Schools and Nurseries: The Honest Guide

Valencian education runs in three streams. - **Público** — fully state, free, taught primarily in Valenciano with Castilian alongside - **Concertado** — part-state, part-private, usually religious in origin (sometimes secular in practice). Small fees (€80-200/month plus uniforms, lunches, materials). - **Privado** — fully fee-paying. Includes the British, French, German, American schools. €6,000-15,000/year. ## When to start - **Escuela infantil** (nursery) — 0-3 years. Mostly private (€350-600/month). Municipal options exist with long waitlists; apply 12 months ahead if you want one. - **Educación infantil** — 3-6 years, inside the regular school system. Free in público/concertado. - **Primaria** — 6-12 - **ESO + Bachillerato** — 12-16 + 16-18 ## How enrolment works The main *proceso de admisión* runs in March/April for the following September. You apply by listing up to 10 schools in order of preference. Points are awarded based on: - **Sibling already enrolled** — the biggest single factor - **Distance from home or work** — use the postcode/work-address option that puts you closest - **Family income** — lower income, more points - **Special needs** - **Bonus categories** — single parent, large family, etc. You can check past years’ cut-off points for each school on the GVA website. Don’t panic if you arrive outside the main window. *Matrícula viva* (rolling enrolment) runs all year. Walk directly to the school you want and ask about availability. ## Language considerations Most público/concertado schools in Valencia teach primarily in **Valenciano**, with Castilian taught alongside. Some schools have a "linguistic programme" — either Valenciano-dominant (PEV), Castilian-dominant (PIP), or trilingual including English. Children pick up Valenciano fast — often faster than their parents. By the end of the first year most can follow lessons fluently. If you’re only here for a year or two, an international school avoids the language-acquisition phase entirely. If you’re here for the long term, a state Spanish-speaking school is more useful for the child’s future and dramatically cheaper. ## The conversation many parents miss Ask each school you visit: - What’s the family culture? Lots of parties? Lots of homework? Religious tone? - How do you support children who arrive mid-year without Spanish/Valenciano? - What’s the *AMPA* (parents’ association) like — active or absent? - What time does the school day end, and are there *extraescolares*? - How are bullying or social issues handled? The school’s atmosphere matters as much as its academic reputation. Visit at drop-off and pick-up; you’ll learn more in those 20 minutes than from any brochure. ## International schools — the realistic view The major international schools in Valencia: - **Caxton College** (British curriculum, in Bétera, ~25 mins from centre) - **British School of Valencia** (Rocafort, ~15 mins) - **American School of Valencia** (Puzol, ~25 mins) - **Cambridge House** (Rocafort) - **Liceo Francés** (centre of city) - **Deutsche Schule** (centre) Fees €6,000-15,000/year + registration + uniforms + lunches + buses. Waitlists for popular years; apply 6-12 months ahead. ## When to hire help For navigating mid-year enrolment, school choice, or visa-related school questions, a school admissions consultant charges €200-500 and saves weeks of confusion. Worth it if you’re moving with school-age children in a hurry. Ask in Valencia expat groups for current recommendations.