Oporto British School
Encyclopedia
The Oporto British School, in Foz do Douro
, Porto
, is the oldest British school in mainland Europe, established in 1894.
The current Headmaster is Mr David Butcher and the current Head of Primary is Mr John Thorpe. The current Head of Seniors is Mr Michael Clack.
It is a private, day school for both boys and girls, aged 4 to 18 with approximately 450 pupil on roll. It follows a British-style curriculum until the completion of the IGCSE
.
Senior students then study the IB Diploma Programme
and many go on to Higher Education in the UK, Portugal and to many other international locations.
It received CIS Accreditation in 2005.
The School has a Head Boy (Pedro Borges) and Head Girl (Laura Santos) who represent the student body at public and ceremonial events.
The school has a well-established Parent-Teacher Association.
in the district of Foz do Douro and is a short 10 minute walk from the sea.
The school received Green Flag status on 29 September 2009, for environmentally friendly practice.
The school participates in many national and international trips annually of sporting, charitable and cultural significance. These include:
Foz do Douro
Foz do Douro is a Portuguese parish of the city and of Porto municipality. It has 12,235 inhabitants and is 3.00 km² in area. It became a parish in 1836...
, Porto
Porto
Porto , also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal and one of the major urban areas in the Iberian Peninsula. Its administrative limits include a population of 237,559 inhabitants distributed within 15 civil parishes...
, is the oldest British school in mainland Europe, established in 1894.
The current Headmaster is Mr David Butcher and the current Head of Primary is Mr John Thorpe. The current Head of Seniors is Mr Michael Clack.
It is a private, day school for both boys and girls, aged 4 to 18 with approximately 450 pupil on roll. It follows a British-style curriculum until the completion of the IGCSE
IGCSE
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education is an internationally recognised qualification for school students, typically in the 14–16 age group. It is similar to the GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Standard Grade in Scotland or Junior Certificate in the Republic of...
.
Senior students then study the IB Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
and many go on to Higher Education in the UK, Portugal and to many other international locations.
It received CIS Accreditation in 2005.
Houses
As with many independent schools, Oporto British School is divided in houses. These are:- Braganza
- Windsor
- Lancaster
History
The Oporto British School opened on the first day of the Summer Term in 1894 with 11 boys, with the Rev WS Picken MA as the Master. The School house, located in the fashionable Porto suburb, Foz do Douro, was rented at the time but was eventually purchased in 1922 and remains part of the school's facilities today. Non-British boys were accepted for the first time in 1902, and girls in 1914. Student numbers remained small, and it was not until well after the Second World War that the roll exceeded 100.Management
The school is run by an elected board of governors and the Senior Management Team. There is also an elected member of Senior staff representing staff members at all board meetings.The School has a Head Boy (Pedro Borges) and Head Girl (Laura Santos) who represent the student body at public and ceremonial events.
The school has a well-established Parent-Teacher Association.
Location
The school is located at Rua da Cerca 326/350, Foz do Duoro, 4150-201, Oporto, Portugalin the district of Foz do Douro and is a short 10 minute walk from the sea.
Sports, initiatives and extra-curricular activities
Oporto British School has a large range of sports. Traditionally, the main school sports have been Football and Basketball. The school's sport colours are blue and white. The school participates in school competitions annually and term-by-term.The school received Green Flag status on 29 September 2009, for environmentally friendly practice.
The school participates in many national and international trips annually of sporting, charitable and cultural significance. These include:
- IB Charitable and Educational rallyCharity rallyA charity rally is a charitable event in which participants usually drive, ride or otherwise participate in through the medium of motorised wheeled transportation in an event to raise money for a charitable cause.- Fundraising Model :...
in TanzaniaTanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
- Model UN trips to BudapestBudapestBudapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
and Belém, Lisbon
- Science trips to Sierra de GredosSierra de GredosThe Sierra de Gredos is a mountain range in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, located between Ávila, Cáceres, Madrid and Toledo. It has been declared a regional park. Its highest point is Pico Almanzor, at 2,592 metres....
- Multi-School sports festival (Basketball & Football) in CascaisCascaisCascais is a coastal town in Cascais Municipality in Portugal, 30 kilometres west of Lisbon, with about 35,000 residents. It is a cosmopolitan suburb of the Portuguese capital and one of the richest municipalities in Portugal. The former fishing village gained fame as a resort for Portugal's royal...
, Lisbon