Moving to Portugal with children is exciting. It can also be one of the most stressful decisions you can make. You’re choosing more than a school. You’re choosing where your child will make friends, find their confidence and settle into a new life, often in a country you’re still getting to know. That’s where an education consultant in Portugal can help, giving you clarity and peace of mind at every step.

At Tendoria, we understand that the stakes are high and that you want to get it right. I moved from London to Cascais with my own school-aged children in 2019, so I know how it feels to sit up late comparing school websites and wondering whether you’ve missed something important. That experience is why I founded Tendoria.

Should you work with an independent school advisor, or manage the search yourself? Here’s what an education consultant can do for your family.

1. There are a lot of options, and they’re hard to compare from the outside

The international schools market in Portugal keeps growing. The Lisbon region has the most English-language international schools, and there are more in Porto, the Algarve and the Silver Coast. These schools follow the American, British or International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, either fully or in part. Alongside them are French schools, Portuguese schools, and progressive or alternative options such as Montessori.

On paper, many international schools in Lisbon and Cascais look alike: beautiful campuses, strong exam results and a warm welcome. What websites rarely tell you is how a school feels day to day, how well it supports children who arrive mid-year or with limited English, or how its pastoral care works in practice.

An education consultant who works in this market every day can explain these differences clearly and in plain English. That includes, for example, what a move from the British to the IB system means for your child, or how the school your child currently attends compares with a Portuguese, American, British or IB school.

2. “Which is the best school in Lisbon?” depends on your child

This is the question we hear most often. It’s a good question, but it doesn’t have one answer. The best school for one family, or even for one sibling, may not suit another.

Guides, forums and well-meaning friends give generic advice. A personalised school placement service starts with your family:

• What are your child’s strengths, interests and learning style?
• Which curriculum fits your plans? Are you staying in Portugal long term, moving again in a few years, or thinking ahead to university in the UK, US or elsewhere?
• How much do you value academic stretch, pastoral care, extracurricular activities and ease of settling in?
• What are your practical limits on location, fees and start date?

We then build a curated shortlist of schools. For each one, we set out the pros and cons against your priorities, so you can make a confident decision based on facts, not opinions.

3. Admissions timelines and waitlists are easy to underestimate

International schools in Portugal usually allocate places in February or March for the following September, and popular year groups can fill up quickly. Some schools set entrance exams or assessments. Others keep waitlists, and knowing how to handle them can make a real difference.

An experienced consultant helps you:

• Understand each school’s admissions timeline and requirements
• Plan your applications so you don’t miss a deadline
• Prepare your child for any entrance exams or assessments
• Keep your options open if a first-choice school has a waitlist

4. Introductions to Admissions teams

Because we work closely with schools across Portugal, we can introduce you to their Admissions teams. That makes it easier to get clear answers, arrange visits, and make sure your child’s application is seen in the right context. This matters most if you’re applying from abroad or outside the usual intake window.

5. You get time back and feel calmer

A relocation brings a long list of decisions. Researching schools, booking visits and keeping track of applications can take weeks. A consultant does the groundwork, so that you don’t waste time on schools that are not a good fit.

Just as important, you have someone on your side. We know that a family move can carry a lot of guilt (“Am I doing the right thing for my children?”). Having a knowledgeable, independent person to talk things through with, can take much of that weight off.

6. Independent means unbiased

Tendoria is an independent consultancy. Our advice is shaped only by what’s right for your child, and we assess schools privately against each family’s needs. Our job is to help you see every option clearly and to choose with confidence.

7. We think ahead, all the way to university

For older children, choosing a school can also shape their university options. The IB Diploma, A-Levels, an American high school diploma and the Portuguese secondary system can each open different doors. Our team includes specialists in UK (UCAS), US, EU, Canadian and Australian university admissions, so we can help you choose a school with your child’s next step in mind and support them when that step comes.

Is an education consultant right for your family?

If you’re moving to Portugal with children and want personal, hands-on school guidance rather than generic advice, working with a specialist can make the whole process smoother and more focused. At Tendoria, you work one-to-one with an advisor who gets to know your family.

We’ve made this move ourselves, and we’d be glad to help you make it too. Our packages start at €425. Please get in touch so that we can explain more about how we can help with your school or university search.

Tendoria Educational Consulting is a boutique education consultancy based in Cascais. We help globally mobile families find the right school in Lisbon, Cascais, Porto, the Algarve and the Silver Coast for children aged 2 to 18, and we guide students through university admissions worldwide.