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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Overview
Spain

Spain

Overview

Last update: 19 March 2026
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The Spanish education system comprises:

  • the education authorities, education professionals and other public and private actors who perform regulatory, financing or service provision functions to guarantee the right to education set out in the 1978 Spanish Constitution (Artículo 27);
  • those entitled to the right to education;
  • the set of relations, structures, measures and actions implemented to ensure it.

Key features of the education system

The Law 2/2006 on Education (LOE), in force since 2006, was modified in 2020 by the Law 3/2020 (LOMLOE). Its implementation began in the 2020/21 school year and was completed in 2023/24.

This reform acknowledges the best interests of the child and places children's rights among the guiding principles of the system, promotes gender equality, encourages the continuous improvement of schools and personalised learning, strengthens digital competence and highlights the importance of education for sustainable development.

Administration of the education system

The system is characterised by decentralisation: competences are shared between the General State Administration (Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports) and the autonomous communities:

  • the central administration establishes the general framework and regulates the basic elements of the system;
  • the regional authorities develop state regulations and are responsible for the administrative management of the system within their territory.

Schools have pedagogical, organisational and resource management autonomy, and the education community participates in their organisation, governance, operation and evaluation.

Organisation and structure

The LOMLOE introduces changes to modernise the system, strengthen equity and inclusion, improve outcomes and consolidate education as a key pillar of knowledge policies. The main measures include:

  • increasing public places in the first cycle of early childhood education and introducing a new curriculum;
  • removing pathways in compulsory secondary education (ESO);
  • curricular diversification programmes and basic VET cycles from the 3rd year of ESO;
  • changes to promotion criteria;
  • diagnostic assessments in Year 4 of primary and Year 2 of ESO, and general system evaluations in Year 6 of primary and Year 4 of ESO;
  • changes in curriculum, governance, school autonomy and leadership;
  • promotion of dual vocational education and training (VET).

Challenges of the education system

Key priorities include:

  • improving students’ competence levels and addressing inequalities;
  • strengthening equity;
  • modernising VET;
  • reducing early school leaving;
  • updating the teaching profession;
  • expanding and improving early childhood education (0–3);
  • making secondary education more flexible;
  • promoting STEM vocations, especially among girls;
  • fostering civic values;
  • ensuring investment in education and grants.

Teaching staff

Minimum qualification requirements range from a bachelor's degree or equivalent (ISCED 6) for early childhood and primary education to a master's degree or equivalent (ISCED 7) for secondary education. Salaries are above the EU average, although progression is slower and takes longer. Work is ongoing on new regulations covering training, access and career development.

Stages of the education system

Early childhood education covers up to age 6. It is not compulsory, but the second cycle is free of charge in publicly funded institutions.

Basic education is compulsory and free of charge and includes:

  • primary education (six years, ages 6–12);
  • compulsory secondary education (ESO) (ages 12–16), leading to the Graduado en Educación Secundaria Obligatoria certificate;
  • basic VET cycles (ages 15–17), leading to both the ESO certificate and the Basic Technician qualification.

Upper secondary education lasts two years (ages 16–18) and offers:

  • bachillerato (general pathway), leading to the Bachiller qualification;
  • intermediate VET, leading to the Technician qualification.

Higher education includes:

  • university education (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees);
  • higher artistic education (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees);
  • advanced VET (Higher Technician qualification).

Adult education (EPA) is aimed at people over 18 (or exceptionally over 16 in specific circumstances) and is provided in mainstream or specialised institutions.

The system also includes specialised education:

  • language education (A1–C2 levels of the CEFR);
  • artistic education (elementary, professional and higher levels);
  • sports education (intermediate and advanced cycles).

Structure of the education system

Please refer to the Eurydice Data and Visuals for a display of the Structure of the National Education System

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