About Us
🇵🇹 Português
This is the oldest Portuguese School in New South Wales/Australia, since its beginnings go back to the year 1972 and it was founded by the Teacher Mrs Cidália Rendeiro.
The official name of this School is “Portuguese Community Schools of Sydney Inc.”, from 1997.
Between 1972 and 1976 it was located at the Parish Hall of St. Thomas Church in Lewisham and between 1977 and 1984 kept its activities at Petersham Public School, West St. , Petersham.
Finally, in 1985 changed its location to the current premises at Wilkins Public School – Park Road – Marrickville, one year after the inauguration of this new Australian School.
From 1985 has been operating at this location and always with four to six teachers ( of Portuguese origin ).
This has allowed the creation of different groups/classes among the students in accordance with their levels of proficiency in the Portuguese Language and also their age.
From 2007 this School also started to teach the Portuguese Language to students, in Years 11 and 12 of the Australian Schools / Colleges, that select the subject “Portuguese” as one of the subjects for their HSC.
This process occurs through the “Outside Tutor Mechanism” authorised by NESA ( NSW Education Standards Authority).
In 1978 this Portuguese School became a Member of the NSW Federation of Community Languages Schools Inc. and as a Member has all the support of this Federation, be it through Specific Development Workshops for Teachers or representing us before the Australian Schools/Colleges and Educational Departments/Services.
Furthermore this Portuguese School is registered with the NSW Community Languages Schools Program, which is part of the NSW Department of Education.
From 2013 this Portuguese School has also received strong support from the Official Coordinator for the Portuguese Language Program and Educational Affairs in Australia – Mrs Susana Teixeira-Pinto.
The assistance provided by this Coordinator, appointed by the Portuguese Government , consists essentially in the following aspects:
Free distribution of the School Books / Manuals , Development Workshops for Teachers, assisting in the contacts with our Host Australian School, making available online educational resources and the conduction of the Annual Certification Exams ( Levels A1/A2, B1/B2, C1/C2 ) managed by “ Camões Institute”, for all students that which to sit for such Exams. ”
Due to the existence of this School throughout many decades, a significative detail has been happening, in recent years:
Several students have been coming to our school brought by their fathers or mothers that in turn had already attended this same School.
On the other hand , some of the current teachers ( with some decades of teaching experience ) , although in their 70s , keep doing their best towards the Mission of this School: The maintenance of the Portuguese Language and Culture in this land , so far away !