Marbella]

Thankyou!! :D I'm looking into Kings College which does look good, and they give scholarships for people going into Sixth Form to cover part or all of the school fee (so now I just need to study, study, study...) I've asked for more information about the school so now we'll just have to wait and see...thanks! Oh, and my mum thinks you're a very nice person understanding her concerns...!

It's a parent thing! :)

Both of our children spent 3 years in international schools in Valencia and Marbella (owned by King's College Madrid) so we know the scene quite well - any other issues just post here. In Madrid, as Ben said, most of the students in the international schools will be Spaniards. So a) it is remarkable that they get such good results at A level considering that English is their second language, and b) you would be attractive for a scholarship because they like native English speakers in the schools. We won places over Spaniards because our children, despite their mum being Spanish, were from England. If we move to Madrid, which is a strong possibility, then our eldest who is 12 at the moment, would go to King's;).

[ValenciaSon]

Is this for high school or college? I'm not familiar with the British education system. It seems like from previous posts that it spans the junior high through to college. Is the Baccaluareate you've mentioned equivqlent to our Baccalaureate degree in the US? Sorry guys, if this is a rehash from other posts.


And good luck in your endeavors Saucysnook:thumbs-up:

[saucysnook]

:D thankyou ValenciaSon!
Umm...well I don't know that much about the U.S. system but in the U.K. "Sixth Form" is for the last two years of High School (secondary school in U.K.) from when you're around 16 until 18. (this is what I want to do in Spain) Then it's University or College or whatever... You have to do AS Levels (just a kind of exams) in the first year of sixth form and then A Levels in the second. Apparently the nearest thing to A Levels in the U.S are Advanced Placement Tests (AP Tests???). The International Baccalaureate is a qualification you get once you've completed the IB programme for 2 years and it's recognised all over the world. I don't know if this is similar to the Baccalaureate system in U.S.

[richardksa]

Saucysnook,

I think you are very brave. But it is a wonderful thing you want to do. What a fantastic foundation to build your life and future career on. You sound like someone with their head screwed on and should go for it if you get the chance. But it is a parent's right to worry about their children and it never stops. I still worry about mine depite the fact they have families of their own. Tell you mum she just needs to become an Easyjet frequent flier - She'll need to be to come and collect your laundry!!!!!

[saucysnook]

Yep she will!!:D I know she only wants what's best for me...

[Marina]

Hi everyone,
I caught the Spanish bug last year and now my life is revolving around Spain! I'm studying for GCSE's and have spent time in Madrid and Valencia on language courses and exchanges. My Spanish level is high intermediate/advanced. The thing is that I would LOVE to go to school in Spain for the last two years of school (like Sixth Form). Madrid would be my city of choice but there are problems. Firstly, if I went to a Spanish school I'd need a family to live with, Secondly, I dunno if the Spanish system would suit me as I find maths and sciences hard and if I had to stay in England would drop them for ALevels as I think for the bachillerato they're compulsory?! So I guess my main question is "What is the best thing I can do?" Go to a Spanish school or an Inernational School in Spain? Hopefully there's someone out there that can explain the Spanish Education System to me and give advice on the best thing that I can do. Gracias!!! :D

The study plans have changed since I studied, but there was an option to avoid Maths in the last year before universty if you studied Greek and Latin.

[saucysnook]

I have a friend who moved to Valencia and he's currently studying that course with Greek and Latin. But he doesn't seem so keen on it...I wouldn't really mind studying maths and sciences etc. I'm prepared to work really hard (even for maths!) if it meant I would be in Spain. But I'll have to wait and see what happens!!

[chaney]

Hi saucysnook. I did post this already but for some reason it was deleted! :S
Anyway I am in a very similar postion to you. My dad suggested me going to a Spainish college when I have finished my GCSEs next year. I fell in love with the idea, but I also hate maths and science and want to go to a college rather than a 6th form in Spain.
I've looked at a couple of them, but if you see anything good could you let me know? and i'll let you know if I found out anything more!

Chantelle, From England btw! xxxx

[winnypeg]

hi every one ,my name is kay and i have just joined , i also like many want to pack up and come and live in spain i have a 7 year old boy i am a single parent and havent got as clue wat to do about moving

[greytop]

hi every one ,my name is kay and i have just joined , i also like many want to pack up and come and live in spain i have a 7 year old boy i am a single parent and havent got as clue wat to do about moving

Welcome. Do you have a problem seeing?

[winnypeg]

wat have i done wrong

[Ben]

Hi Winnypeg, and welcome. I think greytop was referring to the unusually eyecatching lettering you chose ;)

[Isabel]

Hello girls!

I was foreign student in Ireland for a year, It was such a great experience that I recommend everybody to learn a foreign language in the native country.

If sciences and maths worry you, there's a solution. You don't like those subjects because you never had a good teacher. Spanish teachers aren't any better, but in Spain we're used to have particular teachers for the tough subjects.

Get a private maths teacher to give you a good basic maths lesson, and you'll start understanding maths. Do the same thing with sciences. Once you anderstand what to do It'll be easy for you! And you'll be a genius when you go back to the UK :cool:

I fell in love with the idea, but I also hate maths and science and want to go to a college rather than a 6th form in Spain.
!

Chantelle, From England btw! xxxx

[Ben]

Hi Winnypeg, and welcome. I think greytop was referring to the unusually eyecatching lettering you chose ;)

Winnypeg,

I have moved your post about getting a house in Spain to here (http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1042).

[Bolboreta]

The study plans have changed since I studied, but there was an option to avoid Maths in the last year before universty if you studied Greek and Latin.

There still is. The "Bachillerato" has 4 "vías", the one with Latin, Greek, World History(1º) and History of Art(2º) is called "Bachillerato de Humanidades" and well... there's also the one I took "de Ciencias Sociales" which supposedly has easier maths (Because they're "Maths applied to Social Sciences" so at least you skip all those stupid theorems that are a pain in the ass and just have to solve the problems) Economy, World History(1º) and Geography(2º). Of course, on top you have all the mandatory subjects (Spanish, English, Philosophy, Physical Education(1º), Spanish History(2º) And one or two "Optativas" [Music, French, stuff like that]). The other two vías are "Ciencias de la Salud" and "Tecnológico", but if you aren't interested in maths I don't think they're a good option (I think you can do "Ciencias de la Salud" with Biology, Chemistry and "Ciencias del medioambiente" instead of Maths, but at least my High School didn't offer that option)

What I don't know is how useful the Bachillerato would be in England, of course.

PS: The little (1º)(2º) signs indicate that those subjects are only taught that year, the rest are taught both. I put them in because I know how many A levels people usually take over there and I guessed that so many subjects already looked scary enough.

[saucysnook]

Thanks for everyone's help - I've applied for a school in Madrid and am going to see it in February. So it looks really promising - my mum's even very excited about it! :D YEY!

[Ben]

congratulations!!! How did you manage to talk her round!?

[Marina]

Congratulations for that! Was it difficult to find a school in the end?

[saucysnook]

"Marbella" mentioned Kings College, which is the school I am going to see. I didn't really have to talk my mum round in the end!! I managed to get her to phone the school ask some questions and she really liked the sound of it. Although it's a British school, the pupils are 80% Spanish, and the rest are British or international. The "language of the playground" as they call it is Spanish as well, so that's fab. I can board there and it's also not too expensive. YEY! So fingers crossed...:D

[ValenciaSon]

Congrats on the school, Miss Snook!:)

[gplyndon]

Hi Everyone
I am new to the forum but have enjoyed what i have read.I am at the moment interested in the schooling system in spain as we have a 14 year old son who when we come and hopefully join you all over there will have one year left in the english school system,what will happen when we land in spain in about June "ish" will he still have one year left??? we will be looking at state schools probably nothing to posh !!!:confused:

[cdheiner]

Hi Everyone
I am new to the forum but have enjoyed what i have read.I am at the moment interested in the schooling system in spain as we have a 14 year old son who when we come and hopefully join you all over there will have one year left in the english school system,what will happen when we land in spain in about June "ish" will he still have one year left??? we will be looking at state schools probably nothing to posh !!!:confused:

Hello, and welcome to the forum! I'm new myself, and don't have personal experience, but other members of the forum have been very helpful as I've had similar questions. Check out this thread for starters:
http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1781

Good luck ... CODY

[gplyndon]

Hi Cody
thanks for your response it was quite helpful although quite depressing reading i thought from what the landlady was saying about older children,the thing is our son is not that keen on the move to start with mainly because of the change in his schooling,loss of friends etc,but hey if everything in life was easy!!!!
doesn't the internet make the world a small place it's quite new to me all this but nice to speak to you thanks for your help

[landlady]

I am sorry my post was so negative. I hate to put a damper on peoples enthusiasm for moving to Spain, but I feel strongly about the success of older children's intergration into the Spanish public schools, as I have seen and heard of so many heartbreaking stories. This may not be true of other areas, I don't know, and there may be exceptions. But the truth of it is that if we had known what the situation was before moving to this part of Spain, we would never have moved here if we had a child over the age of 9 (preferably even younger) but would have waited for them to finish their education first. Our daughter was eight when we moved here and although a bright child, she still has difficulties, as do most of her English classmates.

I can point you to other forums based on the Costa Blanca and heir advice would be the same.

[gplyndon]

Hello your post was not so much negative i guess you always want to hear how everything will be fine (if only).we are thinking of moving to the costa del sol???are things the same there do you know ??? and thankyou for your informative words .

[omeyas]

Hello your post was not so much negative i guess you always want to hear how everything will be fine (if only).we are thinking of moving to the costa del sol???are things the same there do you know ??? and thankyou for your informative words .

I gave a link here before concerning schooling in the CDS area. If you go here (http://andalucia.com/forums/topic-f24.htm) and here (http://andalucia.com/forums/topic-f22.htm) type in "schools" in the search link at the top, you'll find a load of info.
If you don't find what you want, just register and ask the question! It's free!
It won't all be what you want to read, but that's the way it is.
If your son has only one year to go, I would think seriously about maybe waiting until he has finished, especially as he is not keen to move anyway. :)
To introduce him into the Spanish system for just one year, I can only seeing him struggling and being very unhappy.:(