Why Prime · independent since 2003

An independent Cambridge school, still led by the people who built it.

Many international schools in Lisbon now belong to global education groups. Prime does not. Founded in 2003, we remain independently led in Portugal, so decisions are made locally, families know who they are speaking to, and children are known as individuals.

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Our story

How Prime began.

In 2003, Dr. Edite and Eng. Miguel founded Prime School International in Lisbon, with a clear conviction: that Portugal deserved a school to stand alongside the best in the world, not by copying them, but by building something distinctly its own.

British academic rigour, Portuguese warmth, and a school committed to developing character, not only delivering results.

That conviction became three campuses and one continuous Cambridge pathway from age 3 to A Level, with graduates now at Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial and leading universities across more than 30 countries. And through every year of growth, one thing hasn't changed: Prime is still independent, and still led by the family that started it.

Dr Edite and Miguel

Founders and Executive Directors · since 2003

Mission & values

We exist to bring up confident, compassionate and curious young people, prepared for a changing world, because education should do more than teach. It should change a life.

Excellence

Cambridge rigour, externally examined, held to an international standard, not assessed only in-house.

Integrity

We say what we mean, publish what we charge, and keep what we promise.

Respect

Every child known as an individual, not reduced to a result, ranking or label.

Innovation

Evidence-led teaching, and progress followed closely for each student.

Community

A school small enough to feel personal, with families from many nationalities.

What we're built on

Three guiding principles.

Every decision at Prime, academic, pastoral, operational, comes back to three founding ideas. They are what makes the school recognisable at any age and on any campus.

British academic
rigour

The full Cambridge pathway, from Early Years to A Level. Analytical thinking, academic discipline and independent enquiry are built systematically from age 3, with external assessment at key stages.

Every child followed
closely

Each student's progress is monitored individually across subjects and wellbeing, so support arrives early rather than late. Parents follow it through a secure portal, no child quietly slips behind.

Portuguese
warmth

British structure, Portuguese warmth. A school that takes results seriously, and people even more so, where children are welcomed, not processed, and relocating families are supported as families.

Pedagogical excellence

Educators who inspire.

At the heart of Prime School International’s success is our exceptional teaching team. We believe that great schools are built by great educators, which is why we invest significantly in recruiting, developing and retaining outstanding teachers from Portugal and around the world.

Our educators bring extensive classroom experience across a range of educational systems, including British, Portuguese, German and international curricula. Many hold advanced qualifications in their subject specialisms, and all share a genuine passion for teaching, inspiring students to achieve their full potential.

How we teach

The Prime
Methodology.

A proprietary pedagogical system exclusive to Prime School. It combines personalised mentoring, artificial intelligence and continuous progress monitoring to ensure every student achieves their full potential, intellectually, emotionally, socially and ethically.

“The student is seen as a project of life, not just a student. We work on integral development, so that each student reaches their maximum potential.”

Edite Reina · CEO, Prime School International · Revista Pontos de Vista, Oct 2025

Individual Profile

Every student enters with a full academic and developmental profile. We understand who they are before we teach them what they need to know.

Real-Time Monitoring

AI-supported tracking records progress continuously across all subjects and pastoral areas. Patterns are identified early, before they become problems.

Personalised Mentoring

Dedicated mentors, tutors and school psychologists support each student’s academic and experience. No child is left unseen.

Continuous improvement

ISO 9001 governance ensures that every intervention is recorded, evaluated and improved. The system learns as the student learns.

Media

What the press says.

The Portugal News · Nov 2025

“Prime School International rises to the ranks of the world’s elite K12 schools, alongside Eton College, Institut Le Rosey, Aiglon College and Collège du Léman.”

Francisco Saraiva, Director of the Estoril Campus

Read the full article →

NiT.pt · Nov 2025

“Prime School: a escola portuguesa ao nível do Oxford College e do Institut Le Rosey.”

NiT · Portugal’s leading lifestyle platform

Read the full article →

Pontos de Vista · Oct 2025

“A Prime School é hoje símbolo de uma nova geração de escolas europeias: tecnológicas, inclusivas e orientadas para resultados mensuráveis, sem perder de vista o desenvolvimento humano.”

Edite Reina, CEO · Revista Pontos de Vista

Ler o artigo completo →

Recognition

Recognised and accredited.

Being independent doesn't mean being unaccountable. Prime's standards are recognised and audited by the bodies that matter.

Ministério da Educação

Recognised and certified by the Portuguese Ministry of Education, ensuring full equivalence for students within the national system.

Cambridge International

A registered Cambridge school. The full pathway to A Level, recognised by more than 2,350 universities in 90 countries.

ISO 9001 · SGS

Quality-management systems certified to ISO 9001 by SGS, so the way the school is run is audited, not assumed.

Erasmus+

An accredited Erasmus+ school, funding international experiences for students through EU programmes.

By the numbers

Prime in numbers.

95%

First-choice university destination for 2024 leavers · Cambridge-examined

Campuses · Lisbon,
Estoril & Sintra

70+

Nationalities in the
school community

30+

University destination
countries for Prime graduates

2,350+

Universities recognising
Cambridge qualifications, in over 90 countries

The people behind the school

Our leadership team.

Prime is led by a small, visible leadership team, not a rotating roster of group appointees. You will meet them on your visit and see them again in the daily life of the school.

[ Portrait, Dra. Edite Reina ]

Dra. Edite Reina

Chief Executive Officer

"We see each student as a whole person. Our work is academic, but it is also emotional, social and ethical."

[ Portrait, Carlos Almeida ]

Carlos Almeida

Chief Technology Officer

"Technology in education is not the goal. It is the tool that lets us see each child's journey more clearly."

[ Portrait, Melissa Pereira ]

Melissa Pereira

Director

"We are building more than a school. We are building a community where every family has a place."

[ Portrait, Francisco Saraiva ]

Francisco Saraiva

Principal · Campus Estoril

"At Prime, families should feel that their child is known, academically, socially and personally."

[ Portrait, Carlos Cordeiro ]

Carlos Cordeiro

Principal · Campus Lisbon

"A school succeeds when every child feels they belong. That is the standard we set for ourselves every day."

[ Portrait, Ana Magalhães ]

Ana Magalhães

Principal · Campus Sintra

"Good stewardship means every resource is directed where it matters most: towards the children in our care."

See Prime for yourself.

Read about a school for as long as you like, then come and see it for yourself. Book a private tour of any of our three campuses and a named adviser will reply within one working day, in English or Portuguese.

Book a private tour How admissions works Get the prospectus

+351 219 235 496 · admissions@primeschool.pt