CLIP or Oporto British School: which is better for an expat family?

Porto has only about eight international schools for the whole metropolitan area, so in practice most English speaking families end up comparing these two. They are close on price and end at the same qualifications, which means the decision is about language, timing and fit.

The money, side by side

Oporto British School publishes 9,530 euros for Pre-Prep and Reception, 11,105 for Forms 1 to 5, 12,885 for Forms 6 to 8, 15,315 for the IGCSE years and 17,570 for the IB Diploma years in 2026/2027. On top sit a 160 euro registration fee, a 475 euro acceptance fee, a refundable deposit of one term, a 745 euro annual capital and maintenance charge, 55 euros of pupil insurance, and exam fees of 920 euros for the IB Diploma or 165 euros per IGCSE subject. Lunches are 5.35 euros (primary) and 6.45 (secondary) per meal. Third child: 25 percent off.

CLIP quotes total annual fees of 9,572 euros for Kindergarten, 10,580 for Grades 1 to 4, 13,000 for Grades 5 to 8, 14,702 for Grades 9 and 10 and 15,924 for Grades 11 and 12, already including a 500 euro annual registration fee. Add a 150 euro pre-registration, 600 euro acceptance fee and a 1,000 euro refundable deposit. Siblings get 6 percent off for the second child and 15 percent from the third.

The real difference

CLIP is bilingual in the early years and moves into IGCSE and the IB. Your child will pick up Portuguese and make Portuguese friends, which matters if you intend to stay past a couple of years or want a local university option later.

Oporto British School, founded in 1894, runs the English National Curriculum throughout, then IGCSEs and the IB Diploma. It is the smoother landing for a child arriving mid year from a British or international system, and the cleaner exit if you might move on again.

How to choose in practice

Both run admissions well ahead of September, and places in the upper years are limited. Apply to both, visit both, and let the age of your child decide: under about eight, bilingual is nearly free of friction; over about twelve, continuity of curriculum usually wins.