If you’re planning an overseas move to Madrid with teenage children—or already living here and comparing educational options for teenagers in Madrid—you’re in the right place. At Steps into Spain, we understand how overwhelming the decision can feel, especially for families navigating a new country, new language, and new school system. As an international education expert based in the capital, Sinéad Galvin has her finger firmly on the pulse. Read on to discover the diverse world of secondary education in Madrid.
Education in Spain is compulsory for children aged 6–16 and spans primary (6–12) and secondary (12–16). Teenagers in Madrid can follow several pathways: E.S.O (Certificate of Compulsory Secondary Education), FP (Formación Profesional) Básica, FP Grado Medio, Spanish Baccalaureate (el Bachillerato), International Baccalaureate (IB), or the Dual Diploma. These pathways reflect the broad and flexible nature of secondary education in Spain, allowing families to tailor learning to each child’s needs.
ESO: Core Secondary Education in Spain
Secondary general education culminates in the ESO and is taught over four years. ESO covers all core humanities, science, arts and technology subjects in a comprehensive manner. Students are continually assessed, and a lot of emphasis is placed on passing exams which are set using evaluation criteria such as complete the gaps, explain everything you know and multiple choice.
The majority of Spanish children aged 14-16 years old will study the final two years of high school to complete the ESO. However, some teenagers opt for incredible vocational training courses in subjects such as business administration, textiles, mechanics, glass and ceramics, carpentry, assembly line engineering, IT, beauty, food tech, hospitality and tourism.
FP Básica
Perhaps unfairly considered a poor relative to ESO, FP Básica (known as Basic VET for the purposes of European Educational Research and Standardization) offers comprehensive education for teenagers whose temperament, ability, or situation may not suit the breadth of ESO programmes. FP Básica vocational courses include core literacy and numeracy skills to a nationally accepted standard, ensuring educational homogeneity for young people in Spain up to the age of 16. However, they also offer practical skills that prepare young people for a variety of professions and trades, including, for example, working within the fashion industry, becoming a care worker or classroom assistant, becoming a mechanic or working in IT.
Dual Diploma
Students who are planning on obtaining an American High School certificate can begin studying for this qualification from the age of 14 as a structured after-school activity taught at more than 60 secondary schools across the region. The programme teaches time management and academic independence while complementing Spanish curricular obligations. Many families praise the Dual Diploma for the soft skills and broader education it provides.
Continuing education for 16–18-year-olds in Spain
There are several choices for teenagers to continue their studies after completing compulsory education. The most popular vocational option is FP Grado Medio, with academic options including the Spanish Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate, Dual Diploma (Spanish Baccalaureate with the American High School certificate) or A Levels.
FP Grado Medio
This vocational training is the cornerstone of an ambitious 5-year national plan to adapt occupational standards to the current requirements of the workplace. Courses equip 16-18 year-old students with specialised skills in courses that have become a European benchmark. There has never been a better time to undertake vocational training in Spain. Check out the range of subjects on offer in Madrid here [content in Spanish].
Spanish Baccalaureate (el Bachillerato)
Students study 16 subjects over two years, with continuous evaluation and three sets of exams per year. The assessment criteria for the Spanish Baccalaureate has been designed by the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training with different processes applying to each subject. In order to gain access to university, pupils are then required to sit an entrance exam called “Evaluación de Acceso a la Universidad”, (E.v.A.U).
International Baccalaureate (IB)
Many sixth form colleges and high schools offer the International Baccalaureate in English to highly disciplined, open-minded students who are bilingual or have achieved a High Pass B2 English qualification. It is equally popular in private Spanish schools that offer the IB in Spanish, and there are a handful of public schools (aprox 8 in Madrid) that offer the IB in Spanish. This qualification consists of a common core and six groups of subjects taught over two years and has a comprehensive assessment system to award a final grade, which is clearly explained here.
Another interesting option is the combined French Baccalauréat degree and the Spanish Bachillerato degree known as the Bachibac.
Dual Diploma (Bachillerato Dual)
Many students begin the Dual Diploma at age 14, but it can also be started alongside the Spanish Bachillerato or IB. Students effectively attend two schools at once: their Madrid school in person and a U.S. school online. Most Madrid schools structure the programme carefully to support students with the virtual component. Despite the virtual element of the American education, most Spanish high schools that have embraced the Dual Diploma provide structure so that a set of subjects are covered, and specific knowledge acquisition is supported by teachers during school hours.
A Levels
A Levels (British qualifications) are taught at private British schools in Madrid and are easily validated with the Spanish Baccalaureate for students for access to the EvAU university entrance examinations. With their British A Level qualifications, students obtain their Calificación de Acceso a la Universidad (CAU) automatically. They can enter the “Fase voluntaria” exams in order to improve their grade point average by up to 4 points, especially if they intend to access those courses that require a high grade point average, such as engineering or medicine.
Students usually study three or four A Level subjects in English over two years and have exam and non-exam assessment objectives throughout. It is important to note that students must have a high B2 or C1 pass in order to succeed at A Levels. The good news is that Brexit has not affected these qualifications in the slightest and they remain a very popular choice for new arrivals who are settling into life in Madrid with teenage children and prefer a British style of education.
Choosing between the many educational options for teenagers in Madrid can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. With the support of Steps into Spain, you can confidently explore the pathways that best suit your child’s strengths, interests, and future ambitions. Your teen’s perfect fit is out there—you’ve just taken the first step toward finding it.
If you’re planning a move to Spain and trying to make sense of schools in Madrid, there are a few ways to get started — depending on where you are in the process.
Some families begin with a clear overview of how the system works. Others prefer personalised guidance or hands-on school search support.
Not sure which type of school suits your child? That’s exactly where I come in. A quick 20-minute call is usually enough to point you in the right direction. Reserva tu llamada gratuita
Sinéad Galvin is the Founder of Steps into Spain, a boutique education consultancy based in Madrid. She helps families from all over the world find the right school for their child and navigate the Spanish admissions process.
