Education
Your Guide To Public & Private Schools In and Near Velez-Malaga
If you’re thinking of moving (or have recently moved) to Velez-Malaga and have children, one of your first questions will undoubtedly be about schooling options. First of all, it’s worth bearing in mind that children attend school from the age of 3 in Andalucia . Places at the better schools are limited so ensure you apply in April with plenty of time for the coming September. The places are means tested and catchment area (among other things) is taken into account.
Velez has one semi-private school – Enseñanza San José (where donations are requested) and the rest are public schools. There are three private schools to the east of Malaga each offering different curriculums (Spanish, British & International). They are within 30 minutes’ drive from Velez-Malaga and school buses leave from the town. Let’s start with the private schools close to Velez-Malaga…
Private Schools East of Malaga
The nearest private school to Velez-Malaga is Novaschool Añoreta, it’s 20-minutes drive from the centre of Velez. It offers the Spanish Curriculum and a bilingual (ES/EN) education.
Novaschool Añoreta (Spanish Education System)
Ages 3-18 years
Carretera a Macharaviaya, s/n
29730
Rincon de la Victoria
Malaga
952 97 23 11
Pros: Very established, strong team, technology & communication (Student information system: Myagora), large indoor swimming pools & gymnasium, primary 50:50 EN:ES.
The next two private schools to the east of Malaga and are both 30-minutes drive from the centre of Velez-Malaga. They are English language schools with Spanish lessons until A-level or IB where more Spanish language subjects can be taken by students.
The British School Malaga (British Education Curriculum)
Ages 3-18 years
Urb. Cerrado de Calderon
8 Avenida Centaurea
29018
Malaga
952 29 01 49
Pros: British teachers, English language, indoor gymnasium.
Yago School Malaga (International Baccalaureate System)
Ages 3-18 years
C. Escritora Fuster Gallardo, 10, Bajo
Malaga-Este
Malaga, 29018
951 01 29 90
Pros: International Baccalaureate, padel courts, English language.
Now for the state schools in the town…
Public Schools In Velez-Malaga
Centro Privado de Enseñanza San José
Semi-private school for ages 3-18 years
1 Calle San Juan
952 50 02 43
Colegio Publico la Axarquia
Public school for ages 3-16 years
Calle Camino Viejo de Malaga
951 28 99 74
Colegio Publico Augusto Santiago Bellido
Public school for ages 3-16 years
9 Pje Travesia Reñidero
951 28 99 42
Colegio Publico El Romeral
Public school for ages 3-16 years
19 Lugar Parque del Romeral
951 28 99 67
Colegio Las Naciones
Public school for ages 3-16 years
Calle Alfareros, 1
951 28 98 26
Colegio Publico la Gloria
Public school for ages 3-16 years
Calle Gloria
951 28 99 72
Spanish Education System
Spain’s education system is organised into stages: early childhood education, primary school (ages 6–12), and compulsory secondary education (ESO, up to age 16), followed by either academic Bachillerato or vocational training.
In recent years, it has gone through significant reforms aimed at modernising how students learn. The latest education law (LOMLOE 2020) has shifted the focus away from rote memorisation and high-stakes final exams, and towards a more competency-based model. That means more emphasis on critical thinking, practical skills, collaborative work and applying knowledge in real-world contexts rather than simply recalling facts. This is slowly (very slowly in some cases) being adapted by schools. Novaschool mentioned above has embraced these changes where they can.
There has also been a push for more inclusive classrooms, fewer grade repetitions, updated digital curricula and stronger vocational pathways, reflecting a broader effort to make the system more flexible and better aligned with today’s social and economic needs.
Share this
