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Aprendizes

Portugal, Lisbon

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Portuguese, English
Fees €10,604 - 16,786
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 575
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels
Taught languages Portuguese, English, Spanish, French
Typical class size 18
Strengths STEM, Languages, Outdoor Education
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Aprendizes is an International Active Learning School serving ages 3–18, with a continuous pre‑school to secondary program. In the Early Years, the Portuguese National Curriculum is taught with enrichment, with Portuguese as the main language and English as a second language. In Middle School (Grades 5–8), most grades follow Cambridge International Curriculum; Grades 5, 7 and 8 use English, while Grade 6 emphasises Portuguese. From 2025–26, Cambridge starts at Grade 5, with a pathway to Cambridge IGCSE, AS Levels and A Levels. The campus blends nature and sustainable design, with large outdoor spaces, an amphitheatre, library, therapy room, and on‑site labs for Physics, Biology and Chemistry, plus music and arts rooms. Enrichment includes Yoga, Cambridge Global Perspectives, and creative workshops, plus field trips. Erasmus+ mobility and the Duke of Edinburgh Award highlight the school's international dimension. With full Cambridge examination pathways, Aprendizes aims to prepare students for university and successful careers globally.

R. Depósitos da Água 2750, 2750-561 Cascais, Portugal

The Essentials

Aprendizes has 575 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in Portuguese, English.

Location
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.

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

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

School day structure
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.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Healthy home-cooked meals are offered daily, with two vegetarian days per week, and snacks are provided. Lunch rotates between fish, meat, and vegetarian options and meals use organic, locally sourced, seasonal ingredients; gluten-free options are available. The menu changes regularly and follows nutritional guidelines from the DGS and WHO. Nuts are banned for safety, with a risk of cross-contamination on days when parents bring food.

Governance and Ownership
Aprendizes has a sociocratic-inspired organizational model with shared leadership and distributed power. The leadership team is non-hierarchical and democratic, with representation across school sections; the Direction team is composed of the two owners of the school.
Fees

Annual tuition at Aprendizes ranges from EUR 10,604 to EUR 16,786 for 2026/27.

Application / Admission Fees
- New-student admission fee: equal to two monthly tuition payments (non‑refundable).
- Annual registration fee (new students): equal to one monthly tuition payment (non‑refundable).
- Re-enrolment (current students): re‑enrolment fee equal to one monthly tuition payment (non‑refundable).

Tuition fees by year group (amounts shown as monthly and annual; tuition is billed as 11 monthly payments from September to July)
- Pre‑school: EUR 964 per month — EUR 10,604 per year.
- 1st to 4th grade: EUR 1,126 per month — EUR 12,386 per year.
- 5th and 6th grade: EUR 1,291 per month — EUR 14,201 per year.
- 7th and 8th grade: EUR 1,355 per month — EUR 14,905 per year.
- 9th and 10th grade (IGCSE): EUR 1,500 per month — EUR 16,500 per year.
- 11th and 12th grade (A‑levels): EUR 1,526 per month — EUR 16,786 per year.

Approximate per‑term amounts (parent reference only — annual fee divided by three standard academic terms)
- Pre‑school: approx. EUR 3,535 per term (EUR 10,604 ÷ 3).
- 1st–4th: approx. EUR 4,129 per term (EUR 12,386 ÷ 3).
- 5th–6th: approx. EUR 4,734 per term (EUR 14,201 ÷ 3).
- 7th–8th: approx. EUR 4,968 per term (EUR 14,905 ÷ 3).
- 9th–10th (IGCSE): EUR 5,500 per term (EUR 16,500 ÷ 3).
- 11th–12th (A‑levels): approx. EUR 5,595 per term (EUR 16,786 ÷ 3).

How admission/registration fees translate into euro amounts (examples)
- Admission fee (new student) = 2 × monthly tuition. Example: Pre‑school admission fee = EUR 964 × 2 = EUR 1,928. Registration fee (new student) = 1 × monthly tuition (Pre‑school example = EUR 964). These admission and registration fees are non‑refundable.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is presented as an annual amount and divided into 11 monthly payments (September through July); monthly invoices are issued accordingly.
- Invoices must be settled by the 5th day of each month.
- Late payment penalty: an additional 5% is applied for each week, or fraction thereof, of delayed payment.
- Sibling discounts: 10% for the first sibling (applied to the younger sibling) and 20% for the second sibling and any subsequent siblings.
- Field trips that are curricular are included in the monthly fee; other optional activities are charged separately.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable. The school operates as a day school with core opening hours and optional extended care; parents are charged for late collection as indicated below.

Optional care / late‑collection charges
- Normal school hours: 08:00–18:00. Time after 17:00 until 18:00 is considered extended care. After 18:00, a late‑collection fee of EUR 15.00 is charged for every 15 minutes of delay.

Other annual or one‑off costs
- Student personal accident insurance: EUR 50 per year.
- Contribution to school materials (annual): Pre‑school EUR 20; 1st–4th EUR 30; 5th–8th EUR 40; 9th–12th (IGCSE & A‑levels) EUR 50.
- Cambridge (exam) fees: IGCSE — EUR 160 per subject (single), EUR 320 per double‑credit subject; A‑levels — AS EUR 188 per subject, A2 EUR 188 per subject, Full A‑level (when staged examination is not available) EUR 272; Global Perspectives EUR 303; AICE Diploma EUR 198. An administrative monthly Cambridge fee and occasional/'sporadic' charge are also listed in the school fee schedule.

Refund information
- Admission, annual registration and re‑enrolment fees are explicitly non‑refundable (including in the case of withdrawal).

Fee payment options
- The published school fee schedule does not list specific accepted payment methods (bank transfer, card, direct debit, etc.) in the public fee document.

Notes on billing mechanics
- The school calculates the fees on an annual basis and divides the annual amount into 11 monthly instalments (September–July); monthly instalments are payable in full regardless of the number of teaching days in any particular month.
Academics

Aprendizes teaches Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International AS Levels, Cambridge A Levels for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
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.

Exam Results
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.

Higher Education Progression
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.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
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.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
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.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
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.

Mental Wellbeing
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.

Safeguarding
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.
Parent Experience

Community
Aprendizes builds a collaborative, non-hierarchical learning community that emphasizes democratic decision-making and active involvement from students, teachers and families. The school fosters strong parent and student engagement through formal structures such as the Parents, Teachers, and Students Organisation (PTSO) and the Parents Organisation Committee (POC), with class representatives elected annually and PTSO meetings held twice per term. A Student Council gives students a voice in school life, including developing clubs and initiatives. Parents are invited to monthly Coffee Mornings with leadership to discuss updates, questions and ideas, reinforcing partnership with the leadership.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Parents, Teachers and Students Organisation (PTSO) is established at the beginning of each academic year to foster collaboration and communication within our school community. Every year, parent and student representatives are elected for each class, with a parent representative and a deputy chosen at the first parents' meeting; the PTSO meets twice per term. The Parents Organisation Committee (POC) serves as the leadership group for parent involvement in the school, coordinating parent-led initiatives to align with the school's goals and community needs.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The facilities were designed to be in balance with nature, built with sustainable materials, maximizing light and connection to outdoor spaces. The warm, functional and harmonious environment reflects the school's learning model. In addition to a large outdoor space, there are spacious classrooms, music and arts rooms, and areas for sport. There is also an amphitheatre, a welcoming library, a therapy room, and laboratories for Physics, Biology and Chemistry, all equipped to Cambridge requirements.

Sports Facilities
Areas for sport on campus.

Academic Facilities
Laboratories for Physics, Biology and Chemistry are on site and equipped to Cambridge requirements. There are rooms for music and the arts, plus a welcoming library and a therapy room. These facilities support the Cambridge International Curriculum and the school's broader academic program.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Curriculum enrichment includes Yoga, Cambridge Global Perspectives, and creative workshops as well as other extracurricular activities. In Pre-school, the language of instruction is Portuguese with English as a secondary language, and enrichment includes Music, Meditation, Yoga, English, Physical Education, Forest Activities, Garden, Office of Sounds for early literacy, SER and Assemblies. Primary enrichment includes Yoga, Meditation, Theatre, Workshops (three per year) on topics such as Financial Literacy, Drama & Expression and Technology, plus Garden, SER, Time for Reading and Assemblies. The Cambridge International Curriculum is offered in Middle School (5th to 8th grade) with enrichment in Music, Physical Education and Global Perspectives, and assessments based on Cambridge Examinations.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school has Academic Clubs designed to deepen subject-specific knowledge and extend classroom learning. These clubs challenge students who wish to explore topics in greater depth and develop critical thinking. All students participate in field trips as an integral part of the curricular program, providing hands-on opportunities to connect classroom concepts with real-world contexts. Erasmus+ mobility and related activities enrich intellectual development through international learning experiences for students and teachers.

Arts & Creative
The school has an enriched arts program that includes Theatre and various creative endeavors as part of the compulsory enriched curriculum. Workshops further support creativity, with topics such as Drama & Expression and Technology explored across the year. Arts & Design and Music are integrated into the curriculum as compulsory subjects, reinforcing artistic development alongside other disciplines. These experiences foster collaboration, expression, and imaginative thinking.

Cultural & Language
The school has Erasmus+ projects that enable teachers and students to learn and exchange ideas with schools across Europe, promoting intercultural understanding. Mobility is built into the program, with 8th-grade exchanges to the Czech Republic in January 2026 and 9th-grade exchanges to Denmark in April 2026. An Erasmus Club operates for 8th and 9th graders, meeting Thursdays during lunch to support intercultural learning. These activities cultivate global citizenship and cross-cultural collaboration.

Social & Hobbies
The school has Extracurricular Activities that require separate registration and an additional fee, tailored to individual interests. Academic Clubs deepen subject knowledge, while Non Academic Clubs focus on creativity, leadership, and teamwork to encourage social interaction. Field trips and other activities provide hands-on enrichment beyond the standard curriculum.

Community & Service
The school has the Duke of Edinburgh Award, an internationally recognized program that develops students' skills, physical fitness, and commitment to community service. The Award fosters resilience, leadership, and a spirit of adventure, with recent Bronze-level celebrations reflecting student achievement. This program strengthens voluntary service and personal development within the school community.

Leadership & Professional
The school has Academic and Non Academic CLUBS that cultivate leadership, creativity, and collaboration, extending learning beyond the classroom. The Duke of Edinburgh Award provides structured leadership and service opportunities, reinforcing professional and personal growth. Erasmus+ mobility and teacher training activities also promote professional development and international collaboration.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school has Yoga and Meditation included in the curriculum to nurture inner strength, focus, and emotional well-being. The Compulsory Enriched Curriculum also includes SER (Social & Emotional Redesign) and Physical Education to support overall well‑being. These elements, together with active learning and field experiences, promote healthy habits and resilience.
Languages

Language Provision
Portuguese and English are core languages across the Cambridge curriculum. Grades 5, 7 and 8 use English as the main teaching language, with Portuguese as a first or second language; Grade 6 uses Portuguese as the main language with English as a first or second language. Grades 7–8 also offer Spanish or French. In Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels, the Cambridge International Curriculum is used, with English as the main language at IGCSE and A-Level, and Portuguese language/literature and Spanish language among the subject options.

Bilingual Teaching
The school uses a bilingual English-Portuguese framework within the Cambridge curriculum. In Grades 5, 7 and 8, English is the main teaching language with Portuguese as a first or second language; Grade 6 uses Portuguese as the main language with English as a first or second language.
Admissions

Admissions
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.
School Events
The school has not added events
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