Oporto British School

Rua da Cerca, 338, 4150-201 Porto (Foz do Douro)Ages 3–18~558 studentsFounded 1894

🇬🇧 British curriculumEnglishPortugueseFrench

CIS (since 2005)ECISCOBIS MemberIB Authorised

Annual fees from

€8,735 – €14,585

Nationalities

20+

Max class size

Campus size

558 students

About the school

The oldest British school in mainland Europe, founded in 1894 with just 11 boys and now home to 558 students from 20+ nationalities. The only IB school in Northern Portugal — if you want the IB Diploma in Porto, OBS is your only option. Located in Foz do Douro, one of Porto's most desirable residential neighbourhoods, right by the Atlantic. Parent-governed and non-profit, OBS is run for the community rather than for shareholders. The student body is roughly 50% Portuguese families, 10% British, and 40% other nationalities — creating a genuinely integrated bilingual community.

Key highlights

Oldest British school in mainland Europe — founded 1894
Only IB Diploma school in Northern Portugal
Located in Foz do Douro — Porto's most desirable neighbourhood, by the Atlantic
Parent-governed, non-profit — run for the community
50% Portuguese families — outstanding local integration
Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme
IB CAS community service trips to Tanzania, India, Mozambique and São Tomé
CIS accredited since 2005, COBIS member

The oldest British school in mainland Europe

Founded in 1894 with just 11 boys, OBS is the oldest British school in mainland Europe — and the only IB school in Northern Portugal.

Curriculum & qualifications

PrimaryBritish National Curriculum (Key Stages 1–4)

SecondaryCambridge IGCSE

Sixth formIB Diploma Programme

Language of instructionEnglish, Portuguese, French

Age range3–18 years

What families say

“We applied 18 months before moving and just made the waitlist. Worth every bit of planning. Our son settled in within weeks.”

British family, moved from London — Year 4

“The campus is stunning — it genuinely doesn't feel like a school. The results are strong and university guidance is excellent.”

Irish family, 3 children across primary and secondary

Things to know before applying

What families tell us — the things the school's own website won't say

Strengths

Oldest British school in mainland Europe — founded 1894
Only IB school in Northern Portugal — the sole IB Diploma option in Porto
Located in Foz do Douro — one of Porto's most desirable neighbourhoods, by the Atlantic
Parent-governed and non-profit — run for the community, not shareholders
Significantly lower fees than Lisbon's top schools — outstanding value for Porto families
50% Portuguese families — excellent local integration and bilingual community
Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme
IB CAS trips to Tanzania, India, Mozambique and São Tomé
Strong Cambridge IGCSE results — students typically earn ICE award (7+ subjects)
Small school feel — teachers know every student by name

Consider carefully

IB Diploma only at sixth form — no A-Level option for families who prefer the British route
Smaller school (~558 students) — fewer subject choices and extracurriculars than larger schools
Only 20+ nationalities — less internationally diverse than Lisbon schools
Porto location — not an option for families based in Lisbon or the Algarve

Portugal Nest practical note

OBS operates rolling admissions — you can apply at any time, subject to availability, rather than waiting for a fixed intake window. The 5% capital charge is calculated on your annual fee, so it varies by year group.

Annual fees 2025/26

€8,735 – €14,585

First year ~€13,380 inc. one-off fees

Tuition €8,735–€14,585/year. Entry fee €300 (one-off). Capital charge 5% of annual fees. Returnable deposit of one term's fees required on entry. Lunch: Primary €5.35/meal, Secondary €6.45/meal (invoiced monthly). Sibling discounts: 25% third child, 50% fourth+ child.

Book a school advice call Visit school website