Pre-School Colégio Bernardette Romeira is based on a child-centred approach where children develop their physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills in a play-based environment.

Our young learners experience a stimulating environment where their curiosity plays a fundamental role. The school day offers a range of opportunities for exploration and transdisciplinary learning through room time with their main teacher, Physical Education, Music class and Drama and Expression class.

CBR has a Nursery for the first ages and Classes for 3, 4 and 5 Year-Olds. At the age of 5, students receive specialized help to make the transition to Year 1.

1º Ciclo (Year 1-4) at Colégio Bernardette Romeira develops children’s natural curiosity and essential learning skills through a holistic, transdisciplinary programme aligned with the Portuguese national curriculum. The teaching and learning approach promoted at CBR aims at developing certain attributes in our young learner such as independence, open-mindedness and cooperation that will allow them to thrive in an ever-changing global community. We ensure that the curriculum promotes students making connections, thinking conceptually and critically, and reflecting on their own learning.

Our program promotes the development of mathematical and language skills as well as sciences and social studies through engaging learning experiences. Colégio Bernardette Romeira takes pride in offering a solid arts foundation through weekly Drama and Music lessons as well as developing our students’ technological skills through a combination of Robotics and Programming course called Probotica. Learning is also enhanced throughout the year through integrated in-school activities and field trips in our local Olhão and Faro environment. Our Primary Years Programme has a Portuguese and an English section where the language of instruction is either Portuguese or English respectively. Learning both languages is of paramount importance and Portuguese or English as a second language lessons are taught daily in both sections.

Colégio Bernardette Romeira is an accredited Cambridge Learning Partner. In addition to being a Cambridge Exam Preparation Centre, which teaches its English classes in the Portuguese Studies Programme according to the Cambridge Method and takes Cambridge Exams in Years 4,6 and 9, CBR's English Studies Programme also follows the Cambridge Assessment International Education's curriculum and innovative pedagogy methodologies.

The Middle School Programme is divided – in accordance with the Portuguese education system - into: 2º Ciclo (Years 5 and 6) and 3º Ciclo (Years 7,8 and 9).

Within the Middle School Program – (2º Ciclo) subjects are taught as distinct areas, with interdisciplinary exploration and learning beyond the classroom woven into the school year whenever possible. All students follow the Portuguese national curriculum and study english as a second language.

Colégio Bernardette Romeira is an accredited Cambridge Learning Partner. In addition to being a Cambridge Exam Preparation Centre, which teaches its English classes in the Portuguese Studies Programme according to the Cambridge Method and takes Cambridge Exams in Years 4,6 and 9, CBR's English Studies Programme also follows the Cambridge Assessment International Education's curriculum and innovative pedagogy methodologies.

The Middle School Programme is divided – in accordance with the Portuguese education system - into: 2º Ciclo (grades 5 and 6) and 3º Ciclo (grades 7,8 and 9).

Within the Middle School Program – (3º Ciclo) students follow the Portuguese national curriculum and study three languages: English and either Spanish, French or German. The language of instruction is Portuguese. In 3º Ciclo, students prepare for the next stage of their academic and personal lives which is why students receive extra support in their final year of the 3º Ciclo as they transition to High School.

Colégio Bernardette Romeira is an accredited Cambridge Learning Partner. In addition to being a Cambridge Exam Preparation Centre, which teaches its English classes in the Portuguese Studies Programme according to the Cambridge Method and takes Cambridge Exams in Years 4,6 and 9, CBR's English Studies Programme also follows the Cambridge Assessment International Education's curriculum and innovative pedagogy methodologies.

Assessing and reporting in the Early Years

Assessment in the early years focusses specifically on the social, emotional and physical development of our students. Classroom teachers regularly send home feedback on the students’ learning and progress and parents receive formal reports at the end of each academic term. We hold three scheduled (formal) parent-teacher conferences throughout the year designed to give parents information about the student’s progress, development and needs but of course parents are encouraged to arrange meetings any time there is a need (informal). Towards the end of the school year we hold student-led conferences (student-parent-teacher) to celebrate the student’s learning journey through the year.

Assessing and reporting in the Primary Years

Assessing - CBR International Programme offers a rigorous academic program in order to prepare students who are planning to pursue a higher education in Portugal or around the world. We believe that assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning and acts as a foundation on which to base planning and practice. Assessment is essential to guide students, parents and teachers through the learning process. As well as assessing students’ effort and achievement in the different disciplines we assess behavior and work habits to enable us, as a learning and teaching community, to focus on the areas of personal development for students to thrive socially, emotionally and academically.

Reporting – classroom teachers regularly send home feedback on the students’ learning and progress and parents receive formal reports at the end of each academic term. We also hold three scheduled (formal) parent-teacher conferences throughout the year designed to give parents information about the student’s progress, development and needs but of course parents are encouraged to arrange meetings any time there is a need (informal). Towards the end of the school year we hold student-led conferences (student-parent) to celebrate the student’s learning journey through the year. This experience encourages students to become aware of their own personal responsibility for their education as well as providing an opportunity for them to develop their organizational and oral communication skills.

Assessing and reporting in the Middle School Programme

Assessing - Assessing and reporting in the Middle School offers a rigorous academic program in order to prepare students who are planning to pursue a higher education at colleges and universities in Portugal and around the world. We believe that assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning and acts as a foundation to base our understanding of student’s progress. Assessments happens regularly in each discipline and it prepares students for yearly achievements as well as for state examinations in the IIº and IIIº ciclo (lower and upper middle school years).

Reporting – parents receive formal reports at the end of each academic term after which they are invited to parent-teacher conferences designed to inform parents about the student’s progress, development and need. Parents are also encouraged to arrange meetings any time there is a need (informal). Assessing, reporting and examinations follow Portuguese national requirements and take place in Portuguese, exemptions are made for non-native speakers.


The full regulation concerning grading and evaluation at CBR is in the School Rules document.