Aspire International School vs Colégio Santiago Internacional

	A Aspire International School Algarve, Portugal	C Colégio Santiago Internacional Algarve, Portugal
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €7,055 - 13,995	Fees / year €5,615 - 8,378
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Pearson Edexcel IGCSE	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 130
Typical class size	Typical class size 12	Typical class size 18
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Portuguese
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2012
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Located at Rua Manuel Teixeira Gomes, 8135-106 Almancil, Algarve, Portugal. Aspire International School Algarve sits between Vale do Lobo and Quinta do Lago in the Algarve. The campus serves an international community with programmes from Preschool to A level.	Location Praça Zacarias Guerreiro, nº29, Tavira, Faro 8800-391, Portugal
Stages	Stages Preschool ages 3 to 5; Primary ages 5 to 11; Secondary ages 11 to 14; GCSE/iGCSE ages 14 to 16; A level ages 16 to 18	Stages Primary school and Secondary school, with A-level courses
School type	School type Independent international school	School type Independent, coeducational, open-admission
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix More than 27 nationalities represented; about 130 students.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation England (curriculum model)
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure Open at 8:30 am. Primary day runs from 8:45 to 4:30 pm with lunch 12:25–14:00; Secondary day runs from 8:50 to 4:30 pm with lunch 10:55–13:10; pickup for both is 3:50–4:30 pm.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details Private taxi service with two providers: Nuno Taxi and Calea Taxi. Routes cover Tavira to Vila Real de Santo António, Ayamonte (Spain), and Faro.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Joining Fees - Joining (administration) fee: EUR 195 + IVA. - Non-refundable deposit to secure a place: EUR 600 per child (deducted from fees as EUR 200 per term or EUR 60 per month over 10 months / EUR 75 per month over 8 months). The deposit is non-refundable. Tuition fees by year group (amounts shown are annual, with termly and monthly instalment options) - Preschool (Ages 3–5): Annual EUR 7,055 — Termly EUR 2,422 — Monthly (10 months) EUR 748 — Monthly (8 months) EUR 748. - Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2): Annual EUR 8,230 — Termly EUR 2,826 — Monthly (10 months) EUR 872 — Monthly (8 months) EUR 872. - Key Stage 2 (Years 3–6): Annual EUR 9,950 — Termly EUR 3,416 — Monthly (10 months) EUR 1,055 — Monthly (8 months) EUR 1,055. - Key Stage 3 (Years 7–8): Annual EUR 12,500 — Termly EUR 4,292 — Monthly (10 months) EUR 1,325 — Monthly (8 months) EUR 1,325. - Key Stage 4 (Years 9–10): Annual EUR 13,995 — Termly EUR 4,805 — Monthly (10 months) EUR 1,483 — Monthly (8 months) EUR 1,483. - Key Stage 4 (Year 11): Annual EUR 13,995 — Termly EUR 4,805 — Monthly (10 months) EUR 1,854 — Monthly (8 months) EUR 1,854. - Key Stage 5 (Year 12): Annual EUR 14,995 — Termly EUR 5,148 — Monthly (10 months) EUR 1,589 — Monthly (8 months) EUR 1,589. - Key Stage 5 (Year 13): Annual EUR 14,995 — Termly EUR 5,148 — Monthly (10 months) EUR 1,987 — Monthly (8 months) EUR 1,987. Billing schedule and payment terms - Early-bird discount: 5% discount on the annual fee if paid in full before 31 March 2026. - Termly payment dates (three instalments for the academic year shown): 1st instalment due 1–10 September 2026; 2nd instalment due 2–10 January 2027; 3rd instalment due 3–10 April 2027. Termly payments are subject to 3% interest on the base price. - Monthly instalments: two offered schedules — 10 monthly instalments or 8 monthly instalments. Payments over 10 months are due by the 10th of each month starting 10 August and are subject to 6% interest on the base price. Payments over 8 months are due by the 10th of each month starting 10 August and are subject to 4% interest on the base price. All payment instalments must be paid by the stated due dates. - Late payment penalties: EUR 50 flat penalty plus 0.5% per month on overdue accounts. Sibling and other discounts - Sibling discount: first sibling receives a 5% discount; second and subsequent siblings receive a 10% discount. Boarding fees - No boarding fees are published in the schools published fee schedule; the fee schedule lists only day-school tuition and associated administration/deposit charges. Other costs and additional fees - The published fee schedule includes the joining administration fee and deposit described above and does not itemise charges for stationery, exam entries, excursions, or extra-curricular club fees within the main tuition table. Separate downloadable documents for uniform and lunch menus are provided as distinct items alongside the fee schedule. Parents should note that uniform and lunch arrangements are handled as separate items in the schools documentation. Refund information - The enrolment deposit (EUR 600 per child) is explicitly non-refundable. No other refund terms are detailed within the published fee schedule document. Fee payment options - The published fee schedule sets instalment options and dates but does not list specific payment methods (for example, bank transfer, direct debit or credit/debit card) within the fee schedule PDF. Payment method details are provided separately to families as part of the schools enrolment and invoicing process. Sanctions and administration - No re-enrolment fees are charged. Late-payment penalties and monthly interest on instalment plans apply as stated above. Sibling discounts apply as noted.	Fee details Application / Registration fees and security deposit - Annual registration (enrolment) fee: EUR 380 (charged each year; non‑refundable). - Security deposit (one‑off, refundable): EUR 700. The deposit is refundable provided the school receives the required term notice in writing; the school may retain all or part of the deposit if notice conditions are not met or there are outstanding debts. Tuition fees by year group (recurring annual tuition and per‑term equivalent) Note: the figures below are the school's published recurring annual fees for the current academic year and the simple per‑term equivalent (annual ÷ 3) shown for convenience. - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): annual tuition EUR 5,235 — termly equivalent EUR 1,745.00. - Grade 1: annual tuition EUR 5,235 — termly equivalent EUR 1,745.00. - Grade 2: annual tuition EUR 5,235 — termly equivalent EUR 1,745.00. - Grade 3: annual tuition EUR 5,235 — termly equivalent EUR 1,745.00. - Grade 4: annual tuition EUR 5,523 — termly equivalent EUR 1,841.00. - Grade 5: annual tuition EUR 5,523 — termly equivalent EUR 1,841.00. - Grade 6: annual tuition EUR 5,930 — termly equivalent EUR 1,976.67. - Grade 7: annual tuition EUR 5,930 — termly equivalent EUR 1,976.67. - Grade 8: annual tuition EUR 5,930 — termly equivalent EUR 1,976.67. - Grade 9: annual tuition EUR 6,730 — termly equivalent EUR 2,243.33. - Grade 10: annual tuition EUR 6,730 — termly equivalent EUR 2,243.33. - Grade 11: annual tuition EUR 7,998 — termly equivalent EUR 2,666.00. - Grade 12: annual tuition EUR 7,998 — termly equivalent EUR 2,666.00. First‑year total (example for new enrolment) - For a new Kindergarten 3 enrolment the school publishes: security deposit EUR 700 (refundable), annual registration EUR 380 (non‑refundable) and tuition for that entry year shown separately; the combined total for the first year (tuition + registration + deposit) for that example is EUR 5,935. Billing schedule and payment terms - Payment frequency options: monthly, termly or annual. Parents/guardians choose the payment frequency. - Monthly payments: the monthly instalment must be paid by the 5th day of the month to which it relates. - Termly payments: term fees are payable before the start of the relevant term (termly payment is an available option). Annual payment attracts a discount if paid by the published deadline. - Annual payment discount: a 3% discount is available for annual payments if paid by 30 August. - Late payments: payments received on or after the 6th of the month incur a late penalty (the school applies a late fee percentage and may recover outstanding amounts from the security deposit); continued non‑payment can lead to suspension of attendance until fees are brought up to date. Boarding / residential provision - There is no boarding provision listed for Colégio Santiago Internacional; the school operates as a day school for ages 5–18. Other compulsory or recurring costs (meals, transport, exams, extras, uniform, etc.) - Meals and canteen: meal provision (morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack) is offered as a separate, charged service. The school's fee documents and regulations treat food/canteen as an additional cost outside the recurring tuition line. Parents are charged separately for canteen. - Transport: school transport is charged separately. Transport costs are not included in the published recurring tuition and are billed in addition if the service is used. - External examination charges: public/external examination fees (for Edexcel/GCSE/IGCSE/AS/A‑Level) are charged in accordance with examination board rates; these are billed in addition as required. - Uniform: uniform is compulsory. Uniform items are ordered and purchased directly by parents from the school's supplier; the school does not publish uniform prices on the fees pages. Uniform costs are therefore payable separately to the supplier. - Extracurricular activities, study visits, art supplies and similar additional services are excluded from the core tuition and are charged separately. Refunds and deposit handling - General rule: payments for terms, services or other fees are non‑refundable. The security deposit is refundable only if the school receives the required term notice in writing in advance (a term's notice) and there are no outstanding debts; otherwise the school may retain the deposit (or part of it). The registration (enrolment) fee is non‑refundable. Fee payment options and instructions - Accepted payment methods listed by the school include: cash; monthly direct debit to the school's named bank accounts; and bank transfer to the school IBAN accounts. Payment confirmation should be sent to the school email address shown on invoices. The school lists specific IBAN accounts for transfers and direct debit (accounts at Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Crédito Agrícola and Santander). Sibling discounts and other reductions - Sibling discount: second child 5% off tuition; third and subsequent children 7% off tuition. Administrative notes (how fees are treated) - Books provided by the school are school property and must be returned in good condition at year end; replacement cost will be charged if books are not returned. School accident insurance is included within registration/enrolment services. External exam and resit fees are charged as required. (End of fees overview)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details AIS Algarve follows the British National Curriculum across all year groups. Preschool uses the Early Years Foundation Stage with Pre-Nursery, Nursery and Reception, weekly Portuguese language exposure, and Jolly Phonics for early literacy. Primary education is based on the English National Curriculum, with a weekly Portuguese language focus, small class sizes, and specialist teachers in Art, ICT, PE, Performing Arts and Music, plus EAL support. The Secondary programme follows the British National Curriculum, guiding students from Key Stage 3 through IGCSEs and A levels, with core subjects including English, Maths, Science and Humanities; preparation for iGCSEs is provided toward Year 9. GCSE/IGCSE and A level offerings are described on dedicated pages; AIS GCSE uses Pearson Edexcel, and A levels are offered with Edexcel accreditation. The curriculum emphasizes PSHE and Mindfulness and includes a balanced programme of sports, arts, and clubs.	Curriculum details Two-language instruction in English and Portuguese, following the English National Curriculum modified to meet each student's needs. There is a strong emphasis on mathematics and science, embedded throughout the curriculum. The Arts and Sports component is given significant importance, with curricular and extracurricular activities planned inside and outside the school facilities. The commitment is to create an international culture and to captivate students' interest in other languages and cultures.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio The school has small class sizes and personalised attention, with teachers able to mentor each student.	Student teacher ratio 130 students and 17 teachers; maximum class size is 18; approximate student–teacher ratio is about 7.6:1.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results Exam results are published in a PDF showing yearly IGCSE results and A-Level results from 2014 to 2024. The data indicate high performance, with 2020 showing 100% in the measured metrics. The school notes that results are above the average of UK schools.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression The school prepares students for higher education with university preparation support and careers guidance; it aims to help students gain entry to top universities worldwide through its IGCSE and A level pathways.	Higher education progression Graduates have gone on to universities including California State University, Long Beach; University of Central Florida, Wembley (UCFB); ATF Flying School in Spain; and universities in Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, England and Portugal. The first student to complete A-Levels at CSI in 2013 was admitted to California State University, Long Beach.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Families can begin the admissions process by getting in touch with the AIS admissions team. They answer initial questions and guide you through the next steps, including arranging a visit to the school. 2. You can arrange a visit through Schedule a Tour. AIS also offers up to three free trial days for students prior to enrolment. 3. Initially, AIS asks for basic information about your child's age, previous schooling, and any specific learning needs; the admissions team will guide you through the rest of the process step by step. 4. AIS accepts children from Preschool through to Secondary and Sixth Form. English is the main language of instruction, with additional language support available where needed. The school is non-selective and does not conduct assessments before enrolment; if obstacles to learning exist, please notify so appropriate support can be provided.	Admissions 1. Submit enrollment documents. Admissions follow established criteria, and siblings have priority in enrolment. Upon registration, the office provides the following documents: Enrolment Form, Fees and Services, Use of the Uniform Policy, Medical Questionnaire, and School Calendar 2024/2025. Indicate the Expected Starting date and whether transport is needed on the form; transport availability is subject to confirmation, and the pickup point will be arranged with the service provider. 2. Evaluation and interview. Enrollment is subject to an evaluation process; the parents/guardians and the student will be invited for an interview with the Management Team if they have not yet completed one. The interview helps assess readiness and mutual expectations between family and school. A admission decision follows the evaluation. 3. Secure the place and payment. If admitted, the place is secured by paying the Enrollment Fee and a refundable Deposit before monthly/termly/yearly fee payments begin. The school offers 1× annual, 3× per term, or 11× monthly payment options. 4. Fees and inclusions. The Annual Registration fee is 395.00€ and the Security Deposit is 700.00€ (refundable). Meals and Transport are additional: Meals Year 1–9 are 130€; Years 10–13 are 160€. Transport is 180€. Discounts apply: 3% discount for annual payment; 5% discount for the second child; 7% discount for the third and subsequent children. The Annual Registration fee includes School Insurance, Textbooks (CSI's property for student use), Exercise books, Materials for Arts initiation, Library and internet access, and Lockers. 5. Start date, transport arrangements, and calendar. Indicate the Expected Starting date on the Enrollment Form. If transport is needed, indicate this on the form; transport arrangements are subject to confirmation and pickup points are arranged with the service provider. The School Calendar 2024/2025 is provided with registration documents.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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