The new independent school on the Vera to Garrucha road has received its official approval from the regional government in the official bulletin of the Junta de Andalucia. The Valdeserra school, which is due to open this September will have places for 1,600 children from kindergarten age up to eighteen (and above for 'formacion profesional', something similar to vocational training). The school, which will offer a bilingual education in English and Spanish, is the sixth independent school in the province with others in Huercal de Almeria, El Ejido, Vicar and two in Roquetas. There is another planned in Nijar. This compares to 300 state run schools in Almeria.
The new school, which is covers a total area of two hectares, consists of a separate building for each educational level; pre-school, primary, secondary, bachillerato (baccalaureate) and formacion profesional as well as a school dining room which seats a thousand and a school gymnasium.
Independent education in Spain has a different image to that in the U.K. as the personal goal of most teachers is to get a permanent teaching post in the state school system, which is perceived as more secure, often better paid and less demanding (in terms of hours worked) than the private sector. Independent schools follow a timetable similar to that of U.K. schools with a lunch break and classes continuing after lunch as opposed to the 2.00 p.m. finish in state schools. There is generally more emphasis on sports and extracurricular activities (the latter not included in the basic school fees) and of course the obligatory school uniform. The cost of the Valdeserra school comes to around 5,000 euros per annum, with reduced fees for siblings.
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