Kids in Barcelona - Family and parents guide to activities, shopping, holiday apartments, events, health, schools and nurseries, babysitting and childcare, and playgroups in Barcelona.

Official website for school information in Barcelona
(Includes links to Barcelona School Open Days, and downloadable file (Barcelona es una Bona Escola) with detailed information on all the private and public shools by district).

Search for Public or Private schools by district (Government site in English).

Address search for schools that are in your official catchment area.

Home Schooling Programme.

Clonlara School based in the US offers a home-based teaching programme with offices in Barcelona.

Home Schooling Site for Catalunya.
Association supporting Home education in Catalunya who organise the annual Home Schooling day on 15th September.

Applying for Schools

Schooling is free and compulsory for children aged 6-16 years.  Primary education is the first stage of schooling for children aged 6-12 yrs and secondary edcuation is the period of schooling from 12-16yrs.  Although many children attend school from age 3 in Barcelona and indeed most of Spain, this is not yet compulsory. Schooling from 3-6 years is known as infants or parvulario.

Earlier in the year, School Open Days or Jornades de Portes Obertes are organised by Barcelona public and private schools in order for parents to visit. Most schools will also allow you to organise visits at other times of year.

The first stage of application is the Pre-inscription stage in March or May (for 0-3 yrs). From this stage a short-list of applicants is compiled and in the case where numbers exceed places, a lottery is drawn. A final list of pupils is then published and if you wish to accept any place offered to your child, you must then undertake the inscription process. You can improve your initial chances of a successful application by choosing a school according to certain criteria that will put you higher on the priority list. Selection is first based upon the following points scheme:

40 points: When the child has a sibling at the school or if a parent is employed there.
30 points: When the child’s home address is located close by to the school.
20 points: When a parent’s place of work is located close by to the school.
10 Points: When the child's home address is not in the specific catchment area but is located in the same city district as the school.
10 Points: When a parent is receiving income support (varies by the number of dependants).
10 points: When the child, child's siblings or parents have a certain level of disability.

Additional Criteria:-

15 points: If the child belongs to a family with a larger number of children.
10 points: If the child suffers from a chronic illness of the digestive, endocrinal or metabolic system (includes celiacs).

Applications are now centralized but you may collect a Pre-inscription form from any public school. You may also visit L'oficina d'escolarització del Consorci d'Educació de Barcelona at Calle Bruc, 90 Baixos, the Serveis Territorials d'Educació, Av. del Paral·lel, 71-73 (Tel. 93 443 95 00 Mon-Fri 9am-2pm and  3pm-5pm), or from your ajuntament.  Once you have completed the form you can submit it directly at the school chosen as your first option or at the same offices. You must also take with you: 

An original and photocopy of your Libro de Familia.
An original and photocopy of your National ID card, Residency card or Passport (either parent)
Proof of home address or business address (if this is to boost your points rating).
Any medical documention as evidence if your child suffers from a chronic condition.

Your original documentation will be returned once it has been compared with the copy.

Once your child has been offered a place at a school which you wish to accept, you must then undertake the final inscription process in June.

Dates for the application process depend on the cycle of education.
 

Timeline for 2008-2009 School Applications

Educació infantil (Infants 3-6 yrs), Educació primària (primary 6-11 yrs) and Educació secundària (secondary 12-16 yrs).

12th March:- Publication of initial places available at schools.
25th March - 4th April:- Pre-inscription period for infants, primary and secondary.
14th April:- Publication of applicants to be submitted for lottery. Complaint opportunities on 15th ,16th and 17th April.
19th May:- Publication of final number of places at schools.
26th May:- Final applicants for lottery list is published
9th-13th June:- Successful applicants complete application process.

Escoles Bressol - Public Nurseries (0-3 yrs) (Subject to final confirmation)

29th April-14th May:- Pre-inscription period for Escoles Bressol.
28th May:- Publication of applicants to be submitted for lottery and complaint opportunities on 29th, 30th and 2nd May.
13th June:- Final applicants list for lottery is published.
16th-20th June:- Successful applicants complete application process.