Eden Montessori International School vs Nobel Algarve British International School - Almancil Campus
Eden Montessori International School and Nobel Algarve British International School - Almancil Campus are both in Algarve, about 14 km apart. Both schools offer IB programmes. Eden Montessori International School also offers Montessori, and Nobel Algarve British International School - Almancil Campus also offers BTEC Qualification and Cambridge IGCSE. Published annual fees are €6,340 - 9,115 at Eden Montessori International School and €6,660 - 18,430 at Nobel Algarve British International School - Almancil Campus, which puts Nobel Algarve British International School - Almancil Campus roughly 62% higher. Eden Montessori International School takes pupils from 3 to 12, and Nobel Algarve British International School - Almancil Campus from 3 to 18. Typical class sizes are 21 at Eden Montessori International School and 18 at Nobel Algarve British International School - Almancil Campus.
Fontainhas - Pinhal, Ferreiras, Albufeira, 8200-560, Portugal (mailing address Cx. Postal 835T, EN 125). Located in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. The school can be reached by phone at +351 289 037 265 or 935 450 009. It provides a bilingual environment in English and Portuguese.
Location
Two campuses in the Algarve region of Portugal: Nobel Algarve Almancil and Nobel Algarve Lagoa. Almancil is located between Faro and Albufeira, near Vale de Lobo and Quinta do Lago. Lagoa is located along the EN125 route between Lagos and Albufeira. Lagoa campus address is Barros Brancos, EN125, 8401-901 Lagoa, Portugal; Almancil campus address is Caminho das Pereiras, 8135-022 Almancil, Portugal.
Stages
Stages
Pre-School (Children's House) 3-6; Lower and Upper Elementary 6-12; Extracurricular 3-12. In 2024 the school blended Montessori with the International Baccalaureate Programme (IB) and is a Candidate School for the Primary Years Programme (PYP).
Stages
Nursery to Year 13
School type
School type
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School type
British international school
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
50+ nationalities represented
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
Adaptations available for SEN students
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Portugal
Country affiliation
Portugal
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Secular
School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application fees
- A one‑time application fee of EUR 25 is charged at the time the application form is submitted. Payment details for this application fee are provided and payable by bank transfer (Letras d'Alecrim – Colégios LDA, Caixa Crédito Agricola, IBAN: PT50 0045 7012 4029 6923 0042 9, BIC/SWIFT: CCCMPTPL).
Tuition fees by year group (annual amounts)
- Annual tuition and associated first‑year charges published by third‑party school‑fee directories (based on the school's published figures as reported for the 2023/2024 academic year) are as follows: - Kindergarten / Age 3 (Kindg. 1): Total annual fee EUR 6,340 (first year total including one‑time charges EUR 6,365). - Kindergarten / Age 4 (Kindg. 2): Total annual fee EUR 6,340. - Kindergarten / Age 5 (Kindg. 3): Total annual fee EUR 6,340. - Grade 1 / Age 6: Total annual fee EUR 7,660. - Grade 2 / Age 7: Total annual fee EUR 7,660. - Grade 3 / Age 8: Total annual fee EUR 7,660. - Grade 4 / Age 9: Total annual fee EUR 9,090. - Grade 5 / Age 10: Total annual fee EUR 9,090. - Grade 6 / Age 11: Total annual fee EUR 9,090.
- For a new enrolment in the youngest kindergarten year the published breakdown shows: Application Fee (one‑time) EUR 25; Enrolment Fee (annual) EUR 620; Tuition Fee (annual) EUR 5,720 — total first‑year cost EUR 6,365. The tuition amounts above are presented as annual totals.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- The fees reported in the published fee schedule are given as annual amounts and include a separate enrolment (registration) charge plus the tuition amount for the year; the published presentation shows annual billing items rather than a public termly breakdown. Sibling discounts are recorded (2nd child 10%; 3rd+ child 15%).
Boarding fees
- The school's programmes cover ages 3–12 (Children's House and Elementary levels). There is no published boarding provision for these age ranges; no boarding fees are listed in the school's public programme descriptions.
Other costs and typical additional charges
- An annual enrolment (registration) fee of EUR 620 is shown in the published fee breakdown for first‑year enrolments. - Aftercare and extracurricular activities are offered by the school as programme items, but separate fees for aftercare, extracurricular activities, meals, uniform, learning materials, trips or similar extras are not published in the fee schedule available through the school's public materials.
Refund information
- No school‑level refund policy for tuition, enrolment or application fees is published in the publicly available admissions form and programme pages reviewed. The fee documents and programme pages do not show a detailed refund or withdrawal timetable.
Fee payment options
- Bank transfer (IBAN/BIC) is published as the payment method for the application fee (bank details provided on the application form). Other payment methods (credit card, online payment portal, cash, direct debit) are not documented in the publicly available admissions form or programme pages reviewed.
Notes on discounts and special charges
- Sibling discounts are published in the fee summary: 10% discount for the second child and 15% for the third and subsequent children (applies to published school fees excluding aftercare, extracurriculars and meals).
Summary of findings and missing items
- The school's official application form and admissions materials include a EUR 25 application fee and provide bank transfer details for payment. - A detailed per‑grade annual fee schedule (with enrolment fee and annual tuition totals) is published through established international school directories; those listings report the annual figures shown above and indicate the fees as published for the 2023/2024 academic year. - The following fee items and specifics were not found in the school's publicly available admissions form and programme pages and therefore are not available to state as fact here: a current academic‑year per‑term billing breakdown, an explicit published billing calendar (dates or due‑by terms), published boarding charges (no boarding for ages 3–12), published uniform costs, published daily meal prices, a published refunds/withdrawals policy, and a full list of accepted payment methods beyond the bank transfer details shown for the application fee.
Fee details
Application and initial charges - Registration (non-refundable, payable on acceptance of a place): EUR 500. - Enrolment fee (charged annually for all age groups; includes school insurance): EUR 340 per year.
Other per-item charges and services - Special Educational Needs (SEN) support: EUR 35 per session (30 minutes). - English as an Additional Language (EAL) / language tuition: EUR 35 per session (30 minutes). - Psychological and orientation services: EUR 40 per session (45 minutes). - School transfer (administrative) fee: EUR 50 per student. - External examination fees are charged separately by the examining bodies and attract VAT and administrative charges. - Bus transport, uniform and after-school activity fees are set in the school's institutional documents.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Full-term payment (x3 instalments): instalments due by the dates shown in the school fee schedule (example instalment deadlines stated as 1st instalment by 11 August; 2nd by 11 December; 3rd by 11 March in the published schedule). Debit direct arrangements are required for instalment plans. - Monthly payment (x10 instalments): successive instalments as scheduled (example schedule runs from 1 July through 1 April in the published schedule). Direct debit is mandatory for monthly payments; a once-off administrative charge of EUR 50 is applied annually if direct debit is chosen. - Early-payment discount for renewal annual payments: an Early Bird discount applies for full-year payments received by the deadline shown in the current fee schedule (example: a 4% discount for payments received by 31 March in the published schedule). Family discounts apply (second child 3%; third child and subsequent 20% applied to the youngest children). Discounts are not combinable with other rate discounts. - The school's terms require written notice of withdrawal at least 90 calendar days before the expected departure date. Registration fees are non-refundable as stated in the initial charges.
Boarding - The school operates boarding provision for students (day and boarding options exist). Boarding fee schedules are managed separately to the International tuition schedule and should be requested directly; boarding fees are not itemised in the International section tuition table.
Refund and withdrawal rules - The initial registration charge is non-refundable. Notice of withdrawal must be provided in writing at least 90 calendar days prior to the expected departure date; additional terms for refunds and liabilities are set out in the school's institutional regulations.
Accepted payment methods and account details - Accepted payment methods: bank transfer, TICKET / EDENRED / UP Portugal, bank cheque, cash (subject to legal cash limits), direct debit (for monthly instalments), international transfers and credit card payments via the school's international payments provider. - School bank accounts (examples shown on the school payment page): - IBAN: PT50 0007 0000 0009 8802 3582 3 (SWIFT/BIC: BESCPTPL) — Novo Banco. - IBAN: PT50 0045 7060 4004 6436 578 72 (SWIFT/BIC: CCCMPTPL) — Crédito Agrícola. - International transfers and credit card payments can be made through the school's TransferMate facility for international education payments. Direct debit is mandatory for monthly plans; a once-off EUR 50 administrative charge applies when direct debit is used.
Summary of key actionable figures - Registration (on acceptance): EUR 500 (non-refundable). - Enrolment: EUR 340 per year. - Example annual tuition (Years 2–6): EUR 11,490; Years 12–13: EUR 16,410. Full-term and monthly equivalents are published alongside each annual rate.
(End of fee overview.)
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The school provides Montessori education for Pre-School and Elementary levels. In 2024, the school blended its Montessori method with the International Baccalaureate Programme (IB). The school is a Candidate School for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. The school offers a bilingual environment in English and Portuguese. Programs include Childrens House (3-6 Years), Lower and Upper Elementary (6-12 Years), and Extracurricular (3-12 Years), including aftercare and extracurricular activities.
Curriculum details
British National Curriculum is taught across Nobel Algarve Almancil (IGCSEs, BTEC and IB Diploma) and Nobel Algarve Lagoa (British curriculum with IGCSEs and A-Levels; Portuguese National Curriculum pathway also available). Nobel Algarve is a member of Globeducate's GBIS network.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
In 2024/25, Nobel Algarve Lagoa posted results under the Portuguese National Curriculum above national and regional averages. The 9º ano overall average was 63.6% (+11 percentage points above the national average), with Mathematics 65.6% (+13.6%), Portuguese 61.3% (+7.3%), and PLNM 70.3% (national 58%). For ModA assessments (4º and 6º anos), Advanced+Proficient percentages included English 90% (4º ano), Portuguese 50% (4º ano), Mathematics 47% (4º ano), PLNM 50% (4º ano), Portuguese 58% (6º ano), Mathematics 45% (6º ano), and History/Geography of Portugal 52% (6º ano). At 12º ano, the overall average was 12.5 marks (+1.1 above the national average of 11.4) with improvements in Portuguese, Mathematics A, Physics and Chemistry, Philosophy and Spanish.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
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Higher education progression
From Year 7, students use the Unifrog platform to explore careers and university pathways; an annual on-site university fair brings international universities to campus; tailored talks and one-on-one guidance support choices for IGCSEs and A-levels and UCAS/international applications. Graduates go on to study a range of subjects at top universities worldwide, including fields such as Biological Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Law, Economics, and Business.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
Globeducate's four pillars—Enrich, Challenge, Shape and Achieve—shape a broad, balanced curriculum that helps students discover and develop their talents. Enrichment is supported by the Journey outdoor learning programme, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, VivaHUB After School activities, and opportunities for international exchange within Globeducate.
Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Not currently accepting applications. Open days will be scheduled and announced on social media and on this page. A 'Schedule a tour' option is available for inquiries.
Admissions
1. Request info: Fill in the form on this page to register your interest; a member of the Admissions Team will contact you. The school operates rolling admissions and accepts applications for both campuses throughout the year, depending on availability. Early contact is recommended to have the best chance of securing a place. 2. Book a Visit: Coming to see the schools in person is the best way to experience campus life. We will organise a meeting (in person or virtual) with the head of the relevant school campus and section. At the meeting, you will be asked to complete a registration form with your child's details, including previous school reports. 3. Apply for a place: After your meeting, you will be advised of your options and placement availability for your child in the appropriate year. If there are no available spaces, we will let you know and place you on a waiting list if you desire. 4. Enrolment: To finalise enrolment, you will be required to pay the initial fees and provide supporting documents for your application, including: copy of your child's identification document; medical information or vaccination records; copies of both parents' identity cards or passports; both parents' fiscal numbers; if foreign citizens, a copy of residence permits; and copies of both parents' proof of address. Payment options include Bank Transfer; TICKET, EDENRED or UP Portugal; Bank Cheque; Cash; Direct debit; International Transfers and Credit Card. TransferMate is available for international payments.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
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Waitlist
Waitlist
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Waitlist
If there are no available spaces, families are informed and placed on a waiting list on request.
