History

1992

THE BEGINNING

When a group of foreign teachers, working at an international school in Mexico City, began to tire of educational bureaucracy and city life had an idea. Following a visit to Tequisquiapan, they saw an opportunity to have a family school with great teachers, far from the busy CDMX. After a year of planning and conversations with SEP and EHG the first school opened Monday 30th August 1993 in a rented house on Arteaga. There were only 14 students enrolled on Monday but 16 by Friday!

1994

WITH LIMITED GROWTH

VICTORIA began to develop its unique programmes of study incorporating the best of both British and Mexican education. With limited growth to 45 students in the previous house, we soon had to move to bigger premises on Montes de Oca. The goal to have only excellent teachers was considered achieved as the teaching staff was so small! As it grew, employing both overseas teachers and Mexican nationals; so did a programme of in-service training, higher qualifications and structured collegiality.

Mr. Nevett

1997

MR. NEVETT PURPOSE BUILT-IN SCHOOL

As we kept on growing, perfecting our programmes, reaching out to new teachers, and traveling around in Mr. Nevetts' combi, it wasn't long before we had to find a larger property, moving to the purpose-built place where we are now in Barrio de la Magadela.

Mr. Nevett

2006

BIGGER & BETTER

With the best of both worlds, international education in a quiet place like Tequis, we soon had full classrooms and a long waiting list. We moved from two houses to a school with a library, laboratories, art & technology rooms as well as Secondary and Prepa building in only a few years. The idea had become a concrete project which has continued to develop. We also increased our teaching staff and our agreements with UNAM and local universities.

2007

SEN DEPARTMENT

While many schools talk about ‘individualised attention’ and ‘supporting students with special educational capabilities', VICTORIA is a place where this actually happens! Our SEN Department was created to ensure inclusiveness. Giving gifted and talented students with special needs a chance to succeed in school.

VPO

2021

PREPA ONLINE (VPO)

COVID-19 changed the educational dynamic. As the world adapted, we figured out a way to ensure the basic right of every student; EDUCATION no matter their location or conditions by teaching remotely. And so, VPO (Victoria Prepa Online) was born to offer our services beyond our current VICTORIA community. Particularly to those with the need and desire for a high-quality, international-style Prepa education, while retaining the flexibility to suit their individual needs. Starting with only a small cohort, we now have over 20 students from all over México, helping us change the interface of education.

Current goals include controlled growth to 675 students and moving to our own site. VICTORIA continues to be a family school, with excellent teachers, in Tequisquiapan.

A bit more history...

When a group of foreign teachers, working at an international school in Mexico City, began to tire of educational bureaucracy and city life they had an idea. The four British teachers and their New Zealand colleague had all taught in other countries, all enjoyed Mexico and wondered if it would be possible to sustain an international school that was not in a capital city.

Following a visit to Tequisquiapan, where some British nationals had already settled, they agreed that it was a charming place at a convenient distance from the capital. The idea began to take shape and a school opened, in a rented house, in August 1993.

Determined to be a family school, VICTORIA provided the necessary groups as students enrolled. The original fourteen students were educated in Kindergarten and only three Primary year-groups but another group opened ‘overnight’ when two more boys arrived during the first week!

The Secondary and Prepa teacher for Science and Maths covered gate security and maintenance work, until Secondary students began to arrive during the second term.

The goal to have only excellent teachers was considered achieved as the teaching staff was so small! As it grew, employing both overseas teachers and Mexican nationals; so did a programme of in-service training, higher qualifications and structured collegiality.

An Open Day in January 1994, created a student roll of 45 and a waiting list for the next academic year. Bigger premises were rented and more teachers employed.

The idea had become a concrete project which has continued to develop. The school has grown, moved again, opened a Special Educational Needs Department and ‘Barrio VICTORIA’ is now part of Tequisquiapan.