St Julian's primary is the lower school of one of the oldest British international schools in Portugal, and a common entry point for families arriving on our Lisbon city hub. Because the school opened in 1932 and runs all the way to age 18, the primary years are not a standalone nursery but the first leg of a long pathway. A child who joins the prep school in Carcavelos can, in principle, stay through IGCSEs and the IB Diploma without changing school, which is part of the appeal for families putting down roots on the coast.
This profile is an independent reference page focused on the primary years. GlobalSchoolGuide does not rank schools for payment and no school appears here because it paid to. We researched the facts below from the school and public sources at the time of writing and flag anything we could not confirm as not published.
At a glance
Primary curriculum
The primary years follow the National Curriculum for England, taught in English, with the familiar structure of literacy and numeracy at the core and a broad spread of foundation subjects around them. Portuguese is part of school life given the host country, and the school's bilingual section means some children also follow national requirements. For British and Commonwealth families this is the reassurance of a recognisable system: a child moving from the United Kingdom slots into a comparable year group without a curriculum jump.
What sets a long all through school apart from a standalone primary is what comes next. The prep years here are deliberately a foundation for IGCSEs and then the IB Diploma in the senior school, so the skills built early are aimed at that destination rather than at an exit at eleven. Families weighing where a British primary eventually leads can read our IB curriculum guide to understand the qualification their child would work toward at the top of this school.
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St Julian's primary fees
Primary fees sit below the senior years but still in the upper part of the Lisbon market, in line with the school's standing. Published day tuition for the prep stage has run in the low to mid five figures in euros a year, rising through the primary years toward the secondary rate. Treat any figure as one that changes each academic year, confirm the latest directly, then set it against the bands in our Lisbon international school fees guide to see how the primary tier compares across the city.
Budget beyond tuition. Expect a registration fee to apply and a one time entrance or capital levy to secure a place, with insurance usually included in the fees here. Transport, lunch, school trips and after school activities add to the annual bill in the primary years. Ask how fees are staged across the year and use our fee tools to model the full cost before you commit.
Admissions to the primary years
The primary school admits for a September start and reviews applications through the year subject to space. Entry into the prep years draws on prior school records and, where relevant, a friendly assessment to confirm a child is ready for the year group rather than a competitive examination at this age. Because the school is large and long established, the natural entry points into the lower school are popular and can carry waiting lists.
Families planning a move should register early, ask directly about availability in the specific year, and flag if a sibling is already in the school, since that can affect how a place is considered. Joining lower down the primary school is generally smoother than a mid pathway transfer higher up.
Location and who goes there
The primary years are part of the main St Julian's campus in Carcavelos, in the Cascais municipality on the Portuguese Riviera west of central Lisbon. Families with primary age children tend to settle nearby in Carcavelos, Parede, Estoril and Cascais, drawn by the school and the beaches, and travel in by car or along the coastal train line. The community is broadly international, with a long established British and Portuguese core and a wide European spread.
For the wider picture of who settles where on the coast and how the St Julian's primary years compare with the other lower schools in the area, see the Lisbon city hub, which maps the full landscape across the city and the Cascais line.
Reviews
We do not yet have verified parent reviews for the primary years at this school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish reviews only once we can confirm they come from real families. If your child is in the primary school here, we would value your first hand account. Share your experience through the school reviews hub and help the next relocating family decide with better information.
Frequently asked questions
How much are St Julian's primary school fees?
Primary fees at St Julian's sit below the senior years but still in the upper part of the Lisbon range, with published day tuition for the prep stage in the low to mid five figures in euros. A registration fee and a one time entrance levy apply on top. Confirm the current schedule directly, since figures change each academic year.
What curriculum does the St Julian's primary school follow?
The primary or prep years follow the National Curriculum for England, taught in English, with Portuguese and other languages introduced as part of school life. The primary years build the foundation for IGCSEs and then the IB Diploma in the senior school.
What ages does St Julian's primary cover?
The prep or primary phase broadly covers children from around age 5 to 11, sitting between the early years and the secondary school. Exact year group boundaries are set by the school.
Where is St Julian's primary school?
The primary years are part of the main St Julian's campus in Carcavelos, in the Cascais municipality on the Portuguese Riviera west of central Lisbon.
When should I apply for St Julian's primary?
Apply ahead of a September start. Primary places, especially at the entry points into the prep years, can fill early at a school of this size, so families should register and ask about availability in their child's year group.
