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St. Peters International School

Portugal, Setúbal

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The school at a glance
Instructs in Portuguese, English
Fees €7,950 - 17,280
Ages 0 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1500
Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Opened 1993
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum Dutch Curriculum, IB (DP), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE
Taught languages English, Spanish, Mandarin, German, Latin
Typical class size 25
Strengths Sport, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Leadership and Professional
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

St. Peters International School is a co-educational international school in Palmela, Portugal, serving students from four months to 18 years, including a on-campus boarding residence for ages 14–18. Founded in 1993 by Isabel and Armando Simão, it joined Inspired Education Group in 2019, becoming part of a global network of premium schools. The 37,000 m² campus houses modern classrooms, science laboratories, Music and Art rooms, a contemporary auditorium, and expansive green spaces, plus two tennis courts, astroturf pitches for football and rugby, and a dedicated sports pavilion. English is the language of instruction, with Spanish and Mandarin offered as additional languages. From Primary to Secondary, learning follows two pathways: the Portuguese Pathway (National Curriculum, bilingual learning) and an International Pathway delivering Cambridge, IGCSE, and the IB Diploma Programme. A bilingual Preschool serves 0–5 years. The school emphasizes values like citizenship and community, offering 100+ extracurricular activities to enrich studies. Preparing students for higher education.

Quinta dos Barreleiros CCI 3952, 2950-420 Palmela, Portugal

The Essentials

St. Peters International School has 1,500 pupils, typical class sizes of 25, instruction in Portuguese, English.

Location
Palmela, Setúbal, Portugal

Stages
Preschool (4 months to 5 years); Primary and Secondary through two pathways (Portuguese Pathway and International Pathway); Boarding for 14–18 years

Type
International school with boarding facilities

Country affiliation
Portugal

Bus service
Bus service operates daily with morning and evening runs, including after Enrichment Programme; shuttle services are available for students aged 2 and older; routes include Aroeira, Alcochete/Montijo, Barreiro, Costa da Caparica, Campo Grande (Lisboa), Quinta do Conde, Samora Correia/Porto Alto, Sesimbra, Setúbal and Setúbal Catamarã; transport inquiries: transportes@stpeters.pt
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
There is a boarding residence on campus for students aged 14 to 18, located between Lisbon and Comporta, providing a warm, supportive, home-away-from-home environment.

Uniform Requirement
A school uniform is required for daily wear and for sports; items are listed for Nursery through Grade 12 and can be purchased at the on-site store or online.

Food Options
The school provides on-site catering via Thomas Franks, offering nutritionally complete meals prepared daily. The service includes a mid-morning snack, lunch with soup and a main or vegetarian option plus fruit or dessert, and an afternoon snack. Lunch is included in tuition up to Grade 9; from Grade 10, families may choose full meal service, lunch-only, or meals for students bringing lunch from home (with access to crockery, cutlery, napkins and a microwave). 11th and 12th grades may leave for lunch with written authorization.

Governance and Ownership
The school is part of Inspired Education, a leading premium education group.
Fees

Annual tuition at St. Peters International School ranges from EUR 7,950 to EUR 17,280 for 2026/27.

Overview (academic year Fees 2025–26)

Application / Registration fees
- National Curriculum: Enrolment fee EUR 750 (non‑refundable). Re‑enrolment fee EUR 500 (charged in April to current students).
- International Curriculum: Enrolment fee EUR 1,550 (non‑refundable). Re‑enrolment fee EUR 700 (charged in April to current students).

Tuition fees — National Curriculum (annual and monthly x10)
- Creche (Berçário, 1–2 years): Annual EUR 7,950 — Monthly EUR 795.
- Jardim de Infância (3, 4 & 5 years): Annual EUR 9,250 — Monthly EUR 925.
- 1.º Ciclo (Grades 1–4): Annual EUR 10,050 — Monthly EUR 1,005.
- 2.º Ciclo (Grades 5–6): Annual EUR 10,050 — Monthly EUR 1,005.
- 3.º Ciclo (Grades 7–9): Annual EUR 10,200 — Monthly EUR 1,020.
- Secundário (Grades 10–12): Annual EUR 8,970 — Monthly EUR 897. (Lunch is not included from Grade 10 onwards; lunch may be subscribed at additional cost.)

Tuition fees — International Curriculum (annual and monthly x10)
- Kindergarten (Early Years 5): Annual EUR 9,800 — Monthly EUR 980.
- Primary & Middle (Grades 1–5): Annual EUR 11,850 — Monthly EUR 1,185.
- Grades 6–8: Annual EUR 13,760 — Monthly EUR 1,376.
- IGCSE (Grade 9): Annual EUR 17,280 — Monthly EUR 1,728.
- Grade 10: Annual EUR 15,380 — Monthly EUR 1,538. (Lunch is not included from Grade 10 onwards; lunch may be subscribed at additional cost.)
- IB Diploma (Grades 11–12): Annual EUR 16,050 — Monthly EUR 1,605.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition invoicing and frequency: Tuition fees are invoiced and may be paid either annually or monthly (monthly payments run September to June). Families paying the full annual tuition receive a 1.5% discount.
- Invoicing timing: Tuition invoices are issued by the 5th business day of the month in which fees fall due; other fees are invoiced by the 10th business day of the following month. Parents/guardians must query invoices within 48 hours for rectification.
- Direct debit and collections: Invoices may be collected by direct debit (monthly). If a direct debit fails, the school will request payment via the ATM reference on the invoice or by bank transfer. Invoices debited monthly incorporate corrections made before the debit date.
- Payments made in person at the school finance office incur a service fee of EUR 25 per payment. Invoices overdue by more than 30 days incur interest (or administrative fees / penalties as stated) per the school's terms.
- Enrolment / boarding deposit timing: For students taking boarding, 50% of tuition and boarding fees are payable at enrolment; the remaining 50% must be paid by 1 September. Siblings discount: 10% (second child), 15% (third child), 20% (fourth child).

Boarding fees and terms (where applicable)
- Annual boarding fee for EU students: EUR 22,700.
- Annual boarding fee for non‑EU students: EUR 23,700.
- Mandatory annual health insurance for boarding students: EUR 1,000 (the school arranges the policy). Boarding fees include accommodation (double/triple bedrooms), cleaning, laundry, weekday dinners, weekend meals, full‑week breakfasts, school lunch on school days, access to sports and learning facilities, guided after‑school study, Wi‑Fi, weekend local activities and some weekend trips. Boarding fees do not include tuition, textbooks, uniform, extracurricular activity fees or extra residential trips. 50% of tuition and boarding fees are payable at enrolment; the remainder by 1 September.

Other compulsory charges and common additional costs
- Mandatory annual charges (examples): Mobile Device Management (MDM) for Grades 1–5 EUR 20 (annual, invoiced October); Inspired Metaverse for Grades 7–12 EUR 50 (annual); Inspired AI (Grades 4–5) EUR 50; Inspired AI + Metaverse (Grades 6–12) EUR 100. Kognity (exam support) for Grades 9–10 EUR 160; for Grades 11–12 EUR 250. IGCSE exam fees (per subject/Grade 10) and IB exam fees (all subjects/Grade 12) are invoiced in April (example: IB exams EUR 900). All mandatory charges include VAT where applicable.
- Transport (annual / monthly / occasional rates vary by route). Examples of annual round‑trip fares: Setúbal/Catamarã EUR 555; Setúbal EUR 1,240; Campo Grande EUR 2,475; Samora Correia EUR 2,625. Monthly and occasional trip rates are published per route; a 50% discount applies in December and April.
- Food service (examples): Lunch + morning & afternoon snacks annual EUR 1,980 (monthly EUR 220); Lunch annual EUR 1,710 (monthly EUR 190, daily EUR 14); Cafeteria service annual EUR 585 (monthly EUR 65, daily EUR 5). A 50% discount applies in December and April for meal plans.
- Other charges: supervised period (6:00–7:00 pm) EUR 165 monthly; extracurricular activities charged termly (see activity catalogue); school trips charged termly or case‑by‑case; student replacement card EUR 15 when incurred; document translation EUR 0.10/word; EAL support EUR 30/hour; SEN support charged per case or hourly as applicable. iPad acquisition (Apple iPad Air 11" Wi‑Fi 128GB with keyboard, pencil and 1 year insurance) one‑time charge EUR 1,131 (or iPad rental option termly EUR 105 for eligible grades). Students staying at school without contracted supervised care are charged EUR 15 per day.

Refunds and charge‑back rules (applicable statements)
- Registration/enrolment fees are non‑refundable. Re‑enrolment fees are charged to current students in April.
- Extracurricular activities require a full‑term commitment: if a student withdraws or discontinues participation during the term, the full term fee remains payable. If an activity is canceled by the school due to unforeseen circumstances or does not meet minimum enrolment, no charge applies.
- The fees schedule specifies interest or administrative penalties for overdue invoices (invoices overdue by more than 30 days incur interest or administrative fees as set out in the terms). No separate general tuition refund schedule is published in the fees document beyond the non‑refundability of enrolment fees and the extracurricular withdrawal rule.

Fee payment options and practical notes
- Accepted / described payment mechanisms: direct debit (monthly collection), ATM reference on the invoice (for one‑off payments), and bank transfer. Payments made in person at the school finance office carry a EUR 25 service fee per payment. The school may issue invoices for other services separately and parents/guardians must check invoices promptly and request rectification within the stated timeframe.

(End of fees overview for academic year 2025–26.)
Academics

St. Peters International School teaches Dutch Curriculum, IB (DP), Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE for students aged 0 to 18.

Curriculum
Two pathways guide learning. Portuguese Pathway from Primary to Secondary uses the National Curriculum with bilingual learning and aims for strong national exam performance and top universities. International Pathway from Primary to Secondary offers Cambridge, IGCSE and the IB Diploma Programme to build a strong academic foundation and lead to world-class universities. A bilingual Preschool from 4 months to 5 years provides an early, language-rich start. The school's approach connects these pathways to prepare students for national and international higher education.

Exam Results
Among the best results in Portugal, Philosophy has an average of 90%. 42% of students achieved a Mathematics A grade equal to or above 93%. 40% of students achieved an Economics A grade equal to or above 93%. 66% of students achieve the IB Bilingual Diploma.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates gain entry to top universities worldwide, including Oxford, Columbia, Bocconi, NOVA University Lisbon and Instituto Superior Técnico. In Portugal, popular destinations include Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Católica Lisbon SBE, University of Lisbon, ISCTE, University of Coimbra and University of Porto. International destinations include Columbia University, University of Oxford, HEC Paris, Bocconi University, University College London and University of Toronto. Other alumni attend universities such as University of Sydney, London School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, TU Munich and Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school describes a multicultural and welcoming community where every student is valued and inspired to thrive; teachers and staff work with parents to nurture each child's potential, and vibrant events unite the community.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Preschool is bilingual; the Portuguese Pathway is enriched by bilingual learning.

Safeguarding
Robust safeguarding standards are part of Inspired Education's shared systems, ensuring safeguarding across schools.
Parent Experience

History
The school was founded in 1993 by Isabel and Armando Simão in Palmela, Portugal. The Simão family pursued the mission of building self-reliant, critical, creative students who actively integrate into a rapidly changing and increasingly globalized society. In 2019, as the school celebrated its 25th anniversary, St. Peter's International School joined the Inspired Education Group, becoming a part of this world-leading group of premium schools and embracing a global community. The campus spans 37,000 sqm and serves about 1,500 students aged four months to 18 years. In 2024, St. Peter's was ranked among the Top 15 European Schools by Carfax Education.

Community
St. Peter's presents a multicultural and welcoming community where every student is valued and inspired to thrive. Teachers and staff work hand in hand with parents to nurture each child's potential, and the school hosts vibrant events that unite the community.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The campus spans 37,000 m², one of the largest in Portugal. It includes facilities for academics, sports, and the arts, with expansive green spaces. Modern classrooms are tailored to each age group, and laboratories for Chemistry, Physics, and Biology are well equipped. Music and Art rooms and a contemporary auditorium support arts and performances. The campus features two tennis courts, two astroturf pitches for football and rugby, and a sports pavilion. A boarding residence on campus houses students aged 14 to 18.

Sports Facilities
The campus features two tennis courts. It has two astroturf pitches for football and rugby. A dedicated sports pavilion supports training, practice, and matches. Indoor and outdoor spaces support physical education and team sports.

Academic Facilities
Modern classrooms are tailored to each age group. The school has fully equipped laboratories for Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. It includes dedicated rooms for Music and Art and a contemporary auditorium for performances. Additional spaces support teaching and learning across curricula.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The school offers 100+ extracurricular activities. Clubs and programs span sports, arts, music, drama, and community service. The community is multicultural and welcoming, with events that bring students together. The campus supports extracurricular involvement through its on-site facilities and spaces.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
St. Peter's International School offers the Portuguese national curriculum across all years and provides an international education option. The Cambridge Lower Secondary, International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) are delivered in the International Section. From September 2023, Grades 1 and 5 have the option to follow the Cambridge International Curriculum. English is the language of instruction, with Spanish and Mandarin taught as additional languages.

Arts & Creative
Music is central to student development. The Music Academy offers more than 10 specialised activities spanning instruments, voice and choir, including violin, viola, piano, flute, recorder, classic and electric guitar, electric bass, ukulele, singing, music production, drums (solo and group) and the School Choir. Activities run for students from Early Years to Year 12.

Cultural & Language
English holds significant importance in the curriculum and is used across the school, with a strong emphasis on developing bilingual profiles. Spanish and Mandarin are taught in addition to English, with opportunities to obtain official language certifications. The school also provides Latin, German and other language pathways and certifications within its Language Certifications framework.

Social & Hobbies
The school offers a broad enrichment calendar outside regular lessons, including seasonal camps and special programs. Spring Camp runs mid-April with activities from sports and creative workshops to nature explorations, plus a Surf Spring Camp option. Juventus Training Camp is hosted on campus for ages 8–15 with official Juventus Academy coaching and a focus on holistic development. Summer Fun Camp in two weeks offers water activities, beach excursions, and residential experiences across Portugal.

Community & Service
St. Peter's emphasises values of solidarity, citizenship and lifelong learning. The school aims to train students who are responsible global citizens with a strong ethical foundation. Assemblies and project-based activities foster community engagement, cooperation and social responsibility throughout the school community.

Leadership & Professional
Enrichment subjects include Drama, Public Speaking and Programming and Robotics, which develop communication, leadership and problem-solving skills. Language certifications and Cambridge exam preparation support students' academic and professional preparation. The school promotes autonomy, responsibility and citizenship as part of its leadership-building ethos.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school promotes healthy lifestyles and broad physical activity through a wide range of sports and movement programs. The enrichment offer includes dance (Classical Ballet, World Dances, Hip Hop, Sevillanas), Yoga, Drums, Choir, Orchestra, Piano, and many ball-and-stick sports such as badminton, fencing, football, rugby, tennis, swimming and more. The campus facilities include a multipurpose sports pavilion, tennis courts, football and rugby pitches, a theatre/auditorium, and a boarding house to support well-being and balance between academics and activities.
Languages

Language Provision
The school provides a multilingual framework with official certifications in English, Latin, Spanish, German and Mandarin. Primary School teaches English and Latin, with certifications available. Junior School adds a third language (Spanish or Mandarin) and offers English, Mandarin and Spanish certifications. Middle School continues English, Spanish and Mandarin, adds German in Grade 7 with German certificates, and Secondary School provides English, German and Spanish certifications, including Cambridge certificates for English and DELE/Goethe certificates for Spanish and German.

Bilingual Teaching
Preschool runs from 4 months to 5 years and is bilingual. The Portuguese Pathway Primary to Secondary is enriched by bilingual learning.
Reputation

Awards
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Accreditations
Cambridge Examinations; Goethe; Cambridge ESOL; British Council; DELE Cervantes; Cambridge ESOL Preparation Centre.
Admissions

Admissions
Contact Us: Complete the Enquiry Form. Visit The School: book a visit to the campus to experience the facilities, or register for an Open Day or a personalised tour, and view the Virtual Tour. Meeting: A meeting is arranged between your family and a member of the leadership team to describe the pedagogical model and provide additional information; online meetings are available if you are not in Portugal. English Evaluation (International Curriculum Only): To enrol in the international curriculum, evaluate the candidate's level of English to ensure this pathway is the best option for the student. Enrolment: After completing the steps, you will receive details on how to begin the registration process; the Admissions Team is available to answer questions via the Enquiry Form.

Scholarships
The Nsouli Scholars Programme is a global initiative that provides 50 full scholarships at any one time to attend Inspired schools for the duration of the education, enabling opportunities across academics, sports, the arts and extracurricular activities. It honours Nadim Nsouli, founder of Inspired, and includes scholarships awarded to individuals of Lebanese origin.
School Events
The school has not added events
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