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January 6, 2009
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Hi Ben
The Baccalaureate System of Education is
taught in Spanish state schools and some private schools, however I do know some English children in this area who are taking at least one GCSE when they join the school at the age where they are ready for this exam!
My two youngest children aged 11 and 13 follow the following system and do not have any problem with the Language or the learning, the younger the child the easier it is for them to learn the language!
The Spanish system explained
The Bachillerato or Bachiller as it is called in Spain provides pupils with 2 years academic training to prepare them for higher education, specialized higher grade and vocational training or to start a career.
The first year is divided equally between natural sciences, maths, language & humanities, whilst in the second year students take optional and specialist subjects.
Under COGSE reforms the compulsory core subjects are Spanish, a regional language (if applicable) Literature, foreign language, history philosophy and physical education.
Three specialities in the arts Science and technology ad humanities and social sciences. Some subjects are obligatory in order to enroll in certain higher grade vocational training and university courses.
After two years pupils take a final exam known as the Prueba General Bachillerato PGB and if they pass this and all the exams during the two years baccaleareate they are awarded the titulo de Bachiller which includes the average mark obtained.
The Bachiller together with an oral exam in a foreign language usually English also allows pupils to study at Spanish University and is recognized as an entrance exam by universities throughout the world providing the language of the country they wish to study in is up to the mark..
Pupils who fail this are awarded a certificate of attendance and can continue to study in vocational training if they pass the entrance exam.
Local British and private schools
British School of Alicante.
C/del Reino Unido 5,
Alicante 03008
Age Range 3 - 16 (up to 18 in 2005)
Enrolement 320 pupils
Annual Fee's 4700 - 5700
Registration Fee 1502
Tel (0034) 965106351
Fax (0034) 965108096
Email cba@lobocom.es
Web www.bsalicante.com
Newton College.
Camino Viejo de Elche
Alicante KM. 3 Partida de Maitino
PI-82A03295 Elche
Age Range 3 - 14
Enrolement 444 pupils
Tel (0034) 966610238
Fax (0034) 965451428
Email newtonc@cif.es
This school as far as I am aware only teaches the Spanish curriculum and although it used to be generally a British school it now has a high percentage of private Spanish pupils
The European School of Alicante.
Avenida Locutor Vicente Hipolito s/n,
Playa de San Juan -Alicante 03450
Age Range Nursery, Primary and Secondary education.
Tel (0034) 965155610
Fax (0034) 965156424
Email vlpr@eursc.org.es
Web www.eursc.org.es
El Limonar International School.
Colonia Buenavista
30120 El Palmar, Murcia
Also in Torrevieja and La Manga
Age Range 3 - 16
Tel (0034) 968882818
Fax (0034) 968886226
Email secretary@ellimonarinternational.com
Web www.ellimonarinternational.com
There is a new primary school in ALicante although I do not have any personal experience with this school
for 0-7 years old
www.thebritishprimaryschool.com
There are of course numerous state schools too many to mention but they work much along the same priniciple as those in the UK being that they are is a catchment system in place.
Both my youngest two children aged 11 and 13 both go to a state school and have no problem with either the learning or the language and the younger the child the easier it is.
I hope this answers your question however do not hesitate to ask any more questions if I cannot answer them myself I will try to find someone who can.
Regards
Sharon
Shar
sharon@ivespainforlife.com |
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Thinking or at least planning to move to Spain next year and not sure what to do about schools, there is a lot of info on here but I would like more personal views if anyone would care to share?
and what do the children say that have been in this position?
do they prefer Spanish, have they settled in well, do they feel isolated?
How long did it take before they could take part in class discussions etc?
Has anyone go any more first hand advice we have two children 10 and 15 both want to move but nervous!
What if we move and they dont settle will they catch up again, so many questions but it is something we really want to do and have done for a few years, if we don't do it now it will be too late or our eldest and we fear she will not want to come with us if we leave it any longer!
Any advice whatever good or bad I am waiting and can take it!
Cheers
Shar
sharon@ivespainforlife.com |
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Try this forum Frosty
I know there at least a couple of questions and follow ups from a thread like this, this is a relatviely new forum to this site and I think it is important that you get some feed back
[url]www.torrevieja.co.uk message board
If you come back with any usefull advice and it would be appreciated
Thanks
Sharon
Shar
sharon@ivespainforlife.com |
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PS
I actually replied on this thread earlier so am copying it here for you but there are other stories here too
[url]www.torrevieja.co.uk
As a family we chose together to move to Spain. Having had many discussions together before we took the actual plunge and started on the minefield of info that you need to research before deciding whether or not it is what you really want to do beyond any reasonable doubt.
Jamie Danny and Emma now 17, 13 & 11 respectively were the most important people in this as they were the ones who were at a very important stage in their lives and that was foremost in our minds in the decisions that we made.
Jamie who we felt was too advanced in the English curriculum attends the British School of Alicante which he gets to by bus in Crevillent 10 minutes form our home town of Albatera, half an hour from the coast, we felt that it was unfair of us to expect him to change to the Spanish Baccalaureate way of teaching- see here http://livespainforlife.co.uk/default.aspx?id=57 and so we included the cost of this schooling into our moving budget. He took his Spanish GCSE after only 6 months and got the highest pass he could get. He is without doubt doing better than I imagine he would have done had he continued his schooling in the UK, if only for the reasons of distraction and out every night with his mates!
He has a girlfriend now of 8 months and although it is with a heavy heart he talks of possibly going back to do some teacher training nothing is set in stone yet and he is growing up so can do what he likes, nevertheless he does sometimes miss his life with his friends in the UK. The friends he has here are all spread about across the Costa Blanca and he is the one who had formed more of a bond with those in the UK due to his years.
Danny was young enough we thought to cope with a State Spanish school and after a slow start and having to redo the first year is now in a class with all Spanish, he has had extra lessons with our Spanish teacher and by the way we did all have a 6 month Spanish course before we came here and have been having lessons ever since here. It is quite common in Spain to re-sit the year and it has meant that Danny can now do his lessons with his peers with a clearer understanding of the system.
Danny chooses Spain over the UK every time but then he is more laid back than any Spaniard I have ever met, and he loves his dogs which we have acquired since moving. He chooses Spain life here over the UK every time.
Emma well what can I say about her in her teachers words not mine "Muy contento y muy inteligent" she continues to achieve marks higher than her peers. I would also like to add my own take on this and although she is 11 going on 30 she wears no make up, no short skirts and doesn't read glossy magazines and is not to my knowledge and at the moment tells me "everything" has any interest in boys! Her friends back in the UK I hate to say are interested in all of the above and are very much older in their ways.
Emma also chooses Spain over the UK
Not in my opinion a bad result!
Both Danny and Emma are as fluent as they need to be to get on and understand all the work they have to do.
Both the schools that Danny and Emma attend provide extra Spanish lessons for the English and although we are not as common here as on the coast there are a few and I have to say that it make me ashamed to be English when parents put their children into Spanish school without having prepared them first.
We have had our fair share of problems and tragedy since moving to Spain but you get that everywhere, its called life - on the whole
Spain will win over the UK every time, although I miss friends and family I get to see them here for longer than I did in the UK and I go back for my shopping hits. Paul my husband wouldnt go back unless he needed to!
So I think I can honestly say we have been and are happier in Spain than we were in the UK overall would we go back, you can never say never but at this moment in time- NO!
Good luck and research is the key the more information the more prepared you will be- forewarned is forearmed etc
Shar
sharon@ivespainforlife.com |
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Hi Ben
I moved to Spain this year with 3 school age children so I know what you are going through. It is a really hard decision to make so read around as much as you can, gather as much info as you can to help you decide.
We decided that the best option for our children was spanish state school.
The good points:
It was very easy to get all children into the local schools
The 2 younger children are at primary level 7 and 10 years and the class sizes are very small compared to uk. There are less than 10 children in each class.
The teachers are in my opinion are very caring and used to dealing with foreign children.
They discourage the children from speaking English in class although I do find the English children tend to group together.
The children go to school happy and have made friends and they are learning Spanish
Their education is free, activities out of school promoted by the town hall are subsidised because the children attend state school. They may be subsidised for all children but I'm not certain on this point.
Transport and school meals are subsidised depending on the distance you live from the school.
The not so good points:
You cannot choose which school your child goes to, it depends on your address.
It can be difficult to communicate with the school and authorities if you do not speak spanish. This can cause a lot of stress so I would advise a translator to assist with these matters.
Depending on where you live you may find your child is taught in another language as well as castellano, mine are also taught in valenciano.
The thought of this initially was very stressful but in reality it has not been a problem.
Sorry I need to go out now but if I can help with anything else please let me know.
Shar
sharon@ivespainforlife.com |
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