Prime School International

R. Carlos Lobo de Ávila 4, 1700-099 Lisbon (Alvalade) · R. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, 2765-043 Estoril · R. Mestre Neves 20, 2710-422 SintraAges 3–18~400 studentsFounded 2007

🇬🇧 British curriculumBoardingEnglishPortugueseFrenchGermanMandarinSpanish

Cambridge International EducationISO 9001

Annual fees from

€9,900 – €33,900

Nationalities

60+

Max class size

—

Campus size

400 students

About the school

Prime School International is a private Cambridge school operating across three campuses in Lisbon/Alvalade, Estoril and Sintra. The Sintra campus (founded 2007) has a specific SEN focus, making Prime one of the very few international school options for families with children who need additional learning support. The Estoril campus serves secondary students (ages 11–18), while the Lisbon/Alvalade campus covers the full 3–18 range. Prime School is the first international school in Portugal to achieve ISO 9001 quality certification across all processes. The Cambridge curriculum runs throughout — IGCSE and A-Levels — with the addition of BTEC vocational programmes for older students, a rare alternative to purely academic routes in Portugal. A boarding option (Prime Boarding Lisbon) is available from age 13, located 10 minutes from Estoril and 20 minutes from Sintra. The boarding package is comprehensive, covering tuition, meals, transport, books, uniform and insurance. Extracurriculars include sailing, a flight simulator and a Duke of Edinburgh equivalent programme. Over 60 nationalities are represented across the three campuses.

Key highlights

First international school in Portugal with ISO 9001 quality certification
Sintra campus has dedicated SEN (Special Educational Needs) focus
BTEC vocational pathway — rare alternative to A-Levels in Portugal
Boarding available from age 13 — comprehensive all-inclusive package
Three campuses: Lisbon/Alvalade, Estoril coast and Sintra
Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels / AICE Diploma throughout
Languages: English, Portuguese, French, German, Mandarin, Spanish
Extracurriculars include sailing and a flight simulator
60+ nationalities across three campuses

ISO 9001 certified — the first international school in Portugal to achieve this

Prime School International holds ISO 9001 quality certification across all processes — a meaningful external quality standard that no other international school in Portugal has achieved. The Sintra campus also offers a dedicated SEN programme, making Prime one of the very few international school options for families with children who need additional learning support.

Curriculum & qualifications

PrimaryCambridge Primary / Lower Secondary

SecondaryCambridge IGCSE

Sixth formCambridge A-Levels / AICE Diploma

Additional pathwayBTEC vocational programmes

FurtherBilingual English/Portuguese (early years & Sintra)

Language of instructionEnglish, Portuguese, French, German, Mandarin, Spanish

Age range3–18 years

What families say

“The Sintra campus has been a revelation for our son. The SEN support is genuinely excellent — he's thriving in a way we didn't expect from an international school.”

British family, Sintra campus — Year 6

“The ISO certification isn't just a badge — you feel it in how the school is run. Communication is clear, processes are consistent, and issues get resolved quickly.”

Dutch family, Estoril campus — Year 9

Things to know before applying

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

Strengths

First international school in Portugal with ISO 9001 quality certification
Sintra campus has specific SEN focus — rare in Portuguese international schools
BTEC vocational pathway alongside A-Levels — unusual in Portugal
Boarding available from age 13 with comprehensive all-inclusive package
Three campuses covering central Lisbon, Estoril coast and Sintra
Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels throughout — globally recognised
Wide language range including Mandarin
Unusual extracurriculars: sailing, flight simulator, Duke of Edinburgh equivalent
60+ nationalities across three campuses

Consider carefully

Very wide fee range (€9,900–€33,900) — difficult to compare without a specific quote
Only 400+ students across three campuses — each campus is quite small
Lisbon/Alvalade campus is relatively new (2 years) — limited track record
Boarding at the upper end is among the most expensive options in Portugal
Small campus size means fewer resources and smaller peer group than larger schools

Portugal Nest practical note

Fees vary significantly between campuses and programmes — €9,900–€33,900 is a very wide range, and you need a specific quote for your child's campus and year group before you can meaningfully compare. With only 400+ students across three campuses, each campus is quite small — which some families love (intimate, well-known by staff) and others find limiting (fewer resources, smaller peer group). The Lisbon/Alvalade campus is relatively new (2 years old) and has a shorter track record than the Sintra campus. The boarding package at the upper end is one of the most expensive options in Portugal. The SEN provision at Sintra is genuinely valuable and underadvertised — if your child has learning differences, Prime School Sintra deserves serious consideration before ruling it out.

Annual fees 2025/26

€9,900 – €33,900

First year ~€12,970 inc. one-off fees

Day fees €9,900–€33,900/year depending on campus and year group. First year approx. €12,970. Boarding (ages 13+) is comprehensive — includes tuition, meals, transport, books, uniform and insurance. Wide fee range — request a specific quote for your child's campus and year group.

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