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Colégio Bernardette Romeira

Portugal, Algarve

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Portuguese, English
Fees €5,100 - 5,652
Ages 3 - 16 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 2001
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, German
Typical class size 18
Strengths Languages, STEM, Performing Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Arts and Creative
Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction

Colégio Bernardette Romeira is an international school for learners aged 3 to 16, located in Olhão, Portugal. The campus operates as a Cambridge Learning Partner and Cambridge Exam Preparation Centre, delivering Cambridge English Studies and assessments alongside a Portuguese framework. In Early Years, Nursery and 3–5 year-old classes use a child-centered, play-based approach with a smooth transition to Year 1. Primary Years (Years 1–4) are taught in a bilingual Portuguese–English setting, with daily language support and opportunities for independent thinking and cross-disciplinary connections. Middle School follows the Portuguese curriculum, with English taught as a second language and three-language options in Years 7–9. The school also combines Cambridge alignment with Portuguese Studies up to Year 9 and International Studies up to Year 6. Facilities include a library, swimming, karate and basketball, plus Probotica robotics and programming. Notable features: English Studies Programme, Drama and Music, and a range of language and clubs.

R. Dâmaso da Encarnação 29, 8700-249 Olhão, Portugal

The Essentials

Colégio Bernardette Romeira has typical class sizes of 18, instruction in Portuguese, English.

Location
Rua Dâmaso Encarnação, 29, 8700-249 Olhão, Portugal. Olhão is a town in the Algarve region of southern Portugal.

Stages
Early Years, Primary Years, and Middle School (2º ciclo and 3º ciclo).

Type
Cambridge Learning Partner International School.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Day school. Students live with their parents or legal guardians.

Uniform Requirement
Students must wear a school t-shirt or polo shirt and may wear dark blue jeans, shorts or skirts. For PE, students wear a tracksuit or dark blue shorts and a white t-shirt, plus clean trainers; the uniform can be purchased at the school office; clothing should be clearly labeled.

Food Options
Lunch service is catered-only and available at an extra cost by monthly subscription; occasional lunch can be purchased daily; home lunch is possible for students living nearby; the cafeteria includes the CBR Cafe with payment by school card or cash; snacks are provided by families; packed lunches are allowed only for medical/dietary requirements.

Governance and Ownership
The school is privately owned as an international school. It operates under Operating Permit No. 11/DREAlg (Faro, July 23, 2004). The founder is Maria Margarida Belchior.
Fees

Annual tuition at Colégio Bernardette Romeira ranges from EUR 5,100 to EUR 5,652 for 2026/27.

Application / Registration Fees

- Registration (Inscrição): €380.00 — paid at time of registration; non‑refundable.
- Re‑registration / Renewal (Reinscrição): €190.00 — applies to all cycles; to be paid by 31/05/2026.

Annual tuition and monthly installments (by year group)

- Nursery (Berçário and Sala 1/2 years): Annual tuition €5,100.00 — 12 monthly instalments of €425.00.
- Kindergarten (Jardim de Infância): Annual tuition €5,400.00 — 12 monthly instalments of €450.00.
- 1st Cycle (1º–4º anos): Annual tuition €5,400.00 — 12 monthly instalments of €450.00.
- 2nd Cycle (5º–6º anos): Annual tuition €5,580.00 — 12 monthly instalments of €465.00.
- 3rd Cycle (7º–9º anos): Annual tuition €5,652.00 — 12 monthly instalments of €471.00.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Annual payment: payment of the full annual tuition by 31 July attracts a 4% discount.
- Monthly payments: the annual tuition can be paid in 12 monthly instalments (September through August); monthly fees are due between the 1st and the 8th of each month.
- Late payment: outstanding tuition and other overdue charges are subject to interest at the legal rate in force.

Meals, snacks and related charges

- Lunch (Almoços): €150.00 per month for 1º, 2º and 3º cycles; occasional single lunch €7.50.
- Snacks (Lanches): €80.00 per month; occasional snack €4.80.
- Combined Lunch + Snack package: €190.00 per month.

Transport (school bus)

- Transport is charged per route; sample monthly and occasional prices shown include:
- Olhão: monthly €100.00 — occasional €4.00 per trip.
- Pechão: monthly €120.00 — occasional €4.50 per trip.
- Estoi: monthly €175.00 — occasional €4.75 per trip.
- Faro: monthly €126.00 — occasional €5.50 per trip.
- Gambelas/Montenegro: monthly €137.00 — occasional €5.80 per trip.
- Santa Bárbara de Nexe / Almancil: monthly €190.00 — occasional €7.50 per trip.
- Quatro Estradas / Loulé: monthly €195.00 — occasional €7.50 per trip.
- Fonte de Boliqueime: monthly €205.00 — occasional €9.00 per trip.
- Tavira area (examples): monthly prices from approx. €125.00 up to €230.00 depending on stop; occasional trip charges vary (examples shown €5.50–€10.50).
- The transport service is provided as a round‑trip service and is subject to availability; route prices may change and are defined per itinerary.

Uniforms and other standard school items

- Uniform items (examples):
- Blue cotton T‑shirt (short sleeve): €17.00 (children sizes) / €18.00 (adult sizes).
- White cotton T‑shirt (printed): €15.00 / €16.00.
- Long‑sleeve blue T‑shirt: €17.00.
- Sweat/jacket with embroidered emblem: €32.00.
- Cap with embroidered emblem: €15.75.

Extracurricular and specialist services (examples and prices)

- Instrumental music lessons: 1×30 min €48.00; 1×50 min €95.00.
- Club and activity examples: Lego/Robotics 1×60 min €30.00 (inscription €32.00); Board games 1×60 min €30.00; Karate 2×60 min €56.00 (inscription €30.00).
- Psychological and therapeutic services: first psychology consultation €150.00; follow‑ups €85.00 / €55.00 depending on type; occupational and speech therapy initial €80.00, follow‑ups €50.00 per consultation.

Insurance

- Annual school insurance is included for all cycles. The published schedule also shows the insurance provider and coverage levels.

Sibling discounts and other concessions

- Sibling discount policy (not cumulative with other discounts):
- Kindergarten: 1st sibling 4% discount; 2nd, 3rd or more siblings 6% discount.
- For years 1–9: 50% discount on the monthly lunch fee for the first sibling (i.e., second child).

Refund information

- The registration fee (Inscrição) is explicitly non‑refundable. Other refund provisions are governed by the school's administrative rules and the legal framework; overdue sums incur interest at the legal rate.

Boarding

- The school operates as a day school; there are no boarding facilities and therefore no boarding fees.

Fee payment options

- Bank transfer is accepted — the published fee schedule includes the school IBAN: PT50 0045 7104 40258733707 34. Use the school's billing references when making transfers and confirm payment arrangements with the school office.

Other administrative notes (billing and services)

- Meals are mandatory for Kindergarten and are included in the Kindergarten annuity where specified; for other cycles meals and snacks are charged as optional services at the published rates.
- The school lists included and excluded services; items not included in tuition typically include uniform, textbooks/manuals, individual materials for arts/projects, optional extracurricular activities, study visits and some specialist services.
Academics

Colégio Bernardette Romeira teaches Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 3 to 16.

Curriculum
Early Years: Nursery and classes for 3–5 year-olds follow a child-centred, play-based approach with transition support to Year 1. Primary Years (1º Ciclo, Years 1–4) follow the Portuguese national curriculum in a bilingual Portuguese–English setting, with daily language support and emphasis on independent thinking and cross-disciplinary connections. The Cambridge Learning Partner and Cambridge Exam Preparation Centre status applies, with the English Studies Programme following Cambridge methods and Cambridge Exams in Years 4, 6 and 9. Middle School 2º Ciclo (Years 5–6) follows the Portuguese national curriculum; English is taught as a second language; subjects are taught as distinct areas. Middle School 3º Ciclo (Years 7–9) follows the Portuguese curriculum and includes three languages: English plus Spanish, French or German; the language of instruction is Portuguese. Evaluation and reporting follow Portuguese national requirements, with formal term reports, scheduled parent–teacher conferences, and student-led conferences in Primary.

Higher Education Progression
The curriculum prepares students for higher education in Portugal and around the world.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Assessment in the early years concentrates on the social, emotional and physical development of our students. In primary and lower secondary, assessment also evaluates behavior and work habits to support personal development so students prosper socially, emotionally and academically.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school offers Psychology and Guidance services with a multidisciplinary team, including Early Intervention and Special Education (low frequency, high intensity) and support for learning difficulties (high frequency, low intensity) and socio-educational integration. Occupational and Sensory Therapy and Speech Therapy are available.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school teaches English Studies using the Cambridge Assessment English Methodology for Primary and Lower Secondary Education (Years 1-9).

Mental Wellbeing
The Gabinete Técnico Pedagógico provides Psychology and Guidance services with a specialist, intervening at psychological and psychopedagogical levels, including Early Intervention, Special Education, learning difficulties and socio-educational integration, with a focus on emotional stability.

Safeguarding
The school has a Code of Conduct and engages in safeguarding activities, including safety education in partnership with PSP's Escola Segura program for the Pre-School and 1st Cycle, and uses the 'Estou Aqui! Crianças' bracelet to aid in rapid reunification with families.
Parent Experience

History
Bernardette Romeira International School is a private international school for students aged 3-16, located in Olhão, Portugal. It operates under Operating Permit No. 11/DREAlg (Faro, July 23, 2004) and is housed in a purpose-built, fully equipped building whose facilities comply with the requirements of the Portuguese Ministry of Education. The curriculum and pedagogical offer align with Ministry guidelines, and the school is a Cambridge Learning Partner – Cambridge International School, offering the Cambridge English Studies programme and English-language instruction in Portuguese Studies according to the Cambridge Curriculum. The school's name honors its founder, Bernardette de Jesus Romeira, a native of Olhão and pioneer in education who, with her husband José Belchior Viegas, began her educational work in Olhão in 1949 in Externato Dr. João Lúcio; her career continued with Externato de S. Brás de Alportel (1957), the Colégio do Algarve (1970s), and Vilamoura International School (1980s). In September 2001, at age 83, she founded Colégio Bernardette Romeira to carry on her innovative educational project, aiming to offer excellence in education and to educate for Freedom and Independence.

Community
Bernardette Romeira International School is a private international school for students aged 3-16, located in Olhão, Portugal. It is housed in a purpose-built, fully equipped building and follows Portuguese Ministry of Education guidelines. The curriculum is aligned with Ministry guidelines, and the school is a Cambridge Learning Partner, offering Cambridge English Studies and English-language instruction within Portuguese Studies. School Life includes a range of activities and facilities; the Reception connects parents, guardians, students and staff, and the Administration Office handles administrative services such as tuition payments and enrollment in activities. During holiday breaks, the school offers free-time and vacation activities coordinated by Margarida Belchior, with sign-ups processed through the administration office.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Library is the school's collection of knowledge with a vast collection of books in Portuguese and English, web access, educational games and audiovisual resources, divided into thematic spaces and consultation/reading areas. The Library is also a sharing space that provides enrichment activities for its students and educational community, including the Creative Writing Workshop, storytime sessions, writer visits, gatherings, book fairs and special date celebrations. Reception connects parents and legal guardians with the school staff, and the Administration Office provides administrative services related to the school, such as payment of tuition fees, enrollment in extra-curricular activities and information about students. Swimming, Karate and Basketball are offered as part of the student sports program, with teams and activities. Colégio Bernardette Romeira is a Cambridge Learning Partner and teaches English Studies under Cambridge Assessment English Methodology for Primary and Lower Secondary (Years 1-9); the Primary Years Programme includes Portuguese and English sections with daily language support, and Robotics/Programming (Probotica) enriches the curriculum.

Sports Facilities
Swimming is offered with training and the creation of training and competition teams. Basketball has an open team option available to non-CBR students, with age-group schedules. Karate classes are provided with age-based groups and defined schedules.

Academic Facilities
Colégio Bernardette Romeira is a Cambridge Learning Partner offering the English Studies curriculum under Cambridge Assessment English Methodology for Primary and Lower Secondary (Years 1-9). The Primary Years Programme includes a Portuguese and an English section, with bilingual instruction and daily language support in both sections. The curriculum develops students' technological skills through Robotics and a Programming course called Probotica. The school offers two curricula: Portuguese Studies up to Year 9 and International Studies up to Year 6, with Cambridge alignment for English.

Extra Curricular Facilities
At Club FIRST, students apply technology knowledge to robotics contexts using the Lego system to develop creativity and problem-solving skills. Foreign language clubs include French Club, Spanish Club and German Club, plus a Portuguese as Second Language Club. The School Newspaper, the CBR Times, and a Music Programme with instrument lessons and a School Band are offered. ICT activities include The Inventors, FIRST Lego League and Board Games Club, along with a Study Time program for specialized academic support.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school is a Cambridge Learning Partner and Cambridge Exam Preparation Centre, teaching English Studies under the Cambridge Method and taking Cambridge Exams in Years 4, 6 and 9. The Primary Years Programme has Portuguese and English sections, with the language of instruction in each section being either Portuguese or English and daily Portuguese or English as a second language lessons in both sections. The curriculum emphasizes making connections, conceptual and critical thinking, and reflection, while developing mathematical and language skills as well as sciences and social studies, with a solid arts foundation through Drama and Music and technological skills through Probotica (Robotics and Programming).

Arts & Creative
There is a solid arts foundation through weekly Drama and Music lessons. Technology is developed through Probotica, a Robotics and Programming course. The Library enriches creativity with a Creative Writing Workshop and hosts storytime sessions, writer visits, book fairs and special date celebrations. World Music Day-themed activities and related performances are part of the school's artistic experiences.

Cultural & Language
The Primary Years Programme has Portuguese and English sections, with instruction in either language. Portuguese or English as a second language lessons are taught daily in both sections. The English Studies Programme follows Cambridge methodologies as part of Cambridge Assessment International Education.

Social & Hobbies
Sports are offered through Swimming, Karate and Basketball as part of the Sports Association. In-school activities and field trips are integrated into the year, including experiences in Olhão and Faro. Extracurricular activities include events such as Peter and the Wolf at the CBR Auditorium for World Music Day and storytime sessions with authors.

Community & Service
The Library is a sharing space that provides enrichment activities for students and the educational community, including a Creative Writing Workshop, storytime sessions, writer visits, gatherings, book fairs and special date celebrations.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school offers Psychology and Orientation services through the Technical-Pedagogical Office. During school breaks, it runs Leisure Time Occupation Activities in the areas of academics, sport, arts and visits. Sports like swimming, karate and basketball support physical wellbeing and activity.
Languages

Language Provision
Portuguese and English are taught; Primary Years include a Portuguese section and an English section, with daily language-support in both. In 2º Ciclo, English is taught as a second language. In 3º Ciclo, students study English plus a third language (Spanish, French or German) while instruction remains in Portuguese. The school is a Cambridge Learning Partner and Cambridge Exam Preparation Centre; the English Studies Programme follows Cambridge Assessment International Education's curriculum.

Bilingual Teaching
Yes. The Primary Years Programme has Portuguese and English sections with instruction delivered in the corresponding language, and daily language-support lessons in both sections. In Middle School 3º Ciclo, students study three languages: English and either Spanish, French or German, with Portuguese as the language of instruction.
Reputation

Awards
null

Accreditations
Cambridge International School partner; Cambridge Learning Partner.
Admissions

Admissions
Enrollment Form for Academic Year 2026/2027 is titled 'Ficha de Inscrição' (Enrollment Form) and covers education levels from preschool to 3rd cycle/basic education, with selections for Portuguese Studies and International Studies. The form translates to Enrollment Form and includes fields for the student's name, ID document number, date and place of birth, place of residence, postal code, and district; guardian information (mother, father, or other) and emergency contact details; and sections for transport itineraries (three options) and extracurricular activities. It also asks about siblings who attend the school, transport details, and a sign-off by the parent/guardian acknowledging general operating information for the 2026/2027 year. Itineraries list routes to local towns (e.g., Olhão/Estoi; Faro/Boliqueime and surrounding areas; Tivira/Vila Real de Santo António and other nearby locations), and extracurricular options include basketball, acrobatic gymnastics, handball, karate, a music program (CBR Music), instrumental groups, theatre, and the school newspaper. Lunch is catered at extra cost and a school cafe (CBR Cafe) is available; a private bus service is available at extra cost. Uniforms consist of a school T-shirt or polo and dark blue bottoms, with a PE uniform as specified. The Enrollment Form also notes the two curriculum tracks (Portuguese Studies and International Studies) and asks for consent and acknowledgment of general operating information for the year.

Waitlist
New students may be admitted during the school year if space is available; for information on availability, contact the Administration at +351 289 701 021 or secretaria@cbr.edu.pt.
School Events
The school has not added events
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