Barcelona’s persistent decline in birth rate will significantly change its youngest pupils’ education. The city’s education authority has announced a historic reduction in class sizes for three-year-olds, starting next academic year.

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The Consorci d’Educació de Barcelona confirmed that public system classrooms for three-year-olds (known as I3) will not exceed 21 pupils for the 2026-2027 school year. In fact, nearly three-quarters of public primary and early-years centres (73%) will operate with a maximum of 20 children per class, while the remaining 27% will be capped at 21.

This move is a direct consequence of the city’s changing demographics. The Consorci anticipates 9,881 applications for the infant stage next year, a notable drop of 349 from the previous year. Consequently, like last year, no additional I3 classes are needed to meet demand. A total of 11,318 places are available, split between the public network (5,555) and the semi-private, publicly funded ‘concertada’ network (5,763).

A Shifting Educational Landscape

The falling enrolment numbers have prompted city officials to consider new strategies. Speaking to the Betevé programme ‘Bon dia, Barcelona’, City Education Commissioner Marta Sendra suggested the City Council could explore integrating private nurseries into the public network. This could address localised shortages and, paradoxically, answer a long-standing call from private centres. Many private nurseries face viability challenges due to competition from the public system and the same decline in births.

Metrópoli Abierta reports that discussions are already underway with the Municipal Institute of Education of Barcelona (IMEB) to study the feasibility of such conversions.

Secondary Schools Face Opposite Pressure

However, while pressure eases in early years education, the demographic bulge is creating new challenges for the city’s secondary schools (ESO). Here, the trend is reversed, with a slight increase in demand. The total number of places for first-year ESO will rise to 14,589, as the city launches five new groups across four centres to accommodate the influx of pupils graduating from primary schools.

A key part of this expansion involves the ‘institut escola’ model, which combines primary and secondary education in a single centre to provide educational continuity. The Institut Escola Xirinacs in the Eixample district will add two new first-year ESO groups. This brings the total number of such schools in Barcelona’s public network to 27, a dramatic increase from just two in 2017. All ‘instituts escola’ will offer ESO classes with a capacity of 28 pupils.

Furthermore, the Institut Vallcarca will finally move into its new permanent building at Calle Baró de la Barre, 3, this September. After a temporary stay at Escola Mas Falcó’s facilities, the new site will serve secondary students from the Vallcarca, La Salut, and El Coll neighbourhoods in Gràcia district. It will offer three lines of ESO and two of ‘bachillerato’ (post-16 education).

Strengthening Specialised and Local Support

In a significant move to bolster support for pupils with specific needs, the Consorci announced a milestone: it will integrate the Centro de Educación Especial Lexia in Gràcia into the public network. This marks the first time a specialised education centre of its kind enters the public system, adding 90 much-needed places for pupils with communication and social interaction challenges, particularly those on the autism spectrum.

To assist families navigating the school application process, the Consorci will continue to operate seven in-person Schooling Offices (Oficines de Escolarización). These support centres are located across the districts of Ciutat Vella, Eixample, Gràcia-Horta, Nou Barris, Sant Andreu, Sant Martí, and Sants-Montjuïc.

According to the official source, see Consorci d’Educació de Barcelona – Alumnat i famílies (Preinscripció 2026-2027).