Portuguese education is free and compulsory until age 18. It is divided into preschool, basic education lasting 9 years in 3 stages, secondary education lasting 3 years, and higher education. The school year runs from September to June divided into 3 terms, with holidays in summer, Christmas, Carnival, and Easter. Subjects include Portuguese, math, English, sciences, humanities, sports, crafts, art, and optional religion. Foreign languages taught are English starting in year 3 and French, German or Spanish starting in year 7. Students are evaluated through testing, grading, and final and national exams. The document then provides details on the specific school, including student and teacher numbers, projects, and activities.

1. PORTUGUESE EDUCATION
DROPS Comenius meeting
April 13 – 17, 2015
Agrupamento Escolas Miguel Torga,
Bragança, Portugal

2.  Free and compulsory until the age of 18;
 Regulated by the state through the Ministry of Education;
 Devided into:
• Preschool (under 6);
• Basic education (9 years in 3 stages);
• Secondary Education (3 years);
• Higher Education (University and Polytechnic)

4. SCHOOL YEAR
 3rd week of September - middle of June
 Three terms:
 Holidays:
 3 months in Summer – 2 weeks in June, July, August and first two
weeks in September
 2 weeks for Christmas and New year
 3 days for Carnival
 2 weeks for Easter
• 1st – till middle of December
• 2nd – till Easter
• 3rd – till middle of June

5. CONTENT OF EDUCATION
 National Curriculum for all subjects during compulsory education;
 45 minutes lessons; break every 90 minutes
 Main subjects:
 Portuguese 4-6 lessons
 Maths 6 lessons
 English 3-4
 Sciences 3 - 7 lessons each
 Humanities 2/3 - 6 lessons each
 Sports 3-4
 Crafts 2
 Art 2
 Religion 2 (optional)

6. FOREIGN LANGUAGES
 English:
 Compulsory year 3 – 9
 Books used: Mainly made in the country or made in the UK but
adapted to the NC
 French/German/Spanish
 from year 7
 3/2 lessons/week
• Year 3 and 4 - 2 hours a week
• Year 5 – 9 – 3 lessons a week

7. Evaluation:
 Testing – twice each term (0-100 till year 9; 0-200 from year10
onwards), teacher/school responsibility;
 Grading: end of each term (1-5 till year 9; 0-20 from year 10
onwards);
 Final evaluation: at the end of the school year.
 National exams:
• Year 4, 6 and 9 - Portuguese and Maths
• Year 9 - English Cambridge Examination (PETfS);
• Year 11: 2 exams - Physics and Chemistry, Biology, Portuguese
Literature, Geography, Maths Applied to Social Science…
• Year 12: 2 exams – Portuguese (compulsory to all students), Maths,
History …

8. OUR SCHOOL
Level Years Students Classes
Preschool Mixed groups 95 5
Primary school (stage 1) 1 - 4 240 12
Middle school (stage 2) 5 - 6 125 6 * 2 dance
classes
Secondary school (stage
3)
7 - 9 120 6
High School 10-12 180 8
Adults 9 and 12 50 2
Alternative Curriculum 9 11 1
Total 821 40

9. STAFF
 Headmaster
 Deputies - 3 + 1 (Deputy Head)
 Teachers - 131 (including preschool, special needs and 40
under mobility by specific conditions)
 Librarian Teacher - 1
 Psychologists – 2 (one only for alternative curriculum students)
 Office staff – 11 + 1
 Building management – 30 + 1 (cleaning, kitchen, cafeteria)

10. TEACHERS
 Work load - 40 hours/week
 Headmaster - doesn’t teach
 Deputy - 1 class minimum
 Teacher - 22 (permanence at school - 26)
 Primary teacher – 25 + 2
 Preschool – 25 + 2

11. OUR PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
 European Projects: Comenius and Erasmus +
 School theatre club
 School sports (involves competition outside school)
 Study visits (Porto, Lisbon, Spain, UK…)
 Music group (tuna)
 Eco school
 Students exchanges (France and Brazil)
 Christmas supper
 Easter mass
 National Reading Project (Ler+)
 Extra curricular activites for younger students

12. Thank you so much for being here!