The eight secondary schools in Mijas opened their doors on Monday 15th to welcome a total of 6,175 students. The holidays are over, and now it's time to 'get down to work' and return to the daily routine of classes. In the town, ESO (compulsory secondary education), Baccalaureate, Vocational Training (intermediate and advanced levels) and Specific Classrooms are distributed among the following centres: Vega de Mijas, Las Lagunas, Sierra de Mijas, Ana Carmona 'Veleta' and San Francisco de Asís in Las Lagunas; La Cala and Torre Almenara in La Cala and Villa de Mijas in Mijas Village. During the 2025-2026 academic year, these schools will have a teaching staff of 504 teachers to cater for these students.
Monday was marked by nerves, and not only among the students. "We're always nervous. We have to organise 1,300 students and around 100 teachers. This is a very large centre and there are always butterflies at the start of each academic year", explained Cristina González, the headmistress of IES Vega de Mijas for the last 19 years, on the first day of class.
- La entrada ha sido escalonada, los de primero y segundo de la ESO han sido los primeros en entrar.
- MJ GÓMEZ
New features
The main new developments this academic year are in vocational training. "This year, dual vocational training is being implemented in the second year. Last year it was introduced in the first year, and now it is being fully rolled out", explained the headmistress of IES Vega de Mijas. Another new feature is the introduction of support in Spanish, Maths and English for first and second year ESO students.
- El curso ya ha echado a rodar, ahora toca la rutina en clase y ponerse las pilas.
- MJ GÓMEZ
Staggered start
To make the return to school easier, the start has once again been staggered. At schools such as IES Vega de Mijas, the first to arrive were first and second year ESO students, who started at 11:45 hours. Janet Cortés, who has moved up to secondary school, admitted before entering the school premises that "I'm nervous, but excited, it's my first year moving up to another level", though she also pointed the positive side, "I'm going to meet new people". It was also an intense day for parents, "I am more nervous than she is, because we don't know how she's going to cope", said Janet's father, Miguel Cortés, who added: "I hope she does well. She has many friends here".
- Un grupo de alumnas de tercero y cuarto esperando para entrar en el instituto.
- MJ GÓMEZ
For 'first-time' parents, those whose children are starting secondary school for the first time, the headmistress of IES Vega de Mijas offered reassurance: "Don't worry, it's just like primary school, there are desks, chairs, subjects... we come to teach and learn", said Cristina González, who added that "as a mother, I understand them, because it's a change of stage and we know it can be a little daunting, but it's okay. Once we've been here a week, everything runs smoothly, just like in primary school".
The rest of the day progressed without incident. At Vega de Mijas, for example, third and fourth year secondary students began at 12:45 hours, and at 13:45 it was the turn of the remaining students: those in Baccalaureate and vocational training.
"I'm scared because I've taken Science, so I've chosen the difficult option", said Daniela Bautista, a fourth-ESO student who was waiting to return to class, "but I'm going to do my best", she added. Daniela María Rodríguez, also in fourth of ESO, was more optimistic: "I think I will do well, but people scare you a lot. It's just another year, then Baccalaureate, then university... so let's study, get down to work and then whatever will be, will be".
Specialised classrooms
IES Vega de Mijas also has a specialised education classroom with places for five students with autism. "They started today, at the same time as the first and second year ESO students", explained the headmistress of the school in Las Lagunas. "They have their own class group of five students, who are in a specialised classroom and also take part in mainstreat lessons for some subjects. We try to indentify their interests . If they like IT, PE or drama, we include them with the rest of the students in those subjects, and it works quite well", added González.
- A los alumnos de primero de la ESO les han enseñado las instalaciones del centro.
- MJ GÓMEZ
CEPER La Jara
In addition to classes in secondary school, Baccalaureate and vocational training, Monday also marked the start of the academic year at the Aduts Education Centre, CEPER La Jara, located at IES Sierra de Mijas. The centre has 400 enrolled students and a teaching staff of six
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