Schools in Gibraltar
Education in Gibraltar follows the UK model. All teacher-training takes place in UK universities and colleges. As in the UK, compulsory education begins at the age of four in Gibraltar.
A number of individuals choose to place their children in international schools across the border in Spain, with the most notable private one being The International School at Sotogrande. Gibraltar itself has 15 state schools, with Westside (for girls) and Bayside (for boys) being the two government comprehensives. There are also two private schools with Prior Park being the most recent to open its doors in 2016. There's one MOD school, a college of further education and a university. The Gibraltar government provides a number of nursery places for pre-school aged children.
Primary education is free, full-time and compulsory for all residents between the ages of four and 12 and in these ages ranges the schools are mixed boys/girls. In secondary comprehensive education boys and girls go to separate schools unless you opt for a private school. All education is instructed in English in Gibraltar, however Spanish is part of the curriculum. All curricula are governed by the National Curriculum Regulations which closely resembles the UK National Curriculum. Secondary education is free, full-time and compulsory. As with primary education, the secondary curriculum is defined by the National Curriculum.
Gibraltar has a special education facilities which cater for a wide range of special needs for children between the ages of five and 16. More recently, the Department of Education and Training created a unit to provide special education services for children under the age of five.