International schools in Portugal

The choice to live in the 6th safest country in the world and enrol the children in an international school can be challenging for parents. It is known that it is in the school environment that children create and develop tools to conquer space in the labour market, which is in constant evolution. It also contributes to the acquisition of social skills as well as to the general development as a human being.

International schools in Portugal are very popular counting with students of different nationalities. Among the top international schools in Portugal are the English, American, French and German. Many of them have strict admission processes, which vary according to the institution. From more rigorous entrance exams, academic reports and sometimes interviews.

But what are the main advantages of enrolling children in an international school in Portugal?

1. Smaller classes;
2. Wider system of extracurricular activities;
3. High educational standards;
4. More modern facilities;
5. Full-time study or boarding school, offered by some;
6. Learning a second language as a native speaker.

We present below a ranking of five schools, divided by district capitals, as a reference:

St Peter’s International School: This is an English international school which has been running for over 25 years. Located in the area of Setúbal, more precisely in Palmela, near Lisbon, the school is aimed to students from pre-school to secondary school.

Lycée Français Charles Lepierre. Opened in 1952, the French Lyceum Charles Lepierre is one of the best known and most sought after schools in Lisbon.

The Cascais International School: It is one of the international schools in Portugal. Member of the Association of Christian Schools International – ACSI, and with North American teaching style, it was founded in 1980 and is accredited by the National Association of Private Schools.

St Julian’s School: Located in Carcavelos was founded in 1932. This British institution is one of the international schools in Portugal. At the school, there are more than a thousand students of over 40 different nationalities. Students between the ages of 3 and 18 are admitted, based on three educational curricula: the IB system, the local Portuguese curriculum and the IGCSE (which is based on the English educational system).

Carlucci American International School of Lisbon: It is located between Sintra and Cascais (about 20 minutes from Lisbon) and is also among the most renowned international schools in Portugal.

International Preparatory School:  Well-known for its personalised attention to the student, it was founded over 37 years ago and is a primary school for students between the ages of 3 and 11.

In the Porto area, there are English, French and German international schools, among others. The schools are mainly for parents who want their children to develop fluency in a language at an early age.

Colégio Luso-Francês:  The Colégio Luso-Francês is an educational institution of Missionary Sisters of the Society of Mary that has more than 80 years of history. The Catholic school, which is located in a palace dating from the 20th century, is one of the international schools in Portugal most recognised for its excellence in teaching.

The Oporto British School:  Also known as the British School of Porto, it is one of the oldest British schools in continental Europe: it was founded in 1894. In addition, it is the only school with the International Baccalaureate* (IB) in the north of Portugal.

* The IB programme can make it easier for your child to adapt to a new school. Any school in another country or city that follows the IB curriculum can welcome your child and facilitate his/her academic development. When in doubt, choose a school that offers two types of international curriculum.

CLIP – Colégio Luso Internacional do Porto: Founded in 1990, which started with a class of 44 students and currently the school has approximately 1,150 students, aged between 3 and 18, and is one of the largest and most renowned international schools in Portugal.

CLIP, which has been an accredited school by the Council of International Schools (CIS) since 2013, has students from over 50 different countries, representing 40% of students.

Lycee Francais International de Porto:  Located in Serralves Park since 1963, the school Lycee Francais International de Porto is part of the world network of the Agency for French teaching abroad (AEFE) and welcomes over a thousand students from pre-school to 12th grade.

Colégio Alemão do Porto:  Founded in 1901, the Colégio Alemão do Porto was created to meet the needs of Germans who settled in the city. Thus the school focuses on the development of the German and Portuguese language in parallel, to attend both national and foreign students. The school receives students from kindergarten to high school, equivalent to secondary school.

In the Algarve, because it is a region that has been attracting many foreigners, we will also find international schools.

Vilamoura International School:  It is an educational institution located in the Algarve focused on the early teaching of languages, including English, French, Mandarin, Russian and German, as well as Portuguese. The school has an education based on humanistic and democratic values.

Nobel International School Algarve:  Located in Lagoa and Almancil in the Algarve. The institution follows the British curriculum but also offers the Portuguese curriculum of teaching. With a bilingual learning experience, the school looks to diversity and students from diverse backgrounds from around the world to develop a multicultural environment.

Aljezur International School:  Founded in 2010, following the UK school curriculum, the school has students of 26 nationalities, fostering a multicultural environment. With around 80 students, the school welcomes applications from students from Year 7 upwards.

We would like to take this opportunity to highlight the main international schools in the country,that this is a concern for many of our clients. When settling in our country, or when settling with their families, it is imperative to seek education solutions.