Vale Verde International School

The school aims to provide a balanced, quality education that develops academic, social, physical, and interpersonal skills alongside a sense of personal responsibility. It promotes core values including honesty, respect, responsibility, tolerance, and integrity. The educational approach emphasizes a growth mindset, intellectual curiosity, and the development of well-rounded global citizens who can think critically and engage respectfully with diverse perspectives.

The school offers a bilingual primary programme (Years 1–6) following the UK National Curriculum with 60/40 instruction in English and Portuguese. The secondary programme (Years 7–13) follows the Cambridge framework, leading to IGCSE qualifications in Years 10–11 and Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced (A) Levels in Years 12–13. Core subjects include Literacy, Numeracy, Science, Humanities, and Computer Science, with optional subjects such as Business Studies, Geography, History, and Psychology offered at the senior level.

The school reports that 98% of its students go on to university. Graduates are prepared for higher education through the Cambridge and Pearson International curriculum, with qualifications recognized by universities in the UK, USA, and worldwide. Students may also achieve the AICE diploma to meet the equivalence requirements for the Portuguese 12th-year education system.

The school provides support for students requiring additional language lessons to access the curriculum, which may be arranged after school at the parents' expense. Parents are responsible for ensuring students receive professional assessments if they require extra tuition or specific tools to cope with mainstream education. Additional charges apply for SEN support services.

Admission is open to students aged 5 to 18, with placement determined by a four-step process including an application, Cambridge Insight placement testing, and a personal interview. Applicants must submit previous school records, health and vaccination certificates, and a tax identification number. The school maintains a waiting list when year groups reach capacity and requires a non-refundable registration fee to secure a place.

The school operates on an annual academic cycle. Primary school hours are 9:00 am to 3:30 pm, while secondary school hours are 9:00 am to 3:45 pm. After-school activities are available Monday through Thursday from 3:45 pm to 4:30 pm.

Located in the Western Algarve, the campus includes classrooms, a school kitchen providing daily hot meals, and facilities for sports and the arts. The school operates a bus service for students, with routes covering Portimão and Lagos. While the school provides a stimulating environment, it has limited resources for students with significant special educational needs.

The school offers a variety of after-school clubs, including Chess, Capoeira, Animation, Volleyball, Football, Arts & Crafts, and language clubs for Portuguese and French. Physical Education is a compulsory, non-examination subject for all students, and the school serves as an examination centre for ABRSM practical and theory music examinations.