Quick summary of key school information
All the details about this school in their own words
| Number of students |
1000+ |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
43 |
| Most common nationality |
British and Portuguese |
| Ratio of local students to international students |
50/50 |
| Native English speaking teachers |
Yes |
| Language support for students not fluent in English |
English as a Foreign Language |
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
Portuguese, French, Spanish, German |
| Max. number of students per class |
24 |
| Average number of students per class |
16 |
| Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes |
| Use of technology in the classroom |
Technology is an integral part of learning at Nobel Algarve and modern equipment is widely available. |
| Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
Yes the school currently uses MS Teams and is prepared to switch to online as it did during the first COVID-19 school closure in 2020. |
| Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
No |
| External examinations or assessments available |
For our English International section, students sit IGCSEs and A-Levels. Portuguese national curriculum students follow the Portuguese national curriculum according to the Portuguese Ministry of Education, up to 12º Ano. |
| Results in these examinations |
In 2022, we had an IGCSE/GCSE and A-Level pass rate of 99%, around a third of which achieved an A* to an A. 100% of our National Section students complete schooling. |
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes. A homework timetable is kept both by pupils and the school. The overall homework expectations at different levels in the school remain under constant review. |
| Approximate hours of homework given |
Primary children are expected to read regularly. Year 1 and 2 pupils take home a reading book every day to read aloud to a family member. In Years 3 and 4, homework is given at the teacher’s discretion, for example, to learn spellings and tables and to complete class assignments. Weekend homework is usually required. In Years 5 and 6, the children have homework every evening. In Year 7 there are usually two sets of homework of 20 minutes each per night. This increases by year, reaching three subjects of 40 minutes each per night by Years 10 and 11. In Years 12 and 13, extra study is planned with the teacher according to the demands of the syllabus. |
| Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
99% |
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
Learning Support teacher |
| Student access to education psychologist |
Nobel employs two full-time School Psychologists, one for each section, who work in consultation with parents and teachers to help wherever necessary for the benefit of students. |
| Entry evaluation for students |
All new students are required to have an initial meeting with the Head of Section, and then the Head decides if the students require an assessment. Admission is always dependent on a meeting with the Head of the relevant campus, who will answer any questions and discuss academic options. Meetings for the next academic year are being booked from the previous year as of January. |
| Waiting list |
Yes |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
No deadline, rolling admission. Applications are accepted throughout the year, subject to thee being a place available for the child. Due to increasing demand, early registration is recommended. |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes |
| School start time |
9.15 am |
| School finish time |
Primary finishes at 3.30 pm and seniors finish at 4.30 pm |
| Supervised care before/after school |
Yes |
| School bus service available |
Yes |
| School provided lunches |
Yes |
| Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
Yes |
| Uniform required |
Yes |
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Nobel Algarve offers many different after-school clubs and activities, including football, capoeira, dance, karate, arts, drama, coding, tennis, inline skating, pilates, Minecraft, rugby, cricket. |
| Sports activities included |
P.E. (athletics, gymnastics, and outdoor adventures) |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Yes |
| Facilities at the school |
Library, Gymnasium, Science Labs |
| Sports facilities at the school |
Basketball and volleyball courts, inline speed-skating rink, football fields, cross-country track |
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
Nobel International School Algarve is the oldest and largest private school group in the south of Portugal, offering a co-educational day school with multiple locations for pupils aged 3 to 18. At Nobel International School Algarve we provide our students with an educational experience that challenges their minds, inspires their creativity, and instills a desire for discovery that will last a lifetime. We have two beautiful campuses, in Lagoa and Almancil, and we believe Nobel Algarve offers your child an education that will prepare him or her for a lifetime of success, achievement, and personal satisfaction. Here at Nobel Algarve, we are proud of the education par excellence we provide for our nearly 1,000 students and of their outstanding achievements. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
Nobel's mission is to bring together a diverse group of passionate students and to provide them with world-class international education enhanced by sports, languages, maths, science, the arts, natural exploration, collaborative learning, and global exchange. At Nobel International School Algarve, we provide an innovative and positive learning environment for students in all years, across both schools at Lagoa and Almancil. Small class sizes allow for personalised attention. We offer both the British curriculum at Lagoa and Almancil, and the Portuguese national curriculum at Lagoa campus. Our Early Years programme at both Lagoa and Almancil provides a truly bilingual learning experience for children aged three to four years old. Our project-based learning approach engages students, addresses real-life challenges and cultivates critical-thinking, problem-solving and presentation skills. We maintain a truly international campus, where multiple languages can be heard every day and we welcome families from more than 30 countries. We provide English language support to enable all students to excel. As the language of our host country, Portuguese lessons are a requirement up to Year 11 and are offered at both the native and foreign language levels. |