Schooling in Lanzarote
One of the most common questions we are asked by you, our readers, is about schools in Lanzarote… and what choices are available. This article was very kindly provided by Mike & Julie Cliffe-Jones from Estupendo - Estate Agents in Lanzarote. Our thanks to them for offering some help and advice.
There is often a tough decision to be made regarding schooling for your children, once you move to the island. Essentially the choice is a three way one:
• A “normal” British style education in a fee paying school following the full UK curriculum with lessons in English
• An international education, again in a fee paying school, where lessons are conducted in two or three languages
• A Spanish education in a free state school, where all activities are conducted in Spanish
There are pros and cons to each, and I’ll try to offer some impartial advice to you, based on years of experience with my own children, but also on the experiences of many hundreds of customers.
British Education
There are two schools on the island which offer a full British curriculum, including GCSE exams. They are very different in character and style, but their fees are broadly similar. Colegio Hispano Britanico is based above Rancho Texas in Puerto del Carmen and currently has around 400 pupils, mainly British, but with several other nationalities represented. The school is relaxed and informal, with no uniform, and has good facilities, excelling both academically and in sport.
The British School of Lanzarote is based in Tahiche on the main road near the Fundacion César Manrique. The majority of the pupils are Spanish and the school has a more formal style requiring uniforms to be worn. They have around 280 pupils.
Pros
Both these schools follow the full UK curriculum in English, so if your child is only a year or two away from taking GCSE’s, or plans on a place in a British university, there is some logic to choosing these schools. Both seem to work best with children who are motivated and they achieve good results for them, with small class sizes and dedicated staff. BSL is more disciplined, and CHB offers better opportunities for sporty children.
Cons
Both are fee paying, and whilst the fees can seem reasonable when you are on a UK salary, they do seem expensive when based on a Lanzarote salary. Children who aren’t focused or academically strong can be left behind, and although both schools include Spanish in their curricula, children wishing to become fluent will need additional lessons.
International Education
Again there are two schools on the island offering an international style education, and once again they are different in their outlook. Centro Educacional Daos is based in Puerto del Carmen and is a relative newcomer to the education scene here, employing some interesting techniques and teaching in three languages, English, Spanish and German. The school is very well equipped and has a modern and environmentally friendly ethos. Colegio Arenas, in Costa Teguise is a very well established international school and teaches in both English and Spanish. It’s one of the largest schools on the island and the mix of pupils is broadly in line with the ratio of Spanish to foreigners living on the island. Pupils wear a uniform and the school has a good reputation for sports and after school activities. Both schools follow the standard international curriculum which is recognized throughout the world and by universities.
Pros
These schools reflect their designation as international, and offer a broad based education, giving children the opportunity to feel the benefit of our multi cultural society. Both are well equipped and used to dealing with children from foreign countries and helping them to adapt to their new environment. Spanish is a major component of life in these schools and children will quickly become fluent. These schools seem to work very well with children who need plenty of help with learning.
Cons
As above, these are fee paying and can seem expensive. If your children ultimately choose to return to UK for university, there may be gaps in their knowledge, not having covered the usual UK curriculum.
Spanish State Education
Most towns in Lanzarote have both primary and secondary schools and resident children have a right to free education within the state system. The state system here is quite different to UK, with generally smaller class sizes, and a much more informal style. Teachers tend to work in a partnership with children and uniforms are not worn. All lessons are conducted in Spanish, of course, and the majority of children in the schools have Spanish as their primary language. Free buses are provided for children living further than walking distance from school. Most have a cafeteria of some sort, but as school starts and finishes early, many simply have their lunch when they get home. The curriculum is exams based and at 16 pupils sit a series of exams, the results of which are recorded on the leaving certificates. Entry to Spanish universities in Gran Canaria or the mainland is straightforward from Spanish schools.
Pros
The schools are free of charge, although you should budget around €150 per term for textbooks, which are for the pupils to keep. With total immersion in the language children will be fluent very, very quickly. As there are many foreigners in the schools here, they are reasonably well set up for British children, and will often assign a mentor to a new pupil.
Cons
It can be very hard for older children (over 12) without any Spanish language to adapt, and they will often need additional language lessons to help them. Children in Spanish school for some years will begin to lose their native language and it’s essential that they are encouraged to read as much as possible to maintain it. The schools also don’t push very hard if pupils are not motivated, so they can be left behind, as class sizes are bigger than the private schools. If you as a parent do not speak Spanish, it can make dealing with the school at parent’s evenings and so on, quite difficult.
Whilst this is by no means comprehensive, it should offer you a guide to education here. At the end of the day, only you and your child can make the best decision for them. All the schools are happy to accept visitors to have a look around, so perhaps check out a few when you visit the island, or talk to other parents via forums or relocation websites.
ED: You can find a list of the schools in Lanzarote HERE
