46 years after its founding, the school moves into its own dedicated facilities for the first time.
On October 15, 2026, International Sharing School – Madeira officially inaugurated its new campus, the school’s first purpose-built home of its own, located in the former Nossa Senhora da Encarnação Seminary at Rua de Santa Luzia, 2, in Funchal. Forty-six years after the school was founded, this marks the first time the institution has operated from its own dedicated facilities, ushering in a new chapter for the entire school community.
The inauguration followed the restoration of a building of significant historical value to the island of Madeira, preserving its longstanding educational purpose. The new campus is a landmark project in heritage restoration and modernization, bringing together history, identity, and the future.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished officials, including Dr. Miguel Albuquerque, President of the Regional Government of Madeira, and Dr. Jorge Carvalho, President of Funchal City Council. Approximately 1,000 people, including members of the school community and distinguished guests, had the opportunity to admire both the beauty and richness of the restored historic building and its modern design, conceived by Saraiva+Associados and Danish architect Rosan Bosch, who traveled to the island for the event.
International Sharing School follows a distinctive and innovative educational model in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum to students from ages 3 to 18.
For Francisco Ladeira Santos, CEO of Sharing Group—the group responsible for restoring the building and owner of International Sharing School—this milestone represents far more than the completion of a construction project.
“Drawing a parallel with the religious heritage of this building, what we have here is a cathedral for the future,” he said, emphasizing that the project was designed to have an impact extending well beyond the financial investment. “We always wanted this investment to be measured by what it could mean for our children, for education in Madeira, and for the future of this island.”
He also reflected on the challenges of a project that spanned several years and came close to being halted on multiple occasions. “(…) It was difficult, but it was all worth it,” he acknowledged, adding that despite the obstacles, the team never lost its conviction.
President of the Regional Government of Madeira, Dr. Miguel Albuquerque, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of “opening a school with these facilities and this level of excellence (…) as a fundamental tool for ensuring greater progress in the Region, greater attractiveness, more foreign investment, and a larger number of foreign residents in our community. That brings progress and development.”
In interviews with the media attending the event, Francisco Ladeira Santos emphasized that the school serves not only international students. Approximately 50% of its students are currently Portuguese, reflecting the value local families place on the distinctive educational approach offered by International Sharing School. He also confirmed the school’s intention to maintain this proportion as enrollment grows in the coming years.
The significance of restoring and reopening a building of this scale was also highlighted by Funchal City Council President, Dr. Jorge Carvalho.
“When we talk about the scale of this project, we are not talking about its financial size but, above all, about the courage it took to restore an iconic building in the city of Funchal and give it a new educational purpose. (…) It is important for a region like ours, and for a cosmopolitan city like Funchal, to be able to offer an alternative educational option.”
Francisco Ladeira Santos also expressed his gratitude to everyone who made the new campus possible.
“This is the ultimate celebration of learning, community, and development. It is the fullest expression of our Core Values: Care, Multiculturalism & Hospitality. This is Sharing!” he concluded.
The inauguration also saw the launch of the book Nossa Senhora da Encarnação: Entre construções, devoções, memórias e devires (Our Lady of the Incarnation: Between Buildings, Devotions, Memories, and Becoming), authored by Francisco Ladeira Santos, Paulo Ladeira, and Rita Rodrigues.
Divided into two parts, the book takes readers on a journey through time. The first explores the history of the former seminary building, while the second takes a contemporary perspective on the establishment of International Sharing School on the site, tracing the school’s origins back to the founding of the British School.
Source: International Sharing School – Madeira
