Primary School

WORLD-CLASS, INNOVATIVE EDUCATION

In primary, we use the Cambridge International curriculum framework to provide an outstanding academic foundation that engages students and prepares them for the challenges and the opportunities of the future.

We complement the framework with research-informed curricula that is content and skills rich. We take the most robust aspects of the latest cognitive research and apply them in thoughtful and practical ways to our curricula.

Curriculum

In addition to the core subjects, our primary students will enjoy specialist subjects such as music, physical education, and art, taught by experienced educators in each area. Most of these subjects will be taught in Portuguese. Starting in Year 2 (grade 1), students will also have Portuguese literacy lessons, twice a week.

Our curriculum also features entrepreneurship learning through our project-based time. Through this work, they develop leadership, self-discipline, problem-solving, creativity, and the skill of creating value for others.

During the project-based time, learners work in groups and gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period to investigate and respond to an authentic, engaging, and complex question, problem, or challenge connected to the curriculum learning objectives. As a group, they produce a final product that communicates the finding or solution. This final product could be in the form of a book, a movie, a speech, through cooking, or performing a community service.

Example of primary Timetable

Timeslot	Activities
Early Morning \| 8:00 – 10:45h	Pick-up / After-school activities English Math
Late Morning \| 10:45 – 12.30h	Snack & Free Play* Science* Project-Based Learning Music Art & Design _{Activities vary depending on weekday}
Lunch Break & Mindfulness \| 12:30 – 13:30h*	Lunch Time & Free Play * Mindfulness / Social Emotional Learning*
Early Afternoon \| 13:30 – 14:30h	Computing Portuguese Project-Based Learning Snack & Free Play _{Activities vary depending on weekday}
Late Afternoon \| 14:30 – 16:00h	Physical Education * Forest School / Horticulture * Project-Based Learning Reading / Library Pick-up / After-School Activities

* These activities occur outdoors

download detailed timetable

Pedagogy

Our innovative pedagogical approach blends active learning approaches, such as, thematic, and project-based learning with mastery classes. Learners are guided to think critically, ask questions, and engage actively in their learning, fostering a deeper understanding of concepts and a lifelong love of learning.

The thematic learning (mastery classes) allows the students to study the theme using different discipline lenses, during discrete lessons of each discipline. During the project-based, interdisciplinary time, different knowledge, disciplines, and skills need to be used to problem solve.

Our methodology is further rooted in research-based education practices delivered by highly trained educators. Some of the methods we use are:

Visible Thinking Routines (VTR): Created by Project Zero at Harvard, the routines help children learn how to learn more effectively by visualizing their thinking steps.
Flag Time: Routines that individualize learning and give learners agency, improving their strengths while providing practical reinforcements in areas that need development.
ELLI (Effective Lifelong Learning Inventory) Skills: Originating from Bristol University, the skills learners develop under this system makes them more adaptable to changes in their environment.
Hypha Growth Journals: Created by Big Life Journal, Hypha Growth Journals is a unique science-backed journal that helps wire brains for resilience, confidence, gratitude, kindness, and self-love.

Ensuring that we use the latest research in our curriculum and pedagogy ensures that students get the important knowledge base required to think critically, as well as the 21^st century competencies needed to thrive in this era.

Nature immersion

In primary education, our commitment to nature immersion persists as a cornerstone of the curriculum. Here, students venture further into the natural world, embarking on exploratory journeys and hands-on experiences that deepen their understanding and appreciation of the environment.

Primary students also start delving into environmental themes and sustainability objectives, engaging in projects that tackle real-world ecological questions through projects and the UN Sustainability Goals.

By actively participating in these initiatives, students develop a profound sense of environmental responsibility and stewardship, preparing them to make meaningful contributions to a sustainable future.

Unlike many schools, our students in primary still spend a significant amount of time outdoors. This is not just during recess but also for learning. While maintaining a high standard in our curriculum and education, we accommodate our school material and lessons to be able to enjoy as much as possible the beautiful outdoors in Portugal.

For those lessons or parts of the day that it is not possible to be outdoors, we have beautiful indoor classrooms equipped with quality resources to enhance the learning experience of each child.

In addition to learning time outdoors, our primary students still enjoy a weekly session of Forest School/Horticulture to further connect with the natural environment.