The event brought together more than 100 participants, including families, organisations, partners, the press, and members of the community at large. The event was attended by Hortense Santos, the Councillor for Education at Braga City Council, who emphasised the project’s strategic importance to the city and the future of Braga’s young people, and highlighted the positive impact that an international educational offering can have on the region’s attractiveness and competitiveness.

The prestigious IB is an internationally recognised curriculum known for its academic excellence and comprehensive development for 11th- and 12th-grade students. It promotes critical thinking, autonomy, language skills, and a strong social awareness. It is a privileged pathway to the best national and international universities and highly competitive academic careers.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: João Paulo II International School;

This new program reinforces and expands the educational identity of Colégio João Paulo II, which maintains Portuguese as the structuring axis of its pedagogical project. Colégio João Paulo II begins this international journey with the Cambridge IGCSE, designed for 9th- and 10th-grade students, ensuring a consistent, progressive international path. This offering consolidates the institution’s tradition of academic excellence and proposes a comprehensive educational path that combines rigour, flexibility, and international relevance.

More than just a curriculum, Colégio João Paulo II presents a project designed for families who value close support, academic rigour, and a structured school routine.

In a full-time school model, Colégio João Paulo II addresses the real challenges modern families face: time management, safety, and effective student support throughout the day. Afternoons are spent at school, with integrated curricular and extracurricular activities, supervised study, and personal development projects, in a safe, guided, and stimulating environment.

This approach concentrates a comprehensive educational offering in a single institution, reducing the need for external solutions such as tutoring, study rooms, or complementary activities.

The João Paulo II International School offers a holistic education that goes beyond academic knowledge, encompassing autonomy, critical thinking, collaboration, social responsibility, and multicultural experiences. Each student receives individualised support in a safe and stimulating environment, with attention paid to their needs, talents, and ambitions.

“The introduction of IB in Braga is a milestone for the city and the region. It represents innovation, internationalisation, and, above all, more opportunities for our students, without losing sight of our educational identity and mission,” emphasises Fernando Fidalgo, Pedagogical Director of the João Paulo II School in Braga.

This new international campus reflects a blend of tradition and modernity: the school's Christian values ​​and solid pedagogical training are united with a multicultural, global vision, preparing citizens for the challenges of the 21st century.

For more informations please visit

https://cjp.com.pt/curriculum/international-baccalaureate/.