Schooling & Language
 

Hi, we are currently thinking of moving to Spain (Andalusia region) and would appreciate any advice. We are Brits currently living in South Africa with two children aged 9 & 11 in private schools here. We want to continue to live in a warm climate but be nearer to the UK.

My main concern is finding suitable schools and learning the language as we currently speak no Spanish. Are there any international schools and language schools in the area. What are the local schools like? Is the area generally 'friendly' and open to newcomers. We won't be working in Spain, so don't need to generate an income, but want to know we will still have a relaxed outdoor lifestyle such as we have here in South Africa.

Thanks for feedback.

Sarah

Re: Schooling & Language
 

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. Myself and Fred James are the moderators for the Spanish forums whilst BEVS moderates Europe. Moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. This is so that members gain the information that they are looking for and find their experiences on the forums to be friendly and worthwhile.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge about the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

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Thanks Rosemary

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Hi Sarah

Andalucia is huge!

If you are going to live in the middle of Seville then you will be absolutely lost speaking no Spanish. If you are going to live in Mijas then you will be surrounded by English speakers

There are private English speaking schools all along the Costa Del Sol

Re: Schooling & Language
 

Thanks for your reply. I assumed there were some places we will probably have to discount for our early years, but don't know the area at all apart from holidays in years gone by (which I know isn't ideal). We plan to come over and base ourselves there from May next year and take 3-4 months to travel around and find somewhere suitable to settle. What do you think about the Almeria region? We want somewhere rural but not far from the ocean and somewhere which won't be a huge trek to school everyday. We were trying to avoid any built up tourist traps, is this possible??

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Note, there is no ocean in the South of Spain :)

Almeria is desert like and lacking culture. It is cheap for those reasons. I would avoid it but I know that there are Brits who live there and like it

It is impossible to recommend a place really. Depends what you want

Pretty much all the English speaking places are where tourists spend their time. If you want to actually live day-to-day in Spain then you must speak Spanish

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Ha ha been living near the Indian Ocean for too long - Sea it is then! Not sure I want to live in a desert like region which lacks any culture though. Spanish lessons need to start now then I guess. Thanks again.

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Hi Sarah, I live in a small village near Marbella in the south of Spain and in the past have worked in three International schools in the area. There used to be many people coming from South Africa as it is closer to the UK but still has a more temperate climate. The private schools do vary in quality but there are many to choose from in and along the Costa del Sol. The area is friendly and welcoming but life on the coast can be transient and lacking the real authentic Spanish culture but its still a great place to live. Good luck.

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Hi Chris, Thanks for taking time to reply. I guess my main concern is finding the right schools for the children, which will determine where we eventually settle. I just didn't want to be forced into a built up tourist area because we don't speak the language. I'm not totally set on Private or International schools, but I guess it's probably right to assume that the further inland and away from these built up areas, then it will be more difficult to find good schooling??

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Except the little old Atlantic Ocean of course - the Costa De La Luz part of Andulucia from Gib to Portugal is a not insignificant part of the coastline ;)

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Have a look at:

Andalucia Education, Schools - Pineapple's Travels

Re: Schooling & Language
 

Cheers

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Well true, although probably not many English speaking private schools there!

Btw OP, I lived in Benalmadena Pueblo for a couple of years which is about as touristy as it gets, but you have to remember that two thirds of the people that live there are still Spanish. I never spoke English in the street and had no English speaking friends. There was no need to

But of course if you dont speak Spanish then you will automatically circulate with people you can understand

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There are, for example, International schools in Seville, Cadiz, San Roque etc etc

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Depends on your definition of right school! All Spanish children go to local schools and although they have a different system they still produce excellent results. It is much more difficult for non Spanish speakers to learn and many waste their time because their parents either cannot afford private schools or they think it is best for their children to integrate into Spanish society by going to the local school. In my experience bright children anywhere will get through in whatever system they have to go through but not so bright children will find it difficult.
You have to see for yourself to decide on what you call built up as the whole coast by some peoples standards is built up. If you go inland you will find no international private schools but you could for example live in a village like Ojen near Marvbella and send your children to one of several schools in and around Marbella. Why don't you come and spend a few weeks here to see for yourself?
If it was me and had the funds I would send my child to either Aloha College or The English International College. Both provide a good standard of education. Check out their web sites.

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Hi Chris, I agree with your thoughts and want to make the transition as easy as possible. I just want to ensure they don't struggle with their education in a local school because of the language barrier in the early years. I've sent off enquiries to The English International College already and will follow up with Aloha College.
Thanks for the info.

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It's a bit risky to send 9 and 11 year olds to a local Spanish school. Not just because of the different language, but the different curriculum, teaching methods, expectations, the fact that the parents can't help with homework, or help sort out problems at school, and can't easily tell if the school is any good. And that's before you get to the issue of whether the child actually likes it, and doesn't feel isolated because they can't fit in so easily. I'd say 8 years old is about the cut-off age for sending a kid to a Spanish school - that gives them 2 years to get fluent before starting secondary school. A 9 year old might just scrape it, but it depends on the child and the school.

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Hi Chopera, I plan to 'go back to school' and learn the language myself but for my kids I agree, think an English or Bi-Lingual school will be a must. Thanks for the thoughts.

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I'm sorry but this is not true at all

One in three Spanish children go to fee paying schools. The free state school system in Spain was designed only for the poorest in society and most have truely terrible results

There are some good state schools but they are the exception rather than the rule.

That's not to say that you should send your child to an international school. Spanish speaking private schools that follow the Spanish curruculum get the best results

My wife went to a good Spanish private school and she said when a foreigner joined with no Spanish then usually they would be fluent within a year, even if they were 12 or 13 when they joined. This may not happen at a state school

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Schools in Spain can be divided into 3 categories:

State schools (colegios públicos)
Privately run schools funded by the State (colegios concertados)
Purely private schools (colegios privados)
According to summary data for the year 2008-2009[1] from the ministry, state schools educated 67.4%, private but state funded schools 26.0%, and purely private schools 6.6% of pupils the preceding year.

There is actually no evidence to suggest that the results from State schools are truly terrible. They do use a different system but it is unfair to say that.

Exam results never show how happy the children are or how they learn to make friends or become independent from their parents.

Personally, I do not like the strict book learning methods they use in schools here but I have many friends who have been through the system and have gained further education qualifications and gone on to have a very happy, successful life.

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Well sure, but you have to be careful here in Spain when youth unemployment is at 50%. Who do you think employers will pick?

Everyone I know who earns a good salary in Spain went to private school - and most send their kids to private schools. Only one I know who doesnt because they live in a very posh neighbourhood so the neighbourhood state school is pretty good

The average grade for selectividad in Spain is a 6. At my wife's old private school it is 8.9. Who do you think has a better chance in life?

Of course this is true in the UK as well, but in the UK there are many more job opportunities. Personally I went to a terrible state school in the UK. I got good grades because I studied on my own but it was a miserable existence

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Hola Sarah E,

I agree with Mike J. Do yourself a favour and do a google search on the towns and villages on and around the Costa de la Luz.
There are private international schools in El Puerto de Santa Maria and Jerez de la Frontera.

You will also need to be aware that the applications for enrolling in schools is March. So if you arrive in May and want your kids in a decent school by September you may have up until the end of June (when schools break up for summer) to find one.
This may or may not be such an issue for the private international schools, as there may be more places.

Good luck in your search.