Most Spanish schools teach in Castilian Spanish, with English (and sometimes other languages) as subjects — and many state schools now run bilingual (Spanish-English) programmes teaching some subjects in English, which can help expat children bridge in. The big regional factor is the co-official languages: in Catalonia (Catalan), Valencia (Valencian), the Basque Country (Basque) and Galicia (Galician), schooling may be substantially or partly in that language alongside (or, in places, more than) Castilian — so the language of instruction depends heavily on where you settle. The good news: younger children absorb whatever language they're immersed in remarkably fast, becoming fluent (often in two languages) within a year or so, and schools are used to receiving non-Spanish-speaking children, often with extra-support or "aula de acogida" arrangements. Older children face a harder adjustment, especially where a co-official language adds a third language. Choosing a region and school with the language picture in mind matters. We help families understand it and choose well.
The Language of Instruction
Across most of Spain, schooling is in Castilian Spanish (castellano) — the Spanish that most people mean by "Spanish" — with English taught as a subject (and often a second foreign language higher up). For an expat child outside the bilingual-region areas, this means immersion in Spanish: the everyday language of the classroom, playground and communications. As covered in our state schools and education guides, this immersion is the single biggest factor in how quickly a child becomes bilingual and integrated.
The crucial nuance is that the language of instruction is not uniform across Spain. In the regions with a co-official language, the everyday language of the classroom may be that language — Catalan, Valencian, Basque or Galician — alongside or instead of Castilian, depending on the region and school. So before assuming "school will be in Spanish", expat families need to check the specific region and school: in much of the country it's Castilian; in the bilingual regions it may not be (or may be a mix). This regional variation is one of the most important and least understood aspects of schooling for expats, and getting it right when choosing where to live and which school to use is exactly what this guide and our support address.
Bilingual State Programmes
A genuinely helpful development for expat families is the spread of bilingual (Spanish-English) programmes in Spanish state schools. Many regions now run bilingual streams or designated bilingual schools where a proportion of subjects (science, PE, arts, etc.) are taught in English, with the aim of producing bilingual Spanish children. The availability, branding and intensity vary by region and school, but the trend is strongly towards more English in the state system.
For an English-speaking child, a bilingual state school can be a real bridge: part of the day is in a familiar language, which eases the adjustment while the child still gets full Spanish immersion and integration — and at no cost, unlike an international school. It can be a sweet spot for families who want the integration and affordability of the state system but worry about the language leap, particularly for a child who isn't a complete beginner. That said, a bilingual programme is still fundamentally a Spanish school in the Spanish system — the English element supports rather than replaces Spanish-language learning — so it's not a substitute for an international school if you need a full English-language, foreign-curriculum education. Where bilingual state provision exists and suits your child, it's well worth seeking out, and we help families find it.
Bilingual state schools: a free bridge into the system
Many Spanish state schools now teach some subjects in English through bilingual programmes — easing the adjustment for English-speaking children while keeping full Spanish immersion and integration, at no cost. They're a strong option for families wanting the state system without the full language leap, though they remain Spanish-system schools, not a substitute for an international school. Availability varies by region.
The Co-Official Languages
Spain has several co-official languages alongside Castilian, and in those regions they play a major role in schooling — the single most important regional difference for expat families:
| Region | Co-official language & schooling |
|---|---|
| Catalonia | Catalan — schooling is largely in Catalan, with Castilian also taught; a significant factor for newcomers. |
| Valencia / Valencian Community | Valencian — varying bilingual Valencian/Castilian programmes; the balance depends on the school and policy. |
| Basque Country | Basque (Euskara) — schooling often substantially in Basque (which is unrelated to Spanish), through different language "models". |
| Galicia | Galician — bilingual Galician/Castilian schooling. |
| Balearic Islands | Catalan — alongside Castilian, similar to Catalonia. |
The practical implication is significant. In these regions, a child may be learning two new languages at once — the co-official language used for much of the teaching, plus Castilian — which is a bigger adjustment than Castilian alone, especially for older children. Younger children generally cope with this remarkably well (children in these regions grow up genuinely bilingual or trilingual), but families settling in, say, Catalonia or the Basque Country should go in aware that schooling won't simply be "in Spanish". By contrast, much of the country popular with expats — including large parts of the southern and inland Castilian-speaking regions — teaches in Castilian, which is the language most families are learning anyway. This is a real factor in where to settle as well as which school to choose, and one we make sure families understand before they commit.
How Children Learn Spanish
The biggest reassurance for anxious parents is how effectively children learn languages through immersion. A child placed in a school in a new language typically goes through a silent/absorption period, then begins understanding, then speaking — and younger children especially become fluent within roughly a year, often ending up indistinguishable from native-speaker peers, with no formal "language lessons" needed beyond the immersion itself. This is true for Castilian and equally for the co-official languages — children in bilingual regions routinely grow up fluent in two languages.
The variables are mainly age and starting point. Younger children (infantil/early primaria) adapt fastest and most painlessly; older children (secondary) face a harder, longer adjustment because they must learn academic content and sit exams in the new language while their peers race ahead — which is why families with exam-age teenagers sometimes prefer an international school for continuity. A child who arrives with some Spanish, or starts with a bilingual programme, has an easier ramp. Practical things that help: starting young where possible, some language exposure before or alongside starting, and patience through the first months. The overall message is positive — for most children, and almost all young ones, learning Spanish (and any co-official language) through school is a natural, successful process that gives them a lifelong bilingual advantage.
Support for Newcomers
Spanish schools are experienced at receiving children who don't yet speak the language — expat and immigrant families are common, and schools have mechanisms to help newcomers settle and catch up. Many regions and schools run "aulas de acogida" (welcome/reception classes) or language-support arrangements that give newly-arrived non-speakers extra help with the language while they integrate into ordinary classes, though the provision and its name vary by region and school.
The level and type of support differs — some schools have dedicated programmes, others rely more on the immersion-plus-classroom-support approach and the natural speed at which children pick the language up. For an older child, where the language demand is greater, it's worth specifically asking prospective schools what support they offer newcomers, as this can make a real difference to the transition. For younger children, the immersion plus the school's normal welcoming of non-Spanish-speakers is usually enough. Either way, the reassuring point is that your child won't be the first non-Spanish-speaker the school has welcomed, and the system is set up to bring newcomers up to speed — which we help families confirm when choosing a school.
Choosing with Language in Mind
Language should be an explicit factor in two decisions: where to settle and which school to choose.
- Region — a Castilian-speaking region means one new language; a co-official-language region means potentially two, a bigger adjustment (especially for older children). Factor this into where you live.
- Bilingual state programmes — where available, a free bridge that eases the language leap while keeping integration; worth seeking out.
- Child's age — younger children adapt to any immersion easily; exam-age teens may need international continuity.
- Newcomer support — ask schools what language support (aula de acogida, etc.) they offer, especially for older children.
- Your goals — full integration and bilingualism (Spanish system) versus English-language continuity (international).
For most families, the language picture reinforces the case for starting young and integrating — the immersion that feels daunting is precisely what delivers fluency and belonging. Where it most affects decisions is for older children and for families considering the co-official-language regions, where the language leap is larger and the international-school option more attractive. The wider state-vs-international choice is in our education pillar; the language dimension explored here is one of its most important inputs. We help families weigh region and school with language squarely in view, so there are no surprises and your child gets the smoothest possible start.
How We Help
We help expat families navigate the language side of schooling. We explain the language of instruction in the region you're considering — Castilian or a co-official language — help you factor that into where to settle, identify bilingual state programmes and schools with good newcomer support, and advise honestly on the language fit for your child's age, including when an international school makes sense. It joins up with our school-choice, enrolment and relocation support, in English on a clear quote. Book a consultation to get the language picture right before you choose.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Most of Spain teaches in Castilian Spanish, with English (and sometimes other languages) as subjects, and many state schools now run bilingual Spanish-English programmes. The big exception is the co-official-language regions: in Catalonia (Catalan), Valencia (Valencian), the Basque Country (Basque), Galicia (Galician) and the Balearics (Catalan), schooling may be substantially or partly in that language alongside or instead of Castilian. So the language of instruction depends heavily on where you settle — Castilian in much of the country, a co-official language in those regions.
It's a state school (or stream within one) that teaches a proportion of subjects — such as science, PE or arts — in English, aiming to produce bilingual Spanish children. Availability and intensity vary by region. For an English-speaking child, a bilingual state school can be a helpful bridge: part of the day is in a familiar language, easing the adjustment while the child still gets full Spanish immersion and integration, at no cost. But it remains a Spanish-system school — the English supports rather than replaces Spanish learning — not a substitute for an international school.
In those regions, often yes — to a significant degree. In Catalonia and the Balearics, schooling is largely in Catalan with Castilian also taught; Valencia runs varying Valencian/Castilian bilingual programmes; the Basque Country often teaches substantially in Basque (unrelated to Spanish) through different language models; Galicia is bilingual Galician/Castilian. This can mean a child learning two new languages at once, a bigger adjustment, especially for older children — though younger children cope very well and grow up bilingual or trilingual. It's a key factor in choosing where to settle.
Faster than parents usually expect, especially younger children — typically becoming fluent within roughly a year through immersion, after an initial silent/absorption period, often ending up indistinguishable from native-speaker peers, with no formal lessons needed beyond the immersion. The same applies to co-official languages. The main variables are age and starting point: younger children (infantil/early primaria) adapt fastest; older children face a harder, longer adjustment learning academic content and exams in the new language, which is why some families prefer an international school for exam-age teens.
Spanish schools are experienced at receiving children who don't yet speak the language, and many regions and schools run welcome/reception classes (aulas de acogida) or language-support arrangements giving newly-arrived non-speakers extra help while they integrate into ordinary classes. Provision and names vary by region and school — some have dedicated programmes, others rely on immersion plus classroom support and the natural speed children learn at. For older children, it's worth asking prospective schools specifically what newcomer support they offer, as it can make a real difference.
Yes — it's an important factor. A Castilian-speaking region means your child learns one new language (the Spanish you're likely learning too); a co-official-language region means potentially two, a bigger adjustment, especially for older children. Much of the country popular with expats teaches in Castilian, while Catalonia, Valencia, the Basque Country, Galicia and the Balearics involve a co-official language. Factoring this into where you settle — alongside which school you choose — avoids surprises and gives your child the smoothest start. We help families weigh region and school with language in view.
It depends on your needs. A bilingual state school is a Spanish-system school with some subjects in English — a free bridge that eases the language leap while keeping full Spanish immersion and integration. It's ideal for families wanting the state system without the full leap, especially for a child who isn't a complete beginner. But it's not a full English-language, foreign-curriculum education. If you need English-language continuity or a home-country/IB curriculum — often for exam-age teens or shorter stays — that's an international school. We advise on which fits your child and plans.
Generally yes. Younger children absorb a new language through immersion almost effortlessly, but older children (secondary age) must learn academic content and sit exams in the new language while peers race ahead, making the adjustment harder and longer — and harder still in co-official-language regions where there may be two new languages. This is the main reason families with exam-age teenagers sometimes choose an international school for continuity. For younger children, the language is rarely a barrier; for older ones, it's a key factor in the school decision, and worth planning around.