Why join for free?
Already have an account? Log In
Portugal, Porto
Let the school know you're thinking of applying — they can share their prerequisites and help you through the process.
It's best to ask — circumstances can change at any time.
OBS opened in 1894 with 11 British boys under Reverend William Slyman Picken. The school house in Foz do Douro, initially rented, was purchased in 1922 and remains part of the facilities. Non-British boys were admitted in 1902 and girls in 1914; after the Second World War the roll exceeded 100. In the 1960s a parallel Portuguese course was introduced alongside the English curriculum, and a major building programme in the 1970s and 1980s expanded capacity to more than 200 pupils. In the early 1990s OBS introduced post-IGCSE pathways leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma; the school now hosts a mix of international and local families with pupil numbers in excess of 570.
OBS maintains a family-focused community with a broad co-curricular life. The school hosts a varied events calendar including a Solidarity Concert, an International Food Festival, La Fête de La Francophonie for Form 6 to 9, a Duke of Edinburgh journey, a photography competition, and an IB Art exhibition. The Carol Service at Stella Maris Church has become a highlight of OBS life. Alumni gatherings and other community events are part of school life.
All parents and teachers can join the PTA. The PTA promotes strong links between families and the school and organises fundraising and community events. Interim Membership for current pupils' parents/guardians enables attendance and voting at the AGM. The annual membership fee is €10 per year.
Oporto British School (OBS) is a British international school in Foz do Douro, Porto, educating pupils from age 3 to 18. The curriculum combines the Early Years Foundation Stage and the British framework with Cambridge IGCSE studies and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, offering an international education from Early Years through Secondary. Portuguese is taught in Lower Primary, reflecting the local context. Founded in 1894, OBS sits on a campus overlooking the Douro River. Facilities include a Primary Building with EYFS and Primary classrooms, a Library, IT rooms, and the Farn and Teage Buildings for specialist spaces; Teage Hall hosts music and drama. Campus Development Plan adds a Primary Building with 16 classrooms, a dining room, and a Multipurpose Building with labs and a pastoral hub, plus expanded sports facilities. Notable programs include OBSMUN, robotics and coding, science and arts clubs, School Orchestra, Choir, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
