Primary School - Ages 6 to 10

Bilingual and Active Learning at Butterflies Primary School in Sintra
Welcome from headmistress

As School Director, I believe in the importance and value of each student

At Butterflies, we recognise each child’s individuality and potential. We foster their curiosity and exploration of interests, providing an environment that enables them to develop and learn effectively.

Our Portuguese National Curriculum, with its bilingual and active learning approach, integrates music, arts, computing, dance, cooking, gardening and project labs. This enables our students to become confident and compassionate learners, ready to embrace challenges with open hearts and minds, and be the best of themselves.

Each class is led by an experienced teaching duo: a Portuguese teacher and an English teacher who guide our students and plan each step of the learning journey to make it all happen.

We welcome both Portuguese and international students to our primary school. The best way to get to know us is to come and visit.

 I look forward to meeting you and answer any questions that you have!

Teresa de Gruyter

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WHY BUTTERFLIES SCHOOL

  • Dual Language Immersion with Portuguese Official Curriculum
  • Teaching Duos – enhanced learning approach
  • Learning through play and Outdoor Learning 
  • Unique Pedagogy
  • Enriched Curriculum
  • Modern, Inspiring Facilities

DUAL LANGUAGE IMMERSION

Co Teaching Duos – Power of collaboration

At Butterflies, your child will learn in a bilingual environment, with both English and Portuguese teachers present in all classes. This approach builds a foundation for academic success and helps them become proficient in both languages.

We pride ourselves on our teaching teams, each a carefully paired, experienced teacher and co-teacher. This team provides individualised support, allows for more personalised attention, and fosters a dynamic bilingual learning environment.

CHARACTER EDUCATION

Beyond academic success, which any good school provides, our ambition is to cultivate and prepare the character of every student.

Every child is guided to develop self-confidence, empathy, courage and an understanding of their responsibilities to each other. We explore ideas like integrity, honesty and taking calculated risks, and build their curiosity and courage by learning outside the classroom at every opportunity.

We also believe that a strong partnership with parents is essential, and we cultivate a welcoming and inclusive community where every child feels supported, valued for their unique individuality, and guided in their character development.

If children feel safe, they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust ,share their feelings. And grow.

Alfie Kohn – Educational Reformer

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

Allows children to explore the world, develop essential skills, and build confidence through hands-on activities and exploration. It fosters creativity, problem-solving, and social interaction, making learning an engaging experience. At Butterflies, we embrace this approach to nurture curious, confident, and capable learners.

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OUR PEDAGOGY

At Butterflies, we have opted for an educational practice that is based on the diversity obtained from participatory and alternative pedagogies in which the child is both the subject and the agent of their own educational process.

DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM LEADING PEDAGOGIES

Our students learn actively through hands-on experiences that connect abstract ideas to the real world. They engage in a reflective learning cycle, planning, doing, and reviewing their work, and benefit from regular outdoor learning experiences in nature.

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"Through a carefully integrated blend of leading pedagogical approaches, we create a learning environment for our primary students. This fosters a love of learning, develops foundational skills, and empowers them with confidence for future challenges."

Nejal Acevinkumar – School Director

ENRICHED CURRICULUM

  • Portuguese National official Curriculum
  • Project Labs (multidisciplinary projects)
  • Music
  • Arts
  • Physical development
  • Gardening
  • Cooking

PROJECT LABS

Our multidisciplinary project labs provide opportunities for students to develop new skills and explore interests. Students can engage with nature in Outdoor Explorations, create projects in Handicraft, Art & Design, and delve into digital through Creative Computing. Labs run for 4-6 weeks, allowing for in-depth exploration of each area. New lab options are offered each term.

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"At Butterflies, our curriculum equips teaching duos to foster students' motor skills, cognitive abilities, social-emotional growth, and creativity. This approach helps students develop independent thinking and problem-solving skills."

Joana Querido – Head of Teaching and Learning

MODERN FACILITIES

Our 3,000 m² building offers dynamic learning spaces designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and well-being. These spaces include dedicated classrooms, a library, a canteen offering nutritious meals, and inviting indoor and outdoor play areas.

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INNOVATIVE DESIGNED SPACES

Our spaces have been designed by architects to be more than functional:
they inspire both students and teachers.

Our classroom environments are set up so that children are able to move between dedicated areas for reading, writing, art, construction, imaginative play, science, and mathematics.

Message from Head of Learning

As Head of Learning, I am committed in selecting and developing exceptional teachers

My two decades of experience in primary education, in Portuguese and International Schools, has shown me the transformative power of a dynamic learning environment.

That’s what we’ve created at Butterflies. Our bilingual, active learning curriculum, exceptional facilities, and dedicated teaching duos – each a partnership between experienced Portuguese and English teachers – work to ignite a passion for learning and empower every child to reach their potential.

Joana Querido

JOIN US AT TO VISIT OUR SCHOOL

The best way to experience what life is like at Butterflies is to join us at an Open Morning, where you will have the chance to talk to pupils and teachers about what makes our school such a special place, and to answer any questions you have about life here.

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