The education system of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia in Spain benefits from strong foundations and a sustained commitment to educational opportunity. At the same time, declining student performance and persistent disparities in outcomes highlight the need to strengthen the system’s capacity to deliver high-quality learning for all learners. Addressing these challenges will be essential in a rapidly changing world.
In 2025, the OECD and the Government of Catalonia launched a four-year collaboration to support the improvement of learning outcomes across the Catalan education system. As a first step, this report provides a diagnostic assessment of school education in Catalonia, examining the system’s achievements, identifying key challenges and offering recommendations informed by international evidence and experience. Prepared as part of the OECD Reviews of National Policies for Education, the report analyses four areas that are critical to improving learning outcomes: equity and inclusion, teaching and school leadership, evaluation and assessment, and governance and funding. The analysis draws on national and international evidence and has benefited from close collaboration with the Catalan authorities and stakeholders throughout the review process.
This report presents the OECD’s initial findings and recommendations to support Catalonia’s reform efforts. By highlighting both the strengths of the system and areas for further development, it aims to contribute to an informed policy dialogue and to support the continued advancement of a high-quality, equitable and future-oriented education system for all learners in Catalonia.