-Ground school was done before the flying, then you do briefings and debrieffings when flying. check JAR-FCL 1 does not say anything about how to organize the ground school time, it states a minimum to be covered though (125 hours if i remember well).
-JAR-FCL 1 also states the FIC has to be at least 30 hours of wich 5 can be simulator (remember that with JAR's PPL training has to include simulated IFR , 5 hours with reference to instruments, so i guess that is the reason why they allow the 5 hours in the sim).
-Yes i did get a job in the UK.
Now guys i don't want to enter in the discusion if the FIC is better in Spain or UK, i just give you some info based on my experience, so you can eventually save some money and/or time.
Paragon, if you want to discus about the quality of the courses in diferent JAA countries , then you look for somebody working in the CAA or something like this but not with me,
if what it bother's you is that some people have , and will save money because their decision was'nt biased by
any prejudice against whatever that is not from your own country, there is nothing that can be said in PPRUNE to help you out.
Good luck with it in any case