School Hours in Spain: What a Typical School Day Looks Like
Most schools in Spain run Monday to Friday and start around 9:00. Public primary schools finish at about 14:00 if they run a continuous day, or about 16:30 if they run a split day with a long lunch break. Secondary schools often run from about 8:00 to 14:30. International schools usually run from about 9:00 to 16:30.
There is no single national timetable. Hours depend on the region, the school's stage (primary or secondary) and the type of school, so two schools on the same street can have different days. This guide explains the patterns, so you know what to ask before you choose.
Typical school hours in Spain at a glance
| Type of school | Typical day | Lunch |
|---|---|---|
| Public primary, split day (jornada partida) | 9:00–12:30, then 15:00–16:30 | Long break; children eat at the school canteen (comedor) or go home |
| Public primary, continuous day (jornada continua) | About 9:00–14:00 | After classes, at the comedor (optional) or at home |
| Public secondary (ESO and Bachillerato) | About 8:00–14:30, some schools with one or two afternoons | Most students eat at home after school |
| Concertado (state-funded private) | Usually a split day, similar to public primary, often finishing around 16:30–17:00 | Comedor in the middle of the day |
| Private and international | About 8:30–9:15 to 16:00–17:00 | Lunch at school, as part of the day |
Times are typical, not guaranteed. Always check the timetable for your child's year group.
Split day vs continuous day
This is the difference that matters most for working parents.
- Split day (jornada partida): a morning session, a break of about two hours, then a short afternoon session. Children stay for lunch at the school canteen (comedor), which is paid and supervised, or go home and come back.
- Continuous day (jornada continua): one block of lessons ending around 14:00, with no long break. Lunch at the comedor afterwards is optional, and many schools offer paid activities until 16:00 or later.
A continuous day finishes earlier, but if you work full time you'll usually need the comedor and afternoon activities, so the real pick-up time can end up similar.
School hours by region
Barcelona and Catalonia
Public primary schools (escoles) follow a split day. The standard framework is 9:00–12:30 and 15:00–16:30. Only a small pilot group of Catalan primary schools runs a continuous day. Most public secondary schools (instituts) run a morning-focused day: more than 80% start between 8:00 and 9:00 and finish between 14:00 and 15:00, with free afternoons.
Madrid
In the Comunidad de Madrid, public primary schools can have either model. In 2023 about two-thirds had a continuous day. Since a regional decree in December 2025, the split day is the default for public infant and primary schools, but schools that already ran a continuous day can keep it. New public schools start with a split day. In practice, Madrid families need to check each school's hours.
Valencia
Public primary schools in the Comunitat Valenciana can choose. Most (around 80%) run a continuous day, usually about 9:00–14:00, with the comedor and activities afterwards. A school can only change its model after a vote of the school community.
Shorter days in September and June
Many schools shorten the day at the start and end of the year (jornada intensiva), often teaching mornings only until about 13:00. This usually covers the first weeks of September and most of June, and the dates vary by region and school. If you're starting work in September, plan childcare for these weeks. For term dates and holidays, see our school holidays in Spain guide.
Lunch, early drop-off and after-school care
- Lunch (comedor): most schools have a canteen with supervised lunch. It's paid separately in public and concertado schools, and often included or billed monthly in private schools.
- Early drop-off: many schools open early, often from about 7:30 or 8:00, for a fee. It's called acollida in Catalonia and primeros del cole or madrugadores elsewhere.
- After-school activities (extraescolares): sports, music, languages and homework clubs, usually until 17:00–18:00. These are paid and run by the school, the parents' association (AMPA/AFA) or outside providers.
Costs vary widely, so ask each school for current prices.
How international schools in Spain organise the day
International schools usually run a longer, single day with lunch included, closer to what families from the UK, US or northern Europe expect.
Across the 20 schools on SchoolFinder Spain that list their hours (mostly private and international schools around Barcelona, as of November 2026), most start between 8:30 and 9:15 and finish between 16:00 and 17:00. A few examples:
| School | Hours |
|---|---|
| Kensington School, Barcelona | 08:55–16:00 |
| Benjamin Franklin International School, Barcelona | 08:35–16:00 |
| Agora Sant Cugat International School | 08:50–16:50 for infant, primary and early secondary |
| The British School – El Colegio Británico, Madrid | 09:05–16:35 |
Some schools list longer hours that include early drop-off and after-school care, and secondary timetables often differ from primary. Older students may finish earlier on some days or stay later for activities. Each school's profile shows its own hours.
How many days and weeks?
School runs Monday to Friday. The school year goes from early or mid-September to around the third week of June, with a minimum of 175 teaching days a year in compulsory education. Each region publishes its own calendar.
When do children start school in Spain?
School is compulsory from age 6 (primary) to 16. In practice, most children start at 3, in the first year of Educación Infantil (called P3 in Catalonia and I3 or 3 años elsewhere). It's free in public schools and widely taken up. Our Spanish education system guide explains each stage.
Questions to ask each school
- What time does the day start and finish for my child's year group?
- Is it a split or continuous day, and does that change in September and June?
- What do lunch, early drop-off and after-school activities cost?
- Until what time can children stay on a typical day?
FAQ
What time does school start in Spain?
Most primary schools start around 9:00. Secondary schools often start earlier, between 8:00 and 8:30. International schools usually start between 8:30 and 9:15.
What time does school finish in Spain?
It depends on the type of day. Public primary schools with a continuous day finish around 14:00, and those with a split day around 16:30. Secondary schools often finish around 14:30. International schools usually finish between 16:00 and 17:00.
How long is a school day in Spain?
About five hours of lessons in public primary, plus a long lunch break on a split day. Secondary days are around six to six and a half hours. International school days are longer, about seven to eight hours including lunch.
Do children come home for lunch in Spain?
They can. On a split day, children either eat at the school canteen or go home and come back for the afternoon. Many families with working parents use the canteen.
Are school days shorter in June and September?
Often, yes. Many schools teach mornings only for part of September and June. Dates vary by region and school.
How many days a week is school in Spain?
Five, Monday to Friday. There's no school on Saturdays.