Vilamoura International School, Portugal

The Vilamoura International School is a co-educational private day school with Portuguese and English studies. Founded to provide an education for children living in the expanding Vilamoura complex and the surrounding area, it is governed by an administrative council which includes the Director and Heads of both sections.

Lusotur, the holding company of the Vilamoura complex, which has an interest in the school, has made a number of the Vilamoura facilities available to the school.

An English curriculum is followed in the International Section. The Portuguese language is also taught as a first and a foreign language. French and German are also taught as foreign languages.

Extra classes in music, ballet, tennis, swimming, chess and karate are available.

All staff are fully-qualified teachers with experience in international schools. The majority of the pupils are British and most are expected to stay until 16 as long as they are permanent residents of the Algarve.

However, 38 nationalities are represented and it is the policy of the school to promote an international education in sports, social and cultural activities.

The school year is from September 18 to June 30 with two-week breaks at Christmas and Easter.

The school is purpose-built and comprises 20 classrooms, music, art and audio-visual rooms, two laboratories, computer lab, library, gymnasium and dining room. There are hard and grass play areas, two tennis courts and a sports field on site. The school's buses transport pupils to other sports fields and sports facilities within Vilamoura. A daily school bus service covers Vilamoura and the neighbouring areas.

Admission is based on previous school records where appropriate. A reasonable standard of English is preferred over the age of 12.