The beginning
Prime School is founded in Sintra, establishing a new standard for international education in Portugal.
Virtual tourPrime & Beyond
A legacy of
excellence,
quietly earned.
Cambridge International from Preschool through A-Levels, taught across three campuses in Portugal — and the first private international school in the country to be ISO 9001 certified.
Cambridge International Certified
Est. 2008
ISO 9001:2015
67+ nationalities
Three campuses
97% university placement
Lisbon • Sintra • Estoril
Cambridge International Certified
Est. 2008
ISO 9001:2015
67+ nationalities
Three campuses
97% university placement
Lisbon • Sintra • Estoril
A school in numbers
2008
Year founded
In Sintra, with a single class and a clear conviction.
67+
Nationalities
A community drawn from every continent.
3
Premium campuses
In Lisbon, Sintra and Estoril.
97%
University placement
For our A-Level cohort, year after year.
We do not measure success by grades alone. We measure it in the character, the curiosity, and the quiet confidence a child carries with them — long after the final examination.
A statement of intent
Executive Director / 2008 — Today
A word from our director
A vision for the future, grounded in care.
Empowering the next generation of global leaders through an uncompromising commitment to academic excellence — and to the human beings doing the learning.
Welcome to Prime School International. As a proudly independent and highly diverse educational community, we are dedicated to providing a transformative learning experience for every child who walks through our doors.
Our Cambridge curriculum, combined with Portugal's first ISO 9001 certification for an international school, ensures that our standards remain at the absolute pinnacle of global education. We do not just prepare students for university; we prepare them for life.
A.M.P.
Ana Magalhães Pereira
Executive Director
Who we are
Our philosophy.
01
Principle one
Excellence, uncompromised.
The highest standards in academics, in character, and in the daily habits of self-improvement. We do not soften the curriculum to flatter; we raise the student to meet it.
- Cambridge International framework, end-to-end
- Small classes, individualised pathways
- ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system
02
Principle two
Global citizenry.
Sixty-seven nationalities learn side by side. Diversity is not a value statement at Prime — it is the room. Every assembly, every classroom, every conversation.
- 67+ nationalities represented
- Erasmus+ programme partnerships
- Multilingual environment from age 3
03
Principle three
Innovation with intent.
Creative problem-solving and adaptable thinking — taught not as a trend, but as an everyday discipline. Inquiry first; technology second; rigour throughout.
- Inquiry-based pedagogy from preschool
- Modern science and digital labs
- Embedded design-thinking practice
04
Principle four
Integrity, without exception.
Honesty, fairness, and a strong moral compass — practised in everyday choices, not reserved for grand moments. The character a child builds here, they keep.
- Pastoral care embedded across every year
- Transparent assessment and feedback
- A house and mentor system that knows each child
Our journey
Milestones of excellence.
A history of growth, recognition, and unwavering commitment — written one decision at a time.
Official recognition
Cambridge International accreditation and Portuguese Ministry of Education recognition achieved.
Expansion to Estoril
Second campus opens in Estoril, expanding our reach and impact along the Atlantic coast.
Virtual tour
Lisbon opens
State-of-the-art campus in Alvalade, Lisbon — bringing world-class education to the capital.
Virtual tour
ISO 9001 certified
The first private international school in Portugal to achieve ISO 9001:2015 quality certification.
View certificate
67+ nationalities
A community of students, families, and faculty drawn from every continent — and 97% of leavers placed at top universities.
Cambridge progression
Your path to global success.
Five progressive stages, each built upon the last — guiding students from their first curious steps to the universities of their choosing.
Leadership & faculty
The people behind the school.
Educators with international experience, advanced qualifications, and an unwavering commitment to the children they teach.
01
Leading Prime School with twenty years of educational vision and operational excellence.
Ana Magalhães Pereira
Executive Director
02
PhD in Educational Leadership with twenty-plus years of international school experience.
Dr. Alexander Hamilton
Head of School
03
Leading the Cambridge pathway with rigorous, evidence-based pedagogical strategies.
Sarah Thompson
Cambridge Coordinator
04
Dedicated to foundational learning and the holistic development of our youngest students.
Maria Silva
Head of Primary
Boarding
A home, away from home.
Modern, supportive, and decidedly unhurried — boarding life at Prime is built around small details that make a long way from family feel close.
The arrival
Where the school day ends and home begins.
Common room
Quiet evenings, easy company.
Quiet study
Independent. Embedded support.
Community
Students from 30+ countries.
The setting
Lisbon's Atlantic light, all year round.
Boarding at Prime is quiet, structured, and unmistakably international — a place where children become independent without ever feeling alone.
Twenty-four-hour pastoral care. Dedicated tutoring. Sports, arts, and weekend programmes that reach beyond the syllabus. And a community drawn from more than thirty countries, who each evening gather for a meal and the day's small reckonings.
Explore boarding
Our locations
Three premium campuses.
The same Cambridge programme, the same Prime standards — across three locations chosen for the lives our families lead.
Voices from our community
What they say.
“
The Cambridge A Level programme prepared me perfectly for university. I'm now studying at Oxford — and I credit my success to the teaching and the support I received here.
JC
James Chen
Alumni, Class of 2023
“
Prime School has exceeded our expectations. The personalised attention, world-class facilities, and diverse community have helped our daughter flourish — academically and personally.
MR
Maria Rodriguez
Parent, Grade 10
“
Teaching at Prime is incredibly rewarding. The resources, the development, and the collaborative environment make it the ideal place to grow as an educator.
ST
Sarah Thompson
Cambridge Coordinator
Enrolment open
Begin your
Begin your
journey to excellence.
Join a community where every student is empowered to reach their full potential. Limited spaces available for the 2026 / 2027 academic year.
Rolling admissions
Scholarships available
Entry tests