Guest Author - Amy Ralston Young

With summer coming to a close and fall fast approaching, the school bells are ringing. Like their American counterparts, children in Spain return to school after a long summer break.

In the 1970s, the Spanish government passed a law requiring all children between the ages of 6 and 14 years old to attend school. Although parents had no choice about education, they were still able to choose from one of the three systems offered in Spain – public, private secular, and Roman Catholic. International or foreign schools are also available in most parts of the country.

Currently about 30 percent of those in school attend private schools. English is only used as the teaching language in the international schools, all other schools teach in Spanish.

Although not mandatory, children may begin school as young as 3 years old, but often they must pay until they are 6 and can begin Primary school. Children attend primary school until the age of 14, after which, depending on their grades, many elect to attend secondary school.

School hours for the Primary schools are usually from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. with a two-hour break for lunch. Children can choose to eat at the school or travel home to eat with their families.

Usually the schools will close early one day a week for a holiday or other festivity. School breaks are during Easter, Christmas, and all of July and August. Children only attend for half a day during June and September.

Students who attend Secondary school, normally ages 14 to 18 years old, go to school from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. and enjoy the same breaks as their younger counterparts. Secondary schools are not mandatory, however most students choose to attend the higher school.