Oceanus International School vs Tickles International School

	O Oceanus International School Porto, Portugal	T Tickles International School Porto, Portugal
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €5,458 - 5,944	Fees / year €5,115 - 5,662
Age range	Age range 1 - 10 years	Age range 0 - 10 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Cambridge (Primary)	Curriculum Cambridge (Primary)
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 600
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language Portuguese, English	Instruction language Portuguese, English
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Rua da Aldeia nº 238, 4405-540 Valadares, Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District, Portugal. The school is in the Valadares area of Vila Nova de Gaia. Coordinates: 41° 5'34.59″N 8°37'38.83″W. A reliable school transport service is provided for arrival at school and return home.	Location Rua São João de Brito, 344, 4100-452 Porto, Portugal. The school is located in Porto city. Contact: +351 226 182 000, +351 914 667 874; tickles@tickles.com.pt. The school offers pupil transport services.
Stages	Stages Nursery; Pre-School Education; Primary Education; Cambridge Curriculum.	Stages Nursery; Day Care; Pre-School; Primary School; Cambridge
School type	School type Bilingual international school offering Cambridge Curriculum; Apple Distinguished School.	School type International school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Therapeutic Support Services including Psychology; Speech and Language Therapy; Occupational Therapy; Special Education support; in partnership with Liane Marques Therapeutic Centre (CTLM).	Additional learning support Support and therapeutic services provided by a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary team to complement development and well-being.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation —	Country affiliation Portugal
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details Safe transport: A reliable school transport service.	Bus service details School transport is provided; children are transported in appropriate seats by a team of qualified professionals; fees for journeys are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Academic year covered Fees and charges below apply to the 2025/2026 academic year. Application and enrolment fees - Pre‑registration (Pré‑inscrição): EUR 50 — non‑refundable. - Registration (Inscrição): EUR 320 — includes school insurance. - Annual renewal fee (Renovação): EUR 220 — charged in January. Tuition fees (by year group) — monthly and annual - Creche: EUR 460 per month; annual amount shown as EUR 5,354.40 (monthly billing x 12). - Pré‑Escolar: EUR 450 per month; annual amount shown as EUR 5,238.00 (monthly billing x 12). - 1.º Ciclo (1st cycle): EUR 470 per month; annual amount shown as EUR 5,470.80 (monthly billing x 12). Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard billing basis: monthly fees billed on a 12‑month basis. - The tuition portion for August is paid in advance in two instalments (collected in November and May). - Annual payment option: if paying the full year in one payment, that payment must be made in August. - Late payments: invoices settled after the stated deadlines are subject to a penalty (multa) as defined in the school's Internal Regulations. - Sibling discounts on monthly tuition only: 10% for the second child and 15% for the third child; discounts apply to the younger sibling(s). Boarding - No boarding provision or boarding fees are listed in the school's published fee schedule for this academic year. Other costs and optional services - Alimentação (meals and snacks): EUR 140 per month; this includes lunch and morning and afternoon snacks. There is a possibility of occasional single meal service (refeição avulso) during July and August. - Transporte escolar (school transport): provided by a contracted/partner company and charged under a separate price schedule. - Atividades extracurriculares (extracurricular activities): charged under a separate price schedule (activities run October–June). - Uniforme: mandatory daily uniform purchased through the school (school store). - Serviços especializados (specialist services such as psychological consultation, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and individualized support) are offered and have their own pricing where applicable; some therapeutic screening and certain support services are included in the monthly fee as specified for early years and 1.º ciclo. Refunds and charge reversals - The Pre‑registration fee of EUR 50 is explicitly non‑refundable. - No other explicit refund policy for tuition or other fees is detailed in the published fee schedule; penalties for invoices paid outside stated deadlines are applied as described under payment terms. Fee payment options - Specific payment methods (for example: bank transfer, Multibanco/reference, credit card) are not detailed in the published fee schedule. Notes on what is included in tuition - The monthly tuition for the stated year groups explicitly includes curricular components and a set of listed items and supports (example: hygiene and diaper products where applicable, school bedding, art aprons, psychopedagogical support, and screening for occupational therapy and speech); some digital learning services for 1.º ciclo are also included.	Fee details Application and registration fees - Pre-registration (non‑refundable): EUR 100. - New registration (one-off, includes school insurance): EUR 390. - Renewal of registration (one-off, includes school insurance): EUR 330. Tuition fees by year group (monthly and semestral/annual where published) - Berçário (Nursery) - Monthly tuition: EUR 470. - Material fee (charged in September): EUR 105. - Semestral tuition: EUR 2,585.00. Annual tuition (11 months billed as the school's annual figure): EUR 5,066.60. - Creche (Day care) - Monthly tuition: EUR 465. - Material fee (charged in September): EUR 125. - Monthly lunch (when on monthly lunch plan): EUR 115. - Semestral tuition: EUR 2,557.50. Annual tuition: EUR 5,012.70. Semestral lunch: EUR 632.50. Annual lunch: EUR 1,265.00. Lunch by occasion (avulso): EUR 7.50 per meal. - Pré‑escolar (Pre‑school) - Monthly tuition: EUR 465. - Material fee (charged in September): EUR 125. - Monthly lunch (when on monthly lunch plan): EUR 115. - Semestral tuition: EUR 2,557.50. Annual tuition: EUR 5,012.70. Semestral lunch: EUR 632.50. Annual lunch: EUR 1,265.00. Lunch by occasion (avulso): EUR 7.50 per meal. - 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (Primary / 1st Cycle) - Monthly tuition: EUR 470. - Material fee (charged in September): EUR 140. - Monthly lunch (when on monthly lunch plan): EUR 140. Lanche avulso (single snack): EUR 3.00. - Optional bundled tuition that includes lunches (where offered): tuition with 1 lunch EUR 515; tuition with 2 lunches EUR 560. Semestral tuition: EUR 2,585.00. Annual tuition: EUR 5,066.60. Semestral lunch: EUR 770.00. Annual lunch: EUR 1,540.00. Lunch by occasion (avulso): EUR 7.50 per meal. Additional recurring or one‑off school costs - Digital class (Aula Digital), charged in September: EUR 55. - Financial literacy (Literacia Financeira) for 3rd and 4th years, charged in September: EUR 32.50. - Biology kit for 1st year (charged in September to 1st‑year or new students; validity 4 years): EUR 95. - Study room / after‑school study (45–60 minutes per day, after classes): EUR 120. - After‑hours care (applies from the first hour after 19:00): EUR 15 for the first hour; EUR 25 for each following hour. - Material fees for school year are charged only in September of the current school year. Optional enrichment activities and field trips are charged separately and must be paid before the activity. Meal fees for missed days are not refundable. Billing schedule and payment terms - Monthly billing: invoices must be paid between day 1 and day 5 of the respective month; the school's annual billing covers 11 months (September to July). - Semestral payments: due at the start of September and the start of March. - Annual payment: if paid in a single installment by the start of the first month of attendance, an annual payment discount applies (published discount: 2% when paid in September). - Second‑child sibling discount: 10% applied to the younger sibling(s) when applicable. - New registrations and pre‑registrations must be paid at the time of enrollment/registration. Renewals are handled in January. The month of July is invoiced and settled in June. - Late payment and non‑payment: invoices not settled in the prescribed period incur penalties. A late payment aggravation of 10% applies; persistent non‑payment may cause all remaining installments to become immediately due and can lead to termination of the service contract and the student losing their place. �. Fee payment options (accepted methods and bank details) - Accepted methods: cheque, cash, or bank transfer to the school's IBANs. When using bank transfer, identify the payment with the student's name. - Bank accounts (IBANs as published for payments): - PT50 0007 0509 0002 1920 0079. - PT50 0036 0489 9910 6008 2175 2 (identify transfer with student name). Boarding (residential) fees - Boarding is not part of the Tickles provision (school operates nursery, creche, pre‑school and 1st cycle day services). No boarding fees are published. Refund and cancellation rules - The pre‑registration fee (EUR 100) is non‑refundable. - Withdrawal/cancellation during the school year does not automatically entitle the family to reimbursement of amounts already paid and does not relieve the obligation to pay outstanding or upcoming instalments, except in specifically evaluated cases by school management. Meal fees for absences are not refundable. Failure to provide the required written notice of withdrawal (60 days where applicable) can incur an additional month's tuition charge. Summary of how fees are presented and charged - Tuition figures are published both as monthly amounts (used for monthly billing) and as semestral/annual totals (used when families opt for semestral or annual payment). Material fees and certain kits or program fees are one‑off charges collected in September. Optional services (study room, after‑hours care, digital class, specific kits, enrichment activities) have separate published amounts and billing rules. Late payment carries a financial penalty and may lead to loss of enrollment if unresolved.
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 Oceanus International School offers a bilingual education in English and Portuguese. The Cambridge Curriculum is fully integrated, with an Early Years Programme in Pre-Primary Education and a Primary Programme in the 1st Cycle, aligned with the national curriculum. By the end of Year 4, pupils achieve a high level of English and may obtain Cambridge-recognised certification. The Nursery and Pre-School programmes adopt a project-based methodology with a focus on holistic development, language and literacy, mathematical thinking, social-emotional skills, and multilingualism. In Primary Education, the curriculum emphasizes solid academic foundations, learning-to-learn skills, personal and social development, creativity, and global citizenship, with English playing a central role alongside Portuguese. Cambridge is designed to strengthen academic excellence and global opportunities.	Curriculum details Cambridge Early Years and Cambridge Primary are part of Tickles' Cambridge Pathway, authorized to teach from the 2025/2026 academic year. The programs cover pupils from kindergarten through Year 4 and are taught as a supplement to the national Portuguese curriculum, not a substitution. The school earned Cambridge school code PT777 on 12 September 2025. The Cambridge Primary component includes Art and Design, Computing, English as a Second Language, Global Perspectives and Physical Education; these sit alongside a broader set of Cambridge Primary subjects. English remains a strong component across the curriculum, with English taught as a second language where needed. Cambridge Primary assessments include annual Cambridge Primary Progression Tests for English as a Second Language and Global Perspectives in Years 2–4, and the weekly timetable shows Cambridge Primary hours by year.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
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. Pre-registration can be completed online or in person. It does not guarantee a place; it only secures a position on the waiting list. Pre-registrations can be submitted at any time and for any future academic year, with online registration available throughout the year. They allow the candidate to be considered in the class allocation process. 2. Introduction Meeting: After online pre-registration, a meeting with a member of the Pedagogical Management Team is scheduled to learn about the school's educational programme, facilities, and offerings. The meeting is ideally attended by both the student and the parent or guardian, and provides an opportunity to ask questions about the programme and the school's approach. 3. Enrollment: If a place is confirmed by the school, the parent or guardian will be contacted by phone and provided with information required to complete enrollment in accordance with the Educational Project and Internal Regulations. Following the introduction meeting, pre-registration is confirmed upon payment of the applicable fee, which is set annually in the school's fee schedule. Enrollment requires submitting the required documentation and paying the enrollment fee. 4. Waiting list and admission criteria: A waiting list is established once all available places have been filled, based on the date of pre-registration, with an exception for siblings currently attending the school. Siblings have priority; admission is contingent upon an interview with a Pedagogical Management Team member during a pre-scheduled visit and adherence to the school's Educational Project and Internal Regulations. Enrollment is confirmed after completing the necessary procedures (enrollment form, documentation, enrollment payment) and, during the process, information about fees, timetables, and services is provided. If a place is available, families are contacted in line with the admission criteria. Pre-registration fee is non-refundable.	Admissions Start your admissions journey: The admissions process can be started at any time during the school year by contacting the school directly or by completing the online pre-enrolment form. Pre-enrolment does not guarantee a place. Assessment and Introduction Meeting: After the application, the candidacy is analyzed by the Pedagogical Direction. Parents or guardians will be contacted to arrange an introduction meeting, where they can learn about the school's educational approach, facilities, and environment. Ideally, both pupil and parent/guardian attend. Place Confirmation and Enrolment: Once the application has been reviewed and a place confirmed, the parent/guardian will be contacted with instructions to complete the enrolment. Enrolment is final once the service agreement is signed. The school reserves the right to admit pupils at its discretion, and the agreement may be amended during the school year if necessary. Waiting List: If applications exceed the school's capacity, an updated waiting list will be maintained. When allocating places, priority is given first to siblings of pupils already enrolled, followed by children on the waiting list in the order in which their applications were received. Complete your pre-enrolment easily through the online form.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist A waiting list is established once all available places have been filled, based on the date of pre-registration, with an exception for siblings currently attending. The admissions process gives priority to siblings of currently enrolled students. Admission is contingent upon an interview with a Pedagogical Management Team member and adherence to the school's Educational Project and Internal Regulations.	Waitlist Waiting List: If applications exceed the school's capacity, an updated waiting list will be maintained. When allocating places, priority is given first to siblings of pupils already enrolled, followed by children on the waiting list in the order in which their applications were received.
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