The Regional Education Board is spending 2.6m euros on a new school for Velez Benaudalla (just above Motril) to replace the old Colegio Madrigal & Padial. This new building will provide space for a further 225 pupils.

Once the building work commences – the bid for the building contract has just been won by Ferrovial Agroman S.A. – the project should be concluded within 11 months; just in time for the 2012/2013 school year.

The project will be completed in two stages: the first will include the building of the multi-use classrooms for both primary and infant pupils, together with the administrative offices and common areas, while stage two will include the gymnasium, sports area, and covered areas (porches).

The school will include both C1 grading (one classroom for each educational level) and C2 (two classrooms for each educational level).

Secondary education in the village is not included in the project. Instead the old school buildings and the teachers’ houses will be demolished and annexed to the new school, together with the Plaza Escuela, which was the old playground-cum-parking area. In rural villages, the Franco-era schools used to have accommodation for the teachers on the school premises, hence the presence of housing on school grounds.

Getting back to the new school building, it will comprise of three levels, with the ground floor being dedicated to Educacion Infantil, including  six classrooms and toilets, common areas and independent access. Also on the ground floor will be the dining room, kitchen, administrative offices and cloakrooms.

The teachers’ staff room will be on the first floor (to stop them escaping…), the Head Teacher’s office and Head of Studies One, staff toilets and 12 multi-use classrooms, 4 small (group) classrooms, 1 multi-use hall, the school library and toilets for the pupils.

The 2nd, or top floor, will basically mirror the layout of the 1st floor.

(News: Velez Benaudalla/Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)