I'm thinking about moving with my kids

Schools come first, and they shape where you buy

In Spain, a state school place generally depends on catchment area, so the school question and the where-to-buy question are the same question. It's worth discussing local schools with your agent while you're still viewing, not after you've bought.

The practical first step once you're in an area is to register at the local town hall for the document called the empadronamiento, which proves you live there. Enrolment varies by region and by school, and can involve interviews, proof of ID and proficiency tests, so contact the school and the Spanish consulate before you leave home, as the process changes often.

State schools are well regarded and teach in Spanish, which for younger children is the fast lane to fluency. For older children, or if you're only staying a few years, an international school may suit better, though fees are real money: Numbeo puts average international primary tuition at roughly €9,000 a year, and the schools often sit on the edges of cities. Factor that into both your budget and your choice of location.

A real family who did it

Henry and his wife, from Scotland, planned to split their time between the UK and Spain, until they took over the care of their five-year-old granddaughter and realised the move had to be permanent. Schooling became the single most important factor in their search, and the part they found most daunting.

What turned it around was their agent, Easyads, who welcomed the family into the community and helped them find the right school for their granddaughter. They bought a quad in Playa Flamenca, Alicante. As Henry frames it, what more could a five-year-old want than the weather, a friendly community, and the chance to grow up bilingual? You can hear the whole story on episode 12 of the Kyero Spanish Property Podcast, and the School and Education episode goes deeper with a headteacher and Kyero's team.

The pattern in family moves is consistent: the right local agent is worth as much as the right house, because they know which schools have places, which neighbourhoods suit families, and how the paperwork actually works in that town.

Your checklist for this step

• List what your children need nearby: schools, playmates, sport, a beach, space to roam
• Decide in principle between state (immersion, free, Spanish-taught) and international (familiar, fee-paying) schooling
• Note that state school places usually follow catchment, so shortlist areas, not just houses
• Use Kyero location guides to compare family-friendly areas
• When you enquire on a listing, ask the agent directly about local schools and places
• Listen to the School and Education podcast episode

See it through your family's eyes

The free Spain Buying Guide has a full section on relocating your family, covering schools, healthcare, pets and the move itself.

Download the free Spain Buying Guide →

Or carry on reading. The next post is for a different life stage: "I'm thinking about retiring there."