Top international schools in Portugal for expats

Affluent expats wishing to send their children to an international school will be relieved to know that Portugal boasts more than 50 international schools, spread across the country.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the bulk are based around cities – such as Porto and Lisbon - and major expat areas like the Algarve.

The advantages? They will conduct lessons in English as well as elements of Portuguese to help your child become fluent in the language.

The qualifications will be familiar to many British people too, with iGCSEs (the international equivalent of GCSEs), A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate forming the backbone of many curriculums. Some schools will, however, allow your child to follow the education system in Portugal if preferred.

As a result, your child will be able to progress to higher education in the country of their choice, not limited to Portugal.

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You'll find English speaking schools in Portugal ranging from primary school (ensino básico) to high school level education (Ensino Secundário). A welcoming learning environment will allow your child to adjust to their new institution at any age.

They also allow you to plug into a network of other expats who have enrolled their children there.

As a guide to what is on offer, here are ten highly-regarded international schools located across Portugal.

1. St Julian's School

Located in Carcavelos, Lisbon, is one of Portugal's premier international schools. It follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and boasts small class sizes, with an average of 19 students per class. St Julian's says it offers a nurturing and inclusive environment, and its fees start at approximately €14,000 per year.

2. Nobel Algarve British International School

Located in Lagoa, the school offers the Cambridge International Curriculum, which includes the iGCSE and A-Level examinations. With an average of 16 students per class, Nobel International School Algarve says it provides a personalised approach to education. The school's fees start at approximately €8,000 per year.

3. CLIP - Oporto International School,

Based in Matosinhos, Porto, CLIP follows the IB curriculum and offers the Diploma Programme, an A-Level equivalent. It maintains small class sizes, with an average of 17 students per class, ensuring, it says, an individual learning experience. The school's fees start at around €10,000 per year.

4. St Dominic's International School,

Located in São Domingos de Rana, Algarve, follows the British National Curriculum, including the iGCSE and A-Level examinations. With an average class size of 15 students, St. Dominic's says it focuses on academic excellence and a supportive environment. The fees at St Dominic's start at approximately €11,000 per year.

5. The International School of Madeira

Situated in Funchal, the school offers a bilingual syllabus and is known for its inclusive and diverse community. Aimed at students aged three to ten with an average class size of ten students, the school aims to provide individualised attention and a nurturing environment. The fees at the International School of Madeira start at around €3,000 per year.

6. The British School of Lisbon

Located in Alfragide, it follows the British National Curriculum, including the iGCSE and A-Level examinations. It says it offers a warm and welcoming community and maintains an average class size of 18 students. The school's fees start at around €14,000 per year.

7. The Carlucci American International School of Lisbon,

Based in Linhó, follows an American curriculum and offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. It enjoys a low student-to-teacher ratio, with no more than 20 students per class. The school prides itself on a strong emphasis on the arts and sciences. Fees at Carlucci start at approximately €16,000 per year.

8. CJD International School

Based in Porto, the International students at CJD take the Cambridge exams, internationally recognised qualifications. Class sizes average at 20 students, with a focus on supporting students both in education and personal development. The average yearly fees at CJD are €7,000.

9. CLIB - The Braga International School

Based in the outskirts of the city, the school offers international students a curriculum which will see them achieve iGCSEs and A-Levels. The average class size is 25 students. Average yearly fees are not made public by CLIB.

10. CLIC - Colégio Luso-Internacional de Centro

Based in Leiria, it offers students the chance to achieve iGCSEs and the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) Diploma, an internationally recognised qualification. Average class sizes are at 14 students, with yearly fess of around €5,000.

With Portugal’s beneficial tax regime for those taking advantage of its Golden Visa, D7 visa, Digital Nomad Visa (D8), or Non-Habitual Residency (NHR) program, the attraction of such schools is only set to grow.

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