Aprendizes

Aprendizes International Active Learning School is located at Rua dos Depósitos de Águas, 2750-561 Cascais, Lisboa, Portugal. The campus is in Cascais, within the Lisbon region. The school serves families in the Cascais area.

Pre-School, Primary, Middle (Grade 5-8), and Secondary (Grade 9-12). The school path spans from early years through adolescence.

The school is an International Active Learning School. It operates as a multi-level institution serving pre-school through secondary.

The school opens at 8:00 and closes at 18:00. Pre-School hours are 8:45-16:15, Primary hours are 8:45-16:00, Middle hours are 8:30-15:00 or 15:50, and Secondary hours are 8:30-15:50 or 16:40 depending on the grade.

The school offers Portuguese National Curriculum and Cambridge International Curriculum. In Pre-School and Primary, instruction follows the Portuguese National Curriculum with enrichment subjects. The teaching language is Portuguese as the main language and English as the second language in Preschool and Primary. In Middle School (5th–8th grade), 6th grade follows the Portuguese curriculum while 5th, 7th and 8th grades follow the Cambridge International Curriculum; English is the teaching language for Grades 5, 7 and 8, while Portuguese remains key for Grade 6. For the 2025–26 academic year, the school will transition to the Cambridge curriculum starting at Grade 5; Cambridge is described as diverse, flexible and supportive for future university and career choices.

Academic Achievements 2024-25: IGCSE — 83% pass rate (C or above); 39% A/A; 58% A–B; 82% A–C; 100% pass in Global Perspectives; Spanish 10/11 A; Special mention: Maria Luisa (A/A). A-Level — 93% pass rate; 40% A–B; Portuguese 100% A/A; 3 students achieved the AICE Diploma with Distinction; Special mentions: Emilia Prevost and José Schmitt.

University offers from prestigious universities worldwide include University of Plymouth, University of Vilnius, Cardiff University, Royal Holloway University of London, Erasmus University Rotterdam, University of Greenwich, Maastricht University, IE University, University of San Francisco, University of Exeter, and King's College London.

SER (Social & Emotional Redesign) promotes well-being for students of all ages. SER focuses on helping students navigate their emotions, build healthy relationships and develop self-awareness. SER is an enrichment subject across cycles and is complemented by workshops and other enrichment offerings that support social and emotional development. The Class/Section Assembly is a weekly Friday gathering with Head Teachers, fostering community, reflection, recognition of achievement, open dialogue and a positive school culture. Through Enrichment, including Study Skills, Building Skills, English Skills and Global Perspectives, SER is integrated to support holistic growth and academic development.

SEN support is provided through the Well-being and Learning Support team. The team has experience supporting students with special educational needs and guiding families and teachers with practical learning strategies and socio-emotional development. There is extra focus on learning support across cycles. A Head of Well-being and Learning Support leads these efforts.

Portuguese is the main language of instruction in the early cycles, with English as the second language. In Grades 5, 7 and 8, English is the main language of instruction. Spanish or French are offered as options in 7th and 8th grades. In Secondary (IGCSE), the teaching language is English. All classes are taught in English at Upper Secondary and Advanced levels, with Portuguese offered as a first or second language and Spanish and French available as additional languages. There is extra support for English as a second language and learning support.

PROMEHS is a European curriculum for promoting mental health, developed by researchers from seven countries. Training is underway to integrate PROMEHS into classroom work within the SER framework. PROMEHS provides an evidence-based framework to strengthen socio-emotional wellbeing for students and teachers. The program supports practices that develop personal and social skills, improve relationships and learning, and reduce risk behaviors, anxiety, and emotional distress. Implementing PROMEHS within the SER framework represents a strategic investment in wellbeing and holistic growth.

The school has a Child Protection Committee composed of representatives from the Pedagogical Direction, the Well-being team, and the Team for Direction. The school has anti-bullying measures and policies. A safeguarding contact is provided via childprotection@aprendizes.pt.

Step by Step Guide. We warmly welcome you to our community! Admissions begin in the fall prior to the desired year of attendance. If you would like to join during the current academic year, contact us directly by EMAIL. We would like to emphasize that our school is currently at full capacity, so being pre-registered does not guarantee admission. Pre-Registration: We recommend reviewing our school policy and procedures before completing the pre-registration. School Tour & Meeting: We will contact you to arrange a meeting with members of the school team. If asked, we can arrange a school tour. The school tour takes about 1 hour and we encourage both parents/guardians and students to come visit our school. If the visit can't take place, we will be happy to schedule an online interview. Through the admissions process, we might request additional documentation. School Experience: Eventually, a school experience can be organised for your child to come join us for 1 day. Experiencing school is the best way to understand what it means to be a part of our community. If needed, to better identify possible needs for the student adaptation, an interview can be scheduled between the parents, homeroom teacher and/or a member of the multidisciplinary support team. English Test (7th grade onwards): For children who will enter directly into the Cambridge system, an English proficiency test is required. Lower secondary students who need additional language support can get assistance from school. Confirmation of Admission, Payment & Registration: Accepted students/families will be notified by e-mail and then have 3 days to pay the annual, non-refundable, Registration Fee (per student) and a onetime Admission Fee (per student). Your child is considered enrolled when the above fees have been received by the school on time. Availability of place cannot be guaranteed in case payments are not received on time, and other students may be admitted.