Our mission

We believe that only an educational proposal based on learning through reason, on guided relationships, experience and freedom can prepare students as future adults, professionals and citizens of the world.

The discovery of reason as a tool for understanding reality allows students to access Truth, Beauty, and Good. As a Catholic school founded on the Christian tradition, we seek to educate our young people to become protagonists in building a truly human civilisation, contributing with their knowledge and talents for the common good.

Because we recognise the family as the primary responsible for the education of children, we develo a mutual alliance with parents in this task.

All the adults at Colégio de S. Tomás participate in an ongoing training programme for only those that allow themselves to be educated can educate.

At Colégio de S. Tomás each student is welcomed as a gift and totally accepted and loved. We want our students to become strong and free people. For this reason, we believe that school should stimulate critical analysis and encourage a personal judgement of reality that fosters an enriching experience.

At Colégio de S. Tomás, disciplinary rules are minimal, essential and clear. The focus is on the adventure of maturity and knowledge. We want to help students grow, contributing to each of them being free and fulfilled.

I am very grateful to Colégio de S. Tomás keeping us company in the education of our children. It is much more effective to educate when we are all rowing in the same direction!

Maria João Silva

mother of four students at Colégio de S. Tomás

The atmosphere that I experienced in Colégio de S. Tomás is unique. For the openness and friendly relationship with the priests, teachers and other employees… For the true friendship with classmates… But also, for the extraordinary critical capacity, independence and participation skills that I gained, for having to express opinions about the world and the numerous complementary and extracurricular activities to which the school provides access.

Afonso Passo de Sousa

Alumnus

We challenge all students to give the best of themselves. As teachers, we also strive to give the best of ourselves. And with Joan of Arc we say: "You must give battle so Christ can give victory!'

Isabel Almeida e Brito

Chancellor of Colégio de S. Tomás

Colégio de S. Tomás

Based on the Christian tradition, Colégio de S. Tomás considers education the path that allows students to discover his or her value.

We believe that only by understanding the past (presented within the experience of living the present) can young people grow wise and confident, as the catholic tradition offers a hypothesis of meaning for reality, that each of us should verify.

A true education must be an education towards true criticism. Up to a certain age, children hear what adults say and repeat: “Mum said so. The teacher said so.” But there comes a time when they start questioning what they are told. That is why what they are taught should become a problem, otherwise the child will never mature. Criticism, when truly reasonable, is, therefore, a great opportunity to discover who we are and what the world is.

The first concern of a true and proper education is to educate the heart of Man as God created it.

Luigi Giussani

Educating is a Risk

Our Values

With the Christian tradition as its starting point, Colégio de S. Tomás bases its educational proposal on the ultimate values of the human heart. These represent what man ultimately seeks::

Colégio de S. Tomás

As a Catholic school we are aware of our students’ needs and seek to both challenge and respond to them. In this way, we want Colégio de S. Tomás to be a school for everyone. Therefore: