16 International Schools in the Algarve: Everything You Need to Know

There are so many options to choose from when looking for international schools in the Algarve. Whatever requirement your child may need to flourish academically and socially in Portugal’s southern gem, there will be an international school here that has got you covered. Firstly, we will look at an overview of how international schools operate here in the Algarve.

Overview of international schools in Algarve

An international school is one that does not adhere to the curriculum of its host country. It may teach a curriculum that accords to that of another country, or a curriculum that is more general. Within a lot of international schools, there is an emphasis on global citizenship and international education. 

An international school may focus on one specific language that is not that of the host country, or they may teach and welcome multiple languages within their school. Some will mainly teach in one specific language, but also provide classes taught in other languages as well. For example, the Nobel Algarve British International School teaches in English, but also accommodates for Portuguese, French, and Spanish speakers. The most instructed language for Portuguese International Schools is British.

School Ages and terms

• Most international schools operate between 3/5 – 16/18 years of age.
• However, schools like Barlavento International Primary School (5-10) and Eden Montessori International School (3-9) are focused on pre and primary education.
• International Schools normally operate their grades’ system based on that of the primarily instructed language (English schools operate a British grades’ system etc.).
• School term times are similar to that of the Portuguese national schools: 
  • Christmas: 20^th December to early January.
  • Carnival: Mid-February for two days.
  • Easter: End of March to Mid-April.
  • Summer: Early June to Mid-September.

Tuition Fees

• Fees vary from school-to-school and can vary in school, depending on if you pay for day-school or boarding school.
• Fees at Algarve International Schools vary from around €4,000 to €16,000 depending on which school and if the pupil is boarding.
• Primary schools tend to be cheaper at around €6,000 (Barlavento).
• Deutsche Schule and Eden Montessori are the only non-public international schools in the Algarve.
• The average fee for international schools in the Algarve is €800 a month (€9,600 per year).

How do they compare to British and American Schools?

• International Schools operate in a similar manner to those in the UK as many follow the British Curriculum
• Similar extracurricular activities offered include sports, drama, music, arts, and crafts.
• Most international schools in the Algarve have very good sports facilities including indoor sports halls and outdoor pitches/courts.
• International schools differ from local schools in that they tend to focus more on global citizenship and global politics/history rather than that of one’s native country.
• Subjects are largely the same as they follow curriculum of native country.
• External examinations are also the same as the primarily instructed language curriculum (IGCSEs and A-Levels for English speakers).
• However, international primary schools tend to stick to in-house assessments .
• Class sizes are mostly smaller, around 10-20 students on average per class.
• Times are very similar to the UK and U.S. (8:30/9 – 3:30/4:30).
• Almost all international schools in the Algarve accommodate other languages, and offer classes taught in various languages.

Opportunities for teachers

• Teaching opportunities and vacancies are listed on websites of each school.
• Visit Teacher Horizons’ website if are looking for teaching opportunities in the Algarve as vacancies are listed here [ https://www.teacherhorizons.com ]. 

5 steps to choosing the right international school for your child

Searching for the perfect international school in the Algarve can seem like an infinite and often futile task. Below are the preferences that you should take into consideration to make your search a more enjoyable one, and to rule out some options immediately…

1. Language

The language of instruction is the most important thing to look out for when searching for an international school. If your child speaks Dutch, then it won’t do them much good to send them to a German-only speaking school. Also note the accommodated languages that the school offers as this may help your decision. 

2. The Town

A large part of your, and your child’s experience growing up will be the town in which they reside. If you have certain towns in mind or already live here in the Algarve, then it is important to look for schools nearby to that place. This will make the school run will be a lot easier, trust me!

3. Curriculum

The best way to give your child a head-start in life is by allowing them to prosper under a curriculum that caters to their strengths and interests. If your child is a keen and talented writer, then look for schools with a focus on literature and language. This will allow your child to hone their skills and develop their passions. 

4. Facilities

Like the curriculum, it is important to note the facilities that a school offers. If your child loves to swim, it would be wise to look for a school with a pool. If they like science, good laboratories are necessary. The list goes on, and the good thing is that many international schools in the Algarve are brilliantly equipped with different facilities to aid your child’s learning. This will also allow you to discover what extra-curricular activities are offered to further your child’s development.

5. Ethos

This is a preference that many look over when searching for an international school, but one that truly reflects the educational environment of the school. Some schools may place an effect on digital and technological learning, others on regimented structure and others on creative pursuits. The ethos of the school will usually be posted on the website, and it can give you a key indicator on what learning environment the school offers.

The International Schools Database has a fantastic tool for discovering the perfect international school for you. Just fill in your preferences (budget, region, learning environment etc.) and the database will match you with an international school. [ https://www.international-schools-database.com/account/preferences/edit ]

The international schools in the Algarve

It can be a nightmare to spend hours on end compiling and comparing the relevant information when searching for the perfect international school. Therefore, we have done it for you. Below is a list of every international school in the Algarve and the relevant information that will aid you in your search…

1. Aljezur International School

2. Vale Verde (Luz)

3. Barlavento (Luz)

4. Brave Generation Academy (Lagos)

5. Nederlandse Onderwijs (Silves)

6. Deutsche IS (Silves)

7. Nobel Algarve Lagoa 

8. Eden Montessori (Albufeira)

9. Colegio Internacional Vilamoura

10. Educan (Loulé)

11. Eupheus (Loulé) 

12. Brave Generation Academy (Loule)

13. Nobel Algarve Almancil

14. Algarve International School  

15. Colegio Bernadette Romeira (Olhão)

16. Colegio Santiago (Tavira) 

1. Aljezur International School 

• Curriculum: British 
• Language of teaching: English 
• Accommodated Languages: English as second language 
• Ages: 10 to 18 
• External exams: IGCSE
• Times: 9:30-16:00
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Various sports, science and music, crafts and maths club
• Maximum class size: N/A
• Number of pupils: 80
• Fees (Yearly): From €6,300 
• Location of campus: Aljezur

2. Vale Verde International School 

• Curriculum: British 
• Language of teaching: English & Portuguese 
• Accommodated Languages: Extra English lessons for non-fluent speakers
• Ages: 5 to 18 
• External exams: IGCSE, A Levels
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Various sports, science and music, crafts and maths club
• Fees (Yearly): From €6,100 to €11.050
• Location of campus: Luz-Lagos 

3. Barlavento International Primary School

• Curriculum: British 
• Language of teaching: English 
• Accommodated Languages: Portuguese 
• Ages: 5 to 10
• External exams: N/A
• Times: 9:15-15:30
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Sports pitch, sports hall, play area facilities 
• Maximum class size: N/A
• Number of pupils: N/A
• Fees (Yearly): From €6,000
• Location of campus: Luz-Lagos

4. Brave Generation Academy (Lagos)

• Curriculum: British
• Language of teaching: English 
• Recognized by top international institutions such as Harvard, MiT, Oxford, Imperial College London and more
• Ages: 13-18 
• External exams: IGCSE, A Levels, Pre IGCSEs
• Times: 08h30-18h00 optional
• Extra-Curricular Activities: BIDS and Appetizers
• Maximum class size: none
• Number of pupils: 25 max
• Fees (Yearly): From €6,000
• Location: Loulé

5. Nederlands Onderwijs International School 

• Curriculum: Dutch
• Language of teaching: Dutch
• Accommodated Languages: Portuguese and German
• Ages: 4 to 16
• Number of pupils: 50
• Fees (Yearly): From €4,000 to €6,000
• Location of campus: Silves

6. Deutsche Schule 

• Curriculum: German 
• Language of teaching: German and Portuguese  
• Accommodated Languages: English and French
• Ages: 5 to 18
• External exams: Abitur
• Times: 8:30-13:55
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Not specified 
• Maximum class size: 15 (12 average) 
• Location of campus: Silves

7. Nobel Algarve British International School – Lagoa Campus

• Curriculum: English National Curriculum & Portuguese National Education System
• Language(s) of teaching: English & Portuguese
• Accommodated Languages: Portuguese, French, Spanish, German
• Ages: 3 to 18
• External exams: IGCSE (Cambridge), GCE, A-level (Edexcel), and Portuguese Ministry of Education national exams.
• Times: Pre-school – 8.30am-5pm; Primary – 9.15am-3.30pm; Seniors – 9.15am-4.30pm; After-school – 4.30pm-5.30pm or 5.30pm-6.30pm
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Sports & Dance; Arts Club; Drama & Talents; Science; Music & Choir; Computing
• Maximum class size: 16 (average) to 24
• Number of pupils: over 850 students & 40 different nationalities
• Fees (Yearly): From €4,884 to €16,720
• Location of campus: Lagoa

8. Eden Montessori International School 

• Curriculum: Montessori 
• Language of teaching: English and Portuguese
• Accommodated Languages: English, Portuguese and French
• Ages: 3 to 9
• External exams: All assessments in-house
• Times: 9:00-17:00
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Yoga, Dance and Piano
• Maximum class size: 21 (18 average) 
• Number of pupils: 22
• Location of campus: Albufeira

9. Vilamoura International School 

• Curriculum: British and Portuguese
• Language of teaching: English and Portuguese 
• Accommodated Languages: French and Russian
• Ages: 3 to 18
• External exams: , CAIE, Primary Checkpoint, Secondary Checkpoint
• Times: 9:00-16:05/50
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Art, sports, dance, music, drama
• Maximum class size: 26 (23 average) 
• Number of pupils: 650
• Fees (Yearly): From €5,720 to €10,820
• Location of campus: Loule

10. Educan (Loulé)

• Curriculum: British
• Ages 3 to 16
• Max number of students 20
• Additional language classes: Portuguese, Mandarin, Russian, French, Dutch
• Fees (Yearly): From €5,000 to €9,000
• External students – Portugese for kids

11. Eupheus International School 

• Curriculum: British 
• Language of teaching: English 
• Accommodated Languages: Fully integrated programme for new language learners
• Ages: 3 to 18
• External exams: IGCSE, A Levels
• Times: 9:15-16:00
• Extra-Curricular Activities: 4-5pm games club, lots of sports
• Maximum class size: 12 (6 average) 
• Number of pupils: over 30
• Fees (Yearly): From €6,000 to €13,000
• Location of campus: Loule

12. Brave Generation Academy (Loule)

• Curriculum: British
• Language of teaching: English 
• Recognized by top international institutions such as Harvard, MiT, Oxford, Imperial College London and more
• Ages: 13-18 
• External exams: IGCSE, A Levels, Pre IGCSEs
• Fees €6,000 per annum
• Location: Loulé

13. Nobel Algarve British International School – Almancil Campus

• Curriculum: English National Curriculum
• Language of teaching: English
• Ages: 3-13 (up to Year 9 from September 2022)
• Opened: Sept 2020
• Times: 9.15am-3.30pm; After-school 3.30pm – 4.30pm
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Sports; Music & Drama; Mindfulness and Adventure
• Maximum class size: 20
• Fees (Yearly): From €6,594 – €11,856 per annum
• Location: Almancil

14. The Algarve International School

• Curriculum: British
• Language of teaching: English 
• Accommodated Languages: Portuguese, French, German, Spanish
• Ages: 5 to 18 
• Homework: Yes
• External exams: IGCSE, A Levels
• Times: 9-15:30
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Various sports, traditional and performing arts
• Maximum class size: 12
• Number of pupils: 100
• Fees (Yearly): From €6,920 to €10,800
• Location: Almancil

15. Colegio Bernadette Romeira (Olhão)

• Curriculum: International Baccalaureate (IB) 
• Language of teaching: Portuguese (& English in the primary school)
• Ages: 3 to 16 
• External exams: IB
• Times: 09:00 – 17:00
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Sports and Various activities
• Maximum class size: 18
• Number of pupils: 65
• Fees (Yearly): From €4,400 to €5,200
• Location of campus: Olhao 

16. Colegio Santiago International School 

• Curriculum: British 
• Language of teaching: English & Portuguese 
• Accommodated Languages: French & Spanish
• Ages: 5 to 18 
• External exams: IGCSE, A Levels
• Times: 8:45-15:30
• Extra-Curricular Activities: Drama, Zumba, Cooking, Painting, Music
• Maximum class size: 18
• Number of pupils: 65
• Fees (Yearly): From $4,556 to $6,957
• Location of campus: Tavira

As you can see, there are more than plenty of international schools to choose from in the Algarve. Hopefully this information will enable you to find the perfect school for your child, allowing them to flourish academically, socially and developmentally.