Colégio Paulo VI in Portugal joins Ariston Education global network of schools

Colégio Paulo VI, a school with more than 60 years of history in Gondomar, Portugal, has joined Ariston Education, a growing international group of premium schools and creator of the AQ = EQ + IQ framework for future-ready learning. Colégio Paulo VI becomes the first Portuguese school part of the Ariston Education family of schools — a community united by a shared vision: to help every pupil discover their talents, develop their full potential and build a future with meaning, purpose and impact.

A New Chapter, Same Identity

Colégio Paulo VI remains Colégio Paulo VI. Its identity, its motto of Saber, Fazer e Ser — Know, Do, Be — its academic rigour and the personalised attention it gives every pupil, its team and, above all, the culture built over more than 60 years remain at the heart of everything the school does. Rui Alberto Ferreira de Castro — an electrical and computer engineer by training, with a research background at INESC-Porto and years teaching at the University of Aveiro — has co-directed Colégio Paulo VI since 1994 and continues to lead the school through this new phase with the same commitment as always. Daily life at school, the relationship between families and staff, and every pupil's learning experience will continue to be nurtured with the same care.

Room to Grow

Joining Ariston Education brings Colégio Paulo VI into an international community of schools, creating the opportunity to learn from other contexts, share experience, invest further in the quality of the school, and open new opportunities for pupils and staff.

As part of the Ariston Education network, the school's community will also gain access to Ariston's international programmes and additional skills development, including AI Fluency, Human Power Skills and Student Voice, alongside further investment in the school's facilities and in professional development for its teaching staff.

Business as Usual for Pupils and Families

This is a change the school is making with its families, not simply for them. As Colégio Paulo VI has already told parents, teaching staff, family relationships and the curriculum remain unchanged, and everything families value most about the school stays the same. Beyond these conversations, nothing about day-to-day life at Colégio Paulo VI changes: the same leadership, the same teachers, and the same care for every pupil that has defined the school for more than 60 years.

Brian Rogove, CEO of Ariston Education, said:

“Colégio Paulo VI has built more than 60 years of academic excellence in Gondomar, and a real commitment to seeing every pupil succeed. That is exactly the kind of school we want in the Ariston Education family. Our role now is to help Rui Alberto and his team do more of what they already do brilliantly, while giving pupils and staff access to the international resources, programmes and skills development that come with being part of a larger network.”

Rui Alberto Ferreira de Castro, the Director of Colégio Paulo VI, said: “

Joining Ariston Education means keeping our identity, our values and, above all, our teachers and staff, while becoming part of a large international group of education excellence. This is a new cycle of growth, innovation and new opportunities for our entire school community, and it gives us access to the skills and competencies our pupils will need to navigate a rapidly changing world.”

ABOUT ARISTON EDUCATION

Ariston Education is the world's first global schools platform founded in the AI era. The group brings together premium K–12 schools across multiple regions, each locally distinct, globally connected, and relentlessly student-centred. Every school in the network keeps its own name, character and community, while sharing the academic standards, talent development and investment that no single school could achieve alone. Ariston Education operates across EMEA, Asia and the Americas, with a network of 12 schools serving more than 5,800 students.

Media Contact
David Vindel – Global Head of PR
Email: david.vindel@aristonedu.com
Tel: +34 676 063 427