Fires in the Campo in Villanueva de la Concepción.

Bonfires – It is probable that you will receive a fine and a heavy bill for use of the fire services if you have been responsible for causing a fire. It is totally prohibited to have a fire between the 1^st June and the 15^th October inclusive. In any case it is necessary to ask permission from Medio Ambiente (The Environmental council). For more information, see the decree issued on the 21^st May 2009 which introduced constraints on the use of forest land and forest catchment areas. Even if you think your home is not in a forest area, if you have trees on your plot or your neighbour has, then you still need permission. This is because apart from the safety aspect, many trees and plants are protected (for e.g. cork trees and certain palms amongst others). If in doubt ask at the Town hall.

Ferias and Fiestas (Fairs and holidays)

The summer fair of Villanueva de la Concepción usually lasts 4 or 5 days, dates vary from year to year but nearly always coincide with the 15^th of August.

The neighboring hamlets of Pastelero and Santa Maria del Cerro celebrate their fair in the last half of July which usually last 3 to 4 days.

Local holidays: 17^th March and the 3^rd November

Regional public holidays: 6^th January; 28^th February; 1^st April (Maundy Thursday so this date will vary); 15^th August.

National Holidays: 1^st January; 2^nd April (Good Friday so this date will vary); 1^st May; 12^th October; 1^st November; 6^th December; 8^th December; 25^th December.

Public Transport in Villanueva de la Concepción

Buses
Villanueva to Málaga
Monday to Friday
07.15; 09.15; 15.00; 16.30.
Saturdays
09.00
Málaga to Villanueva
Monday to Friday
11.15; 13.30; 17.30; 19.30.
Saturdays
19.00

Taxis
From Villanueva de la Concepción
Salvador Sarrias - 686 534 876/952 753 446
Miguel Palomo - 670 766 787
Gustavo Pérez - 659 641 237
Manuel Sánchez - 952 753 196/667 515 263
Rafael Rodríguez 952 753 270

Trains
The nearest station is in Antequera and Bobadilla but routes are limited and more local. For national routes trains leave Santa Ana ( just outside Antequera).
Estación de Santa Ana ,
Avda de la estación s/n 29540
Tel. 902 240 202
or see the web page http://www.renfe.com/

The Education system in Villanueva de la Concepción

Term dates are usually around the following dates:-

1^st term from 10^th September until the 22^nd December

2^nd term from 7^th January until Easter

3^rd term starts after Easter until 20^th June.

All these dates are only approximate.

The Spanish marking system

Marks are given out of 10:

0,0 – 4,9 Fail (Suspenso)

5,0 – 6,9 Pass (Aprobado)

7,0 – 8,9 Outstanding (Notable)

9,0 – 10,0 Distinction (Sobresaliente)

9,6 – 10,0 Honours (Matrícula de Honor)

The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) of marking is as follows:-

A – Excellent (Few errors)

B – Very Good (Above average with some errors)

C – Good (Good work but with some notable errors)

D – Satisfactory (Good but with some significant shortcomings)

E – Sufficient (Minimum level achieved)

FX – Fail (More work needed to pass)

F – Fail (Much more work needed to pass)

Comparison of Spanish marking system and ECTS

9,6 – 10,0 MH Matricula de Honor = A (Excellent)

9,0 – 10,0 SB Sobresaliente = B (Very good)

7,0 – 8,9  NT Notable = C (Good)

6,0 – 6,9  AP Aprobado = D (Satisfactory)

5,0 – 5,9  AP Aprobado = E (Sufficient)

3,0 - 4,9  SS Suspenso = F (Fail)

0,3 – 0,0 SS Suspenso = FX (Fail)

Creche/Playgroup (0 to 3 years).

Register at the Town hall in April and May (selected dates are usually displayed). Documents you need to bring are:-

Certified copy of the Family book (if you come from a country that has one).

Child´s birth certificate or another document proving the child´s date of birth (if child not yet born, document to show state of pregnancy of mother and the expected birth date).

Certificate of Empadronamiento for all the family members.

Copy of wage slip for both parents (if working)

For those with more than three children, certified copy of official document proving large family status.

Income tax returns.

Infant and Primary School (3-12 years).

Registration takes place between the 1^st and 31^st March at the school and if you are enrolling for the first time (for the first year) then the application must be presented in duplicate. Various criteria´s are taken into account to accommodate children if there are not sufficient places. They are:

• If there are social or family circumstances that could be of serious risk to the child.
• Priority is given to children whose mother is/was the victim of violence and has help or lives in a woman’s refuge.
• Children who have been victims of terrorism.
• In case of single parent families or families that have separated, the one that has custody of the child and has a minor to look after also.
• If the person who has custody of the child works in the school.
• The proximity of the home for the person who has custody of the child.
• If brothers and sisters already attend the school.
• Welfare of the single parent family or those with large families.
• Children with development disorders that are being treated with public funding in an Early Child Care centre in Andalucía.
• The child for whom the place is sought or a member of the family has a recognized disability grade of 33% or higher.
• The annual family income will be taken into account.

A list will be published of those accepted (between the 3^rd and 7^th May) and then enrollment will take place from the 1^st to the 10^th of June at the school.

Secondary School (12-16 years).

Application for admission for the first year takes place during March at the school. Thereafter enrollment is essential for each course usually between 1^st – 10^th July (dates can vary so see School notice boards)

Education system in Spain

Education is obligatory for all children aged 6-16 if the parents are legally resident in Spain and is free from pre-school to 18 years. The new education system in Spain derives from the LOGSE 1/1970.  There are 6 years of compulsory primary education and 4 years of compulsory secondary education. However as pre-school is not obligatory, not all children can gain a place, it depends on the availability. To be eligible for the state education system you must be registered on the Town Hall Padron list.

State Education System in Andalucía

The Education policy is controlled by the Junta De Andalucía, with each region having responsibility for the administration of education within their region. The local councils have a role to play too. Some offer educational services, but all councils will have a say in the infrastructure and buildings within their local areas.

Spanish schools can be state or privately owned. Some private schools are in fact subsidised by governments and are called Concertados. Fees are kept low and in some cases there are no tuition fees at this type of school. More often than not, Concertados combine primary and secondary in one school

Teachers employed in the state sector (including Concertados) would not necessarily speak English and in any event lessons are not taught in English. If English is taught as a foreign language (which is mostly the case), then there would be a qualified English speaking teacher at the school whose main job is to teach English as a modern foreign language. 

There are specialist schools of music, dance and art in the state sector from the age of 12 and entrance is usually selective. Some rural areas have state residential (boarding) schools, to facilitate compulsory education in such areas.

Procedures for enrolment are much the same across Andalucía, but some (not all) town halls have departments set up to provide services for foreign families, however, you can choose to apply to a school directly for a place for your child. Each school has a catchment area or zone and it is best to apply to the school within the zone of where you live or intend to live permanently. In Villanueva de la Concepción there is a playgroup from 0-3 years; Infant and Primary school 3-12 years and a Secondary school from 12-16 years. If you are already living in Andalucía, the correct time of the year to apply for a place for the coming academic year is usually around April. In Villanueva de la Concepción this usually takes place from 1^st to 31^st March. Application and enrolment dates are published annually. If you are coming from another area within Spain or from elsewhere in Europe, then you can apply for a school place for your child at any time of the year, although note, the schools are usually closed for most of the summer holidays in July and August, along with Easter (usually only a week) and during the Christmas holidays. There are also other local holidays depending on where you live. The academic year ends around mid June and starts again in mid September. Families moving to Andalucía during the summer holidays can usually enrol their children at the very beginning of September, or if any staff are on duty at the schools, at the very end of August. The Secretary of the school is usually part of the management team and he or she would be the first contact, if you decide to apply to a school directly. Many Spanish schools in popular ex pat areas are experienced in dealing with foreign students and are quite prepared for the initial language difficulty. However in some inland areas this may not be so and your child could be the only foreign student in the class but the advantage of a Spanish education means that your son/ daughter will be fluent in a foreign language; they will develop friendships with children in their community (not just the ex -pat community) and will integrate fully into the Spanish culture.

Formalities are often overstated. It is usually a fairly simple process to enrol your children, but you will need to be registered on the local electoral roll at the town hall (padron), provide passports, full birth certificate/s of the child/ren, marriage/divorce papers if applicable and sometimes, the child/rens vaccination certificates. If applicable, evidence of any disability. Parents pay for books and materials along with cost of school transport and meals if available. School uniform isn't usually worn, except in private schools. All teaching will be in Spanish.

Children can often start school before their 5th or 6th birthday, but it isn't compulsory to attend below the age of 6 (children start school in the September of the calendar year in which they become 6), neither is there a right to schooling below the compulsory starting age. Many children can start pre-school in the year when they become 3 if there are places, with priority going to working parents. Children move to secondary education in the September of the year in which they become 12, however in order to progress from year to year pupils in Spanish state schools have to meet teaching and learning objectives so compulsory schooling could last longer than in the UK as years may have to be repeated. The school leaving age is 16, although some will be under 16 if their birthday falls during the latter half of the calendar year and some will be older if year/s were repeated.

Books, Extra Curricular Activities

Parents must pay for books and materials and any extra-curricular activities. Low income families may or may not be able to get a grant for these, but this depends on the laws in place at the time of making an application.

Qualifications
The equivalent qualification to UK GCSE's is the Graduado of compulsory secondary education -ESO. This is awarded at the end of the compulsory secondary education if the student achieves the appropriate grades in all the subjects. They can then apply, depending on subject interest, for one of the different Spanish Bachillerato. (Equivalent to A Levels). Vocational training is also a possibility after ESO. For students wishing to progress to University in Spain they must have achieved the Bachillerato and then they have to prepare for Selectividad which is the entrance exam for Universities. Acceptance depends on the result obtained in this exam as well as the average mark gained during the two years of Bachillerato.

Parents with 15 or 16 year olds in their final UK school year should enquire about the Convalidación procedure with the Spanish Ministry of Education in Madrid, if the student intends to continue their education in Andalucía or anywhere else in Spain.

Students with Spanish qualifications equivalent to A levels at the appropriate grades have the same chance of going to universities in England and Wales as home students. There is usually an entrance test {in Spanish) for admission to Spanish Universities, whereas an entrance test isn’t generally needed for students wishing to study at a British University, unless wishing to study law or medicine.  Students with foreign qualifications such as 'A' Levels, wishing to study at a Spanish University, can take a different University entrance test (in Spanish), offered by UNED, Spain's open university.

Official university education is broken down into three cycles:

Degree, Master’s and Doctorate

Each cycle is completed with the awarding of an official qualification. In all cases, passing the first level gives access to the second, and passing the second gives access to the third.

The normal duration for University courses is 4 years, except Medicine and some others, which are 6.

Postgraduate courses are Master's degrees (Máster), and Doctoral degrees (Doctorado).

Spain has a high standard of university level education and some of the most prestigious national universities can be found in Andalucía. Indeed, the universities at Granada and Seville are widely considered to be amongst the best in Spain.

Life at Spanish University

Studying at Spanish university will not only be an academic experience but a cultural one as well. The Spanish have a very individual way of conducting their higher education system and this is a direct result of the cultural style you will experience.

Entrance Requirements

A final mark representing points gained for entrance to university is calculated from the results of two examinations. It is composed of 60% of the Bachillerato marks, plus 40% of the Selectividad marks to make the total points gained. Each university has a point requirement for entrance and this will depend on the individual course and number of students wishing to study the particular subject. Minimum points required for entrance to university are currently 5.

If you have received secondary education outside Spain and wish to go to a Spanish university to continue your studies, you will need to satisfy the university that you have the equivalent level of studies and linguistic skills to enable you to go on the course. You will also need to supply legalised and translated certificates and related documentation. Students need to apply to the Ministry of Education and Culture, (Ministerio de Educación y Cultura): www.mec.es and go through a process of validation (convalidación). This is a standard procedure but can sometimes take up to a year to complete. Apply to: Subdirección General de Títulos, Convalidaciones y homologaciones, Servicio de Homologación de Títulos Universitarios Extranjeros. Paseo del Prado, 28. 28012 MADRID. Tel. 91 018 500.

Links to Universities in Andalucía

For further information on any of the Universities listed below click on the link to view their web site or call the number listed:

University of Cádiz
Rectorado, Ancha, 16,
11001 Cádiz
Tlf: +34 956 015000

University of Córdoba
Rectorado, Alfonso XIII, 13,
14071 Córdoba
Tlf: +(34) 957 21 80 00
Fax: +(34) 957 21 80 30

University of Granada
Cuesta del Hospicio s/n, 18071 Granada
Tlf: + (34) 958 24 30 25
Fax: + (34) 958 24 30 66
E-mail: info0@elvira.ugr.es

University of Huelva
Campus de El Carmen, Edificio Alan Turing,
Ave. Fuerzas Armadas s/n,
21071 Huelva Tlf: + (34) 959 01 90 02
Fax: + (34) 959 01 90 29
E-mail: www@uhu.es

University of Jaén
Paraje de las Lagunillas s/n,
Edificio B1,
23071 Jaén
Tlf: + (34) 953 01 21 21
E-mail: info@ujaen.es

University of Málaga
Edificio de Investigación, 2» planta,
Campus de Teatinos,
29071 Málaga
Tlf: + (34) 952 13 29 72
Fax: + (34) 952 13 29 71
E-mail: relint@uma.es

University of Seville
Real Fábrica de Tabacos,
S. Fernando, 4,
41004 Sevilla
Tlf: + (34) 954 55 69 99

Private International Schools

The British Council has details of schools in Spain which offer an English-type education. Most are members of the National Association of British Schools in Spain, which organises periodic inspections by British inspectors, in collaboration with the British Council. (British Council, Paseo General Martínez Campos 31, 28010 Madrid. Web: www.britishcouncil.es)

Teaching at British schools in Andalucía would normally be conducted in English. Fees for day students are usually cheaper than school fees in the U.K. and demand for places can be high. If you and/or your children are intent on returning to the U.K. to live, then choose a school that follows the National Curriculum and offers IGCSE, AS/A Level or the IB.

There are also international schools that follow other styles of education, e.g. French, German and others, but the language of instruction will usually be in the language of that particular country. Some English speaking private international schools follow the American curriculum, rather than the British one.  Whichever style you choose, most international schools are required to teach a small part of the Spanish curriculum in addition to the international one. All schools offering education to children of compulsory school age must be authorised to operate and it is advisable to check this aspect before deciding upon an international school. The advantage of the private international system is that your child can continue with the work that they are familiar with and be taught in English. They will mix with many different nationalities but the language of communication will be English, however they will become involved with many different cultures in addition to Spanish. Class sizes are usually much smaller than those in the State system.
The main disadvantage is that it is quite expensive, although compared to private schools in England it is cheaper. You are expected to pay for all materials and books. Also, some of these schools are owned by individuals who may or may not have an educational background.

Bilingual Schools

There are a few private schools in Spain with bilingual programmes, where children are taught in more than one language. In the state sector in Andalucía, the government recently introduced bilingual programmes into a few public schools, but this is quite unusual in state schools.  An example of a private Spanish bilingual school would be the Colegio Rincon in Rincon De La Victoria to the east of Málaga.

For further information about these international schools, see also the web sites of: NABSS and COBISEC

Málaga province and the Costa Del Sol

Sunny View School (Torremolinos)

Aloha College Marbella SA

Swans International Primary School

The English International School (Marbella)  

St George's International School of Malaga

The British College of Benalmádena

St Anthony's College (Mijas-Costa)

Granada province - Costa Tropical

Almuñécar International School

Cádiz province - Sotogrande

International School at Sotogrande

Cordoba province  

The British School of Cordoba

Private Bilingual (English/Spanish) Nursery School - Málaga - Costa del Sol

Peter Pan

Justice of the Peace - Villanueva de la Concepción

For any process such as issuing a birth certificate; the family book (Spanish nationals only); civil wedding; death certificate etc. the Justice of the Peace is present Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7.00 - 8.00p.m. in the office at the front of the Town Hall. You can also start procedures via their web page http://www.mjusticia.es/

Healthcare in Spain - Villanueva de la Concepción

The rules for obtaining state healthcare in Spain are different to the UK.

There is a free universal health care system in Spain. The problem is that to become insured you have to have a social security number.

The system is contribution-based, which means that normally you must have paid into the social security system in order for you and your dependants to get state healthcare. These social security contributions can be paid by your employer or by yourself as a self-employed worker. You may also be eligible to register to pay voluntary contributions if you have paid contributions at any point in Spain and have paid contributions for 3 out the last 12 years in any European Union Member State – apply at your local Tesoreria (Tax office).

If you are not paying into the Spanish social security system you may also get state healthcare if:

• You are in receipt of a UK state pension, long-term contribution-based Incapacity benefit or Bereavement benefit (apply for an S1 form);
• You are an early retiree to Spain and have been resident here less than two years (apply for an S1 form);
• You are a posted worker for a UK company;
• You are a dependant of someone who falls into one of the categories above;
• You are a temporary visitor to Spain and have a valid UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC);
• You will be receiving planned treatment abroad or are in receipt of UK sickness or maternity benefit - apply for an S2 form (previously E112). For more information, please visit the NHS website
• You are a child under the age of 18 and have no access to healthcare through your own or your parent’s means. This is called ‘La Ley de Minor’ and you apply through the social worker at your local health centre.

You may be asked to provide evidence of your UK income when applying for health care or social security benefits in Spain.

Please remember that if you do register with the state health system in Spain, it is important to de-register with your GP in the UK. Likewise if you decide to return to the UK, then you must de-register with the Spanish authorities.

If you are not eligible to use the Spanish health system then it is advisable to have private health insurance.

Some private health insurance companies are:

Sanitas [Spanish, English]

Mapfre [Spanish]

DKV Seguros [Spanish]

Asisa [Spanish]

Serviour Insurance – broker (English/Spanish)

To register go to your nearest Health Centre with your necessary documents and fill out the appropriate form that they will give you. At this stage you will also be asked to select a doctor from the list who has places available. Your form will be certified and you must keep that safe and present it if you need to use the services before your proper plastic card arrives usually in 30 days. For every family member that also wishes to be covered there are many forms to fill out!
The health centre in Villanueva de la Concepción is on Avenida Blas Infante and the telephone number is
952 753 181. To make an appointment go to the health centre or call the central number 902 505 060. On this number you can ask for an appointment whether it is for a prescription only or a consultation with the doctor, it is necessary to give your social security card number or your NIE number.
For emergencies there is a doctor and a nurse on call in Villanueva but the nearest hospital is in Antequera which is 21 km away. The address is Avenida poeta Muñoz Rojas, Antequera which is next to the Industrial estate. The central telephone number is 951 061 600 and for emergencies 902 505 061.