Brave Generation Academy - Algarve vs Colégio Santiago Internacional

	B Brave Generation Academy - Algarve Algarve, Portugal	C Colégio Santiago Internacional Algarve, Portugal
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €6,600 - 10,640	Fees / year €5,615 - 8,378
Age range	Age range 12 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Online/Hybrid	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, British Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 130
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 18
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Portuguese	Instruction language English, Portuguese
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2012
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Algarve region, Portugal: hubs in Lagoa, Lagos (1 & 2), Loulé, Tavira, and Vila Sol.	Location Praça Zacarias Guerreiro, nº29, Tavira, Faro 8800-391, Portugal
Stages	Stages Secondary Education; Higher Education	Stages Primary school and Secondary school, with A-level courses
School type	School type Hybrid online and in-person international school offering British (IGCSEs and A-Levels), American, and Portuguese+ curricula	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 Portugal	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 One‑time / Admissions fees - Admissions fee (British International Curriculum, American Core Curriculum or Own Curriculum): EUR 1,450 payable prior to enrolment. - Admissions fee (Portuguese Curriculum / Portuguese+): EUR 950 payable prior to enrolment. Tuition fees (by curriculum) — monthly and annual values - British International Curriculum: EUR 595 per month (12 monthly instalments). Annual total (12 months): EUR 7,140. - American Core Curriculum: EUR 845 per month (12 monthly instalments). Annual total (12 months): EUR 10,140. Note: Advanced Placement (AP) courses incur an additional cost of EUR 650 per AP course. - Portuguese Curriculum (Portuguese+): EUR 595 per month (12 monthly instalments). Annual total (12 months): EUR 7,140. - Own Curriculum (Hub Attendance Fee): EUR 550 per month (12 monthly instalments). Annual total (12 months): EUR 6,600. This option provides Hub access and Learning Coach support for learners using an external curriculum. Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard billing schedule: fees are structured as 12 monthly payments (paid monthly across the year). Paying 12 months upfront is offered as an alternative. - Annual registration renewal fee: EUR 500, payable after the completion of the learner's first 12 months and then annually thereafter. - Discounts affecting payment amounts: - Second child: 5% off the total monthly fee. - Third child: 7.5% off the total monthly fee. - Upfront annual payment discount: 3% discount on the total yearly fee when paying 12 months upfront. - Additional academic charges: AP courses (where taken) carry an extra fee of EUR 650 per AP course (American curriculum). Boarding / accommodation fees (if applicable) - For standard secondary (hybrid Hub + online) provision in Portugal there is no separate boarding fee listed for the Hub model; the model is delivered through local Hubs and online study. Hubs are local co‑learning spaces rather than residential boarding. - For higher‑education Unique Pathway (UP / UPx) programmes there are fee options that explicitly include accommodation and food; for example, UPx Portugal option showing a fee that includes accommodation. Where accommodation is included the published monthly fee differs from the non‑accommodation option; level entrance fees for UP/UPx apply separately. Details and exact accommodation‑inclusive fee options are published with the UP/UPx programme fee pages. Other costs and incidental fees - Registration renewal (annual): EUR 500 (see above). - Unique Pathway / UP programme: level entrance fees are charged when entering a new academic level (example: EUR 1,350 for certain UP levels; some level fees are specified as non‑refundable). These are separate from the monthly tuition instalments. - Materials, software and Hub access: access to the learning platform and Hub facilities are described as included within the tuition fee. Any additional exam fees, exam centre charges, external qualification fees or specific course materials beyond the base offering (for example AP exam fees, external university fees for UP level 6) are billed separately where applicable. Refund information (where stated) - Unique Pathway / UP / UPx programme level entrance fees: specified level entrance fees are described as non‑refundable when that condition is stated on the relevant programme page. - BGA Online admission (regional Online programme pages) shows the one‑time admission fee described as non‑refundable on the Online fee pages for those regions; non‑refundability is explicitly stated on those Online programme fee pages where noted. Fee payment options and how payments are arranged - Billing formats offered: monthly instalments (12 monthly payments) or an upfront annual payment (12 months paid in advance). Upfront annual payment attracts a 3% discount. - Practical arrangements for accepting specific payment methods (for example: card, direct bank transfer, direct debit/standing order or invoice) are managed during admissions and invoicing; families receive fee and payment details as part of the enrolment/quote and invoicing process. Contact details for admissions and billing are provided by the school for payment setup. Quick summary (key numeric items) - Admissions fee (British/American/Own): EUR 1,450. - Admissions fee (Portuguese+): EUR 950. - Tuition (British or Portuguese+): EUR 595 per month → EUR 7,140 per year. - Tuition (American Core): EUR 845 per month → EUR 10,140 per year; AP courses +EUR 650 per course. - Own Curriculum (Hub Attendance): EUR 550 per month → EUR 6,600 per year. - Registration renewal (annual after 12 months): EUR 500. (Amounts and structural details above reflect the published fee schedule for BGA Portugal and the related programme pages for UP/UPx and Online offerings.)	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 BGA Portugal offers secondary education with British (IGCSEs and A-Levels), American, or Portuguese+ curricula. The learning model is hybrid, combining online study with in-person Hubs guided by Learning Coaches. The curricula are accredited and internationally recognized. The Portuguese+ curriculum uses Portuguese materials and assessments, includes Exames Nacionais preparation, and meets direct-entry requirements for Portuguese universities while enabling access to institutions worldwide, delivered in English-speaking Hubs. Higher Education is provided through Unique Pathway Degree Programmes in fields such as Business Management, Computing Science, Hospitality, and Sports, offering a university diploma and practical skills.	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 —	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 Unique Pathway Degree Programmes offer fast, flexible degree options in Business Management, Computing Science, Hospitality, Sports, and more. Learners gain a university diploma and practical skills from anywhere, supporting progression to universities worldwide.	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 Watch Our Overview Video to understand BGA's learning model and pathways. Book a Call or Meeting with our Admissions Team to learn more and schedule a trial day if desired. Schedule a Trial Day to visit a BGA Hub and meet Learning Coaches. Fill Out the Application Form (approximately 10 minutes); after submission you'll receive an email with a summary of the Admissions Process and Next Steps, a link to a detailed Admissions Guide (curriculum breakdown, fees, FAQs), and a link to book the onboarding meeting. Attend an Onboarding Meeting with our Educational team and Learning Coaches to review the Learner's academic history, determine the academic level they will be placed at, discuss their learning pathway in more detail, and address any questions. Complete Full Enrolment: contracts and invoices are issued, and after signing and payment, official enrolment confirmation is issued. Get Ready for Day One: instructions are provided so the Learner can start their journey with confidence.	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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