Hi everyone, this is my first time posting on this forum, i am looking for some info. on primary and high schools in the portimao area, as we are hoping to be moving there in the near future

many thanks in advance

Hi there

What information are you looking for?
The schools that your children can attend will be dictated by the exact area in which you live (presuming you mean Portuguese state schools)
We actually chose where to live based on visiting LOTS of schools (in various towns) and balancing preferred school(s) with preferred towns!

What info did you want?
What age children do you have?

Tracey

Hello, I'm looking to move to Portugal with my Husband and 2 young children. I see that you are in Lagos which is our focal point as we have family there. Can I ask if you're happy with the State schools there and if there are any in particular which you could recommend? Also did your children speak any portuguese when starting school? thanks very much, Sarah

In Lagos the Escola Santa Maria is very good for primary aged children, and I believe Ameijeira is also good.

For 10/11+ it is now Tecnopolis which so far I've heard good reviews about, it's a newly built school and the kids all seem happy there compared to where they were before and they have good facilities. After that for college Julio Dantas has a good reputation.

Private schools are Barlavento @ around €1.300 a year which is primary, then secondary you have Vale Verde which is more expensive or Phoenix school which has just relocated to Aljezur but a bus goes from Lagos I think. They are in temporary buildings atm but the school ethos is great and the kids I know that go there love it. That costs the same as Barlavento.

There is also a private Portuguese primary school in Lagos called Torraltinha which has a fantastic reputation, cheaper than Barlavento and fees based on earnings which is good.

My son is in Espiche primary school which has been ok but I'm not overly impressed, he didn't speak Portuguese going in and went straight into the 4th year which has been tough but he's doing ok now and will hopefully pass the year.

If I had the choice I would have sent him to Santa Maria. If you want your kids to grow up here then I think Portuguese school is the way to go as they will most definitely learn the language and learn it properly. I don't know many British kids that are at Private English schools that can speak/read/write Portuguese very well i.e. they wouldn't be able to write an essay in Portuguese so that means they have to go back to the UK for further education. If you are planning on coming here for a few years then taking the kids back then private English school would be best.

HTH
G

I think the PT vs English schools really depends on a) income and b) length of stay

If you're intending to be permanently here and you don't earn a mint then don't hesitate to use the PT schools.

Technopolis isn't the only 10+ school in Lagos. My son (who is 11) goes to Escola Das Naus, behind the Marina. He started, last September, in year 6 with NO knowledge whatsoever of Portuguese (other than the very small amount I'd convinced him to learn before we moved)

He's doing OK. He doesn't get enough language support for my liking so we have a tutor for 1 hour a week, to help him along on a one-to-one basis and I'm know he will thrive getting this support.
The problem is that, at this age, the PT kids have a reasonable knowledge of English and that's what they tend to talk to him in. This has delayed his Portuguese, unfortunately!

That said, he is doing very well (he came 4th out of 21 students in his class last term!) and is moving up to year 7 in the next school year.
Not bad going really!

My youngest is 7 and he was very behind most of his class in the UK. He had just done year 2 in the UK but we asked for him to repeat year 2 in Portugal (usually, they just put your child in the next year they'd be in in England)

So he goes to Escola Primária Meia Praia and started year 2 in September. He's picking up the language really really well although he doesn't know he's doing it! He's definitely ahead, compared to the 11yo, in his conversational Portuguese, purely because he gets no English at school. One of the TAs speaks fairly good English but, unless he's upset, she doesn't use it. His teacher doesn't speak much English (or chooses not to) and his friends don't really beyond hello and goodbye!

Educationally, he struggles in the obvious areas but, on the whole, he's doing well. He is helped by the fact that, being a tiny school, there is only one class, of 22 pupils, which teaches years 1-4 together so his teacher has been able to place him with year 1 students where needed (language, for example) and with his peers in other areas.

It's been incredibly difficult for both of them though. Educationally it's been hardest, probably, for the 11yo but he has plenty of friends and is very happy at school.
Socially, it's probably been harder for the 7yo because of the language barrier but he's thriving here and he has learned FAR more in 8 months of school here than he ever did in English school. Their way of teaching obviously suits him.

How old are your children and what area are you looking at living in?
Unless their in their teens (or know some Portuguese) I wouldn't hesitate to put them in PT schools

Only downside, you will HAVE to learn Portuguese alongside them or a) they can talk about you and b) you will really struggle to support/help with homework!

btw, if you want to read the trials and tribulations of kids and schools, pan back to July 2010 onwards in my blog! There's plenty I've said about the subject LOL

Ah yes sorry forgot about the one at the Marina. Entrance depends on where you live though, if you don't fall into the catchment area you won't get in. Tecnopolis appears to serve everything in the Lagos 'area' to the west and Escola das Naus to the east.

of course, yes. There's no 'choosing' schools (on the whole) unless you choose before your move! (which we did LOL)

Fantastic! you've both given me lots to think about. We've planned a visit to Lagos so we can research area's and schools and will use your knowledge to get us started. Thanks very much, Sarah

Skent... When in Lagos, if you need help in learning Portuguese, just let me know

My son is in pre-primary at Universidade da Crianca in Portimao. Its a Portuguese private school but even at the pre-school level they learn English, and all of the teachers speak English. He's been there 4 months now and is now fluent in Portuguese and absolutely loves it. Their teaching philosophy is amazing and at his level they have great classes like cooking, yoga, music (and at primary school they do chess and robotics too) and its well worth checking out. I'd be happy to talk to you if you want more info (pm me).