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This section provides useful information for parents to become more familiar with the school system in Portugal and so, more closely, follow their children’s progress.

Available topics

Educational system levels
Enrolment
Timetables
Information
Curricular equivalence
Study Plans
Foreign Schools

Educational system levels

Pre-primary education

Pre-primary education is directed to children between 3 years of age and the mandatory school age; its attendance is optional and it takes place in public or private kindergartens. Public kindergartens are free of charge.

Primary education

Primary education
Cycle	Years	Age
1st	4	6-10
2nd	2	11-12
3rd	3	13-15

Primary education corresponds to compulsory schooling; it lasts for nine years, from 6 to 15 years of age, and is divided into three sequential cycles of education. Students who have completed the 3^rd cycle successfully are given the diploma of basic education. Public schools are free of charge.

Secondary education

Secondary education
Course types	School Years	Age
Scientific-humanistic	10th, 11th, 12th	15-18
Technological
Artistic
Professional

Students who have completed this level of education are given a diploma of secondary education. In public schools, an annual inexpensive school fee must be paid.

The coordination of the policy for the educational system is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education (pre-school education and basic and secondary education) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (higher education).

Enrolment

When should I enrol my child?

The first enrolment is compulsory when the child reaches 6 years of age before 15 September. This is done between the beginning of January and 31 May at the school nearest the parents / guardian’s residence or the area where they work.

Re-enrolment takes place at the end of each school year.

Can I enrol my child outside this time window?

Schools accept enrolments at any time of the year for the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd cycles of primary education with a written request from the child’s parent or guardian. Enrolment for secondary education can also be accepted with the payment of a supplementary fee and depending on vacancies.

What if the child needs to change schools in the middle of the year?

The transfer of students is generally not allowed during the school year in primary or secondary school, except for special reasons duly reviewed by the executive or pedagogical board and in accordance with the express and soundly based will of the child’s parent, or guardian, or the student when an adult, or in the event of a change of residence or choosing an optional or specific discipline.

Students that have not requested a change of school can only be transferred to different schools or groups of schools after the parent, or guardian, or the student when an adult, has been heard, and after a soundly based agreement between the executive boards of the respective schools or groups of schools or, after a second hearing, by authorisation of the relevant regional educational board.

What documents are necessary for enrolment?

The child’s cédula (a type of ID card the child has until school age), identity card or passport or a certificate from the embassy of the country of the child’s origin.
A correctly completed enrolment form with a photograph. This is supplied by the school and if you have difficulty in filling in the form a member of the school staff will help you.
The vaccination book, health centre card and a “connection form”, which is filled in by the Health Centre and allows the immediate detection of visual and hearing problems. It is therefore essential that you register at the Health Centre.
If you have difficulty in acquiring these documents, explain your problem to the school.

In which school should I enrol my child?

You should enrol your child in the school of the area where you live or, if it is easier for you, in the area where you work.

Can the school refuse enrolment?

The school in the area where the parents or guardian reside or where they work can only refuse the enrolment if the child is over 15 years of age or if there are no vacancies at the school. In this case the school will try to find the student a place in another school in the area.

Timetables

What are the school timetables?

1^st cycle

Students have 25 hours of lessons per week. Classes begin at 9.00 am and end at 3.30 pm, with an interval in the middle of the morning and at lunch.

However, some schools work in shifts. In this case, the student will have classes from 8.00 am till 1.00 pm or from 1.15 pm till 6.15 pm. You can choose either shift, and the school will try to respect your choice.

2^nd and 3^rd cycles

Students have approximately 30 hours of classes weekly, mainly in the morning or afternoon.

Does the school have extra-curricular activities?

1^st cycle: Almost all schools have extra-curricular activities as a back up to normal lessons (English, information technology), as decreed by the Ministry of Education. Some schools, however, offer free time activities (ATL), generally organised by the Parents’ Association, and are not always free of charge.
2^nd and 3^rd cycles: Schools frequently offer activities in the 2^nd and 3^rd cycles, sometimes in the form of clubs (Environment, Europe, Photography), which are optional and free but with a limited timetable (two or three hours per week), and sport activities.

Do schools provide lunch?

Most schools have a canteen and provide meals. The price changes every year in accordance with legislation.

Information

May I visit the school?

Yes, at any time. Speak to the school board and ask for the necessary information.

To whom should I speak to obtain more information?

The school board will answer your questions and direct you to any other body if necessary.

May I speak to my child’s teacher?

The parents should always speak to the child’s teacher whenever he or she has an urgent concern or need. You may do this in person, by telephone or through a message written in your child’s exercise book in the 1st cycle. In the 2^nd and 3^rd cycles you can write a message in your child’s register or speak to the class director. In secondary school, you must speak to the class director if the student is under 18 years of age.

Is there a timetable for teachers to receive parents?

There is only one teacher per class in the 1^st cycle. He or she will schedule a time every week in order to speak to parents.

Classes in the 2^nd and 3^rd cycles have more than one teacher, so the contact is made through the class director. Parents and teachers can exchange views about the school, classes and a child’s behaviour and progress. If it is not possible to speak to the class director at the time he usually receives parents, request another meeting.

What happens if a student has difficulties with Portuguese?

Schools have special activities for teaching Portuguese as a second language. Attendance is compulsory and does not exempt the child from attending normal classes in Portuguese. If necessary, the school can offer its premises to promote the teaching of Portuguese as a second language.

Equivalent academic levels

If my child has attended school in the country of origin, how can I obtain curricular equivalence?: You should present the school with a certificate stamped by the Portuguese Embassy in the student’s country of origin or from the Consulate of his country in Portugal. The student will be placed in a class and can immediately begin attending classes in accordance with the level he has reached. The certificates must be translated into Portuguese.

Study plans

What subjects will my child study?

The primary school curriculum is organised in two main areas:

Curricular subject areas
Non-curricular subject areas (personal and social education)

All the curricular subject areas are integrated and organised so as to develop general and specific abilities such as: research, select and organise information/data, or cooperate with others in tasks and common projects.

Citizenship education is included in all areas.

The non-subject areas are common to all three cycles: