British real estate firm Savills has published a feature on international schools in its Portfolio magazine, highlighting schools that are worth moving countries for. The feature covers six destinations: Madrid, Lisbon and Cascais, Rome, New York, Sydney and Abu Dhabi.
For real estate agents, schools matter for a practical reason. Casey Sellers, Deputy Head of Research at Savills, says international schools have become one of the key factors families consider when choosing where to live. For families who move frequently, a consistent curriculum is particularly important: children can relocate and continue their education without falling behind.
The market is growing. According to the UK’s Independent Schools Council (ISC), 7.7 million children now attend international schools worldwide, up 15% from 2020. Portugal gets particular attention in the feature: official statistics show that the number of foreign residents in the country has more than doubled over the past four years. Savills attributes this growth to tax incentives, a relatively low cost of living and the rise of remote work.
Which Portuguese schools made the list?
Three schools in the Greater Lisbon area feature in the report.
St Julian’s School in Carcavelos, between Lisbon and Cascais, follows the English curriculum through GCSEs (British secondary school qualifications typically taken at age 16). Students then spend their final two years studying for the International Baccalaureate (IB), a qualification recognised by universities around the world. In 2026, the school ranked among Europe’s top 10 private schools in the Spear’s Education Index, published by the British magazine covering wealth and private wealth management.
IPS Cascais in Bicesse is opening a new secondary school campus this autumn. Students there will prepare for iGCSEs and A-levels, the British qualifications used for university admission in the UK.
United Lisbon International School opened in 2020 in Parque das Nações, a modern district in eastern Lisbon built on the former site of Expo 98. It now has 660 students from more than 50 countries. The school is at the heart of Edu-Hub, a 50,000-square-metre development that will also house technology companies and startups. Its graduates have gone on to study at Oxford, UCL, Brown and Duke.
The big news for Portugal: Brighton College
British school group Brighton College, founded in Sussex in 1845 and expanding internationally since 2011 with schools in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and the UAE, is heading to Southern Europe. Its Madrid and Rome campuses are due to open in September 2027, followed by Lisbon. Savills gives 2028 as the opening year for the Lisbon school. When the three European schools were first announced in September 2025, all three were scheduled to open in 2027. However, the Lisbon campus website says applications will open in spring 2027.
The school will be located in Oeiras, a municipality west of Lisbon, where two existing buildings are being converted for the project. It will cater to children aged 3 to 18. Younger pupils will follow a British early-years programme and the International Primary Curriculum; secondary students will study the English National Curriculum, take IGCSEs in Years 10 and 11, and complete the IB in their final years. The project’s Portuguese partner is Intellego Education. Tuition fees have not yet been announced.
For Oeiras and Cascais, this means another major British school in an area that already has the highest concentration of international schools in Portugal. Demand for family homes near the campus could well increase even before it opens.
Choosing a school: advice from the report
Some of the most practical advice comes from Chitra Stern, founder of United Lisbon International School. Parents today, she says, are choosing a “city, community and lifestyle”, with the school just one part of the decision.
She recommends focusing on three things:
- The balance between international and local students. A healthy mix of both is a good sign.
- Support for children who do not speak English as their first language. Find out how the school helps them settle in and learn.
- What you see in person. Visit the school before making a decision rather than relying on its website alone.
Experiences from other cities covered in the report are also worth considering. In New York, consultant Robin Aronow, founder of School Search NYC, warns that finding a place can be extremely difficult outside the usual entry points: kindergarten and Grades 1, 6 and 9.
In Sydney, according to The Good Schools Guide, a British independent school directory, many schools give preference to families who intend to stay for the long term.
Portugal is much the same: popular schools in Lisbon and Cascais have waiting lists, so it is best to apply a year in advance.
