I’ve been looking at schools for my child recently, mainly focusing on international schools here in Madrid. After some research, I’ve noticed one thing: the school hours at these international schools seem quite different from what I understood about Spanish public schools, and I’m a bit confused. So, I wanted to ask the experienced members on this forum: what are the typical start and end times for international schools in Spain?
From what I’ve gathered about international school enrollment, many public schools have a horario continuo (continuous schedule) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with just a short break in between. However, after checking the websites of a few international schools, I found that most of them seem to have a horario partido (split schedule). This means they have classes in the morning, a long lunch break, and then classes resume in the afternoon until 4 or 5 p.m. For example, the American school I looked at seems to finish around 4 p.m.
Is this split schedule common for most British, American, or IB system international schools? I’m guessing it’s to align with the educational rhythm of their home countries? If so, how are the children’s lunch and break times arranged? Is it mandatory for them to have lunch at school? Also, do schools typically offer extracurricular activities after classes end? Or is it like public schools, where you need to enroll them in external after-school clubs? This schedule seems quite challenging for a dual-income family like ours. Picking up a child at 4 or 5 p.m. means we’d likely have to finish work early.
To make comparison easier, I’ve put together a table with the information I’ve gathered—drawing from what I’ve learned about international school admissions and application deadlines. It might not be entirely accurate, so please feel free to add to or correct it!
School Type and Typical Hours
| School Type | Typical School Hours | Lunch Break Arrangement |
|---|
| Spanish Public School | 9:00 - 14:00 | Short break, option to have lunch at school or go home |
| Most International Schools | 9:00 - 16:00/17:00 | Longer lunch break, usually eat at school |
| Some Private/Concertado Schools | Mixed schedules, varies by school | Depends on the specific school |
My main question for families who have chosen international schools is: how did you adapt to this schedule? It feels like the kids spend a very long day at school. Additionally, are there significant differences in schedules among international schools in different cities, like Barcelona or Valencia? I’d be grateful if you could share the specific daily routines of your children’s schools to help guide me. Thank you so much! 🙏
