At Clonlara School, we believe that education should adapt to the child—not the other way around.
As a nonprofit organization reimagining education for 58 years, we’ve seen firsthand how personalized learning impacts children’s lives. Our mission is powerful: to transform education on a global scale through a highly personalized approach that fosters authenticity, autonomy, and joy in the learning process.
Our model campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S., has shown what is possible when we trust children’s curiosity to lead their own learning.
Now, we are ready to plant new roots in Portugal with our second campus, Clonlara School Idanha.
Join us on this incredible and transformative educational journey. Together, we can empower the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and leaders!
Since 2021, the Clonlara Portugal Association has been working on the development of this campus, driven by the mission of providing personalized education to more children and the commitment to ensuring that every student receives the support and resources they need to thrive.
On September 18, 2025, we signed a loan-for-use agreement with the Idanha-a-Nova City Council to start operations in the Oledo former primary school building. This will allow us to welcome our first students (grades 1–4) for the 2026–27 school year, while we continue construction of our future campus in Idanha-a-Nova.
We look forward to welcoming the first families of Clonlara School Idanha for the 2026–2027 school year!
We are excited to begin our educational mission in Portugal in a space generously provided by the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova: the building of the former primary school in Oledo.
This location, situated in the heart of the village, offers a unique opportunity for intergenerational connection with the local community—many of its residents were once students at this very school. We look forward to creating memories of shared stories and knowledge between generations, fostering an environment where everyone learns from one another.
The building meets the necessary conditions to welcome the first groups of students and families for the 2026–2027 school year, while construction continues on our future campus. This step represents an important milestone in spreading our mission in Portugal.
Small groups and a low student-teacher ratio allow
each child to be seen, heard, and supported in their individual learning
journey.
During the 2026–27 school year, we will open our
doors to two student groups:
Youngers 1: 1st and 2nd grades.
Youngers 2: 3rd and 4th grades.
Each group will have a maximum of 15 students and
will be supported by a teacher and an assistant teacher.
Playing, exploring, and moving are at the center of the childhood learning experience. That’s why, in our Youngers groups, learning happens through multisensory activities with frequent use of outdoor spaces.
We believe that every child deserves an education that respects their individuality and nurtures their potential. With your support, we can make this dream a reality.
Contribute to the creation of an innovative educational space in Idanha-a-Nova. To learn how you can help, get in touch with us or visit our fundraising campaign page.
Thank you for being part of this transformative mission. Together, we are building a fairer and more inspiring future for the next generations.
Our new campus will enjoy an area with unique natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage.
The municipality of Idanha-a-Nova is located in the district of Castelo Branco, a privileged location halfway between Lisbon and Madrid.
Idanha-a-Nova is part of the Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark, which also includes the Tejo Internacional Natural Park. In 2018, Idanha was designated as Portugal’s first bio-region. This provides a framework for sustainable and community-focused ways of living in the region.
In 2015, Idanha was designated as a Music City within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
The building for the future Clonlara campus in Idanha-a-Nova is located in an area served by various sports and recreational facilities, enriching the school’s offerings and promoting community engagement.
The project includes the initial rehabilitation of the existing building and a future expansion of its constructed area to support the school’s growing needs.
At Clonlara School, we honor each student’s unique traits and interests, creating personalized educational pathways that inspire and motivate. In line with these efforts, our school building will feature multifunctional classrooms.
The development and renovation work at the Idanha building will continue in parallel with the opening of our temporary facilities in Oledo, with a focus on expanding our services up to grade 12 in the near future.
Small groups and a low student-teacher ratio allow each child to be seen, heard, and supported in their individual learning journey.
Our team will work with your family to understand each student’s individual learning needs and goals. It all starts with getting to know each other.
We look forward to welcoming you to our exciting campus space, designed to foster learning, creativity, and personal growth!
You can schedule an online or in-person meeting with our team to learn more about Clonlara School Idanha by emailing info.idanha@clonlara.org.
Contacts:
Associação Clonlara Portugal
Centro Empresarial de Zona Industrial
6060-182 Idanha-a-Nova
Help make Clonlara School Idanha a reality! With your support, we can achieve our fundraising goal and complete the renovation.
