Catalonia’s 2026–27 school year will start on 8 September with 2,141 welcome classrooms, 501 more than the 1,640 operating at the end of the previous year, according to data from the Departament d’Educació. The classrooms support newly arrived pupils to learn Catalan and enter the education system, giving families whose children have recently arrived an additional route into school-based language support.

Each welcome classroom will have a maximum of 18 pupils per teacher. The cap was agreed in March between the Department and CCOO, the Workers’ Commissions trade union, and UGT, the General Workers’ Union.

More intensive Catalan-language provision

The Department will increase the number of intensive welcome classrooms from 27 to 45. These classes provide intensive Catalan-language learning so pupils can begin the wider educational programme as soon as possible.

Each intensive welcome classroom has two teachers.

  • 2,141 welcome classrooms are planned for the start of 2026–27.
  • 1,640 were operating when the previous school year ended.
  • 45 intensive welcome classrooms will operate, up from 27.
  • The maximum ratio in welcome classrooms is 18 pupils per teacher.

Teaching staff rise while pupil numbers remain steady

The Department expects 85,052 teachers at the start of term, an increase of 1,103, or 1.3%, on the previous year. Total pupil numbers are expected to remain broadly unchanged at 1,604,988.

The Department also says healthcare support for pupils requiring care at school will reach 50% of Catalan schools. It says the expansion is intended to support pupils with chronic illnesses and care needs.

School building works continue across Catalonia

A [Generalitat infrastructure update](https://govern.cat/salapremsa/notes-premsa/780536/generalitat-comenca-2026-gairebe-200-obres-projectes-marxa-equipaments-educatius) said that nearly 200 education construction, refurbishment and expansion projects were under way at the start of 2026. It listed 84 works with just over €100 million budgeted and 111 projects with more than €25 million allocated.

The new Institut Vallcarca in Barcelona and the Escola Sentmenat project were each budgeted at about €7.3 million, according to the Generalitat. The expansion of Institut Escola Pere Lliscart in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat had a €3.6 million budget.

Families should check arrangements with their child’s school before the 8 September start date, particularly where a new welcome classroom or building work affects their centre.

Primary sources: govern.cat. Reported by racocatala.cat, elpuntavui.cat, ara.cat, M.E, rtve.es, cronicaglobal.cat, elnacional.cat, Racó Català.