A week of job shadowing in Spain
I have enjoyed working in education in the Netherlands for 25 years. I am used to the education system there and now know well how everything works and goes in the Netherlands. I was therefore very honored to be able to make a study trip to Spain to see what the education system looks like there. Since I teach the highest group of the school, I was curious about how things are arranged in Spain. I prepared some questions in advance that I wanted to know the answers to and incorporated these answers into this report.
The school I went to is Escola l’Estelada in the town of Cànoves i Samalús, near Barcelona. A school with about 200 children.
The school system in Spain starts from the age of 3. A year earlier than in the Netherlands. There are two toddler groups (infantiles), after which it is about grades. Group 3 is the 1st grade there and group 8 is the 6th grade there. There is one of each group at this school and it is staffed by 16 teachers. The oldest children are about 12 years old.
After the 6th grade, children leave primary school and go to secondary school. In the Netherlands, secondary school advice is determined by the teacher through method tests, national tests, a special final test and work attitude. The student then goes to a school that suits his level. It may be that a student in the Netherlands cannot go to the school of his choice because the student’s level is not offered there. This is arranged differently in Spain. Here everyone goes from 6th grade to secondary school, which has all levels in one class. No distinction is made as to whether you can learn well or less well. All levels come together there. After 4 years, a distinction is made between all levels. If you want to learn for a profession, you can go to a follow-up school that offers a special profession. If you would like to continue your education, you will go to school for an additional 2 years, after which you can move on to university. You can double these last 2 years. In the first 4 years of secondary school, it is not common for students to double.
In Cànoves i Samalús there are 3 secondary schools nearby for students to choose from.
The teachers of the 6th grade have, just like in the Netherlands, contact with the secondary school about the students who are transferred.
I was also curious if there is a special final program in the 6th grade. In the Netherlands, the students work together on a final musical. In Spain there is a party evening to which the parents are also invited.
There is no special program for students at the end of the school year.
There is a summer camp, just like the students in the Netherlands.
There are government tests in the 4th and 6th grade that students must take. This can be compared to the advancement test that is taken in the Netherlands in February.
The students also receive a report home three times a year describing their results. This works the same way in the Netherlands.
Written teaching methods are not used. Each teacher creates their own lessons. This is due to the fact that not every student is the same. They like to work adaptively, so that they can offer every student the program that is needed. This keeps the students motivated until the end of the school year. Since school advice is not used, students remain motivated to continue learning. This is different in the Netherlands. The final recommendation for secondary school will be known in March and it will then be determined which secondary school the student who matches the recommendation will go to.
What is certain is that reading and writing must be mastered in 1st and 2nd grade. For the other classes, goals are set by the government. This can be compared to the Dutch education system.
During my visit I also gained some nice ideas that I can use for a final project in our groups 8.
I was also curious about what it is like to become a teacher in Spain. In the Netherlands you can apply for a teaching job at a school that seems interesting to you. In Spain this works very differently. You have to earn points there. You earn these points by taking additional training and courses. You then provide a list of 40 schools. If you have a lot of points, you have a better chance of working at your preferred school. If you do not have many points, there is a chance that you will be placed at a school that does not fully meet your needs.
The teachers at Escola l’Estalada are very skilled in their work and have a lot of love for the children. I am happy that I was able to see what Spanish education looks like for a week and received answers to my questions. A very educational week! Thank you, especially Sarah, Kris, Jesús, Quim and Núria!
Pauline van Wolferen
OBS de Plantage
Teacher of 6th grade
The Netherlands