The Grouping of Schools of Águeda Sul (AEAS) results from the aggregation of the former Groups of Schools of Aguada de Cima and Fermentelos with the Marques de Castilho Secondary School.
It has the Secondary School Marques de Castilho and includes basic schools of 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycles and Pre-School Education.
The Group should develop its action, in the organizational plan and in the pedagogical plan, from four fundamental strategic axes: 1. Leadership and strategy; 2. Culture and organizational and community identity; 3. Quality of service and impact on people; 4. Pedagogical practice, innovation and commitment to success.
The group's Educational Project is governed by the following guiding principles: a) The principle of knowledge; b) The principle of adaptability; c) The principle of educational quality; d) The principle of citizenship and democratic participation; e) The principle of inclusion, integration and respect for difference; f) The principle of cooperation and openness to the environment; g) The principle of efficiency; h) The principle of effectiveness and, i) The principle of sustainability.
One of the main goals of the AEAS Education Project is to improve school performance and combat early school leaving by preventing students from entering the job market without a professional qualification.
School success is seen not only from the point of view of effectiveness in completing schooling, but also, and above all, from the point of view of the quality of success, always respecting the different rhythms of learning.
The aim is to raise the average level of academic achievement by empowering students by preparing them scientifically and technically to successfully complete their higher education or to enter the world of work, striving for successful professional careers.
The aim is to raise the average level of academic achievement by empowering students by preparing them scientifically and technically to successfully complete their higher education or to enter the world of work, striving for successful professional careers.
The AEAS brings together in its organizational chart an intermediate structure called Social and Educational Support Services (SASE), integrating the Inclusive Education Services (formerly Special Education), the Support Program for Health Promotion and Education (PAPES), Educational Social Services and the Psychology and Guidance Service.
The problem of migrant families is one of the many themes analyzed and worked out by the constituent elements of this Service, considering the development of a systemic, articulated, cooperative and networked work, elaborating structured intervention plans based on the social reality of each student and family, administering and/or activating resources in different contexts (health, education, social security, justice / forensics, etc ...), and by transforming social policies into social and educational services.
The school population is quite heterogeneous, presenting diverse socioeconomic and cultural levels, as well as distinct family structures and functioning. So, to adjust and promote integrative and inclusive socio educational solutions, namely to our migrant families (which have been increasing considerably, given the socio-economic and socio-political situation experienced in their countries of origin), we also work with Qualifica Center of the AEAS.
The Qualifica Center's mission is to provide citizens over the age of 18 the conclusion of school paths, at basic and secondary level, either through the Recognition, Validation and Certification of Competencies (RVCC) or Adult Education and Training Courses. It also does professional certification through the RVCC-PRO process and sends Adults to modular training courses in the most diverse areas (English, French, Computer Science, Digital Marketing, Pastry, Aesthetics, among others) promoted by the Qualifica Center itself or by other partner entities.
In addition, it has developed Portuguese Courses for Speakers of Other Languages, in conjunction with the AEAS itself. These courses brought a considerable number of foreigners to the Center. So far, around 150 migrants have taken advantage of these courses and another 30 to 40 new registrations have been registered.
According to the number of paid/unpaid staff and members of the working group the AEAS have nearly hundred collaborators, eight of them work in Qualifica Center.
The AEAS is located in the municipality of Águeda that presents territorial asymmetries, both in terms of given importance and rural and urban development. However, it has a high density of companies, with a strong heterogeneity in its territorial distribution. So, AEAS have relevant partnerships with Municipal Board and its services, the unemployment Centre, other Schools (with educations paths for youngsters and adults), NGO’s, IPSS's, Social Security, Justice and parishes.
Besides that we participate in a range of european projects as local stakeholders, for example, with Psientífica.