Bilingual Schools in Spain: How the System Actually Works
'Bilingual school' means different things in different parts of Spain, from state schools with an English-enriched programme to fully international schools teaching two languages side by side. Here's how to make sense of it.
Quick answer
Understand bilingual schools in Spain: what the label means across state, concertado and private schools, and how programmes vary by region.
At a glance
- Country: Spain
- Sections: 7
- Questions answered: 8
- Schools listed: 8
- Read time: 12 min read
The word 'bilingual' covers more than one thing in Spain
Parents searching for a "bilingual school" in Spain quickly discover the term is used in at least two quite different ways, and mixing them up leads to real confusion. In the state and concertado sectors, several autonomous communities run official bilingual education programmes, most commonly English-Spanish, where a portion of the curriculum (often subjects like science, art or PE) is taught in English within an otherwise standard Spanish-language school. These programmes are set and administered regionally, so their design, the proportion of English teaching, and even the name of the programme differs from one autonomous community to another.
Separately, many private and international schools describe themselves as "bilingual" in a broader marketing sense, meaning they deliver substantial instruction in two languages as a core part of their own school-designed curriculum, independent of any regional government programme. These two uses of the word are not interchangeable, and a school's own description of itself as bilingual tells you little on its own about which model it follows. Always ask a specific school which model applies and what proportion of teaching time is actually delivered in each language.
A third, smaller category worth knowing about is the small number of officially designated bilingual centres run in partnership with a foreign cultural or educational body, where the second language of instruction is embedded more deeply and consistently than in a typical regional programme. These arrangements are not available everywhere, and where they do exist, admission sometimes follows a slightly different process from the standard bilingual programme in the same region, so it is worth asking a school explicitly whether it falls into this category or the more common regional model.
Regional bilingual programmes in state and concertado schools
Because Spain's education system is substantially devolved to its autonomous communities, official bilingual programmes vary by region in scope, funding and design. Madrid, for example, has long run a well-known bilingual programme across many of its state and concertado schools. Other regions run comparable but not identical programmes, sometimes named differently and sometimes covering different subjects or year ranges. Some regions also promote bilingualism in a co-official regional language such as Catalan, Basque or Galician alongside, or instead of, English, which is a distinct strand from English-medium bilingual programmes and worth understanding separately if you are moving to one of those regions.
Because these programmes are regionally administered and can change, never assume a specific school's bilingual status, the subjects taught in English, or the number of hours involved, without checking directly with the school and, where relevant, the regional education authority. What applied in a region a few years ago, or applies in a neighbouring region, may not apply at the school you are considering.
It is also worth understanding that not every school in a region that offers a bilingual programme necessarily participates in it, and within a single town there can be a mix of bilingual and non-bilingual state schools operating side by side. If having a bilingual place matters to your family, this is a factor to check when you are drawing up your list of preferred schools for the regional admissions process, since it may not be true of every school within easy reach of your home.
Bilingual private and international schools
Among private and international schools, "bilingual" school-designed programmes range from schools that teach a genuinely balanced split between two languages across most subjects, to schools that are primarily English (or another language) medium with Spanish taught as a strong subject rather than a medium of instruction throughout. Some schools blend an international curriculum such as the IB with the Spanish Bachillerato specifically so pupils exit with qualifications recognised in both systems, which is one common structural pattern behind the bilingual label at this end of the sector.
Because there is no single official standard defining what a private bilingual school must deliver, the only reliable way to understand a specific school's model is to ask for a breakdown of teaching hours by language and subject, and to ask what qualification pathway pupils follow at the end of secondary school.
Some private bilingual schools also vary their language balance by age, often front-loading more Spanish in the earliest years before shifting the balance toward the second language, or vice versa, as pupils progress. This progression is a deliberate pedagogical choice at many schools rather than an oversight, but it means a snapshot of the timetable at one year group does not necessarily tell you what the balance will look like a few years later, so ask how the model evolves across the whole school if your child is likely to stay for several years.
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How to evaluate a bilingual programme
When comparing bilingual schools, ask for specifics rather than accepting the label at face value. Useful questions include which subjects are taught in which language and at what age this changes, whether native or near-native speaking teachers deliver the second-language content, how the school measures and reports language proficiency over time, and what qualification pathway pupils are on track for by the end of secondary school. It is also worth asking how the school supports a child who arrives with little or no proficiency in one of the two languages, since this varies enormously and can materially affect how well a child settles in during the first year.
For families weighing a bilingual state or concertado school against a private international school, cost, admissions process and curriculum outcome differ substantially between the two routes. Our guide to state versus private schools in Spain covers this comparison in more depth.
It is also worth visiting a school in person, if at all possible, rather than relying solely on a prospectus or website description of its bilingual model. Sitting in on a lesson, or at least speaking with a current teacher, gives a much clearer sense of how the two languages are actually used day to day than any written summary can. Ask, too, whether the school has experience with children arriving mid-year from a different language background, since this is a common scenario for relocating families and one that established bilingual schools generally have well-developed routines for handling.
Bilingual education and regional co-official languages
In regions with a co-official language alongside Spanish, such as Catalonia, the Basque Country, Galicia and the Balearic Islands, many state and concertado schools teach substantially through that regional language as well as Spanish, sometimes with English added as a third language of instruction for parts of the curriculum. This is a genuinely trilingual pattern in some schools and is distinct from the English-Spanish bilingual programmes described earlier. If you are moving to one of these regions, ask specifically about the languages of instruction your child will encounter, since assuming an English-Spanish bilingual model in a region where the regional co-official language plays a major role can lead to a real mismatch of expectations.
Families new to Spain sometimes underestimate how central the regional co-official language can be in daily school life in these areas, extending well beyond formal lessons into announcements, playground interaction and parent communication. If your child has no prior exposure to the regional language, ask the school directly how much additional support is offered and how quickly children typically adjust, since this can differ noticeably from the adjustment period for English within a standard bilingual programme.
Admissions considerations specific to bilingual schools
Some bilingual state and concertado programmes have specific entry processes or, in a few regions, an assessment of existing language exposure at certain entry points, though practice varies by region and by school. Private bilingual schools set their own admissions criteria, which sometimes include an informal assessment of a child's current level in one or both languages, particularly for entry above the earliest years. This is generally used to identify what support a child may need rather than as a strict barrier to entry, but always ask the specific school how it approaches this so you know what to expect from an admissions visit or assessment.
For families arriving from outside Spain, timing an application around a school's own admissions calendar and, in the state and concertado system, the regional escolarización period, matters more than it might for a purely local family, since a bilingual place in particular can be in higher demand in some areas. Our guide to how to enrol a child in a school in Spain covers the practical mechanics of both the private and state and concertado routes.
What varies from one bilingual school to the next
Even within a single city, bilingual schools can differ substantially in the depth of their commitment to genuine bilingual teaching versus offering a handful of English-medium subjects layered onto an otherwise standard Spanish programme. Class size in second-language subjects, whether specialist language teachers or subject teachers with second-language competence deliver the content, and how much second-language exposure continues outside formal lessons (through clubs, trips or exchange programmes) all vary school by school and are rarely fully captured in marketing material. Asking to see a sample timetable for your child's likely year group, rather than a general description of the programme, is one of the most useful things you can request from an admissions office.
It is also worth asking how long a school has run its bilingual programme and how stable its staffing has been, since a programme that is well embedded with experienced staff often runs more smoothly for new arrivals than one that is newly introduced or has seen high staff turnover in its language teaching team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'bilingual school' always mean English and Spanish?
Not necessarily. In regions with a co-official language such as Catalan, Basque or Galician, bilingual or trilingual programmes may involve that language alongside Spanish and sometimes English too. Always check which languages are involved at a specific school.
Is a bilingual state school the same as an international school?
No. A bilingual state or concertado school delivers part of the Spanish national curriculum in a second language but otherwise operates within the standard Spanish system, whereas international schools generally follow a different curriculum altogether and are privately funded.
Are official bilingual programmes the same across all of Spain?
No. Because education administration is substantially devolved, bilingual programme design, scope and funding vary by autonomous community. Check the specifics for your region and school.
How much of the school day is taught in the second language at a bilingual school?
This varies significantly by school and programme, from a few subjects taught in the second language to a much more balanced split. Ask the specific school for a breakdown of teaching hours.
Will my child struggle if they don't speak Spanish and join a bilingual programme?
This depends heavily on the individual school's support structures and your child's age. Ask each school directly how it supports children with limited proficiency in one of the languages of instruction.
Can a private international school also be described as bilingual?
Yes, many private and international schools describe their own two-language teaching model as bilingual, independent of regional government programmes. Ask for specifics rather than relying on the label alone.
Do bilingual programmes lead to a recognised bilingual certificate?
Some regional programmes and some schools issue certification of bilingual proficiency, but this is not universal. Confirm with the specific school and regional authority whether such certification exists and what it requires.
Is entry to a bilingual state school competitive?
Demand for places on bilingual programmes can be high in some areas, and admissions rules vary by region. Check the current process with your regional education authority and the school directly.
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