The history of secondary education in Spain has many points in common with developments in other European countries, although with differences in time and rhythms. The author highlights the most important reforms of secondary education in contemporary Spain and argues that the understanding of reform does not necesssarily imply innovation or an improvement of teaching and learning. The author makes the case that the proposed changes in secondary education were not effective because they were framed by the Napoleonic model that characterized the entire school system. Furthermore, in most cases the new plans give priority to instruction over education which resulted in a poor formation of young people.