Founded in 1978, NABSS (the National Association of British Schools in Spain) represents the interests of some 40 schools in Madrid, Barcelona, and the major expatriate centres of the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, and the Canary and Balearic Islands. It's objective is to promote and defend the interest of member schools and the needs of children and their parents. The organisation hosts training sessions in Spain and a yearly conference in a different part of the country. Recent conferences have focused on the main curricular projects in Britain designed to improve children's performance in English and mathematics and on the changes to post-16 studies.

Over the last year the Association has been involved in two major issues:

Helping to formulate a new inspection system for schools, based on school self-review combined with visits from outside
Liaising with the Spanish authorities in order to ensure students of NABSS schools the best possible access to Spanish universities.
All NABSS establishments are regularly inspected by visiting inspectors from the UK, although the Association is not a regulator and all schools are entirely independent. They insure educational continuity for the expatriate population and have also proved popular with Spanish parents. For alphabetical listings, full information on each school and the complete guide to education in Spain please click www.nabss.org

Public Education

The Spanish public education system offers schooling for children up to 18 years of age and from then onwards, the possibility of further education at University.

Subjects are taught in the Spanish language with normally 'english' as the second language. Unlike the UK system, children stay in the same school from 'infants through to seniors' (5 to 16 years) and then they move to an 'instituto' for two years as a preface to university study.

The major advantage of placing your child in a Spanish environment is that they learn the language very quickly and intergrate much more with spanish families and their way of life. It really is a wonderful opportunity for growing children. We have put our children through the Spanish system and my wife has taught in private schools here,so if you would like to find out more,please put your questions on the submission form and we will get back to you straight away. Our staff will be pleased to show these facilities personally.

For more medical information visit www.dh.gov.uk