I was teaching in a school in Vallecas for a short while ( Vallecas is an area of Madrid ) , and after the school day finished , they offered vocational courses to teenagers wanting to study engineering . I´m guessing that´s an indication that vocational courses are available .
I stayed with a family in France for 3 weeks when I was 18 , and attended a college and my penpal´s municipal school . When you turn 16 you have a choice of an academic or vocational education . That was in 1984 .. but I remember being very impressed by that system .