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Spain : Internal school organisation

Last updated: 27-Jul-2005

• 4.3. Third phase: Post-reform compulsory lower secondary, age 12 - 16
• 4.3.1 Organisation of teaching groups
• 4.3.2 Student progression through the phase
• 4.3.3 Class size
• 4.3.4 Teacher specialisation

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4.3 Third phase: Compulsory lower secondary education, age 12 - 16

see 3.2.3

This section describes the current system of compulsory lower secondary education in Spain as introduced by the LOGSE ⁵ legislation. Details of pre-LOGSE  secondary education are provided in Appendix 1.

4.3.1 Organisation of teaching groups

For all subjects, students are normally grouped into classes by age. Although student diversity is addressed, intellectual ability or school achievement may not be used as criteria for class grouping.¹⁶  That is, the system is comprehensive with no grouping by ability.

4.3.2 Student progression through the phase

Cycles

Compulsory (lower) secondary education (ESO) is divided into two two-year cycles, corresponding to ages 12 to 14 and 14 to 16 years respectively.¹⁶ 

Progression

Although most students generally progress automatically from one school year to the next, since the 2003/04 academic year, students failing to meet the objectives of a course in a specific subject take resit tests in the subjects they have failed.  If, having taken these tests, they continue to fail three or more courses, they may have have to repeat the year.  Each academic year may only be repeated once.  ⁶³

Previously, students usually progressed automatically from one year to the next but, in exceptional cases, those who did not achieve the aims of the cycle, may have had to repeat a year at the end of Years 2, 3 or 4 of compulsory lower secondary education.  Students could have spent up to six years in compulsory secondary education, although it was preferred that students repeated no more than once throughout the entire stage. Students who did not meet the objectives after spending an additional year in the cycle or year, progressed to the following cycle or year, with curricular adaptations as required. A student could, exceptionally, repeat twice within a cycle or year if it was felt that this action, with complementary educational support, would enable him/her to obtain the Graduado en Educación Secundaria (Certificate of Secondary Education).¹⁶

All those teaching a given student are involved in appraising his/her progress (knowledge, skills, ability to benefit from the course content involved in the subsequent cycle or year) and in deciding whether or not s/he progresses to the next class.²⁹

4.3.3 Class size

The maximum number of students for each class is 30 (in accordance with LOGSE).^16,5 (Previous legislation⁹ , allowed up to 40 children in classrooms in compulsory education.)²³

The average student:teacher ratio in secondary education in Spain in 1995-96 was 14.3.²⁸

4.3.4 Teacher specialisation

Teachers are specialists in one subject and normally teach this subject.²⁹ In the pre-LOGSE ⁵ system, secondary school teachers taught students from the ages of 14 to 18 years. They are now responsible for teaching students from the age of 12 upwards. All teachers are civil servants.¹¹

Throughout compulsory lower secondary education, the class teacher is responsible for coordinating students' personal guidance with the support, as appropriate, of the Counselling Department. (Throughout compulsory secondary education, the timetable for all staff and students includes one hour a week for guidance. At the end of compulsory secondary education, students receive non-binding and confidential guidance on their academic and vocational future.)²⁹

Secondary school teachers must have a degree (usually obtained following four to six years' study), plus a teaching certificate usually obtained after following a course which lasts, on average, around 300 hours.²⁶

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