Our Vision & mISSION
Together
we Educate
for Change
Together
"It takes a village to raise a child” African proverb
Embracing this adage, we wholeheartedly endorse and cultivate equitable, caring relationships among our students, teachers, staff, and parents. With shared intentions and a collective desire for the well-being and success of our students, we cultivate a strong community.
Our belief in the power of diversity drives us to create an inclusive, inviting environment that welcomes all, irrespective of nationality, religion, race, ability, sexuality, or socio-economic background. Our organisational structure is non-hierarchical, emphasising democratic decision-making, and allowing everyone to contribute. As a learning organisation, we continuously ask ourselves "why" we do as we do and regularly seek our students', staff's, and parents' feedback.
We want to "be the best - with the rest", ensuring quality education for all children. To this end, we collaborate with other institutions, willingly sharing what we do and how we do it.
…we Educate…
We believe that a child immersed in a supportive, stimulating, and loving environment will naturally acquire mastery in whatever their passions are. There they can develop their self-worth, and feel empowered, motivated, and secure. We see children for who they are, respect their individuality and we never see them as the problem. They can have problems - but they are not their problems.
Education, as we see it, is a lifelong journey. As a school, we are there to guide them on this path. Sometimes by walking in front of them and setting high expectations and direction. More times by walking next to them and holding their hands. And most often by walking behind them and being there to facilitate their learning.
We set high expectations and fully believe in the students so that they can also believe in themselves (growth mindset). We are here to set them up for success, so they can be protagonists of their destiny and have a fulfilled life.
Embracing bilingualism (English and Portuguese) and active learning, we place equal value on academic achievement (math, natural and social sciences, languages, PE, arts, and music), well-being (Social Emotional Redesign, yoga, play, being in the outdoors) and engagement (experimenting, exploring, volunteering, entrepreneurship).
To provide the best conditions for learning, our commitment extends to developing a nurturing physical space, encompassing generous installations, healthy organic meals, extensive play areas, varied sports facilities, animals on campus, and direct access to gardens and forests. Simultaneously, we nurture a psychologically secure learning environment, characterized by a steadfast commitment to eradicating bullying and ensuring no child experiences isolation.
…for Change.
We assume our role as active local and global citizens, acting to make our society more just, transparent, affectionate and sustainable, as also laid out in the Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, it is important for all of us to question what aspects of our behaviour contribute to problems such as pollution, waste, and injustice, as well as to recognise our individual contributions to the solutions through consciousness, collaboration, and action.
The world is undergoing rapid change, and we are open to evolving with it, not against it. As a result, we value critical questioning, creative collaborative problem-solving, and a culture where it is okay to fail, fail again and fail better. We bring the world to the school and the school to the world.
We want to ensure that children are well-versed in their rights (to participate, to be heard, to be included, ...) as well as their responsibilities (treating others with respect, actively listening, contributing to the community, ...).
We have to be the change we want to see.
Our Way of Working
“Do not train children to learning by force and harshness, but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.”
PLATO
We develop the child as a whole, with a student-centred approach, through active learning in a safe and inclusive environment.
Our Strategic Framework
“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”
_Margaret Mead
The world around us is changing and we are continuously evolving with it. We do not subscribe to any particular pedagogical model, but we have various educational philosophies as inspiration.
OBJECTIVE
Whole Child Development
Our approach focuses on physical and emotional wellbeing. We respect the individuality and rhythm of each child and strive to serve the best interests of the students.
METHODOLOGY
Active Learning
From passive to active: we encourage learning through experience. We believe that learning through play, promotes true joy, engagement and creativity. Sometimes we do things for our students. More often we do things with our students. Mostly we let it be by the students.
PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH
Student Centred Approach
The child must always come first. We serve the best interests of the students to explore their intelligence and capacities, respecting the individuality of each child.
ENVIRONMENT
Safe & Inclusive Environment
Everyone has the right to work and learn in a safe and secure environment. Our school culture recognises and celebrates diversity. We invite everyone to contribute in our quest to make Aprendizes a safe, respectful and inclusive community.
Pedagogical
Approach
High-Scope
We are enthusiastic about the ideas behind active learning and the fact that it brings the child to the centre of the learning process. It inspires us to learn by action and positive adult-child interactions. We value dynamics developed in a child-friendly learning space and recognise the importance of a consistent daily routine, which gives us the possibility to work on different dynamics within the same schedule (large group; small group; individual work).
Waldorf
As a path to more humane teaching, we are inspired to respect the child's natural rhythms, and maintain a holistic vision where education through art, contact with nature and strong teacher-student relationships play an important role.
Modern School
We are inspired by the idea of community, reflected by our school assemblies, our school council, student association, class diaries, presentations and community work.
Nordic Educational Thinking
We take with us the importance of play, equality, freedom with responsibility, collaboration and critical thinking that challenges the norms of traditional schools.
Organisational
Model
We have a sociocratic inspired organisational structure, with a shared leadership and distributed power.
We cherish an empowerment culture and an environment where students and staff members have space to flourish and contribute towards our mission.
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”
In our vision, a school is not just a physical institution but a harmonious community of individuals who come together with shared values and goals. Our team is carefully chosen for their talents, humility, care, intelligence, humour and teaching ability. The relationships between board, leadership, team and students within our school are based on equity, communication, understanding and mutual respect.
The team is distributed across the different areas and sections of the school: Pre-school, Primary, Middle and Secondary, all of which are supported by the pedagogical coordination.
The Team for Direction (TFD) is the group that assumes overall leadership and responsibility of the general, educational and administrative direction for staff and students. Each section of the school is represented in this team. The board is comprised of the two owners of the school.
Pillars & Skills
“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think." Margaret Mead
Diversity & Inclusion
WE BELIEVE IN INCLUSION WHERE ALL STUDENTS SHARE THE SAME CLASSES AND TEACHERS, REGARDLESS OF THEIR NEEDS.
We are a school that welcomes everyone, with different backgrounds and needs, from staff and teachers to students and parents. Each child is unique, and we try to foster an environment where they feel comfortable and safe for self-expression.
Nature
WE SEE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH NATURE AS ONE OF THE GREAT RESOURCES OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT.
The school was designed for our students to have daily contact with nature. We seek to embrace the unique rich geography of the Cascais/Sintra area - a biodiverse green outdoor environment that we have right outside our school. For the smaller children we have forest outings every week.
Sustainability
OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCE AND GROW AWARE OF HOW SMALL GESTURES CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Looking after our planet is the best investment in the future. We proudly align our efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By integrating these global objectives into our curriculum, our students apply the concept of sustainability and understand the impact of choosing sustainable actions.
Critical Thinking
INTERDISCIPLINARY AND CREATIVE DIALOGUE LEAD TO CRITICAL THINKING.
Critical thinking is a transversal skill we stimulate by challenging our students, in everyday lessons and outside of the classroom. Our students learn and develop the skills of researching, processing and analysing information, to debate and to communicate in a thoughtful and respectful manner.
Creativity & Leadership
WE PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADAPTABLE THINKERS TO EXPLORE CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING SOLUTIONS.
We support our students to be creative and confident and to experience failure as part of the process of becoming great at something. We empower them to take action, explore the world with empathy and think as enthusiastic innovators. Part of our commitment to cultivating these qualities, we are proud to work in partnership with The Duke of Edinburgh.
Collaboration & Teamwork
FOCUS ON COOPERATION THROUGH HEALTHY COMPETITION.
In an even more globalised world, thinking and pulling resources as a group to solve a common problem is a valuable life skill.
By creating the bridge between achievement and collective engagement we grow collaborative problem solvers.
Academic Mastery
DAILY EXPERIENCES THROUGH TEACHING EXCELLENCE PUSHES UP THE AVERAGE AND BENEFITS EVERYONE'S DEVELOPMENT.
We want our students to perform well in academia and to develop transversal skills, deploying what they have learned, to become an active global citizen.
Essential thinking skills through persistent practice: mental agility, empathy, creativity and critical thinking.
Global Citizenship
WE PROVIDE CREATIVE AND ANALYTICAL FREEDOM FOR STUDENTS TO INNOVATE AND EXPLORE THE WORLD WITH EMPATHY.
Children are challenged to assume active roles within our community and empowered to act locally and globally, to build a more peaceful, tolerant, and inclusive society. Additionally, we collaborate with the Model United Nations (MUN) program throughout the whole school, fostering diplomatic skills and global awareness in our students.
School Policies
School Policy 24/25 [click here]
SCHOOL FEES 2024/25 [CLICK HERE]
Food Policy [click here]
Health and Safety POlicy [click here]
AnTI-Bullying Policy [click here]
Data protection policy [click here]
Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy [click here]