How do we change schools in Spain?

Spain must give every child of compulsory school age (6 to 16) a place, even mid-year. You won’t always get the school you want: late applications go to whichever schools have room. From age 16, UK study has to be formally recognised.

How admissions work

State and concertada (state-funded) schools allocate places once a year, using points for siblings, living or working nearby, income and other criteria. In Madrid, applications for 2026/27 ran from 11 to 25 March 2026, final lists came out on 27 May, and enrolment ran in June and early July. Other regions use similar spring windows. When schools are oversubscribed, admissions commissions (comisiones de garantías de admisión) oversee the process, and you can apply through the school, the commission or the education department.

Arriving or moving mid-year

The law requires regions to place pupils who join the Spanish system late, in all cases during compulsory school age, in the year that best suits their age, knowledge and previous record, with support where needed. Regions can raise class sizes by up to 10% to fit late arrivals or families relocated for work.

Records and recognising UK schooling

• Up to 4º ESO: no recognition is needed. Your child gets a place by age. Bring their latest reports anyway: schools use them to decide the right year and support
• Bachillerato (16 to 18): UK qualifications must be recognised as equivalent to the Graduado en ESO (homologación), or UK study as equivalent to 1º Bachillerato to join the second year (convalidación). An A level can’t be recognised as a specific Bachillerato track; you get an overall grade
• Documents: applications made since 1 November 2021 need a Hague apostille, and documents need an official (sworn) translation. You apply online and pay a fee on form 790
• Timing: it takes about 6 months, but a conditional enrolment form (volante de inscripción condicional) lets your child start while it is pending. Their results then depend on a favourable decision
• In the UK: you can book an appointment at the Ministry of Education’s London office, or register papers at the Spanish consulates in Manchester and Edinburgh

Moving between regions

Each region runs its own schools, and the teaching language can change.

Teaching programmes for pupils with big gaps in language or basics must run alongside normal classes, not instead of them, and regions must advise parents of late-arriving pupils on their rights and options.

British and international schools

Moving between British schools keeps the same curriculum, which can make a mid-year move easier. NABSS has more than 80 member schools across Spain, all authorised after inspection. Private schools set their own rules: before you give notice, read your contract for the notice period, any registration deposit and fees owed for the term. See how schools work in Spain for types of school and fees.