PICKING SCHOOLS

Suprisingly lots of people have contacted me about schooling options on the island, bit of a maze as Mallorca isnt really up to speed with useful internet info/websites etc. I'm no expert at all, but, this is what I discovered myself when we were looking for schools in and around the PALMA area. I can't recommend enough ringing up any that take your fancy and booking an appointment to go have a look around.

Basically once the sprogs turn 3 you have a few options- most kids start pre-school at 3 (so little!) and many nurseries only take kids up until 3. We are currently at Coletinas in Santa Catalina- it is a spanish nursery but they have quite an international mix of kids. The Coletinas in Palmanova goes up to aged 6 and we pay 275 euros a month for half a day without food- although a full day with food isnt much more. I know there is a private nursery in El Terreno called Happy Faces that a lot of people like- it also takes kids up to the age of 6. its very expensive though and follows a montessori programme...so depends if that's what you're after. Friends of ours also like Baobab in Palma- not sure what age they go up to but all quite a mix of nationalities so can be a nice way to make friends locally.

So, other than that- you'd have to decide to go to public Spanish school, semi-private (called 'Concertado'- a Spanish school that is subsidised) or fully private/international schools.

The semi-private ones (Concertado) are supposed to be good, and obviously not scarily expensive- however the stumbling block we have come accross (potentially) is that you have to be registered locally at the town hall where you live on the island (called Empadronamiento) for at least 2 years 3 months to get on the points system....i.e you need to prove you live near the public or semi-private school to get more points and higher up the list. Obviously living near the school, your religion, brothers and sisters at the school all helps too.

Concertado schools in the Palma area we were recommended include: San Francisco, Collegio Madre Alberta, La Salle, Sagrado Corazoin, Santa Maria

Side note- Legally you are supposed to do the Empadronamientoo after living here for three months anyway (oops!). Lots of people do that and never bother doing residency. It officially registers your presence here on the island with the town hall but doesn't mean 'resident' or have tax implications. Its kind of so they know how many people to account for in terms of services etc. Also it does mean you can get 50% off travel throughout Spain (including ferries etc) and certain tourist attractions/discounts- unfortunately they have stopped this on the Soller Tourist Train :( Also, you can't get a bus pass or acire sticker for your car to drive through the Old Town in Palma without having done it.

All state school curriculum are obvs taught in Spanish AND Catalan - there is a government program which insists on a certain percentage of lessons being taught in Catalan every week- which i guess is important if you want to stay in Mallorca- a bit like Welsh I suppose, though also a lot of people tell me that Mallorcian Catalan and Barcelonian Catalan for example are very different too- like a patois.....so that's something to consider.

In addition, Mallorca is a Catholic island- so many of the state schools are religious in some sense- also something to consider.

Personally, Ive struggled even with my daughter's nursery because I speak very little and very crap Spanish and communication is hard when you really want to be fully involved in what they are doing in class and know how your kid is doing socially and emotionally and why they have bit someone etc etc!!

We decided to look into private schools in the end (which vary MASSIVELY price wise so don't rule them out completely) as a few offer a dual curriculum- ie. Spanish and English streams......For example, San Cayetano in Son Armadams, Palma is a private Spanish school that teaches half their lessons in English and half in Spanish. Its an International school but appeals to Spaniards as well as German and English and Swedish etc. School fees in the infants are around 380 Euros per month plus food if you want to have school dinners. Its a non-profit organisation and you can really see that money is pumped back into the school as the facilities are amazing. Lluis Vives in central Palma boasts good language streams too and I have heard good things about this school.

Other Private schools, yes, may just be very 'English' and very expensive- ie. Agora in Puerto Portals, King Richard and Queens College, The Academy in Marratxi all pop up- but if you have to fund two kids it may be too much when fees are nearer the 700 Euro per month mark! Results are good at these schools though and many people are seemingly very happy there.

So, with regards to state schools and the points system, you may find you end up getting put somewhere that may not be your first or second choice because you wont have been here very long yet. Saying that, we have friends in Soller who love the local school and have no complaints (apart from trying to do homework in Catalan!)- so depends where you want to settle! OR, either its suck it up and pay private fees for a few years or find somewhere like Coletinas in Palmanova where its a bit cheaper- to bide some time and find out where you want to be.

Anyway, the open days for most schools start in Feb and you have to register by beginning April (I think? i need to confirm this...). Though for anyone not falling into those time periods- its always worth a phone call to see if there are spaces!

You should join the Facebook group "English speaking mums and dads in Mallorca" it can be quite helpful for these sorts of things- lots of ideas from people about schools in the area.....we also use "I have a Question" facebook group a lot too- people ask the most bizarre things but can be equally useful for day to day living on the island!!!

Also check out http://www.mallorcaschools.com/