International Schools
‘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 fact that companies continue to embrace a schedule where employees 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:
Aspire International School
Having started in December 2019, the Aspire 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.
Mission:
"Our objective at AIS is to raise the standard of education in the Algarve with a balanced curriculum, from academic subjects to sports and the arts. Our focus is on educating the ‘whole child’ and we take the time to listen to suggestions for improvements."
School Hours:
9:00 to 15:30
After School Clubs: 15:45 to 16:45
Average Class Size:
12 Students
The Financials (2024/2025)
Annual Fee:
| Pre-school | €6595 |
| Years 1 & 2 (KS1) | €7550 |
| Years 3 to 6 (KS2) | €9295 |
| Years 7 to 9 (KS3) | €11,995 |
| Year 10 (KS4) | €13,495 |
| Year 11 (KS4) | €13,495 |
| Year 12 (KS5) | €13,995 |
| Year 13 (KS5) | €13,995 |
School Lunches:
€5 per day, with a variety of snacks and drinks also available for purchase.
Bus Service
Not currently available.
Contact:
Website: www.aspireinternational.school
Tel: +351 289 392 238
Email:learn@aspireinternational.school
Bright International School
Bright International School, formerly known as 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 an 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:
"With our core values — Care, Multiculturalism and Hospitality — we create a community consisting of involved parents, motivated teachers and bright students."
School Hours:
9:00 to 16:00
Games Club: 16:00 to 17:00
Average Class Size:
18 students, with 7 students per teacher.
The Financials (2024/2025)
| Registration Fee: | €1000 |
Annual Fees:
| Pre-Reception and Reception | €8250 |
| Year 1 | €10,150 |
| Years 2 & 3 | €11,350 |
| Year 4 & 5 | €12,800 |
| Years 6 to 8 | €15,900 |
School Lunches
No school lunches are provided.
Bus Service
Not currently available.
Contact:
Website: https://bright-is.com
Tel: (+351) 289 154 800
Email: office@bright-is.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 (2024/2025)
Registration Fee:
| Nursery to Reception | €250 (non refundable) |
| Year 1 to 13 | €300 (non refundable) |
English Side Annual Fee:
| Nursery and Reception | €6400 |
| Year 1 to 4 | €7820 |
| Year 5 to 6 | €8930 |
| Year 7 to 9 | €9660 |
| Year 10 to 11 | €11,500 |
| Year 12 - IB | €13,165 |
| Year 13 | €12,415 |
Portuguese Side Annual Fee:
| Nursery and Reception | €5385 |
| 1 - Ages 1 to 4 | €5725 |
| 2 - Ages 5 to 6 | €6040 |
| 3 - Ages 7 to 9 | €6145 |
| Secondary - Ages 10 to 13 | €6630 |
School Lunches
Available at an additional cost - €5.80 to €8.50 per day depending on age of pupil.
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:
Website: www.civ.pt/en
Tel: (+351) 289 303 280
Email: colegiodevilamoura@civ.pt
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:
"At EDUCAN, Algarve, students receive so much more than an ordinary education. We pride ourselves on creating a unique, innovative and exciting environment that embraces all types of learners and promotes growth, both academically and personally. Students and families are introduced into a dynamic and supportive community. Our aim is to develop students' knowledge, autonomy and responsibility based on their objectives, desire and pace. This is accomplished through personalised learning, with small groups, focusing on their needs, and caring for their understanding of the world and themselves."
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 (2024/2025)
Annual Fee – Morning Lessons: 09:00 - 13:00
| Years 1 to 2 (KS1) | €6115 |
| Years 3 to 6 (KS2) | €6845 |
| Years 7 to 9 (KS3) | €7614 |
| Years 10 to 11 (KS4) | €8182 |
Afternoon Clubs - 14:00 - 15:30
| Homework Club | €180 per term (1 x 90min club per week) |
| Club | €255 per term (1 x per week) |
| Kids Club | €210 per term |
| Club Pack - 5 days per week: 3 x Clubs + 2 x Homework | €750 per term |
School Lunches
Not provided.
Bus Service
Not currently available.
Contact:
Website: www.educan-algarve.com
Tel: (+351) 289 422 148
Email: admin@educan-algarve.com
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 (2024/2025)
| Registration Fee | €280 (one off non-refundable) |
| Enrolment Fee | €330 (non-refundable) |
| Deposit | €400 (refundable) |
Annual Fee:
| Bilingual Pre-school | €5880 |
| Year 1 | €8100 |
| Year 2 to 6 | €10,740 |
| Year 7 to 9 | €13,740 |
| Year 10 | €14,130 |
| Year 11 | €13,640 |
| Year 12 and 13 (A-Level) | €18,016 |
School Lunch:
Pre-school (ages 3 to 5): €1410 (mandatory)
Years 1 to 13: €1530
School Bus:
A school bus is available covering the western Algarve from Faro to Praia da Luz.
Contact:
Website: www.nobelalgarve.com
Tel: (+351) 282 342 547
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 18 (Years 1 to 9)
Curriculum:
English national curriculum, with mindfulness as an extensive part.
Mission:
"Almancil campus offers a broad, balanced curriculum. We aim to stimulate and motivate, nurturing your child’s natural curiosity while developing a problem-solving mindset. Our individualised approach will ensure your child discovers what success means to them."
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 (2024/2025)
| Registration Fee | €280 (one off non-refundable) |
| Enrolment Fee | €330 (non-refundable) |
| Deposit | €400 (refundable) |
Annual Fee:
| Bilingual Pre-school | €7410 |
| Year 1 | €9270 |
| Years 2 to 3 | €11,040 |
| Years 4 to 6 | €12,000 |
| Years 7 to 9 | €13,410 |
| Years 10 to 11 | €14,940 |
School Lunch:
Pre-school (ages 3 to 5): €1410 (mandatory)
Years 1 and up: €1530
Bus Service
Not currently available
Contact:
Website: www.nobelalgarve.com
Tel: +351 282 342 547
