Santo António International School vs The British School of Lisbon

	S Santo António International School Lisbon, Portugal	T The British School of Lisbon Lisbon, Portugal
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €11,160 - 14,860	Fees / year €13,110 - 21,375
Age range	Age range 5 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 16 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels	Curriculum British Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 23	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened —	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	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.	Location The British School of Lisbon has two campuses in Lisbon, Portugal: Primary Campus at Rua São Paulo 89, Lisbon 1200-427, and Secondary Campus at Rua de Alcolena 10, Lisbon 1400-004. The school operates from two campus locations in Lisbon.
Stages	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).	Stages Early Years; Primary School; Middle School; Secondary School; Sixth Form
School type	School type Full K-12 British international private Catholic school.	School type British international school following the English National Curriculum
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support Language support is available for a limited number of students
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Portugal; Cambridge International Examinations (UK) accreditation.	Country affiliation United Kingdom
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Catholic	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure School runs Monday to Friday, 8:30am–3:30pm; on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, finishes at 4:30pm for after-school activities; 10:30am break; lunch 12:00–13:00; a 15-minute break at 14:30.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details The school offers a bus service; routes cover most expatriate residential compounds.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	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.	Fee details Application and enrolment fees - Application fee (one-time): EUR 250. - Enrolment (acceptance) fee (one-off, charged per family): EUR 5,000 (non‑refundable). Tuition fees by year group (annual and per term) Amounts shown are annual tuition fees; the school offers payment either annually or in three equal instalments (three terms). Per‑term values below are the annual amount divided by three, rounded to the nearest euro where required. - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual EUR 13,110 — Per term EUR 4,370. - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual EUR 13,110 — Per term EUR 4,370. - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual EUR 15,219 — Per term EUR 5,073. - Grade 1 (age 6): Annual EUR 15,219 — Per term EUR 5,073. - Grade 2 (age 7): Annual EUR 16,445 — Per term EUR 5,482. - Grade 3 (age 8): Annual EUR 16,445 — Per term EUR 5,482. - Grade 4 (age 9): Annual EUR 16,445 — Per term EUR 5,482. - Grade 5 (age 10): Annual EUR 17,171 — Per term EUR 5,724. - Grade 6 (age 11): Annual EUR 17,171 — Per term EUR 5,724. - Grade 7 (age 12): Annual EUR 17,171 — Per term EUR 5,724. - Grade 8 (age 13): Annual EUR 17,171 — Per term EUR 5,724. - Grade 9 (age 14): Annual EUR 21,375 — Per term EUR 7,125. What tuition covers and what is charged separately - Tuition covers stationery, learning materials and consumables. - The following are charged separately from tuition: school excursions, school uniform, school bus services and school meals. - Uniforms are compulsory and are purchased externally (available at El Corte Inglés, Lisboa). Footwear, PE kit and seasonal uniform arrangements are specified by the school and paid for by families. Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are payable either in a single annual payment before the start of the academic year, or in three equal instalments due before the start of each term. Fees are reviewed annually. - The first-year total for a newly enrolled pupil includes the one‑off application and enrolment charges in addition to the annual tuition; an example breakdown for Kindergarten 1 first year: Application EUR 250 + Enrolment EUR 5,000 + Tuition EUR 13,110 = Total EUR 18,360 (first year). Boarding - The school does not offer boarding provision; it operates as a day school for ages 3–15. Other costs and optional charges - School trips and excursions: charged separately and billed as applicable. - School bus: charged separately when used. - School meals: charged separately. - Uniform: purchased externally at the specified retailer; families should budget for uniform, footwear and PE kit. - Additional optional costs (external examination fees, certain extracurricular activities, specialist resources or trips) may be charged where applicable; these are not included in listed tuition. Refund information - The school's public fee information identifies the enrolment (acceptance) fee as a one‑off charge; that fee is listed in directory summaries as non‑refundable. No detailed, publicly posted full refund schedule for tuition or termly refunds was available on the school's public fees page. Fee payment options - The school's public fees page sets out payment frequency and timing (annual or three instalments) but does not publish a definitive list of accepted payment methods on the public fee page. Parents should note that many international schools accept bank transfer and card payments, but accepted methods were not published explicitly on the school's public fee information. Notes and verification summary - Public school material states the billing options, what tuition includes/excludes and the requirement to purchase uniform externally, but the school's public fee page does not publish a full, line‑by‑line downloadable fee schedule on the public page for the 2025/2026 academic year. Third‑party school directories list the one‑time fees and the annual tuition amounts shown above (application EUR 250; enrolment EUR 5,000; annual tuition per year group as listed). (End of fee overview)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement The school has a uniform; all pupils wear uniform from Primary up to A Level. Uniforms may be purchased at the school office.	Uniform requirement School uniform is compulsory for all students and must be worn neatly. Uniforms can be purchased at El Corte Ingles Lisboa, Avenida António Augusto de Aguiar 31; footwear should be black and business‑like. PE uniforms are worn on PE days, and summer and winter uniforms are worn according to guidance from the Headteacher; coats and anoraks are encouraged in cold weather and sun hats on sunny days.
Food options	Food options A Monthly SAIS Meal Pack is offered (morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack); school lunch is not included in the SAIS school fee and is ordered on a termly basis.	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system The school uses a four‑house system: Shackleton, Franklin, Eliot and Turing. Siblings are assigned to the same House; Houses run across the school and meet regularly in their House group. Each House supports a different charity and is led by a House Leader; the House Cup is awarded at Prize Giving after fundraising and competitions.
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership The school is an international independent Catholic School.	Governance and ownership The British School of Lisbon is part of Dukes Education, a family of schools across the UK and Europe. Governors work with the Head and Senior Leadership Team to set strategic goals and monitor educational quality, safety and wellbeing; operational responsibilities remain with the Head and Senior Leadership Team. The School Charter sets the mission, vision and guiding principles.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	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.	Curriculum details English National Curriculum forms the core of the curriculum. The ENC is used as a rigorous standard and is adapted to provide an international perspective, including studies of local culture, language and heritage. In Lower School, an Integrated Curriculum for Years 1-4 covers Computing, Geography, Art and Design and History. From the moment a student joins The British School of Lisbon, a dedicated team of professionals is assigned to create a personalised academic plan tailored to the student's strengths and to guide them through the process of selecting, applying to and being admitted to top universities in the UK, US and worldwide.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes and a low student to teacher ratio.
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.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	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.	Higher education progression A dedicated team develops a personalised academic plan to guide students through selecting, applying to and being admitted to top universities in the UK, the US and worldwide.
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 Pastoral component is led by the SAIS Coordinator for Middle School & MUNs. It provides pastoral support as an essential complement to academic training. The school emphasizes being physically, mentally and emotionally healthy as part of student development.	Social & emotional learning The British School of Lisbon aims for pupils to thrive academically, personally and socially, and ensures pupils are safe and happy through a holistic pastoral approach.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language Promote fluency in at least two languages.	English as an additional language Classroom support is provided to students whose English is an additional language.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Mental wellbeing is prioritized; a pastoral component supports students' emotional health.	Mental wellbeing Staff emphasise wellbeing as part of students' development, with psychology-informed approaches and wellbeing-focused roles, including a teaching assistant whose work is informed by a Master's degree in Music Therapy.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding Pupils are to be safe and happy as guiding principles, and a health and safety policy protects pupil welfare.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview The school is a full K-12 British international school and independent Catholic School in the heart of Estoril. It offers the Cambridge Pathway Curriculum with IGCSE and A Level/AICE Diploma years. All classrooms are located in the main building, while the dining hall and vocational subjects (Art, Design, Music and P.E. & P.) are on the ground floor leading to the patio. The school building is in Monte Estoril, near Cascais in the Lisbon district. The spacious Multi-Use Hall is used for physical education, weekly school assemblies, school presentations, external exams and other presentations.	Facilities overview BSL has two Lisbon campuses: Cais do Sodré for primary and Restelo for secondary. Restelo is located within the CF Os Belenenses sports complex. Phase I of the Restelo campus opened in September 2024; Phase II is planned for Summer 2025. Phase I provides bright, spacious classrooms, fully equipped science laboratories, and play areas and sports fields. Phase II will introduce a building with over 6000 square metres of landscaped outdoor space, specialist facilities including science labs, a design & technology suite, and a large library with panoramic views, plus extensive sports facilities including an indoor multi-purpose hall.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities A spacious Multi-Use Hall is used for physical education and for assemblies and presentations.	Sports facilities Extensive sports facilities include an indoor multi-purpose hall. The Restelo campus is situated within the Os Belenenses football club complex, providing access to Lisbon's sporting environment. Phase I includes sports fields as part of the campus.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities All classrooms are in the main building; the dining hall and vocational subjects (Art, Design, Music and P.E. & P.) are located on the ground floor leading to the patio.	Academic facilities Phase I features bright, spacious classrooms and fully equipped science laboratories. Phase II adds science labs, a design & technology suite, and a large library with panoramic views.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Sofia V. Aguiar is the SAIS Coordinator for the Middle School & MUNs, coordinating Model United Nations activities.	Extra curricular facilities Extracurricular activities include a wide range of clubs (sports, languages, coding); after-school activities are compulsory for every child; clubs are chosen each term by parents and balance active/sport with intellectually stimulating programmes; enrichment activities support physical development, creativity, well-being, self-confidence and teamwork.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History SAIS emerged as a project created by a group of several professionals, teachers and former pupils from diverse educational backgrounds who saw different areas of learning that they felt warranted greater focus in their children's education. The school building is located in the heart of Monte Estoril, near the historical Villa of Cascais in the Lisbon District area. All classrooms are situated within the main building, the dining room and vocational subjects (Art, Design, Music, and P.E. & P. Arts) are located on the ground floor leading onto the Patio. Our spacious Multipurpose Hall is used for physical education, school weekly assemblies, external examinations and other performances.	History —
Community	Community SAIS Community includes a wide range of after-school cross-curricular activities, from sports to music and learning different instruments, photography and crafts. Summer school and work experience are particularly popular; external candidates are accepted. Through community service, pupils gain real-world experience and practical skills like leadership, problem-solving and time management, with projects such as partnerships with the Lisbon Project to support migrants and refugees in Lisbon.	Community BSL emphasizes a strong sense of community among staff, parents and students. The Parents' Connection is a social and welcoming organisation that promotes interaction between parents and the school community. It acts as a meeting place for parents and coordinates fundraising activities for the school community and charitable causes. The school aims to provide events for the whole school community and to welcome new families joining BSL, as well as activities that support the children during the school day, such as Lunch Mums and Dads and Reading Parents.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association Since 2013 the PTA has played an invaluable role in making new families feel welcomed into the SAIS Family. The Association is organized by year groups with a Parent Representative and meets monthly to aid in running activities, including fundraising and other events. All are welcome!	Parent teacher association The Parents' Connection is a parent-led organisation that operates outside of school governance. All parents become members automatically when their child joins the school. It runs events and fundraising activities for the school community and for charitable causes. Its main goals are to provide events for the whole school community, to facilitate fundraising for charities, to welcome new families and to organise activities that aid the children during the school day (Lunch Mums and Dads, Reading Parents). It is self-funding, with funds raised used for charity or for school events and finances are transparent.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The Cambridge Pathway Curriculum is followed from primary through middle school, leading into IGCSEs and A Level/AICE Diploma years. World University SAIS Placement highlights strong university pathways, and results are praised as excellent with updates published yearly. Examinations for IGCSE and A Level/AICE Diploma are described as excellent and are updated annually. Global Perspectives is a Cambridge subject included in the upper years.	Academic & intellectual The school offers a broad range of clubs that develop academic skills and inquiry, including Chess, Science and Robotics & Coding. Young learners engage in Inventors Club to problem-solve, and older students may participate in inter-school Chess tournaments. Enrichment activities promote curiosity, collaboration, resilience and self-confidence. After School Activities are compulsory for every child at school.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative Performing Arts is included in the curriculum. SAIS partners with Oficina da Dança, which offers Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Ballet Fitness, Ballroom, Hip-Hop and Yoga, with SAIS pupils involved and performances hosted. Arts & Design, Music, and Photography & Crafts are present in the program or as after-school activities.	Arts & creative The school offers arts and creative enrichment including Violin, Ballet and Choir, and Drama activities. These activities nurture creativity and performance skills. Participation in drama activities and choir supports expressive communication and collaboration. Roller Skating is also part of the enrichment options.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language English (Languages) and Portuguese (Languages/Literature) are taught across age groups. Global Perspectives is a Cambridge subject in the upper years. The school participates in cultural initiatives such as watercolour and artwork prizes with local partners and maintains a voluntary work protocol with Junta de Freguesia Estoril.	Cultural & language Language learning is provided as part of enrichment activities. Portuguese is emphasised as a second language and the school supports students to develop high fluency.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies There are after-school activities across sport and arts, including Ballet, Basketball, Badminton, Judo, Football and Volleyball, plus SAIS Tutoring and Summer School. Students have opportunities to learn music and different instruments, photography and crafts. External candidates are accepted for these activities.	Social & hobbies The school offers social and hobby clubs such as Chess, Choir, Science and Robotics & Coding, and Inventors Club. Drama activities support teamwork and expressive communication. Sailing, Judo, Ballet and Roller Skating provide additional recreational options. Older students have opportunities to compete in inter-school Chess tournaments.
Community & service	Community & service Through community service and helping local charities and NGOs, SAIS pupils gain real-world experience and practical skills such as leadership, problem-solving and time management. Some pupils complete final projects for Global Perspectives in partnership with the Lisbon Project. The PTA has existed since 2013 to welcome new families and support fundraising and school activities, with year-group representatives meeting monthly. SAIS maintains partnerships with local and international organizations, including Grupo Desportivo Estoril Praia, Sal Surf School, Oficina da Dança, and Junta de Freguesia Estoril.	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional Student leadership is evident through SAIS Student Council involvement and roles such as Head Girl. The PTA involvement fosters leadership and fundraising, with active parent representation across year groups. The school emphasizes leadership development through university placement pathways and global perspectives programs.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing A broad range of sports is offered, including basketball, badminton, football, volleyball, and judo, complemented by dance and fitness activities. Surf training is provided by Sal Surf School during Summer School, and Office da Dança offers dance activities to promote fitness and wellbeing. Summer School programs include activity blocks and work experiences that support overall well-being.	Lifestyle & wellbeing The school offers a broad programme of sports and activities to promote a healthy, active lifestyle. Physical education introduces students to a wide range of sports and activities and supports physical fitness as well as emotional, intellectual and personal development. Enrichment activities such as Sailing, Judo, Ballet and Roller Skating provide additional opportunities for physical activity and personal development. These experiences contribute to students' wellbeing and development.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision English and Portuguese are taught as languages across the early and middle years (5–9 and 10–13). In the upper years (14–15 and 16–18), English and Portuguese appear as Language & Literature, and a Range of Languages is listed for the final years. Within the Cambridge pathway, French, Spanish and Mandarin are offered as languages.	Language provision The curriculum is based on the English National Curriculum (ENC). Portuguese is taught as a second language with the aim of fluency. Middle School includes modern languages; in Senior School, students study a modern foreign language at GCSE level, and all students study a language other than English. Language support is available for a limited number of students.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations Ministry of Education CAIE – Cambridge International Assessment Education Camara Municipal de Cascais AEEP – Associação de estabelecimento de Ensino particular e cooperativo	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	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.	Admissions The school is selective. Entry assessments are required and can be organised either at the campus or remotely for applicants from abroad. A decision is typically communicated within 5 working days of applying. The school delivers the English National Curriculum with adaptations for an international setting, and studies are accepted by British and international universities. Lead classroom teachers are UK qualified and experienced. Nursery class size is capped at 18; Primary and Secondary class sizes are capped at 22. The curriculum is delivered in English, and language support is available but limited; typically a child with no English above age 10 will not gain admission. Enrollment can occur throughout the academic year and new arrivals are integrated. The timetable runs Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 15:30, with Tuesday and Wednesday finish times at 16:30 due to after-school activities. The school offers a bus service with routes covering most expatriate residential compounds; some remote or untypical areas may not be served. The school has a Primary Campus at Rua São Paulo 89, Lisbon 1200-427 and a Secondary Campus at Rua de Alcolena 10, Lisbon 1400-004. The school is licensed by the Portuguese Ministry of Education under Authorisation No. 266/EPC/Lisboa e Vale do Tejo/2022.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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