The Grouping of Schools of Barcelos had its genesis on the 4th of July 2012, resulting from the aggregation of the Secondary School of Barcelos and the set of schools that constituted the Group of Schools Abel Varzim. Thus, it became part of the schools: Escola Secondary of Barcelos (headquarters); Abel Varzim Basic School; Gilmonde School Center; Barqueiros School Center; Basic School of Milhazes; Paradela Basic School and Kindergarten; Basic School of Igreja-Cristelo and Basic School of Ferreiros-Cristelo. It is a grouping of schools with a significant dimension, implanted in a vast territory of the Municipality of Barcelos, on both banks of the Cávado and offers an educational response to the student population since the urban area of ​​Barcelos up to the limits of the municipal borders with Póvoa de Varzim and Esposende. The area of ​​influence of the Grouping is most felt in the parishes of Barcelos, Arcozelo, Vila Boa, Vila Fresquinha, Barqueiros, Cristelo, Faria, Fornelos, Gilmonde, Milhazes, Paradela, Vila Seca and Vilar de Figos but extends, due to traditions prior to its constitution, a little for all the parishes of Barcelos, especially those located closer to the bed of Cávado. In its first year of existence, its initial configuration underwent changes, due to the opening of the Gilmonde School Center, which includes the former schools of Fornelos, Gilmonde and Vila Seca, and the closure of the Kindergarten of Faria. These changes, as well as the merger, for administrative purposes, of the School of the 1st cycle of Paradela with the Kindergarten of Paradela, led the Group to go from 14 to 9 schools in the total of the organic unit.