Parents who decide to move for a new country have many questions about the education and overall integration of their children. Which schools in Portugal to choose ? Often you think directly of English schools : “My child is an English speaker so let’s put him in an English school”. This is a good option, but it is not the only one even if your children only speak English at the moment. 

The goal of this blog post is to inform and reassure you about your children’s schooling options in Portugal. But also, to present you with the possibilities that you have as english-speaking parents for the schooling of your little ones.

The organisation of the Portuguese education system  

Schooling in Portugal has different cycles. From birth to 5 years old, school is not mandatory. During this period, you can choose between: 

• “Berçários” for babies from 3 to 11 months.
• “Creches” also called “infantarios“, for children between 11 months and 3 years. There are public and private ones. It is best to book well in advance to be sure of getting a place. As for costs, in the public sector, the amount is calculated according to the income and expenses of the household, and should be between 150 and 300 euros per month. Private creches, on the other hand, charge between 300 and 450 euros per month.
• “Jardins da infância” are kindergartens for children between 3 and 5 years old. To find “creches” and “jardins da infância”, this easy-to-use Portuguese website will list establishments near your home.

From 6 years old, school becomes mandatory in Portugal with : 

• 1st ciclo ensino básico for children from 6 to 9 years old. 
• 2nd and 3rd ciclo ensino básico, with one teacher per subject and a main teacher. At the end of these 5 years, students take a certificate of studies.
• High school, this cycle lasts 3 years and at the end, students take the “Diploma de Ensino Secundário”. During the last year : “decimo ano », the student must choose between a general stream (scientific, economic or literary), a professional stream (which can be followed in apprenticeship) and an artistic stream (available only in some high schools).
• Universities : there are two distinct systems of higher education in Portugal : the university system and the polytechnic system.

The different types of schools for your children in Portugal : 2 options

Once you are ready to move with your family to Portugal, you will need to choose a school for your children. There are 2 main options: Portuguese schools, public or private and International schools (private). Your choice will take into account different factors such as :

• where you live in Portugal,
• your budget,
• the length of your expatriation,
• whether or not you wish to integrate the international dimension into your child’s education,
• your appreciation of the infrastructure,
• your first contacts with the school,
• and many other subjective criteria.

Option 1 : Portuguese schools

Portuguese schools are obviously the ones you will find the most. There are portuguese private and public schools. In the case of public schools, priority is given to pupils who live in the neighborhood. However, especially in the 2nd and 3rd cycle schools, it is possible to be accepted even if you do not live in the neighborhood. For private schools, you choose the one you want. 

In both public and private Portuguese schools, classes are taught in Portuguese. In addition to that, you should know that for foreigners, Portuguese schools offer hours of Portuguese language lessons “Português Língua Não Materna” so that the “foreign” child assimilates the language more quickly. English-speaking children will take a different Portuguese test from their Portuguese peers in the 9º ano and 12º ano.

The school rhythm in Portuguese schools

From kindergarten to high school, school starts in September and finishes in June. The university years starting in October and ending in May. It is between 23 and 27 hours per week depending on the age of the students.  

There are no no winter holidays like many countries, but summer holidays are longer and in February there are 4 days (including weekend) for the Carnival (very popular celebration in Portugal). Below is the holiday calendar for the 2017-2018 school year to give you an idea. It should also be noted that schools in Portugal often offer extra-curricular activities at the end of the day and during the school holidays.

Cost of Portuguese schools

In public schools, there are few expenses to be expected, but you should be aware that books have to be purchased from the “cinco ano” onwards, so you should expect to pay around 250 euros for books per year and the canteen is around 1.50 euros per day. In private schools in Portugal, the costs depend on the school you selected, you should expect to pay between 350 and 550 euros per month all inclusive and the registration fee (between 150 and 350 euros).

As parents, you may be reluctant to send your children to a foreign school where they are taught in a language they do not speak at all. However, children learn foreign languages much more easily than adults. Moreover, integration into the culture is much quicker and easier when they are directly immersed in the country’s school.

Option 2 : International schools in Portugal

If you prefer an international environment, there are also international schools throughout the country, attended by both Portuguese and foreign students. In these schools, students can follow international programmes such as the International Baccalaureate (I.B.), the British GCSE and GCE examination systems and Cambridge University exam preparation. Courses are usually taught in English and in some schools even in Portuguese for the younger students. These schools are often more expensive than others but provide a “high quality” service:

• small classes,
• well-maintained facilities,
• numerous extra-curricular activities,
• and a strong international environment.

Cost of international schools

The costs of these schools vary from one school to another, but you should expect to pay between 500 and 1,500 euros per month and registration fees of between 300 and 1,000 euros depending on the school you choose. Below is a non-exhaustive list of international schools in Portugal by region:

• In the North : The Oporto British School, CLIP – Colégio Luso Internacional do Porto, Colégio Luso-Francês
• In the Centre : Colégio Luso-Internacional do Centro
• Lisbon and surroundings :St. Julian’s School,St. Peter’s School,Carlucci American International School of Lisbon
• In the South : Vilamoura International School,Vale Verde International School, Colégio Santiago Internacional

Recognition of Portuguese diplomas 

If you choose to send your children to a Portuguese school, you will undoubtedly ask yourself the question of the recognition of Portuguese diplomas.

Regarding the recognition of Portuguese diplomas, it is important to note that there is no legal principle of equivalence between diplomas obtained abroad and diplomas in your country.

In addition, in 1998 the Bologna Process was signed by several countries, including Portugal. This process allows for the recognition of European higher education qualifications throughout Europe. Equivalence is achieved through ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits obtained during the student’s course. These credits make it easier to read and compare programmes in different European countries.  These credits validate the work done by the student (mid-term exams, internships, dissertations, etc.). Once obtained, they are definitively acquired and transferable to all European higher education institutions.

Conclusion

As you may have noticed, there are different options for your choice of schools in Portugal for your children. We often think directly of English schools in Portugal, but it is not the only one. The fact that your child does not speak Portuguese should not be a barrier in your choice. The various parents I spoke to had great fears about their children’s social and linguistic adaptation. At the end these fears quickly dissipated. Their children integrated very quickly and quickly mastered the language.

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