Vale Verde International School (VVIS) is a small, family-oriented private international school near Luz beach in the western Algarve. It is described as one of Europe's few genuinely bilingual primary schools — the Portuguese national curriculum is integrated directly into the Cambridge International Primary programme rather than taught separately, creating authentic bilingual education where children become genuinely literate in both English and Portuguese. The school is Cambridge and Pearson accredited. For secondary education (ages 13–18), VVIS partners with Aljezur International School to offer a complete pathway from primary through to A-Levels. Fees range from €6,993 (Years 1–2) to €12,258 (Years 12–13 via the Aljezur pathway). The school's location near Luz beach in Lagos makes it one of the most beautifully situated schools in Portugal.
Vale Verde integrates the Portuguese national curriculum directly into the Cambridge International Primary programme — not as a separate subject, but woven throughout. Children become genuinely literate in both English and Portuguese. Set near Luz beach in Lagos, it's one of the most beautifully situated schools in Portugal.
“Our children are genuinely bilingual now — not just "learning Portuguese" but actually thinking and writing in both languages. The integration of the Portuguese curriculum into Cambridge is unlike anything we've seen elsewhere.”
British family, Lagos area — Year 4 and Year 6
“The setting is extraordinary. The children play near the beach every day. It's a small school but the teaching quality is excellent and the community is very warm.”
Dutch family, Luz — Year 3
What families tell us — the things the school's own website won't say
Vale Verde is a primary-only school — the secondary pathway (ages 13–18) depends entirely on the partnership with Aljezur International School. Before committing, ask the school specifically about the current state of that secondary arrangement and verify it is fully operational. The western Algarve location near Lagos is beautiful but not convenient for families in central or eastern Algarve. The small school size means a limited range of extracurricular activities compared to larger institutions. For families specifically in the Lagos/Luz area who want genuine bilingual education from the start, Vale Verde is a genuinely distinctive and underrated option.
Montinhos de Luz, near Luz, Lagos
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