School in Andorra

Families can choose between the Andorran education system (sistema educatiu andorrà), the French education system (système éducatif français) and the Spanish education system (sistema educativo español). Private and international schools complement these options. There is no uniform national catchment rule and no automatic guarantee of a place at a particular school. In the Andorran system, early-childhood education (Educació maternal) comprises three year groups for children from approximately 3 to 6 years of age. Maternal A is intended for children aged approximately 3 to 4, while Maternal B is intended for children aged approximately 4 to 6. Catalan is the language of instruction in Maternal A; in Maternal B, Catalan and French are used together. The overview sometimes indicates admission from the age of 2.5, so the specific starting age should be checked against the annual notice issued by the relevant system. The first stage of education (primera ensenyança) normally lasts six years, from ages 6 to 12, and ends with the certificat de primera ensenyança. The second stage of education (segona ensenyança) normally lasts four years, from ages 12 to 16, and ends with the títol de graduat en segona ensenyança. Andorran schools at this level include schools in Encamp, Ordino and Santa Coloma. Catalan, Spanish, French and English are taught systematically. Depending on the subject, instruction takes place in Catalan, Spanish or French. English is a subject in cycles 2 and 3 of the primera ensenyança, and Spanish is added in the third cycle. The French system follows the French public curriculum and awards French qualifications, with adaptations for Andorra. It includes maternelle and école élémentaire, collège, and general, technological and vocational education pathways at Lycée Comte de Foix. Segpa programmes are also available at this location. The system comprises eleven maternal and primary schools as well as Lycée Comte de Foix. The Spanish system comprises a public Spanish school network, three denominational schools and the private Agora International School Andorra. Spanish schools follow the Spanish curriculum and award the corresponding qualifications. Attendance at Spanish public schools is expressly free of charge. All foreign systems include Andorran Formation (Formació Andorrana). It teaches Catalan and knowledge of Andorra's surroundings, history, geography, culture and institutions. Compulsory education applies from ages 6 to 16 and covers primera ensenyança and segona ensenyança. Parents and guardians must ensure regular school attendance. Schools record and process unexcused absences and repeated lateness under the rules of the 2024 decree on school absenteeism. Exceptions may include approved home education, prolonged illness or hospitalisation, medically prescribed health services and approved high-performance sport. For enrolment at a public school, the usual starting point is a minimum age of 3 and registration in the population register of the responsible parish council (Comú). Students without Andorran nationality must also be registered with the Immigration Service. After choosing the system, the family contacts the corresponding school closest to their place of residence for pre-registration. The pre-registration document and the school admission application are submitted through the Government Procedures portal (Govern Tràmits), a Comú office or e-tramits. The Data Management Service (Servei de Gestió de Dades) of the Ministry of Education provides the required certificates. Outside the annual enrolment period, current availability must be checked directly. Andorra guarantees a legal and constitutional right to education. Parents and guardians may choose the system, and schools must conduct objective assessments and provide educational or vocational guidance. Support is intended to offset disadvantages arising from family, economic, social or cultural circumstances. Where there are special educational needs, the principle is integration into mainstream education. Ordinary schools in all systems may provide support. The Specialized School Nostra Senyora de Meritxell (Escola Especialitzada Nostra Senyora de Meritxell) and FPNSM offer specialised programmes. Separate placement may be considered when the mainstream school is demonstrably insufficient. Responsibility, capacity and the current provision must be clarified on a case-by-case basis. Public schools are financed from public funds or through agreements. Additional costs may arise for enrolment, learning materials, meals, transport, leisure activities or ski trips. The Government provides eligible students with assistance for enrolment, materials, school meals, school transport and school ski trips. Private and international schools charge tuition fees. There is no single up-to-date fee table for all institutions. Meals, supervision, transport, extracurricular activities and adapted menus for allergies vary by school and system. The School Transport Service (Servei de Transport Escolar) manages school transport. Routes, prices, timetables and the scope of supervision must be checked annually. The national Government calendar generally applies to schools in Andorra. In the 2026/2027 school year, classes begin on 9 September 2026 and end on 2 July 2027. Holidays include, among others, 26 to 30 October, 23 December to 6 January, 8 to 12 February, 22 March to 2 April and 17 to 21 May. Each Comú may also have a local public holiday. Intensive teaching days in secondary and upper-secondary education may vary by system. After the segona ensenyança, students in the Andorran system may move into the Andorran baccalaureate (batxillerat), vocational education or the labour market. French and Spanish qualifications generally lead to the respective further education pathways. Moving between the three systems requires an assessment by the responsible school or education authority. Recognition and equivalence of foreign qualifications are governed by the relevant agreements. The Government, together with the Ministry of Institutional Relations, Education and Universities, is responsible for national education planning, the calendar, enrolment dates, grants and school attendance. The French Education Delegation (Délégation à l’enseignement français) and French authorities are involved in the French system. The Education Council (Consejería de Educación) and the Spanish Ministry of Education are responsible for the Spanish system.