Updated: July 2024
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A guide to the different types of schools in the area and enrolment processes
(Exact addresses are included in the lists of schools)
If you are resident in Sitges or Sant Pere de Ribes you can easily reach the same fee paying schools: the international schools & escolas lliures (free schools). You can also reach the two further international schools (in Castelldefels/Gava) in about 20 minutes (dedicated school buses also available from Sant Pere and Sitges). For those who don’t mind longer journeys, there are even more international schools further into Barcelona, which are not included here.
The main difference between living in Sant Pere or Sitges is in which public schools are available to you. When enrolling for public primary or secondary schools, or the escola concertada (Escola Pia in Sitges) preference is given to those who are registered as resident in the municipality.
These options teach predominantly in Catalan. However, feedback from non-Spanish/Catalan speaking families who send their children to Catalan schools generally indicates their children end up speaking fluent Spanish as well as Catalan.
An escola concertada is an independent school run by a religious order, which charges a reduced fee because it is subsidised by the government. In Sitges, the escola concertada is called Escola Pia. It is not overtly religious, nor does it require its students to be.
The free schools or Escolas Lliures follow their own curriculum, although this is usually approved by the Catalan government (as is the case with La Serra, in Sant Pere). There may be elements of Montessori, Waldorf or other approaches. Teaching at our local options is predominantly in Catalan. Often, there is a cooperative feel, heavily involving parents.
International schools follow the national curriculum of another country. In Sitges, the options are British and French (there are American options in Barcelona, too). At secondary level, British schools follow the standard British format (GCSE and A-levels) and/or the International Baccalaureate (IB). Some allow children to take Spanish national qualifications as well.
There are two stages: the pre-enrolment (Preinscripció) and, once you know which school your child has been assigned, the enrolment (Matricula)
The preinscripció involves filling out an online form (which will include student details, where you live, what your preferred choice of school(s) is, etc) and scanning the right documents (see paperwork, below).
In 2023 the period for preinscripció is :
There is then a period where school assignations are announced, and where parents can dispute the assignation if they are not happy with the result
Enrolment (Matrícula:)
The online application process can be found here. In order to proceed with the online application, it is necessary to have an digital ID, such as the certificado digital. For this particular process, you can also use IDCAT, the Catalan digital ID system, which can be obtained online here, so long as you have your TIE/NIE, your Spanish social security card, and a mobile phone number.
You can also do it in person at the municipal office in Sitges (near Lidl and Aldi) at C/ De las Pruelles núm. 2. Polígono Industrial Mas Alba (Call 93 811 42 55 M-F 0830-14.00 or email educació@sitges.cat)
The paperwork required at various stages of the process is generally as follows:
Most of the international schools will take a new student at any time of the year if they have a place available. Usually, current students are asked to confirm their attendance for the following September’s new academic year by April. If there is a waiting list for a particular year group, schools will decide which new students can be offered a place from May onwards.
Most international schools operate a similar process for admissions, which includes:
The admissions documentation will typically include passports of the parents and student, references from a previous school (if applicable), and a health record,
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