The history of the Montemor-o-Velho School Group is inseparable from the educational history of the municipality itself. With deep roots in local communities and the journeys of thousands of students, the Group is the result of a process of continuous evolution, joint growth, and commitment to quality public education.
From Separate Schools to the Spirit of Grouping
Before the creation of the school cluster, education in the municipality was provided by several primary schools (1st cycle), kindergartens, and the Montemor-o-Velho Secondary School. Each fulfilled its role, but the dispersion of structures hindered pedagogical coordination and the integrated management of human and material resources.
It was in the early 2000s, within the context of a national reorganization of the school network, that the opportunity arose to join forces, build bridges, and create a common identity. Thus, in 2004, the Montemor-o-Velho Vertical School Group was born, initially with a central core and several schools in the municipality associated with it.
An Identity Under Construction
Throughout its first decade, the school cluster grew not only in the number of students and schools, but also in organizational maturity. The headquarters, located in the Secondary School, began to house pedagogical and administrative coordination structures, allowing for greater cohesion and continuity across the different educational cycles.
In 2012, following the national policy of school aggregations, the school cluster also incorporated the Pereira Basic and Secondary School, expanding its area of operation and becoming even more representative of the municipality's diversity. This merger required collaborative work, adaptability, and reinforced the cluster's mission as a plural and inclusive space.
An Educational Community with Memory and a Future
Today, the Montemor-o-Velho School Group consists of educational establishments ranging from pre-school to secondary education, distributed across various parishes in the municipality. More than just a collection of schools, we are a community united by shared values: respect, equity, responsibility, and innovation.
Our journey is made up of many stories — of students who have passed through here and left their mark, of teachers and staff who have dedicated decades to education, of families who have trusted us generation after generation. Our history is not only written in minutes and dates: it lives in the hallways, in the classrooms, in the playgrounds, and in the memories of all who are part of this institution.
Key Moments
2004 – Formal establishment of the Montemor-o-Velho Vertical School Group
2006 – Expansion of the network of integrated schools
2012 – Integration of the Pereira Basic and Secondary School
2015–2020 – Consolidation of training programs and strengthening of the articulation between cycles
Present – Educational continuity, proximity to the community and a commitment to quality.
