Colegio Atalaya or Atalaya School is a respected bilingual facility that provides infant, primary and secondary education for children living in Estepona and the neighbouring Marbella, San Pedro Alcántara and Benahavís.
Estepona is already a popular destination on the Costa del Sol for foreign residents due to its gorgeous beaches and the towns charming old quarter and thriving cosmopolitan centre. The region has fantastic amenities and sporting facilities and the school is another good incentive for families with school-age children to buy property there.
Founded as a private institution in 2014 Atalaya School began life as the inspirational project of two local families: the Mata and the Mateos. Their dream was to create a school that would provide young people with an education that would include teaching them to deal with the demands of the modern world.
Now in 2018 Atalaya School has become a respected reference within the educational sector, combining the best aspects of Spanish and English teaching traditions and incorporating modern methodology that allows students to develop within a healthy, safe and happy environment.
Colegio Atalaya is a bilingual school that follows the Spanish curriculum and runs language classes in both Spanish and English, and an additional third language for secondary school pupils onwards. The school believes a teacher’s role is not only to transmit knowledge but also to stimulate curiosity, encourage experimentation and develop social skills and creativity.
Inside the school building light-filled classrooms provide a stimulating environment in which to learn, while both the library and laboratories are equipped with all the latest technology. Counselling services are available for those who need them, fresh nutritional food is served in the canteen and pupils have access to a huge variety of sporting and extra-curricular activities.
Basketball, football, judo and volleyball are among the sports on offer during the school day, while chess, singing, and dance classes will appeal to those who fancy being involved in a less sporty activity. The after-school programme is interesting and varied, and includes golf, horse-riding, sailing, ballet, drama and piano lessons.
Colegio Atalaya has a capacity for 900 students and is located in the El Marqués urbanization, just off the Benahavís road, conveniently close to Estepona, San Pedro Alcántara and Marbella.
Originally published in January 2014, updated by Adam Neale in September 2018
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