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Santo António International School

Portugal, Lisbon

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees €11,160 - 14,860
Ages 5 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Taught languages English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Mandarin
Typical class size 23
Strengths Performing Arts, Visual and Creative Arts, Sport
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

SAIS is a full K-12 British international private Catholic school located in Monte Estoril, near Cascais in the Lisbon district. The school delivers the Cambridge Pathway Curriculum from Primary through IGCSE and A Level/AICE Diploma years, preparing pupils aged 5 to 18 for international examinations and university study. It has held Cambridge International Examinations accreditation since 2013 and operates as a Cambridge examination center. All classrooms are in the main building, with the dining hall and vocational subjects on the ground floor leading to the courtyard. The spacious Multi-Use Hall supports physical education, assemblies and external exams. The school combines English and Portuguese language instruction with a Catholic ethos, and offers arts, music and design subjects. Distinctive features include a partnership with Oficina da Dança for Ballet and contemporary dance, and a focus on Global Perspectives and university placement pathways. Community service, MUNs and a PTA underpin leadership and involvement.

Av. Sabóia 662A, 2765-277 Estoril, Portugal

The Essentials

Santo António International School has typical class sizes of 23, instruction in English.

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.

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).

Type
Full K-12 British international private Catholic school.

Country affiliation
Portugal; Cambridge International Examinations (UK) accreditation.

Religious affiliation
Catholic
Diving Deeper

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.

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.

Governance and Ownership
The school is an international independent Catholic School.
Fees

Annual tuition at Santo António International School ranges from EUR 11,160 to EUR 14,860 for 2026/27.

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.
Academics

Santo António International School teaches British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels for students aged 5 to 18.

Curriculum
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.

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.

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.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
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.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Promote fluency in at least two languages.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is prioritized; a pastoral component supports students' emotional health.
Parent Experience

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.

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.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
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!
Facilities

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.

Sports Facilities
A spacious Multi-Use Hall is used for physical education and for assemblies and presentations.

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.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Sofia V. Aguiar is the SAIS Coordinator for the Middle School & MUNs, coordinating Model United Nations activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
Languages

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.
Reputation

Accreditations
Ministry of Education
CAIE – Cambridge International Assessment Education
Camara Municipal de Cascais
AEEP – Associação de estabelecimento de Ensino particular e cooperativo
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.
School Events
The school has not added events
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