IPS Cascais British International School vs The Lisboan International School
IPS Cascais British International School and The Lisboan International School are both in Lisbon, about 18 km apart. Both schools offer British and Cambridge IGCSE programmes. IPS Cascais British International School also offers Cambridge A Levels, and The Lisboan International School also offers IB. Published annual fees are €11,548 - 17,755 at IPS Cascais British International School and €13,450 - 23,450 at The Lisboan International School, which puts The Lisboan International School roughly 26% higher. Both take pupils from 3 to 18.
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Curriculum
British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils
Pupils
440
Pupils
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Typical class size
Typical class size
22
Typical class size
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Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
1982
Opened
2025
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
The Lisboan is in Lisbon, Portugal, in the Alcântara district. The campus address is R. Maria Luísa Holstein, 1300-388 Lisboa, Portugal.
Stages
Stages
Foundation Stage to Year 9 is offered. iGCSEs are taken in Year 11. 6th Form (Years 12–13) coming soon.
Stages
Open from FS1 to Year 10. Founded in September 2025.
School type
School type
British international school delivering the National Curriculum of England.
School type
British international school
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
440 pupils from over 40 nationalities.
Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Learning support and EAL rooms are available.
Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Portugal
Country affiliation
Portugal
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
The Core Enrichment Programme takes place at the end of each school day.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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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
Application fee
- A non-refundable application fee of EUR 250 is required to start the admissions process.
Enrolment fee (registration / acceptance)
- A non-refundable one‑off enrolment fee of EUR 2,500 applies for new students when paid by 31 March 2026. From 1 April 2026 the enrolment fee for new students is EUR 3,000. The school requires payment of the enrolment fee to secure an offered place.
Tuition fees — 2025/26 (annual and termly; three terms per year)
Primary school (annual / termly ×3): - Nursery: EUR 11,950 / EUR 3,983. - Reception: EUR 11,950 / EUR 3,983. - Year 1: EUR 13,950 / EUR 4,650. - Year 2: EUR 13,950 / EUR 4,650. - Year 3: EUR 15,950 / EUR 5,317. - Year 4: EUR 15,950 / EUR 5,317. - Year 5: EUR 16,950 / EUR 5,650. - Year 6: EUR 16,950 / EUR 5,650.
Secondary school (annual / termly ×3): - Year 7: EUR 17,950 / EUR 5,983. - Year 8: EUR 17,950 / EUR 5,983. - Year 9: EUR 17,950 / EUR 5,983. - Year 10: EUR 19,950 / EUR 6,650. - Year 11: EUR 19,950 / EUR 6,650. - Year 12: EUR 21,950 / EUR 7,317. - Year 13: EUR 21,950 / EUR 7,317.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition is expressed as an annual amount and divided into three termly instalments (Termly Fee × 3). Food service can be charged per term and is invoiced on the first day of each term. Re‑enrolment charges for current students are applied in March and are deducted from the following year's tuition. New offers must be secured (acceptance form and enrolment fee) within the timeframe set by admissions (payment of the enrolment fee secures the place).
Boarding fees
- The Lisboan does not list any boarding provision or boarding fees; the school operates as a day school and transport options are discussed as local public transport and potential future bus services. No boarding charges apply.
Other costs and typical additional charges
- Food service (meal plan) charged per term: EUR 500 (2025/26). - Re‑enrolment (current students, charged every March and deducted from next year's tuition): EUR 1,000. - Items commonly billed separately or noted as additional costs include uniforms, school trips (co‑curricular and city trips), optional co‑curricular activities provided by external providers, transport (when provided), BYOD / laptop requirement for Year 7 and above, and mandatory exam charges (IGCSE, IB or other external exam fees where applicable). Some items such as school books, certain curriculum trips and specified exams for the 2025/26 year are included in tuition as noted by the school.
Refund information
- The application fee is non‑refundable. The enrolment fee is non‑refundable. The re‑enrolment fee charged in March is non‑refundable and will be deducted from the following year's tuition. No other refund terms for tuition are specified in the published fee summary.
Fee payment options
- The application fee can be paid online through the school's application portal. Detailed payment instructions for the enrolment fee and other invoices are provided by the admissions team when an offer is made; families are required to follow the admissions instructions to transfer the enrolment fee and complete enrolment. Specific payment methods (credit card vs. bank transfer) are managed through the school's admissions/payment process.
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
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
Early Years focus on play, curiosity, and foundational skills, continuing into Primary with a broad and balanced curriculum. The Cambridge International framework guides the curriculum in Senior School, culminating in IGCSE examinations at the end of Year 11. In Senior School, the IB Diploma Programme is taken in Years 12 and 13. IGCSE subject options include English, Maths, Science, Humanities, Modern Foreign Languages, Design and Technology, Art and Design, Music, and Physical Education. At the end of Year 11, students sit the Cambridge International Education IGCSE examinations. Success provides a strong platform for progression to the IB Diploma Programme, A levels or vocational pathways. The Lisboan is part of the Artemis Education Family.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
The school has a 1:10 staff-pupil ratio. Average class size is 22 pupils.
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
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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
The IB Diploma Programme is recognised by leading universities worldwide. It develops critical and creative thinking, collaboration, independent research, self-management and communication, equipping students for higher education and for thriving in a rapidly changing world. Pathways beyond IGCSE include progression to the IB Diploma Programme, A levels or vocational pathways.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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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
—
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
—
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
—
Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
—
Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
—
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
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
The Lisboan is an international school for students aged 3 to 18. In 2026 the school serves ages 3 to 15 (Nursery through Year 10), with Year 11 opening in 2026, Year 12 in 2027, and Year 13 in 2028. The school follows the National Curriculum for England adapted for an international setting, delivering Cambridge IGCSEs and, from 2027, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. Admissions are rolling with no application deadline; assessments may be conducted during the academic year. Applications are online and the six‑step process is: 1. Enquire; 2) Gather Documents (child's Passport, both parent/guardian passports, Vaccination Record, End of Year Report, Passport‑size Photo); 3) Application (online form and documents) with a €250 application fee; 4) Assessment (if applicable) to determine placement; 5) Offer by email with next enrolment steps; 6) Secure the place within 10 working days by submitting the Acceptance form, Parent/Guardian Contract, paying the enrolment fee, and signing The Lisboan Values and Data Protection Agreements. The Age Placement Guide maps birth dates to Nursery through Year 13 (examples include 1 September 2021–31 August 2022 = Nursery 3–4 yrs; 1 September 2020–31 August 2021 = Reception 4–5 yrs, etc.). The Lisboan is a member of COBIS and will work toward CIS and WASC accreditation. The application fee is €250 and the enrolment fee is €2,500 (until 31 March 2026; otherwise €3,000).