The Spanish School Year: Term Dates and Calendar Patterns Explained
Spain's school calendar varies by region and by school type, and international schools often follow their own pattern again. Here's how to understand the general shape before checking a specific school's actual dates.
Quick answer
How the Spanish school year works: term patterns, regional holiday variation, and why you must always confirm dates with your specific school.
At a glance
- Country: Spain
- Sections: 6
- Questions answered: 9
- Schools listed: 4
- Read time: 12 min read
There is no single Spain-wide school calendar
It is tempting to assume a country as centralised in some respects as Spain has one uniform school calendar, but this is not the case. Term dates and, in particular, the precise dates of regional and local holidays are set at the level of the autonomous community, and sometimes further adjusted by individual municipalities and by individual schools within general regional guidelines. Two schools in different Spanish regions, or even in the same region but different towns, can have calendars that differ by more than a week at points across the year.
International and private schools add a further layer of variation on top of this. Many follow the general shape of their region's academic year but set their own specific holiday dates, and some, particularly French or German curriculum schools, may align parts of their calendar more closely with the academic tradition of their home curriculum. The only reliable source for exact dates affecting your child is the specific school's own published calendar for the academic year in question.
The general shape of the Spanish academic year
The general shape, broadly true across most schools
- Academic year typically runs from around September to June
- Most schools organise the year into three trimesters
- Longer breaks around Christmas/New Year and Easter (Semana Santa), plus the long summer break
- Exact dates are set regionally and vary by autonomous community and by year
- International schools may run their own internal term or semester structure within the same broad year
Broadly, and subject to regional variation, the Spanish school year for most schools runs from around September to June, structured into three terms (usually called trimestres) separated by holiday periods: a longer break around Christmas and New Year, a shorter break around Easter (Semana Santa), and the long summer break between academic years. This three-trimester structure is common across público, concertado and many privado schools, though international schools following a British three-term model or an American two-semester model may organise their internal reporting periods differently even while broadly fitting within the same overall September-to-June year.
Exact start and end dates for each term, and the exact dates of the Christmas and Easter breaks, are set regionally and can shift by a week or more from one autonomous community to another, and from one year to the next depending on when religious holidays such as Easter fall. Never assume a date from a previous year, a different region, or a different school applies to your own child's school.
Regional and local holidays layered on top
Beyond the main term breaks, Spain observes a range of national, regional and local public holidays and festivities through the year, and schools vary in how they treat days that fall close to these observances, sometimes bridging a holiday with an adjacent weekend into a longer closure (a practice often called a puente). Some regions and municipalities also have specific local festivals that lead to school closures not observed elsewhere in the country. Because these dates and practices are set locally and change from year to year, they should always be confirmed against the specific school's calendar for the year you need, not inferred from a general description or from what applied in a different town.
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How international schools' calendars can diverge further
International schools in Spain often publish their own calendar rather than adopting the regional público calendar wholesale, particularly around the timing and length of shorter breaks, in-service or staff training days, and the exact structure of the three terms or, at some schools, semesters. A British curriculum school may build in a half-term break partway through each trimester in a way a Spanish state school would not, while an American curriculum school may organise the year into semesters with different internal break points again. None of these variations are wrong; they simply reflect each school's own academic tradition, and they are one more reason two schools' calendars cannot be assumed to align even in the same city.
Examination periods and why they matter for calendar planning
For families with a child approaching external examinations, whether Spanish Bachillerato and the university entrance exam, IGCSEs and A-levels, or the IB Diploma, examination and internal assessment timetables are set externally and cannot be moved by any individual school. A school's internal calendar of coursework deadlines, mock examinations and assessment windows is built around these fixed external dates, and a mid-year move into an examination year is one of the highest-risk transitions a family can make regardless of which system a child is moving from or into. If a move during an examination year is unavoidable, involve both the sending and receiving schools directly and early, and ask specifically about coursework already completed and how subject choices will map across.
Planning a relocation around the school calendar
Once you have a shortlist of schools, request each one's current academic year calendar as one of your core planning documents, alongside any offer letter and fee schedule. A move that lands mid-term is generally harder on a child than one that starts at the beginning of a term or, ideally, the beginning of the academic year in September, when the largest number of places and the most natural entry point for new pupils typically occur.
If your own circumstances (a work notice period, a visa timeline, a house move) cannot realistically be shaped around a school's term dates, say so to the school directly and early. Admissions staff deal with mid-term arrivals regularly and can advise honestly on how disruptive it is likely to be for your child's specific age and subjects, which is far more useful than guessing from a general calendar pattern. For the practical steps of applying once you have settled on timing, see our guide to how to enrol a child in a school in Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every school in Spain follow the same term dates?
No. Term dates are set regionally by each autonomous community and can be further adjusted by individual schools, so dates vary by region, municipality and school. Always check with the specific school.
When does the Spanish school year typically start and end?
Most schools run broadly from around September to June, but exact start and end dates vary by region and school. Confirm current dates with the specific school.
Do international schools in Spain follow the same calendar as state schools?
Not necessarily. Many international schools publish their own calendar, sometimes reflecting a British, American or other academic tradition, even while broadly fitting within the same overall September-to-June year.
How long is the summer break in Spain?
Spain is known for a long summer break, but the exact dates and length vary by region and school. Check the specific school's current calendar rather than assuming a fixed length.
What is a 'puente' and how does it affect school closures?
A puente is a practice of bridging a public holiday with an adjacent weekend into a longer closure. Whether a specific school observes a puente on a given date varies, so check its calendar directly.
Is it risky to move my child mid-year in Spain?
It can be, particularly during an examination year, since coursework and assessment timetables are built around fixed external dates. If unavoidable, involve both the sending and receiving schools early.
When is the best time of year to move to Spain for school admissions?
The start of the academic year, typically around September, is generally the most natural entry point at most schools, since it is when the largest number of places and new classes form.
Do Easter holiday dates change every year in Spain?
Yes, since Semana Santa (Easter) is a moveable observance, its dates shift each year, and schools typically build their break around it. Always check the current year's dates with the specific school.
Where can I find a specific school's exact term dates?
Directly from the school itself, typically published on its own website or provided by its admissions office for the current academic year. Do not rely on general country-level guides for exact dates.
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