The application period for baccalaureate courses, vocational training (FP), visual arts and design courses is from 11 to 17 May inclusive. Applications for higher vocational training courses and visual arts and design courses should be made from 25 to 31 May inclusive.

The initial offer of post-compulsory education in Barcelona for the next academic year broadens the options for students to choose a study path which matches their future training and career perspectives. The goal is to ensure the continuity of students in the education system, with more flexibility, diversity and cross-cutting options through various itineraries to access higher education courses or university studies.

Initial baccalaureate course options

More baccalaureate study groups are available than last year, with fifteen more added. Two more groups have been created at the Institut Martí Pous and another at the Institut Techològic de Barcelona. Elsewhere, the Institut Joan Salvat Papasseit will offer a dual baccalaureate and technical sports course.

Last year saw new baccalaureate training options begin: one promoting the internationalisation and knowledge of languages (English Batx, international baccalaureate, linguistic baccalaureate and Batxibac), one in specific areas or themes (artistic, sports, digital), and one fostering ties with vocational training (with units from training cycles, the BatxPro and the dual qualification).

Compared to last year, the number of centres offering new baccalaureate courses has also increased, rising from 21 during the 2020-2021 academic year to 31 for the coming year. All centres in the city can offer adapted options to complete the course over three years and the linguistic course with material from official language schools (EOI), while the Institut Alzina is creating an international baccalaureate.

There are also seventeen publicly run schools offering artistic baccalaureate course in visual arts and performing arts.

Initial vocational training and professional sectors

In all, 26 centres are offering vocational training in the city, with 14 more courses compared to last year. As regards sports education, four new groups are being added, as is the case with artistic training.

This will be the first time that two basic professional training courses (CFGB) will be promoted, with a group at the Institut La Mercè geared towards cross-cutting skills and students gaining a professional certificate. This will enable students to be introduced into the education system who have dropped out prematurely.

More options are available for unqualified students, with two training and insertion programmes (PFI). Two further itineraries are also being created with educational needs linked to minor or moderate intellectual disabilities. At the same time, there are proposals for three more specialised courses to access training in emerging sectors.

Different professional areas are also being developed to group together FP qualifications according to interest. In this case, the next academic year will see the following new groups offered:

• Hospitality, hotels and tourism: a higher qualification (CFGS) in kitchen management, two regular cycles (CFGM) in cooking, baking gastronomy, confectionary and cakemaking, a specific training itinerary (IFE) in restaurant and meals services, all at the Escola d’Hoteleria i Turisme de Barcelona.
• Sport: a technical qualification in football and canoeing in calm waters at the Barcelona Institute for Sports, and a regular qualification in alpine skiing at the Institut de Nàutica de Barcelona.
• Business and finance: a PFI to become an assistant in product distribution and logistics and a CFGM in food product sales at the Institut dels Aliments de Barcelona, and an IFE to become a sales and customer service assistant at the Institut Poblenou.
• Art: a regular artistic qualification (CAGM) to become a printing assistant at the EA Massana, a CAGM in screen printing at the EAD Llotja and a CAGM in 3D animation at the EA La Industrial, a CFGM to become a video and sound DJ and a specialised course in audio description and subtitling, both at the EMAV.
• Digital: a CFGS in 3D animation, games and interactive environments at the Institut Tecnològic de Barcelona and at the EAD Deià, a specialised course in cybersecurity in IT environments at the Institut Tecnològic de Barcelona, which will also be offering a digital baccalaureate course, a CFGB in office IT, along with the Institut La Guineueta.
• Fashion and beauty: a CFGM in hairdressing and hair cosmetics at the Institut La Mercè and a CFGB in hairdressing and beauty at the Institut Vall d’Hebron.
• Sustainability: a CFGS in renewable energies at the Institut Escola del Treball and a CFGM in water treatment plants and networks at the Institut Rubió i Tudurí.
• Industry 4.0: a specialised course in smart manufacturing and a CFGS in maintenance of thermal and fluid installations, both at the Institut Escola del Treball, plus a PFI to become a maintenance and repair assistant for personal mobility vehicles at the Institut Rambla Prim.
• Biosanitation: a specialised course in cellular cultivation and a CFGS in clinical lab work, both at the Institut Bonanova.

Progress continues in the specialisation of education centres by area of interest with the creation of the Barcelona Food Institute, based at Mercabarna, the largest wholesale market in southern Europe, with six hundred companies. The new centre will offer training cycles and higher degrees as from the 2021-2022 academic year, with five cycles: food product sales; production of food products; baking, cakemaking and confectionary; quality processes in the food industry and dietetics.

The centre will also strengthen the focus on sustainable food. The institute comes in addition to other newly created centres based around specific areas, such as the Barcelona Technology Institute and the Barcelona Sports Institute.

Support for families and young people

Families can find information on pre-registration at www.edubcn.cat and information on centres and new developments in the city. The website by the Catalan Ministry for Education, www.triaeducativa.gencat.cat, also has the content for all these courses, along with access requirements and academic and professional openings they lead to.

A magazine for compulsory education is also available, with student experiences, training paths, dual FP options and emerging sectors: information sessions for families are being offered on Instagram Live at @consorciedubcn on 5 and 6 May, with support and advice from the Youth Plan, infoJOVE services in Barcelona and schooling offices.