IPS Cascais British International School vs Santo António International School

	I IPS Cascais British International School Lisbon, Portugal	S Santo António International School Lisbon, Portugal
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €11,548 - 17,755	Fees / year €11,160 - 14,860
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 5 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils 440	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 22	Typical class size 23
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1982	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location IPS Cascais British International School is located in Bicesse, north of Cascais, Portugal. It is 25 kilometres from the centre of Lisbon. The campus address is Rua da Lagoa 171, 2645-344 Alcabideche, Portugal. The school serves a diverse international community with students from over 40 nationalities.	Location Estoril, Portugal. Avenida Sabóia, 662 A, 2765-277 Estoril. The school is in the heart of Estoril and is a full K-12 British international school. It is a Catholic independent institution.
Stages	Stages Foundation Stage to Year 9 is offered. iGCSEs are taken in Year 11. 6th Form (Years 12–13) coming soon.	Stages Full K-12; 5 to 9 years (Year 2–5); 10 to 13 years (Year 6–9); 14 to 15 years (Year 10–11); 16 to 18 years (Year 12–13).
School type	School type British international school delivering the National Curriculum of England.	School type Full K-12 British international private Catholic school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 440 pupils from over 40 nationalities.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Learning support and EAL rooms are available.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Portugal	Country affiliation Portugal; Cambridge International Examinations (UK) accreditation.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation Catholic
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Initial / Application charges - Registration (one‑off, non‑refundable on acceptance): EUR 4,000. Split into two equal payments if the child starts in Nursery (FS1) or Reception; the second payment is due on entering Year 1. - Annual enrolment/registration charge (invoiced annually): EUR 925. Tuition fees (per term) — full detail by year group - Nursery (mornings only) — per term by number of mornings: - 1 morning: EUR 2,705 - 2 mornings: EUR 2,825 - 3 mornings: EUR 2,950 - 4 mornings: EUR 3,065 - 5 mornings: EUR 3,190 - Nursery (full days) — per term by number of full days: - 1 day: EUR 2,780 - 2 days: EUR 2,970 - 3 days: EUR 3,170 - 4 days: EUR 3,360 - 5 days: EUR 3,541 - Reception (per term): EUR 3,612 - Years 1 & 2 (per term): EUR 4,514 - Years 3 & 4 (per term): EUR 4,838 - Years 5, 6 & 7 (per term): EUR 5,144 - Years 8 & 9 (per term): EUR 5,343 - Year 10 (per term): EUR 5,610 All per‑term tuition figures above are published as the standard per‑term charge. Family discount for third child and subsequent (applied to the youngest children): 20%. Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard due date: fees and other charges are due on or before the first day of each term. Alternative instalment schedules are available where published; when paying in three instalments for the academic year the due dates for the three instalments are: 1st instalment by 26 August 2025, 2nd instalment by 26 December 2025, and 3rd instalment by 26 March 2026. - Payment conditions: acceptance of a place is confirmed only once required initial charges and completed documentation have been received; enrolment and registration fees are not refundable if the child does not attend. Late payment may attract interest and outstanding reports/documentation may be withheld until accounts are settled. Specific cheque clearance periods apply (Portuguese cheques: 2 days; UK cheques: 15 days; other cheques: 20 days). Payment by certain voucher systems must be processed in advance to allow for handling time. - Acceptance for less than a full term: enrolment during the first half of a term attracts a full term's fee; enrolment during the second half of a term attracts a half‑term's fee. Notice of withdrawal must be given in writing at least 90 calendar days before expected departure. If proper notice is not provided, one term's fee may be charged in lieu of notice. Boarding fees - Boarding provision is not listed among the school's standard fee charges for the current primary/secondary provision; there are no published standard boarding fees in the school fee schedules for the current academic provision. Other costs and regular additional charges - Lunch: - Nursery & Reception — per term: EUR 440; per day (1–4 meals/week): EUR 8.00 - Years 1 and up — per term: EUR 509; per day (1–4 meals/week): EUR 9.00 - Occasional lunches (payable on the day by 10:00): EUR 9.50 per day. - Bus transport (per term) — standard routes and fares: - 0–5 km (examples: Alcabideche, Estoril, Linhó): EUR 1,087 per term - 5–10 km (examples: Carcavelos, Cascais, Malveira da Serra, Oeiras): EUR 1,181 per term - +10 km (examples: Paço de Arcos, Lisboa): EUR 1,418 per term - Occasional trip (daily rate): single ride EUR 23; return EUR 31 - Discount on transport: second and subsequent children at the same address: 10%. Additional charges may apply for addresses outside usual routes. - Additional services / charges (examples and per‑session rates): - Special Education Needs (SEN) support: EUR 35 per session (30 minutes) - EAL / language tuition: EUR 35 per session (30 minutes) - Psychological & orientation services: EUR 40 per session (45 minutes) - Student transfer process administration: EUR 50 per student - After‑school VivaHUB activities and other extra‑curricular programmes are charged separately (prices vary by activity). Uniform items are charged separately (uniform cost varies by item and purchase). Refunds and cancellation - Enrolment/registration fees are non‑refundable once paid and a place is accepted. If a child is enrolled but does not attend, enrolment and registration fees are still payable and non‑refundable; the first term's fees remain payable. Refunds of tuition are not made if the school is forced to close for reasons beyond its control (force majeure). Refunds will be made for lunch or transport services that have not been provided; lunch credits may be issued when a child is absent for three or more authorised days. Notice and withdrawal rules (90 calendar days' written notice; charge in lieu of notice where applicable) apply as stated in the school's payment regulations. Fee payment options - Accepted payment methods: Bank transfer; TICKET, EDENRED, COVERFLEX or UP Portugal (voucher/payment providers); bank cheque; cash. Bank transfers should be made to the school owner's bank account; payments via voucher providers must be made four weeks prior to the first day of each term to allow processing; cheque clearance times apply as above. Credit card payment is not listed among the standard options. All bank charges are borne by the payer unless otherwise arranged. Discounts - Family discounts noted in the current fee schedule: third child and subsequent: 20% discount applied to the youngest children. Transport discount for second/subsequent children at same address: 10%. Other sibling discount structures or early‑payment discounts may be specified in the school's published payment regulations. (Amounts and procedural dates are the school's published charges and terms for the current published fee schedule.)	Fee details Enrollment & one‑time fees - Yearly admission fee (non‑refundable): EUR 1,500 per pupil. - School deposit (non‑refundable): EUR 1,050 one‑time payment upon acceptance. - Reservation fee (non‑refundable): EUR 1,150 upon admission. - School insurance: EUR 210 annual. Tuition fees by year group (per term and annual totals for the 2025/2026 academic year) - Primary School (P1 – P5 / Year 1 – Year 5): Term 1 = EUR 3,650; Term 2 = EUR 3,650; Term 3 = EUR 3,650; Annual total = EUR 10,950 (meal pack noted with primary fees). - Middle School (A1 – A4 / Year 6 – Year 9): Term 1 = EUR 3,950; Term 2 = EUR 3,950; Term 3 = EUR 3,950; Annual total = EUR 11,850. - IGCSE (A5 – A6 / Year 10 – Year 11): Term 1 = EUR 4,300; Term 2 = EUR 4,300; Term 3 = EUR 4,300; Annual total = EUR 12,900. (CAIE / external examination fees are excluded.) - A'Level / AICE (A7 – A8 / Year 12 – Year 13): Term 1 = EUR 4,600; Term 2 = EUR 4,600; Term 3 = EUR 4,600; Annual total = EUR 13,800. (CAIE / external examination fees are excluded.) Billing schedule and payment terms - Invoice method: Tuition fees are invoiced by email. - Termly payment windows: - Term 1: payment expected between 30 August and 8 September (Term 1 is due on admission for new entrants). - Term 2: payment expected between 2 January and 8 January. - Term 3: payment expected between 1 April and 8 April. - Annual/termly payments are expected; there is a stated 5% discount for yearly fees paid at the beginning of September (discounts are non‑cumulative). - Overdue policy: late payments incur a 15% increase on amounts received after the due date; outstanding debts are prioritized against the eldest outstanding charge and pupils with outstanding fees may be denied return or admission. Boarding fees - The school operates as a day school; no boarding fees apply. Other costs and optional fees - Monthly Meal Pack (recommended / mandatory for Primary pupils when ordered termly): EUR 210 per termly order (Morning snack + Lunch + Afternoon snack). - Daily lunch ticket (when used): EUR 15 per day. - Field trips, after‑school activities, homework club, external summer school and similar services: charged as required and billed separately. - CAIE / external examination fees: charged separately and are excluded from tuition. - Student planner replacement: EUR 15 (charged if replacement is required). - Overtime / late‑collection fee: EUR 35 per 30 minutes (charged after a 30‑minute tolerance period). - Uniform: school uniform is compulsory for all pupils and may be purchased at the school office; specific item costs are not listed in the fee schedule. Refunds, withdrawal and related policies - Admission/registration fees, reservation fee and the school deposit are non‑refundable. - Early withdrawal: written notice of withdrawal with a full term's notice (90 days) is required when a pupil leaves during the academic year; failure to provide formal notice results in charge of the equivalent term's fees. - If a pupil does not attend after payment of registration/fees, the registration fee remains non‑refundable. Fee payment options - Accepted payment methods: payments in Euros may be made in cash, by bank transfer, or by account debit (débito directo). All payment slips should include the pupil's first and last name. Discounts and sibling policy - Discount for early payment: 5% reduction on yearly fees if paid at the beginning of September. - Sibling discount: 5% discount applied to the tuition fees for the second and subsequent pupils from the same family (applied to the younger sibling); discounts are non‑cumulative.
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 IPS Cascais follows the National Curriculum for England, adapted to an international context. In Primary, core subjects are English, Mathematics, and Science, with additional language provision including Portuguese and Dutch, and English as an Additional Language (EAL). In Year 7, pupils receive a language taster in French (Term 1) and Spanish (Term 2), before choosing a language option from Term 3 onward. In Secondary (Years 7–11), pupils follow the National Curriculum for England and prepare for iGCSEs, with iGCSE study beginning in Year 10 and examinations in Year 11. A Sixth Form (Years 12–13) with A Levels is coming soon, and a new Secondary School campus will open in September 2026 to deliver Years 7–13.	Curriculum details The Cambridge Pathway Curriculum is followed from Primary KS2 through Middle School KS3, leading into IGCSEs and A Level/AICE Diploma years. It has been a Cambridge International School since 2013 and operates as a Cambridge examination center. The curriculum spans ages 5 to 18, with 5-9 years (Year 25) including English, Portuguese, Mathematics, Topic, ICT, Religious Education, Performing Arts, Arts & Crafts and GP. For 10-13 years (Year 69) the program includes English Language & Literature, Portuguese Language & Literature, Mathematics, Sciences, History, Geography, Arts & Design, ICT, GP, Religious Education, Performing Arts, HCP and Music. For 14-15 years (Year 1011) it includes English Language & Literature, Portuguese Language & Literature, Mathematics, Sciences, History, Geography, Business, Global Perspectives, ICT, DT, Art & Design, Physical Education, Religious Education, Ethics. For 16-18 years (Year 1213) there is a Range of Mathematics & Science Subjects, a Range of Languages, a Range of Humanities & Arts, Global Perspectives (Compulsory CAIE Subject), Ethics and Physical Education.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio The school has a 1:10 staff-pupil ratio. Average class size is 22 pupils.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results Examination routes include SAIS A'LEVEL/AICE Diploma and SAIS IGCSE, with results updated yearly. World University SAIS Placement shows graduates progress to universities such as Faculdade de Direito da Universidade do Porto, Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon, and Bangor University in Wales, with results updated yearly.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Globeducate pupils secure places at leading universities worldwide; in 2020/2021 our students gained admission to 25 of the world's top 50 universities.	Higher education progression Graduates progress to universities such as Faculdade de Direito da Universidade do Porto, Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon, and Bangor University in Wales.
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 IPS Cascais welcomes children from all over the world and is currently enrolling, accepting applications throughout the school year. IPS Cascais offers the National Curriculum for England to primary and secondary-aged students and is a proud member of Globeducate. The admissions process comprises six steps: express your interest; visit the school or schedule a meeting; submit the Registration Form and send previous school reports; pupil sits an entry task; confirmation of place; pay charges to secure the pupil's seat. Places are mainly awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on availability. Priority is given to siblings of current students; children whose first language is not Portuguese or who have had the majority of their education in English; first-language English speakers; and families from organisations with whom IPS has long-standing protocols. A new Secondary School opens in September 2026; it will move to a new campus with specialist facilities near the current site and will deliver an educational programme from Years 7 to 13, preparing pupils for universities worldwide.	Admissions 1. Pre-enrolment registration: Complete the Pre-enrolment Form with your child's details: Name, Birth Date, Nationality, Gender, First Language, Second Language, Current School, and Current Academic Year. The form also collects Parent/Guardian Information such as Name, Email, and Phone Number, and requires acceptance of the Privacy Policy. After submission, you will be contacted for an interview, and the admissions process continues from there. 2. Interview and next steps: Interviews are scheduled as part of the admissions process. You should expect to be called for an interview after completing the pre-enrolment form. The next steps are determined by SAIS's internal requirements.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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