Barcelona to host talk on school pre-registration and enrolment for international families
Local and Catalan education professionals to participate in event on February 23
The Barcelona city council will host an event on February 23 aimed at helping international families with children find the school that is right for them.
The practical talk, which will take place at the Centre Cívic Casa Golferichs community center (Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 491) in Eixample at 6 pm, will begin with Catalan education department officials Oriol Pallarés and Esteve Juanola explaining how the education system works in Catalonia.
The city council's City Promotion coordinator, Judith Romera, will then give a talk entitled "International schools in Barcelona and other multilingual school options."
The event will end with Cristina Iglesia from the Barcelona Education Consortium talking parents and guardians through the pre-registration and enrolment processes for the 2023-2024 school year followed by a Q&A session to address any questions parents and guardians may have.
Anyone who is interested can sign up to attend here.
The Catalan school system
The Catalan school system, which uses Catalan as the main language of instruction, is divided into four sections based on age group.
The youngest is pre-school, which students attend between the ages of 3 and 6. Although education is compulsory from 6 to 16, “99% of kids under six are already enrolled” in the Catalan pre-school level.
From 6 to 12 children attend primary school, before moving to secondary education until they turn 16.
At this point, students either take part in ‘Batxillerat’ pre-university courses or professional training courses (CGFM and CFGS).
Catalan schools are also divided into public, private and semi-private ‘concertades’. Public schools are free and funded publicly, whereas private institutions are paid for. In between these sit the ‘concertades’ which are private schools that are partially financed publicly, thus they are a cheaper option to the fully private centers.
International schools outside Catalan system
Another potential destination for children of international families is one of the international schools in Catalonia.
Although these schools offer students the opportunity to take exams from their respective countries, most are jointly accredited by international educational authorities or the international baccalaureate.
There are over 40 international schools in the Barcelona area including the American School of Barcelona, Aula Escola Europea, Benjamin Franklin International School, École Française Ferdinand de Lesseps, Emilio Sánchez American School, Hamelin-Laie International School, Highlands School Barcelona, Kensington School, Lycée Français de Barcelone, Lycée Français de Gavà Bon Soleil, Oak House School, Princess Margaret School, St. Peter’s School Barcelona, The British College of Gavà, The British School of Barcelona, and the International School of Catalunya.