St. Julian's School

A Genuinely International Community

St. Julian's is home to approximately 1,200 students representing 61 nationalities, with roughly 58% of students from international backgrounds and 42% from Portuguese families. This balance — maintained intentionally through the dual English/bilingual curriculum — creates a community that is international in outlook but deeply embedded in Portuguese culture.

Languages as a Pillar of Community

Language diversity is not just a demographic fact at St. Julian's; it is a pedagogical priority:

• English — primary language of instruction across all year groups
• Portuguese — taught as a first language in the bilingual section and as a compulsory subject up to Year 9 for English-track students
• French, Spanish, German — offered as foreign language electives
• Japanese and Chinese — available through cultural clubs (Japanese Culture Club, Chinese Calligraphy)
• EAL Support — non-native English speakers receive targeted English as an Additional Language support

Extracurricular Life: 80+ Clubs per Term

The school offers more than 80 clubs and societies each term, covering a remarkable breadth of interests:

Sports:

• Football, rugby, basketball, tennis, padel, swimming, surfing, volleyball
• Judo, karate, krav maga, yoga

Performing Arts and Music:

• School choir, glee club, drama club, music band, percussion club
• Ballet, Irish dance, jazz dance

Academic and Leadership:

• Model United Nations (MUN), debate club, chess club
• Aloha Mental Arithmetic, Architecture Club, Game Development Club
• Duke of Edinburgh Award

Service and Sustainability:

• Eco-School programme, community service, CAS (IB Creativity, Activity, Service)

Arts and Crafts:

• Art Club, Creative Stitch, tile painting, drawing

Culture and Languages:

• Japanese Culture Club, Chinese Calligraphy, French Club, Spanish Club

Pastoral Culture

The House system — four houses named for the school's founders — provides every student with a sense of identity and belonging from day one. The school's pastoral philosophy is grounded in the belief that a happy, fulfilled child will achieve excellence, and this shapes everything from counselling provision to anti-bullying policies aligned with UK safeguarding standards.

A School Born from Community Need

On 24 November 1932, four visionary founders — Mrs. Bucknall, Mrs. Franklin, Mr. Etherington-Smith, and Sir Claud Russell — opened St. Julian's School at the Quinta Nova estate, a gracious 18th-century palace nestled between Lisbon and the Carcavelos coastline. Their purpose was straightforward: to provide quality English-language education for the growing British expatriate community in Portugal's capital.

Today, the school's four Houses still bear the founders' names, a living tribute to the individuals who set this institution in motion.

Key Milestones

• 1932 — School opens at Quinta Nova on 24 November
• 1935 — A bilingual Portuguese curriculum section is added, welcoming local Portuguese families alongside expatriate students
• 1938 — A non-profit School Association is established to govern the school, ensuring its independence and community-driven mission
• 1963 — Cable & Wireless, the estate's owner, announces plans to sell Quinta Nova. A consortium of British businesses and donors rallies to save the school, securing its future on the historic site
• 1986 — St. Julian's becomes an IB World School, introducing the IB Diploma Programme and cementing its reputation for academic rigour
• 2026 — The Second Century campus renewal project is announced, promising new buildings and major refurbishments to carry the school into its next chapter

A Foundation of Dual Heritage

What makes St. Julian's historically distinctive is its dual-track model. The English-curriculum stream follows the UK National Curriculum from Nursery through to IGCSE and IB, while the bilingual section delivers the Portuguese National Curriculum from 1º to 9º ano, after which students typically transition to the English/IGCSE track. This design means the school has, for nearly 90 years, served as a bridge between Portugal's local culture and the international community — a role that shapes everything from its student body demographics (approximately 42% Portuguese, 58% international) to its 61-nationality diversity.

Enduring Prestige

The school's longevity and consistency have earned it recognition as one of Europe's Top 10 Private Schools (Spear's Schools Index 2024–2026) and a place among the Top 15 International Schools in Europe (Carfax/MiM Estudios). It remains accredited by CIS, COBIS, NEASC, and the IB Organization, and is a member of HMC — credentials that collectively place it among the most recognized international schools in Southern Europe.

Two Curricular Paths, One Standard of Excellence

St. Julian's School offers students two complementary academic pathways:

The English Curriculum Track:

• Nursery through Year 9: UK National Curriculum
• Year 10–11: Cambridge IGCSE (assessed externally)
• Years 12–13: IB Diploma Programme (DP) or IB Career-Related Programme (CP)

The Bilingual Portuguese Track:

• 1º–9º ano: Portuguese National Curriculum, delivered bilingually
• After 9º ano: students typically transition into the English/IGCSE/IB pathway

This structure means the school genuinely serves two distinct communities — international families seeking a British/IB education, and Portuguese families wanting bilingual schooling with a route into internationally recognized qualifications.

IB Diploma Results (2023–2025)

The school's IB results have been consistently above the global average:

In 2025, 49% of IB students scored 35 points or above — well above the global average — and the cohort included students achieving 45, 44, and multiple 43s.

IGCSE Results (2023–2025)

These results represent a clear upward trend, with the Class of 2025 achieving the school's best-ever IGCSE outcomes.

University Destinations

Nearly 100% of graduates proceed to higher education. Destination universities include:

• UK: Cambridge, Oxford, King's College London, UCL, LSE, Edinburgh, Bath, Manchester, Warwick
• USA: MIT, UCLA, NYU
• Portugal: Nova SBE and other leading Portuguese universities
• Netherlands and wider Europe: Strong representation at top Dutch and European institutions

The school does not publish precise placement statistics but describes its university outcomes as consistently strong across all destination countries.

A Competitive but Fair Process

St. Julian's is widely regarded as selective without being hyper-exclusive in the style of traditional UK prep schools. The admissions process is designed to assess fit and readiness rather than to filter out by academic rank alone — but the school's reputation means that demand consistently outstrips supply.

The Five-Step Process

1. Registration — Submit an initial registration of interest
2. School Tour — Attend a campus tour or open morning to experience the school community
3. Formal Application — Submit the full application with academic records and references
4. Assessment — Students entering Year 4 and above sit written assessments in English and Mathematics; older students may also sit a CAT4 reasoning test
5. Interview — All applicants have an interview with school staff; parents of older applicants are typically interviewed as well

The Head of School makes the final admission decision.

Current Enrolment Status

As of the 2026/27 cycle, most year groups are already at capacity, and new applicants are being placed on waiting lists. This reflects both the school's strong academic reputation and the sustained growth of the international community in the Lisbon/Cascais corridor.

Language Requirements

English is the primary language of instruction, and all applicants must demonstrate age-appropriate English proficiency. Non-native English speakers may be asked to complete an EAL (English as an Additional Language) placement test as part of the process.

Community Scholarships

For the 2026/27 academic year, St. Julian's launched a Community Scholarship programme offering full-fee places on a merit and need basis to local Portuguese students entering Year 11. These scholarships are renewable for three years, covering the full IGCSE-to-IB journey.

Sibling Discounts

Families with multiple children enrolled benefit from a 15% reduction on tuition for a third child, rising to 25% for any additional children. This policy, combined with the school's welcoming community ethos, encourages long-term family engagement with the school.

Notable Context

In September 2024, international media reported that St. Julian's declined to enrol children of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, citing full year groups rather than any individual selection criteria — a story that highlighted both the school's prominence and its admissions constraints.

Setting and Location

St. Julian's occupies one of the most distinctive school campuses in Europe. The school is built around the Quinta Nova, an elegant 18th-century Portuguese manor house (Pombaline quinta) situated on the coastal road between Lisbon and Carcavelos. The location offers an extraordinary combination of:

• Urban accessibility — just 3 minutes' walk from Carcavelos train station on the Lisbon–Cascais suburban line
• Natural beauty — extensive gardens, woodland, and proximity to Carcavelos beach
• Historic character — the original palace buildings remain central to campus life

Facilities Overview

Academic Spaces:

• Fully equipped science laboratories
• Design & Technology workshop and labs
• School library
• Theatre and auditorium
• New multipurpose School Hall

Sports Facilities:

• Outdoor grass pitches for football and rugby
• Tennis courts
• Volleyball and basketball courts
• Indoor gymnasium and fitness studios

Arts and Performing Arts:

• Drama studio and theatre stage
• Music rehearsal rooms for band and choir

Outdoor and Natural Learning:

• Forest School area
• Natural science pond
• Extensive gardens and playgrounds
• Outdoor learning spaces throughout the grounds

The Second Century Project

Looking ahead, the school has announced its ambitious Second Century campus renewal programme, with major new building work and refurbishments scheduled to begin in Summer 2026. This initiative is designed to modernise facilities while preserving the historic character of the Quinta Nova estate.

Community Feel

Despite its prestigious setting, the campus has a distinctly warm and community-oriented atmosphere. The four Houses — named for the school's founders (Bucknall, Franklin, Etherington-Smith, Russell) — create a sense of belonging that spans year groups. Students describe the school as feeling like an extended family, with strong pastoral care structures embedded throughout the secondary school.