International Schools in the Algarve
‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world’
– Nelson Mandela
The Algarve offers an exceptional quality of life for families, which combined with the post-covid environment and recognition that many parents can work remotely, has created a considerable movement for families relocating to the Algarve.
In doing so, it is vital to consider the schooling options in the Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo areas. The first debate is over International or State school however, it must be noted that International schools are very popular and so there is often a waiting list. One of the most enlightening places to begin is on the International Schools Database – www.international-schools-database.com, it is best to contact each school directly to confirm availability from the onset.
To aid your research we have summarised some of the top International schools in the area:
Algarve International School
Having started in December 2019, the Algarve International School is a smaller international school, with students benefitting from reduced class sizes and a bespoke approach to learning. They provide high quality academic education, balanced with arts sports and mindfulness. The school is in a great location, the closest to the Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo areas.
Location:
Almancil - See Location
Approximately 2km away from Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo, about a 5-minute drive away.
Ages:
3 to 18 (Years 1 to Year 13)
Curriculum:
Year 1 to 6 is taught 50% in English and 50% in Portuguese (an adapted British curriculum)
Year 7 to 13 follow the British National Curriculum (UK Pearson Edexcel)
The school is a licensed Pearson Edexcel centre offering IGCSE’s and A-Levels.
They are one of the few local schools to offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Mission:
‘At AIS the team of highly qualified and experienced teachers are building a caring school that will develop the whole child, balancing the personal, academic and interpersonal in all areas of school life. With hard work, effort, dedication and belief anything is possible. AIS aims to raise the standard of education in the Algarve.’
School Hours:
9:00 to 15:30
After School Clubs: 15:45 to 16:45
Average Class Size:
12 Students
The Financials (2022/2023)
Annual Fee:
| Pre-school | €600 per month (plus IVA) |
| Years 1 to 3 | €6600 |
| Year 4 to 6 | €7980 |
| Year 7 to 9 | €10,980 |
| Years 10 to 13 | €11,960 |
School Lunches:
€5 per day, with a variety of snacks and drinks also available for purchase.
Bus Service
Not currently available.
Contact: www.algarveinternationalschool.com
Colégio Internacional de Vilamoura Algarve – CIV
The Vilamoura International School was founded in 1984 and offers 18,500m2 of recreational space in a multilingual environment. The school has heavily invested in the early learning of foreign languages (Portuguese, English, French and Russian), research programmes, the development of mathematical thinking and the promotion of the arts, sports, democratic values and educational priorities supported by humanistic values.
Location:
Vilamoura - See Location
Approximately 16km from the Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo areas, about a 23-minute drive away.
Ages:
3 to 18 (Years 1 to 13)
Curriculum:
Students can choose from the adapted British curriculum / Cambridge International curriculum, or the Portuguese National curriculum.
Mission:
‘CIV offers its students a rich and diverse cultural environment, an educational programme focused on the development of cognitive and socio-affective abilities, in an international and multilingual environment. At CIV we believe that students are the leaders of their own learning, therefore the educational team establishes strategies to assist each child to achieve academic and personal excellence'.
School Hours:
9:00 to 16:05 / 16:50 (depending on age group)
After School Club is available up to Year 4 after 16:05.
Average Class Size:
23 Students
The Financials (2022/2023)
Registration Fee:
| Nursery to Reception | €250 (non refundable) |
| Year 1 to 13 | €300 (non refundable) |
English Side Annual Fee:
| Nursery and Reception | €5715 |
| Year 1 to 4 | €6850 |
| Year 5 to 6 | €7850 |
| Year 7 to 9 | €8460 |
| Year 10 to 11 | €10,185 |
| Year 12 to 13 | €11,075 |
Portuguese Side Annual Fee:
| Nursery and Reception | €4810 |
| Year 1 to 4 | €5040 |
| Year 5 to 6 | €5340 |
| Year 7 to 9 | €5430 |
| Year 10 to 13 | €5850 |
School Lunches
Available at an additional cost.
Bus Service
A bus is available from Almancil, Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Vilamoura, Albufeira and Messines. Each year the bus itineries are updated according to the needs of the students.
Contact: www.civ.pt/en
Educan
Located in the heart of Loulé’s historical centre in a restored 19th century building, Educan is a bilingual learning centre with a family-like atmosphere, offering a ‘new approach to education’. The school develops and covers each year group’s curriculum core subjects in the mornings from 9am to 1pm, offering flexibility for families and students. Afternoon club activities are open to both internal and external students. Tutoring is also available.
Location:
Loulé - See Location
Approximately 10km from the Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo áreas, a 17-minute drive away.
Ages:
3 to 16 (Years 1 to 10)
Curriculum:
The school follows an adapted British curriculum with an Edexcel examination board for IGCSE’s. The school is a Pearson Edexcel approved centre.
Mission:
´The future of education will be individualised and student-centred. With small groups of students and using an innovative method, we aim for students to learn in a critical and inquisitive way, developing their autonomy and self-confidence, through responsibility and teamwork. Inquiry-based learning is offered where each child learns at their individual rhythm, offering flexibility and adaptability to family synergy’.
School Hours:
Morning classes: 9am to 1pm
Afternoon Clubs: 2pm to 15:30 and 16:00 to 17:30.
(Pupils can choose from an array of options: Portuguese, Dutch, Mandarin, Homework Club, Mindfulness, Emotional Development, Science, Art, French, Russian and Computing).
Average Class Size:
6 to 8 students.
The Financials (2022/2023)
Annual Fee – Morning Lessons:
| Years 1 to 2 | €5490 |
| Years 3 to 9 | €6094 |
| Year 10 | €7324 |
Afternoon Clubs
| Homework Club | €55 per month (1 x 90min club per week) |
| All Other Clubs | €85 per month |
School Lunches
Not provided.
Bus Service
Not currently available.
Contact: www.educan-algarve.com
Eupheus
Eupheus is a state-of-the-art school, which opened in in 2019. It is a fully accredited Cambridge International School with micro-classes teaching the International primary curriculum for pre-school and primary school in English. With an individual approach to learning, each student receives a Eupheus iPad to aid with 21st century teaching and learning. All classrooms and teaching areas are egonomically-designed whilst there is are eco-friendly interactive outdoor play and recreation areas within secure gardens.
Location:
Loulé - See Location
Approximately 19km from Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo, a 17-minute drive away.
Ages:
3 to 14 (Years 1 to 9)
Curriculum
A school registered to offer education programmes from Cambridge Assessment International Education.
Mission:
'The ethos of the school is to provide a safe and supportive environment where our children can experience diverse learning strategies that lead to educational excellence'.
School Hours:
9:15 to 16:00
Games Club: 16:00 to 17:00 (free of charge)
Average Class Size:
6 students
The Financials (2022/2023)
| Registration Fee | €800 (non-refundable) |
| Eupheus iPad | €615 (mandatory, non-refundable) |
Annual Fees:
| Pre-Reception and Reception | €6450 |
| Year 1 to 2 | €8100 |
| Year 3 to 4 | €9600 |
| Year 5 to 6 | €10,500 |
| Year 7 to 9 | €13,500 |
School Lunches
No school lunches are provided.
Bus Service
Not currently available.
Contact: www.eupheus.pt
Nobel Algarve, Lagoa
As the oldest and largest international school in the Algarve, established in 1972, Nobel, Lagoa offers both day and boarding facilities. It offers a modified English national curriculum, with Cambridge and Pearson examination boards for IGCSE’s and A-Levels, as well as a national section following the official Portuguese Ministry of Education programme. In 2019 it joined Globeducate, one of the world’s leading premium bilingual and international schools group and works closely with other schools in France, Spain, Italy and the UK. With an outdoor learning area and vegetable garden, sports facilities include an inline speed skating rink, 7-a-side and 5-a-side football fields, volleyball, basketball and tennis courts, cross-country, track, gym and a karate dojo.
A 2nd newer campus is located in Almancil, closer to the Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo areas.
Location:
Lagoa - See Location
Approximately 47km from Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo, a 38-minute drive away.
Ages:
3 to 18 (Years 1 to 13)
Curriculum
Pre-school (ages 3 to 6) is bilingual, English and Portuguese. Each class has 2 full time staff – a teacher and a teaching assistant.
In the National section (ages 6 to 18) students follow the official Portuguese Ministry of Education programme.
In the International section (ages 5 to 18) students follow a contextualised English National Curriculum up to UK IGCSE and A-Level examinations. The International section is divided into Primary School (5 to 10) and Secondary School (ages 11 to 18). Classes are taught in English and additional English as a Foreign Language support is available. All students also learn Portuguese.
Mission:
'To prepare students to shape tomorrow through excellence. Our goal is to provide all students with an exceptional international education with a global perspective, rooted in British educational values, in a safe, welcoming and happy international environment'.
School Hours:
Pre-School: 8:30 to 17:00
Primary: 9:15 to 15:30
Secondary: 9:15 to 16:30
After-school activities are available 16:30 to 17:30 or 17:30 to 18:30.
Average Class Size:
16 students
The Financials (2022/2023)
| Registration Fee | €200 (one off non-refundable) |
| Enrolment Fee | €265 (non-refundable) |
| Deposit | €400 (refundable) |
Annual Fee:
| Bilingual Pre-school | €4884 |
| Year 1 | €6837 |
| Year 2 to 6 | €9372 |
| Year 7 to 9 | €11,799 |
| Year 10 and 11 | €12,732 |
| Year 12 and 13 (A-Level) | €16,720 |
School Lunch:
Pre-school (ages 3 to 5): €1341 (compulsory)
Years 1 to 13: €1119
School Bus:
A school bus is available covering the western Algarve from Faro to Praia da Luz.
Contact: www.nobelalgarve.com
Nobel Algarve, Almancil
Nobel’s 2nd campus opened in Almancil in 2020, with a second phase of construction to complete by September 2022. The new state-of-the-art purpose-built school is designed around a Feng-shui inspired central quad and surrounded by extensive green spaces. A 3rd phase for Secondary School students is expected to be developed in the future.
Location:
Almancil – See Location
Approximately 6km from Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo, a 10-minute drive away.
Ages:
3 to 12 (Years 1 to 7)
From September 2022 students for Year 8 and 9 can also enroll.
Curriculum:
English national curriculum, with mindfulness as an extensive part.
Mission:
‘We want all our children to experience and enjoy their learning whilst at school. Through a broad and balanced curriculum that goes beyond the purely academic, we build a deeper experience of the world. This encourages an environment in which each student can discover and develop their own talents – and appreciate the perspectives and gifts of others’.
School Hours:
9:15 to 15:30.
After-school activities are available from 15:30 to 16:30.
Average Class Size:
16 students
The Financials (2022/2023)
| Registration Fee | €750 (one off non-refundable) |
| Enrollment Fee | €265 (non-refundable) |
| Deposit | €400 (refundable) |
Annual Fee:
| Pre-school | €6594 |
| Year 1 | €8247 |
| Year 2 and 3 | €9822 |
| Year 4 to 6 | €10,665 |
| Year 7 to 9 | €11,856 |
School Lunch:
Pre-School (ages 3 to 5): €1341 per annum
Years 1 to 13: €1455 per annum
Bus Service
Not currently available
Contact: www.nobelalgarve.com
