If your family is planning to move to Valencia for the 2027–2028 school year, school admissions are worth thinking about well before you book the flight or choose a neighbourhood.

That does not mean you need every decision made a year in advance. It does mean that the right school, your family’s preferred area, your housing plans and your arrival date can affect one another. A little early planning gives you room to understand those connections and make choices with more confidence.

The first thing to know is that there is no single admissions calendar for every school in Valencia. Public and concertado schools follow a centralised process set by the Generalitat Valenciana. Private and international schools manage their own applications, deadlines and available places.

For a family hoping to start school in September 2027, it makes sense to explore the options during 2026. Contact private and international schools early enough to understand their application process and availability. For public and concertado schools, learn how the admissions process works before the official application window opens. The 2027–2028 calendar has not yet been published, so dates from previous years are a guide to the general timing, not confirmed dates for your application.

If you are planning a move for 2027–2028, our family relocation page explains how we help families coordinate school, housing and arrival planning. You can also book a school admissions planning call to talk through your family’s situation and what to tackle first.

Why school planning should begin before the move

School choice is often treated as something to sort out after a family has found a home. In Valencia, that order can make planning harder.

The school you prefer may influence where you want to live and how much travelling your children will do each day. Your address can also matter when applying to public and concertado schools. And your arrival date may determine whether you can take part in the ordinary admissions process or need to look at places still available later.

There are practical questions, too. Which school system fits each child? Will they need language support? What year group will they enter in Spain? What documents will a school ask for? If your first choice is unavailable, what are the alternatives?

These questions do not all need final answers at once. But asking them while you still have time to compare options can make the move feel more manageable. This is also where school planning and relocation planning meet: choices about education, location and housing are often easier to weigh together than one at a time.

Understand the different school options

Families moving to Valencia commonly consider public, concertado, private and international schools. The names and funding arrangements may be unfamiliar if you are coming from the UK, the US or Canada.

Public schools are state-funded and follow the Spanish curriculum. Concertado schools are privately managed but receive public funding. Both public and concertado schools follow the centralised Valencian admissions process. They may differ in their educational approach, language provision and school community, so it is useful to look at each school individually.

Private schools are funded through fees and set their own admission procedures. International schools are a type of private school, and may offer British, American, IB or other curricula. Their application processes can include a school visit or interview, a review of academic reports, an assessment or a conversation about language support.

The admissions process matters, but it is only one part of choosing a school. Families also need to consider curriculum continuity, the child’s language and learning needs, daily travel, school costs and how they hope their children will settle into life in Valencia.

Our guide to finding a school in Valencia explains the main school types and the factors families often consider when comparing them.

When to contact private and international schools

For September 2027 entry, start researching during 2026. Make an initial shortlist and contact the schools directly to ask when they accept applications, whether they expect places in your child’s year group and what their process involves.

Some schools accept applications well in advance. Others consider applications on a rolling basis if places are available. Rolling admissions do not guarantee a place will be available when your family needs one. Popular schools or specific year groups may have limited availability, so early enquiries give you time to understand the situation and look at alternatives.

In your first message or call, share your child’s age and current year group, your expected arrival date, the curriculum they are following and any language or learning support they may need. Ask about the application steps, any assessment or school visit, relevant fees and when the school considers a place confirmed.

An early enquiry does not commit your family to a school. It helps you understand what is possible and when you need to make decisions. If you are comparing different school systems, keep in mind that the admissions process for an independent school does not replace the public or concertado application process.

Public and concertado admissions: prepare before the spring window

Public and concertado admissions are organised through the Valencian Community’s central process. The Generalitat publishes a calendar each year, and the ordinary application window usually falls in spring for the school year starting in September.

The 2027–2028 dates are not available yet. For context, the ordinary application period for Infant and Primary education in the 2026–2027 process ran from 7 to 18 May 2026. The new calendar will set the dates families need to follow for 2027–2028.

Preparing before the application window matters. Families need time to understand how to apply, identify schools they would genuinely consider and gather the information required. Applications follow a points-based process, and the outcome is not simply a matter of applying to one school and waiting for a yes or no.

Your address and the timing of your move may also be relevant. If you will not yet be living in Valencia when applications open, find out early what documentation is required for your circumstances and how the process applies to you. The official instructions for the relevant school year should be your reference; requirements and dates can change.

A practical timeline for a September 2027 start

During 2026: explore the options. Start by discussing what matters most for each child: curriculum continuity, language, school environment, learning support, location and budget. Make an initial shortlist across the school types you are considering. Contact private and international schools to ask about applications and availability. If public or concertado schools are also on your list, learn how their centralised process works before the application window opens.

Late 2026 to early 2027: narrow your shortlist. Look more closely at schools that seem like a good fit. Ask about year-group availability, entry requirements, language support and the documents you will need. Begin considering which areas would make the daily journey to school practical. If your family is moving from abroad, you may also need time to request records or reports from your child’s current school.

Spring 2027: follow the published process. When the Generalitat releases the 2027–2028 calendar, check the dates for your children’s age groups and prepare for the relevant public or concertado application phase. Private and international schools will have their own schedules, so follow up with each school directly.

Summer 2027: confirm the details. Complete any outstanding enrolment steps and make sure you understand what your child will need for the start of term. If your family arrives later in the summer, contact schools as soon as your dates are clear. Places may still be available, but there may be less time and less choice.

This is a planning framework, not a fixed timetable for every school. Your child’s age, year group, curriculum and arrival date can all change which steps matter most.

What if we do not know where we will live yet?

That is common for families moving internationally. You do not need to sign a lease before you start asking schools about their admissions process. You can explore school options, areas and travel times while working out where your family is likely to settle.

For public and concertado applications, your address may be relevant to the process. If you are still looking for a home, ask the school or relevant education authority what evidence is required in your circumstances. Do not assume a future address will be treated in the same way as an established residence.

It also helps to think beyond the map. A school that looks close may involve an awkward daily journey. A home with more space may work well if it keeps the school run practical. Your school shortlist can help shape where you focus your housing search, while your housing budget and commute can help refine the shortlist.

At Livin’Valencia, we help families consider these decisions together. Our family relocation support includes guidance on school options, family-friendly areas and housing, so families can make a plan that reflects how they will actually live day to day. We can help you understand the process and coordinate the practical steps; each school makes its own admissions decisions.

Documents and questions to prepare

Each school sets its own requirements, and the public and concertado process publishes instructions for each academic year. When you begin speaking with schools, it helps to know your child’s current year group, recent school history, expected arrival date and any language or learning support needs.

Ask each school which documents it requires, whether translations are needed, how it handles applications from families who have not yet moved to Valencia and when it expects to confirm decisions. For public and concertado admissions, check the official guidance for the relevant academic year before submitting an application.

If a document is not available yet, ask whether you can provide it later. A direct answer from the school is more useful than guessing or preparing paperwork that may not be required.

If you are arriving close to the start of term

A late move does not mean there is no way forward. Families may still find options, especially if they can consider several schools or locations. But the process can depend more on places that remain available, with less time to compare schools and prepare.

If your move is delayed, contact schools as soon as your dates become clearer. Explain your children’s ages and year groups, and ask which options may still be realistic. For public and concertado places, follow the current instructions on any later admissions phase and contact the relevant authority if you need guidance.

You may need to weigh practical choices. A school with a place may not be your first preference, or you may need to consider a different area. The possibilities depend on your family and the places available at the time. It is better to ask for specific information than rely on a general promise that a place will be easy to find.

Start early enough to keep your choices open

For a September 2027 start, begin exploring school options during 2026. That gives you time to speak with private and international schools, understand the public and concertado admissions process and connect school choices with your housing and arrival plans.

The key dates and next steps depend on the school type. Check the official 2027–2028 calendar for public and concertado admissions as soon as it is published, and ask each private or international school about its own deadlines and availability.

You do not need every answer before you begin. A planning call can help you see which questions matter most for your family and how school decisions fit into your wider move.

If you are considering a move to Valencia for 2027–2028, book a school admissions planning call. We can talk through your children’s ages, school preferences, housing needs and expected arrival date, then explain how our family relocation support may fit your plans.