The International School

Mrs Keeneyboy · Post by **Mrs Keeneyboy** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:17 pm

Hi all, new to the site but certainly no stranger to Carvoeiro having met my husband there whilst on holiday some 20 years ago! We are considering a move and would like any feed back on The International School in Porches.

Jetix · Post by **Jetix** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:28 pm

What would you like to know?
I have 2 boys there for nearly 4 years.
Are you looking to go on the international side or national side.
Let me know pleased to help

Mrs Keeneyboy · Post by **Mrs Keeneyboy** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 8:21 am

Thanks for your reply, it's the International side I am interested in. Really just wanted general feedback, good or bad. How does it compare to our state schools in the UK, both primary and secondary?

shanagarry · Post by **shanagarry** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:49 am

You are starting from the wrong premise - comparison with the UK state system is a chalk and cheese exercise - total opposites.

We have friends with children at the International school and friends who have their children at local Portuguese schools. We have 3 grand-children in the UK state system. The difference in their progress is astounding - in favour of the Portuguese system.

The International school educated children are well tutored but the Portuguese local schools appear - to me at least - to be head and shoulders above the rest. I attribute that to the way the ex-pat children have to make a major culture adjustment when going to a Portuguese local school and develop a stronger character as a result.

I don't suppose it would be suitable for every child - but I know what I would do if ours were to go through the process again.

tricky · Post by **tricky** » Wed Dec 17, 2008 3:56 pm

Hiya
Can you tell me what stage 14 year olds would be in the Portuguese system and when they would take their (is it Beaucalaurate?)
That is the replacement for GCSE isn't it?
What age would they go to university?

Many Thanks

suziebear · Post by **suziebear** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:33 am

Mrs Keeneyboy, have sent you a PM.

Tricky, our daughter started in year 10 in September (she will be 15 next week). They are studying for IGCSE, they more or less follow the English curriculum and take their IGCSE at the same age they would do in England, University same too,

She loves it at school, she is happy, got some really good friends, they are a great group of teenageres and we are very happy with her progress - one thing to consider, her year group in England was 280, here it is 29; her old state school number of nationilities, 69 - here it is app 65, but it is an international school.

If you want to know anything else, send me a pm.
Regards

Jaylay · Post by **Jaylay** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 10:31 pm

Both of my daughters went to University in England following their Portuguese state education.

completecarvoeiro · Post by **completecarvoeiro** » Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:51 pm

My two eldest children also went to Uni from the Int School,although when they started there the kids reckoned the school was about 18 months to two years behind there school in the UK.

Globetrotter · Post by **Globetrotter** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 9:48 am

We disliked the school and have posted on it here before. You can do a search.

We have since moved, and our kids attend an IB school in another country. They are much happier and the education is far superior.

The relationship between the parents, administration and teaching staff is also superior.

suziebear · Post by **suziebear** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 3:52 pm

I suppose not all parents think or feel the same. All I care about is that my daughter is happy and that she is being educated far better than at her previous state school in England. She is a very bright young lady and her whole attitude to life and family has changed so much since we came to live here its lovely. It would be impossible for us all to like or appreciate the same things as we are all very different and want very different things for our own children. Albeit she has only been there three months and I suppose the proof of the pudding will be in the eating, ie when she gets her IGCSE results. She is very much aware of what she needs to do to go to the Uni she wants to and have the career she wants.

goispro · Post by **goispro** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 2:24 pm

I am so interested to read all the above comments. We moved to Central Portugal 18 months ago, with two daughters aged 8 and 13, who both went into the state system, as there are no international schools in this region. The younger one is doing okay, although I cannot say she has been given much support, and I am not impressed that she spends hours every day just copying things down. There is no art, music or drama in her curriculum at all, and PE is extra-curricular. The older one is now in Year 8 (Year 9 concludes the 3rd cycle in the Portuguese education system - completing Year 9 is roughly equivalent to having GCSE's, although I have never had this confirmed in the UK) - she has found it extremely hard going, with very little support from the school, and wants to return to the UK to take GCSE's and continue in the British system.

One question I would like to ask anyone out there: am I right in thinking that a young person returning to the UK has to be resident there for 3 years in order to qualify for home tuition fees for higher education? This seems to me to be a very pertinent consideration for British children.