September is here, which means summer is over, and it’s back to school for us all. Schools in England started last week, but in Spain, it was this week. This got me thinking – what are some other differences between schools in England and Spain? Let’s explore some in this blog!

Structure and Curriculum

England: 

• Children start primary school at age 5. There, they are divided into two groups: Key Stage 1 (ages 4-7) and Key Stage 2 (ages 8-11). These are also called infants and juniors.
• At age 11/12, students go to secondary school. Essential exams like GCSEs are taken at age 16 and then A-Levels at age 18.
• Primary and secondary schools are two different places in England. Leaving primary school is a big change for students and quite an emotional time.

Spain: 

• Kids start school at age 3 in Spain, where they attend Infantil until age 6. This is followed by Primaria (ages 6-12), and Secundaria or ESO (ages 12-16).
• Students take their ESO exams at 16. And for those who stay on, their Bachillerato at 18, which is needed to get into university.
• It’s common in Spain for Infantil, Primaria, Secundaria, and Bachillerato to all be under the same roof.

Under the same roof is a common idiom in English, used to mean people living, working, or being together in the same place – usually the same building or household.

School Times

England: 

• Most schools start around 8.45am to 9am and finish between 3pm and 3.30pm.
• The school day consists of five classes and two breaks. Younger children also have a third break after lunch.

Spain: 

• School usually start at 9am but the finish time depends on the school and the region.
• Some schools offer a longer lunch break, with the day ending around 4pm or 5pm. Those with shorter lunch breaks typically finish around 2pm.

Lunch 

England: 

• Lunch lasts between 45 minutes and one hour. Students eat in a canteen and often go outside to play or talk afterwards.
• Students either bring a packed lunch from home or have a school dinner, which is usually a hot meal.
• Traditional packed lunches include a sandwich, a piece of fruit, crisps, and a cereal bar. Meanwhile, school lunches offer students pizza or pasta, and a dessert like chocolate cake and custard – a nostalgic classic for most Brits.

Spain: 

• Unlike in England, where dinner is the main meal of the day, lunch is the real star of the show in Spain. For this reason, many schools offer students the opportunity to go home and have lunch with their families. This is particularly true in primary school.
• A typical lunch in Spain includes multiple courses with options like meat or fish and veggies, followed by fruit and cheese. Once the plates are empty, it doesn’t end there with families hanging around the table for sobremesa.
• If students stay in school for lunch, it’s usually provided to them and consists of a full meal. This affair can take up to two hours in schools with a longer day.

For all you non-Spanish speakers, sobremesa is a word that doesn’t even exist in English. It directly translates to “about the table” and refers to the time spent at the table after eating lunch. While in the UK, eating is generally a rushed activity, Spaniards like to take their time. Sobremesa involves talking, digesting, and enjoying a coffee – which can sometimes last hours.

Uniforms

England: 

• Most schools all over the country wear uniforms, whether they’re private or not. Each school has its own colour and specific logo, alongside a sports kit for physical education.
• Primary school uniforms are more comfortable, while secondary ones look more like business suits. Yes, that means a tie and blazer!

Fun fact: In England, we call private schools public schools. This can be very confusing for learners. So, if you hear a Brit talking about public school, they mean a private one and not a state school.

Spain: 

• Uniforms in Spain are much less common. It’s only private and semi-private schools that use them.
• And even when students do wear one, they’re usually far more casual than the ones we have in the UK.

Vacations

England: 

The academic year starts in September and ends in July. It’s broken up into three terms which last 13 weeks each. These are then split into halves.

• Each half term, students get a one-week break. After each full term, it’s two weeks – the Christmas and Easter holidays.
• Students and teachers get 6 weeks off for summer, known simply as the Six-Week Holidays.
• In England, there are eight bank holidays, which sees schools closed on a Monday. Scotland also has eight, while Wales has nine and Northern Ireland – whopping ten!

A bank holiday is what we call a public holiday in the UK. This is when schools, offices, and some businesses close on a Monday. Originally, it was just banks and financial buildings that closed, which is where the name comes from. It wasn’t long, however, before other establishments wanted a much-needed three-day weekend and joined in too.

Spain: 

• The academic year in Spain is also divided into three terms and starts in September, but vacations are very different in the Iberian Peninsula.
• There are no half-terms, meaning students go much longer without a break. Two weeks are given for Christmas and then just one for Easter.
• However, summer holidays last around two and a half months. It’s also not just schools that take a break, but businesses too.
• Spain is also famous for having lots of bank holidays. There are nine national ones, however each region is allowed up to 14 per year.

Which do you prefer? 

So, there you have it! There are definitely some pros and cons in both Spain and Britain when it comes to school. But which do you prefer?

Written by Marina McAleese, Tutor at The Harrogate International Academy