Vale Verde International School

INTRODUCTION
The Vale Verde International School has been a fully recognised International school operating since 2002. The school provides parents in the Western Algarve with the opportunity to give their child an international secondary education, based on the British National Curriculum.

Since its opening the Vale Verde International School has achieved a 100% pass rate for all students in all subjects undertaken in the final IGCSE examinations each year. This remarkable feat has been made possible by the school s well-qualified, dedicated and experienced staff of whom we are justly proud.

In 2002, the Vale Verde International School opened in large modern premises in Burgau, Luz (on the outskirts of Lagos, towards Sagres) fully complying with all the newly-implemented EC regulations. As a result, Vale Verde International School has some of the most modern schooling facilities in the country and is almost daily broadening the range of educational opportunity we can offer.

The school employs a fully qualified staff of specialists, recognised by the Portuguese authorities, with a rich diversity of backgrounds, experience and nationalities. Our aim is to ensure that our growing number of pupils of diverse nationalities receive a high quality educational experience in a healthy moral and physical environment where they can grow into responsible citizens of Europe and the world.

CURRICULUM
The Vale Verde International School offers a wide and balanced curriculum based upon the English National Curriculum for Key Stages 3 and 4 and leading to the internationally recognised qualifications administered by Cambridge University International Exams of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Certificate of Education (ICE).

Pupils in Years 6 and 7 follow a common curriculum of English, Maths, General Science, French, Portuguese, Geography, History, I.C.T., Art, Drama and Physical Education.

In Year 9 individual Sciences are introduced (presently Physics and Biology though Chemistry will be undertaken from 2006) and Business Studies is also added to the time table.

In Years 10 and 11 a limited but expanding option system is put into operation allowing pupils to play to their strengths while ensuring that they continue with priority subjects. Eventually all students will study 12 subjects throughout these two years leading to IGCSE s in 8 or 9 of these.

Increasingly throughout the school I.C.T. is assuming the role of a means to learn and exercise other subjects as well as an independent discipline in its own right.

FACILITIES
Vale Verde International School encourages students to participate in a wide spectrum of sporting activities both within and outside the curriculum. While individual sporting excellence will always be applauded and supported we are also concerned that all pupils encounter the pleasure of physical exercise and understand its importance to their lives, both now and in the future, encouraging them to acquire healthy habits that will last them a long life time. We do not just teach Sport we aim to inculcate SPORTSMANSHIP that value which encapsulates so many valuable qualities. Striving for the best but recognising others achievements, playing on a level pitch, by the rules and without unfair advantage, contributing as part of a team for an overall effect.

The school has recently invested in a new all weather sports area which will permit soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, handball and badminton to be practised on the site. The school also has a small open air swimming pool.

Vale Verde International School participates in many sporting competitions together with schools in the Algarve, Lisbon, Oporto and beyond challenging our students to meet the standards of larger institutions.

The Co-curricula and Extra Curricula programme for the current year will be posted here in the near future.


SCHOOL YEAR AND SCHOOL DAY
Can any day in a vibrant educational community be described as routine ? However, learning is best undertaken within an orderly framework. This is ours.

The school day starts at 9:00 each morning and finishes, officially, at 15:45 though after school, co curricular and extra curricula activities often mean that the school is still a hive of activity well after this time.

The curriculum is delivered within a timetable structure of 35 fifty minute periods per week. This, combined with our small class policy, gives ample time and opportunity for real understanding of the course material to occur, not just superficial knowledge.

There are two breaks during the teaching day, one rather longer than the other allowing pupils to eat lunch (picnic) in the school canteen or in the shaded area outside.

Homework is timetabled and set in all subjects and is estimated to occupy between 50 minutes (7th Yr) and an hour and a half (10th and 11th Yr.).

A number of recreational facilities are available to students during breaks both in clement and inclement weather ranging from chess and board games to table tennis and the school s all weather football, basket ball and volleyball area.

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

It is the mission of the Vale Verde International School to provide the community with a balanced, quality education of an international character predominantly through the medium of English based upon sound values and high expectations in all fields.