Barcelona students taking Catalonia’s university entrance exams, the PAU, started early on Tuesday, 4 June, to avoid possible disruption from a teachers’ strike and mobility restrictions linked to Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the city. The first day went smoothly at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, UPC, Campus Nord, where many candidates arrived well before the exams began.

Teachers Montse and Sergi, from Institut Joan Miró in Cornellà de Llobregat, told Tot Barcelona they asked their students to meet at 7am instead of the usual 7.45am. They arrived at Campus Nord before 9am and said they had worried the exam session could be affected if too many students could not get there. In the end, they said, everyone arrived without incident and the campus was already busy before 8am.

Montse, an English teacher, wore a yellow T-shirt with the slogan “SOS public quality education” in support of the strike’s aims, although she and Sergi did not join the walkout on exam day. Sergi said school trips are a major responsibility for teachers, and noted that the work will stop next year. Montse added that teachers have the support of most families, but that students are often less aware of the reasons behind the protests.

According to data from the Department of Education on Tuesday morning, the strike, which began at 9.30am, had a turnout of 3.55% among the total invited staff. The figure was based on data from a third of the centres where staff had been called to mobilise.

Students also reported smooth journeys to Campus Nord from outside Barcelona. Jon, from Sant Feliu de Llobregat, said the exam was “quite easy” and that what they had studied during the course was enough. Mireia, from El Papiol, said she and her mother left very early because of the strike and the Pope’s arrival, but still reached the venue without problems.

Pau and Laia travelled from Sant Andreu de la Barca on a coach provided by the town council, with their teachers accompanying them. Sira and Miguel, from Col·legi Virolai in Molins de Rei, came by train and tram and said they had no trouble on the way. Inés, from Vila de Gràcia in Barcelona, arrived shortly before 8am and said she had been worried about the strike and the papal visit, but everything went well. She also said Barcelona libraries were closed during her final exams, so she had to study at home, alongside street works near her home.

The PAU exams continue over the coming days, with results due on 19 June. For more Catalonia education updates, see our news page.