Unlike other parts of Spain, Andalusia’s school year begins slightly later and is staggered depending on the level of education:

• 1 September – Sports education (Enseñanzas Deportivas)
• 10 September – Early Childhood (Infantil) and Primary Education
• 15 September – Secondary (ESO), Bachillerato, Vocational Training (FP), Adult Education, and Artistic Education
• 22 September – Official Language Schools (EOI) and Higher Artistic Education

The school year will finish in late June 2026, though exact dates vary depending on province.

Alongside the national holidays, the academic calendar also includes:

• 13 October – substitute holiday for Spain’s National Day
• 1 November – All Saints’ Day
• 6 & 8 December – Constitution Day and Immaculate Conception
• 22 December to 6 January – Christmas break
• 28 February – Día de Andalucía (regional holiday)
• 30 March to 5 April – Semana Santa (Easter break)
• 1 May – Labour Day
• 15 August – Assumption of Mary

Malaga holds extra local holiday, Semana Blanca (a local winter holiday) in late February, while others may mark the Día de la Comunidad Educativa.

Like the rest of Spain, families in Andalusia face rising back-to-school costs. On average, parents are expected to spend around €400 per child this September. The largest increases are in:

• School uniforms – averaging €229.79
• Textbooks – averaging €192.26, with primary school books up by 4.55% compared to last year
• Stationery and supplies – rising between 2.4% and 2.8% year-on-year

Because of this, more families are turning to second-hand options for books, uniforms, and materials. A recent survey shows that 54% of parents in Spain are already reusing or buying used items.

Additionally, parents of children at private schools will have schools fees to pay for which have also increased this year. 

The Junta de Andalucía provides several measures to help ease the financial burden:

• School voucher (“Cheque escolar”) – a direct payment to low-income families to help cover school expenses.

• Free textbooks – through Andalusia’s Programa de Gratuidad de Libros de Texto, almost 900,000 pupils receive loaned books at no cost. In Cádiz province alone, over 70,000 students benefited last year.

• School meals and transport grants – aimed at families in rural or economically vulnerable situations.

• Tax deduction – Families can claim 15% of education-related expenses (languages, IT, or after-school classes) on their income tax return, up to €150 per child.

• Early years (0–3) – Public nurseries and childcare centres offer sliding-scale fee reductions for both education and dining services, depending on household income.

Given Andalusia’s long, hot summers and rising temperatures in September, the regional government is accelerating its bioclimatic adaptation plan. More than 1,300 schools will benefit from upgrades such as:

• Improved natural ventilation
• Shaded playground areas
• Installation of cooling systems and energy-efficient measures

These initiatives are designed to ensure classrooms remain safe and comfortable during heatwaves, which are increasingly common at the start of the school year.

Andalusia continues to face a sharp demographic decline. Each new school year sees around 18,000 fewer pupils entering classrooms compared to the previous year, largely due to falling birth rates. This has prompted concerns about school closures in some rural areas, though it may also open opportunities to reduce student–teacher ratios in the medium term.

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