Portugal’s Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into allegations of mistreatment of children at a school in Lisbon, following a complaint by a former employee.
The investigation concerns Externato Santa Francisca, in the Penha de França area of the capital, which provides kindergarten, pre-school and primary education.
The Attorney General’s Office (PGR) confirmed to Notícias ao Minuto that an inquiry was opened following a complaint and is currently being investigated by the Lisbon Department of Investigation and Criminal Action (DIAP).
The allegations, first reported by Expresso, include claims from former members of staff that children were slapped, physically restrained and forced to eat, as well as an allegation that drops intended for adults were mixed into one child’s soup to make her sleep.
The school’s director has denied any behaviour that could harm the children physically or psychologically.
‘I refused’
Two former educational assistants told Expresso they had left their jobs because they were uncomfortable with the way children were allegedly treated.
One recalled being asked to help restrain a five-year-old boy during a meal.
“She asked me to hold a five-year-old boy’s arms so she could force him to eat, and I refused,” the former employee said.
She described mealtimes as particularly tense, alleging that children were sometimes force-fed.
“She would force the soup into the children’s mouths and, if they vomited, make them eat more, shouting and slapping them on the back of the head,” she claimed.
The same former employee alleged that on one occasion she saw the director put drops into the soup of a four-year-old girl, taken from a bottle which she said indicated the product was “for adults only”.
She also alleged seeing the director hit a three-year-old child forcefully.
A second former worker told the newspaper she had witnessed “several attempts to force children to eat with such force that they would choke”.
She also alleged seeing a two-year-old child being struck and described aggressive behaviour towards an autistic boy.
“I resigned because I couldn’t continue witnessing these situations,” she said.
Director rejects accusations
Questioned by Expresso, the school’s director denied “any situation that could harm the physical or psychological integrity” of the children.
She also said she was unaware that a criminal investigation had been opened.
The newspaper additionally reported that police were called to the school around two weeks ago after a resident in a neighbouring building became concerned by what she could hear.
The neighbour said children had been crying intensely and that she heard what sounded like choking and repeated pleas of “stop, stop, take it away”.
“It was so distressing that I couldn’t ignore it,” she told Expresso.
The director confirmed that police had attended following a complaint but said she had not subsequently been called to give a statement.
“I have no knowledge of anything. It can only have been someone acting in bad faith who made that complaint,” she said.
Earlier complaint found no evidence
This is not the first time allegations have been raised about the school.
According to the report, an anonymous complaint was submitted to Portugal’s Education and Science Inspectorate in early 2025, before the former employees behind the latest allegations worked there.
That earlier case was also examined by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which concluded that there were no indications supporting the facts alleged.