Portugal · Carcavelos
St. Julian’s offers English and Portuguese–English schooling in Carcavelos, followed by IB Diploma or career-related study. The pathways have distinct transfer requirements. Confirm eligibility and availability early, and request a complete annual fee quotation.
St. Julian’s is a not-for-profit British international day school in Carcavelos for ages 3–18. Its strongest distinction is the choice between an English curriculum and a Portuguese–English bilingual programme, with both leading towards International Baccalaureate options in the final years.
Choose the pathway before applying. The English section follows England’s curriculum, then GCSE/IGCSE examinations. The bilingual section follows the Portuguese national curriculum through 9.º ano, then a tailored one-year IGCSE course. Both can lead to the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or, subject to eligibility, the IB Career-related Programme (CP).
The English section comprises Pre-Prep at ages 3–4, Prep at approximately 5–10 and Secondary at 11–18. Portuguese remains compulsory in the English-section core through Key Stage 3, Years 7–9.
The bilingual section covers Portuguese 1.º–9.º ano, approximately ages 6–15. It is Ministry-authorised and teaches the Portuguese curriculum in Portuguese and English, with assessment following the Portuguese structure. Art, music, physical education and other subjects involve both languages; joint lessons, sport and arts link the two sections.
After 9.º ano, bilingual pupils take a tailored one-year IGCSE course before the IB years. If considering a change between sections, ask when it is possible and what preparation is required.
| Stage | Main content |
|---|---|
| Key Stage 3, Years 7–9 | Mathematics, English, Portuguese, science, history and geography, plus French or German. Practical and creative subjects include art, computer science, creative arts, design and technology, music and physical education. Health and citizenship is also taught. |
| Key Stage 4, Years 10–11 | Two-year GCSE/IGCSE courses: British subject qualifications assessed through Cambridge International and Edexcel/Pearson. Examined core includes English language and literature, mathematics, science as a Triple or Double Award, and Portuguese, German or French. |
| Key Stage 5, Years 12–13 | IB Diploma or Career-related Programme, subject to the relevant entry conditions. |
Triple Award science leads to three science qualifications; Double Award covers the sciences through two qualifications. Confirm which course suits the pupil’s later subject plans.
Year 7 has the interdisciplinary Opening Minds programme; Years 8–9 have enrichment. Each Key Stage 3 pupil receives an iPad.
Alongside examined subjects in Years 10–11, pupils take physical education, critical thinking, outdoor education, health and citizenship, and a research project. In Year 9 they choose examination options from art, business studies, computer science, design technology, drama, geography, history, information and communication technology, physical education and music.
The secondary curriculum page says pupils completing Portuguese 9.º ano need a final average of at least 3.75 for the one-year Year 11 GCSE course. Pupils already in the first IGCSE year elsewhere, or in the final MYP year, are generally not eligible for that course. MYP is the IB Middle Years Programme.
For IB Diploma entry from IGCSE, including current St. Julian’s pupils, the minimum is six or more subjects at grade 4/C or above, including English Language, first or second language, and mathematics. The school links this six-subject minimum to Portuguese equivalence requirements. Confirm the child’s documentation and recognition with the school and, where needed, the relevant authority.
The school distinguishes this minimum from subject recommendations:
| Intended IB study | Recommended IGCSE result |
|---|---|
| Higher Level (HL), the more advanced subject level | 6/B in that subject |
| Standard Level (SL) | 4/C in that subject |
| Mathematics HL | 8/A |
| New subjects: Economics HL or Psychology HL | 6/B in English Language |
| Environmental Systems and Societies HL | 6/B in biology, geography or Double Award Science |
| Beginner, ab initio, languages | No IGCSE requirement |
If a relevant subject was available but the pupil did not take it, the Head of Department must be satisfied with the pupil’s preparation.
The DP begins with a five-day residential introducing Theory of Knowledge, the extended research essay, Creativity, Activity and Service, and the IB learner profile. The school describes just under 200 DP students across the two years and claims the widest subject choice in Portugal. Those are school statements, not a guarantee of a particular subject or class size.
The CP began in September 2025 and is typically available only to current pupils progressing from Year 11. External entry is not the default. It combines Diploma courses with career-related study; the school names higher education, internships and employment as possible next steps. DP and CP are different qualifications, so check the intended university or course requirements.
At the August–September 2026 research snapshot, the school said the vast majority of 2026/27 classes were full and applications for 2027/28 and 2028/29 were open. Open applications do not establish a vacancy in a particular year.
Most new pupils start in September, with mid-year entry possible if space exists. The school generally does not accept applications for the final years of the IGCSE or IB DP/CP programmes.
The admissions process has five stages:
Interviews begin in September for the following academic year and continue throughout the year. The school warns that very few places remain after March. A visit is not an offer.
The fully funded Community Scholarship is for pupils in Portuguese state schools at 9.º ano who could not otherwise access private education. It considers merit and participation in school life. Entry is at Year 11 / Portuguese 10.º ano for three years through the IB Diploma.
Expressions of interest for the published cycle closed on 22 May 2026. This is a specific scholarship with a closed deadline, not a general fee reduction available at enquiry. The governing body’s discounts and bursaries subcommittee does not, by itself, establish another award or percentage.
The Prep School page gives drop-off from 07:45 and classes from 08:20. The day ends at 15:00 Monday–Thursday and 13:30 on Friday. Do not assume these are the hours for every secondary year.
From Year 2 / 1.º ano, children eat with teachers in the Palácio Dining Hall. Year 6 pupils may use the School Café at lunch and after school. Morning fruit and weekly primary assemblies are part of the published routine.
The younger years’ activities include Forest School, a mud kitchen and pond exploration. The outdoor programme lists surfing, rugby, football, cricket and athletics. Ask about availability for the child’s age, not just the facilities.
The fees page publishes the following process charges:
| Fee | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Application | €250 | With application; non-refundable |
| Registration | €750 | Within ten working days of offer |
| Capital levy | €5,000 | Same deadline |
Together these are €6,000 before tuition. The annual 2026/27 tuition was presented in charts, with 2025/26 also shown as a reference. A verified annual amount is not established in this profile; ask admissions for a readable schedule and an itemised first-year quotation.
It lists Council of International Schools accreditation, Portuguese national-curriculum authorisation through 9.º ano, and membership of COBIS and HMC, British international and independent-school associations. It also reports being Portugal’s first Diploma school and first with CP enrolments. Claims about Spear’s and Carfax rankings are promotional context, not this guide’s assessment.
St. Julian’s makes particular sense when a family wants a substantial Portuguese–English option without giving up a later IB route. For English-section pupils, Portuguese in the core is also worth examining closely.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
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Lisbon-area schools lead to British, American, IB, French, German and Portuguese qualifications. Choose the route first, then test the actual western or city commute.
7 minStart with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.