AE Alexandre Herculano
About the school
PEBI bilingual state school in Santarém, approximately 1 hour north of Lisbon. Free English-Portuguese instruction.
You cannot simply choose this school. Portuguese state schools assign places based on where you live. You must live within this school's catchment area to be eligible. If you're still choosing where to rent or buy, research the catchment boundary before you sign a lease — getting this wrong means paying private school fees while you wait to move.
Contact the school directly or check with the local Agrupamento de Escolas to verify your address falls within the school's zone.
Applications open April–May for preschool and Year 1, June–July for other year groups. Apply through the Portal das Matrículas — Portugal's national online enrolment system.
You'll need: proof of address, child's birth certificate, NIF (tax number) for parent and child, and previous school records if transferring from abroad.
Once enrolled, ask the school secretary explicitly for a PEBI turma (bilingual class). Places are limited — express your interest at the point of enrolment.
The national enrolment portal is entirely in Portuguese — which is where many expat families get stuck. Our School Placement Service can complete the application on your behalf.
Curriculum & qualifications
Honest assessment
What families tell us — the things the school's own website won't say
- ✓Completely free — state-funded with no tuition fees
- ✓Bilingual Portuguese-English programme from early years
- ✓Integrated with local community — children make Portuguese friends naturally
- →Catchment area rules apply — you must live in the school's zone
- →Instruction is primarily in Portuguese — children need to adapt
- →Fewer expat families than international schools — smaller English-speaking peer group
- →Waitlists can apply — register interest early
Contact details
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