La escuela
Some very small children go to Kindergarten
(la guarderia).
After this comes la educación infantil, 4 to 6 years old.
Educación primaria is for age 6 to 11 and
educación secundaria obligatoria is for age 12 to 16 in high schools institutos
Bachillerato is from 16 to 18

Usually, there is no school uniform. In most schools, comfortable sports wear is most often worn. Catholic schools have a uniform.

The school year starts in September and goes on until the end of June. The summer holidays (las vacances de verano) are 2 months long. There is a break at Christmas and Easter. Also, there are a number of bank holidays when there are days off.

Every town, every city, every village no matter how many people live in it, has its own fiestas related to some local occasion, to commemorate a saint under whose protection the people are supposed to be.

School generally starts at 9.00 in the morning. Often children just go in for the morning to ease them back into the routine. Children usually go to the school that is closest to them so they can walk or cycle. Children in rural areas catch a bus. School things are carried in una cartera which is often carried on the back.

Children go to school from Monday to Friday. The pattern of the school day varies depending on the region and the time of year. As Spain is very hot in summer the teaching varies to match everyone’s needs. So in June, especially in the South, they might only go to school in the mornings.

There is usually a break (recreo) mid morning. In the middle of the day is the lunch break (la comida), which is 2 hours long, from 1pm to 3pm.
Many children go home for lunch but some can stay at school and they eat in the canteen (el comedor).

Afternoon lessons start again at 3pm and go on until about 4.30 to 5pm.
Children play games like football in the playground (recreo, patio) but they also play skipping, group and chasing games.

When children get home about 6pm they often eat a snack (la merienda) to keep them going until it’s time for the evening meal about 9pm. La merienda might be chocolate or cheese or ham sandwich, bocadillo de chorizo o jamón. They usually have homework to do, then they watch tv or play with friends or computers.

After school there is often the opportunity to do sports or go to clubs. As it is often hot at night children are often still playing out late in the evening.

At the weekend children will probably spend time with their family and Sunday lunch is normally a special meal, which lasts for some time, with everyone expected to sit at the table to share social time together.

For each year in school there is the national curriculum (le programme). At the end of the year, in secondary school and bachillerato, if children do not reach the required standard they may have to stay down and do the year’s work again.

At 6 years old children are in 1º de la EPO – Educación Primaria Obligatoria
At 7 years old children are in 2 de la EPO
At 8 years old children are in 3 de la EPO
At 9 years old children are in 4 de la EPO
At 10 years old children are in 5 de la EPO
At 11 years old children are in 6 de la EPO
12 to 16 the are in 1,2,3,4º de ESO – Educación Secundaria Obligatoria
16 to 18 1º and 2º de Bachillerato