When moving to Spain and taking your children away from their normal educational environment, parents face a difficult decision. A key factor for any age of child is the language. The Spanish system requires children to use Spanish, however many schools are used to training all ages of child in catch up Spanish allowing the move to be made effectively at any age. This is often profitable as having two languages could provide your children with excellent employment prospects in tomorrow's globalised world and so the move away from their natural comfort zone might provide them with real long term opportunities.
The academic year in Spain runs from September to June and school times can vary depending on which area you are located in. The more traditional areas stop between the hours of 1.00-3.30 for the siesta period and then return to school until 5.30pm.
There are two schooling systems in Spain, state and private. In Spain's state system pupils are awarded “titulo de graduado escolar” certificate at the age of 16, which enables them to stay on to obtain their baccalaureate, so they can continue studying and gain an entry to university.
There is an ex-pat private system which follows the national curriculum that includes GSCE’s and ‘A’ levels. After this they can go onto university as long as they have sufficient grades, most Spanish universities accept British A levels as an entrance qualification.