Officials Detail Education Reforms for Barcelona's 2026-2027 Academic Year

Barcelona public education officials have announced that the 2026-2027 academic year will start with measures aimed at smaller class sizes in infant and primary education, alongside the integration of one special education centre into the public network.

Class size targets and network integration

Authorities have stated that 73 percent of public centres will operate with a maximum of 20 students per class in infant and primary education. The concerted Special Education Center Lexia in Gràcia will move into the public network at the start of the 2026-2027 school year. These steps form part of ongoing work to adjust provision across the city's public schools.

Segregation trends and enrolment patterns

School segregation indices have moved from 0.49 to 0.39 in pre-school and primary education and from 0.44 to 0.34 in secondary education between the 2020-2021 and 2023-2024 school years. Pre-school enrolment has also shifted from 18.5 percent in 2013-2014 to 26.3 percent in 2024-2025. Officials link these figures to continued efforts to improve access and balance across Barcelona schools.

Device rules and international school growth

A complete ban on smartphones and watches will apply in all schools and colleges across Catalonia during the 2026-2027 academic year for students in compulsory education. At the same time, the number of international schools in Barcelona stands at 31, up from 16 in 2014, with 13,361 students currently enrolled. These developments reflect the current policy settings that schools will follow when classes resume.

Parents and school communities can review the updated class ratio targets and the integration of the Lexia centre through official channels ahead of the new term. Further practical details on the device policy will be issued by individual centres in line with the Catalonia-wide rule.