Schools In Alora
Schools In Alora
In Álora, there are 5 Primary/Middle Schools and 2 Secondary Schools (Institutes).
WHAT YEAR WILL MY CHILD BE ENTERED INTO?
This is different from the UK and it all depends of the child's year of birth. If your child is in Year 5 in the UK , this does not mean that they will automatically be put in Year 5 here.
SCHOOL HOURS
Normal school hours are 9.00am - 2.00pm . Within this time, there is a normally a half-an-hour break for which they can take a snack and a drink to have at this time.
ENROLLING
To enroll your child at a Spanish school is a very easy process which is normally done within the month of May each year, but if this is not possible, they take children all throughout the year, especially foreign children, as sometimes it is not possible to be here during the month of May. The paperwork which is necessary is: A copy of their birth certificate, copy of the child's passport and a copy of Mother's and Father's passport/NIE number. It is worth taking the child's red medical book (just in case they would like to see if the child's vaccinations are up-to-date). With this, all that is needed to do now is to fill in a form to enroll your child "Matrícula". You will be given a copy for your records and you will be given a start date. You will also be asked to fill in a form if you require your child to have school dinners or to take the school bus.
SCHOOL DINNERS
School Dinners are optional and starts at 2.00pm - 2.30/2.45pm, Monday to Friday. This is paid monthly via your bank account and the cost depends on the parents earnings. Not all schools here cater for school dinners.
SCHOOL BUS
If you live in the following areas, your child will be able to take the school bus at no extra cost: Alora Station, Barriada Del Puente, and Bellavista or along the El Chorro Road . There are several pick-up points along each route. When you enroll your child, you must tell them if you require the school bus to pick-up and drop-off your child and tell them where this will be. School buses leave the school at both 2.00pm (for children who do not have school dinners) and at 2.30/2.45pm (for those who do have school dinners). Not all schools here have a school bus service.
HOLIDAYS
All schools in Álora have an approximate 3-month summer holiday between end of June to the beginning of September. There are also a various number of fiesta and national holidays. Half-term holidays (ie Easter) normally fall one week after the UK .
OTHER INFORMATION
Schooling in Spanish schools is free, but materials (writing books, pens, pencils etc) are not. These are normally bought at the beginning of September, when the school year starts.
There is no school uniform code and the child is required to have a backpack for which to put all their school books in.
All schools here also have after-school activities ie. Karate, painting, dancing etc which are all at an extra cost.
Primary/Middle schools are for 3-11 year old and the Secondary school, 11-16 year olds. It is normal for all 11 year olds who will be leaving the Primary School to take exams to check their progress before entering the Secondary School. Normally, if the results are not satisfactory, the child is kept back for another year.
Written by : Barbara Brough