Public schooling in Setúbal is solid through primary and lower-secondary (years 1–9) and variable in upper secondary. Escola Secundária do Bocage and Sebastião da Gama are the public secondary references; which cluster (Sebastião da Gama, Bocage, Lima de Freitas, Barbosa du Bocage, and others) depends heavily on your address — the catchment area shapes the choice.
Traditional private schools: Colégio da Imaculada Conceição is the best-known in the city. In Azeitão, Colégio Luso-Britânico offers Portuguese-English bilingual teaching.
For a fully international curriculum without commuting to Lisbon, the obvious choice is **St. Peter's International School** in the neighbouring Palmela municipality (Quinta dos Barreleiros, ~15 minutes by car from central Setúbal). Founded in 1993, around 1,500 students from 42 nationalities, ages 4 months to 18. Two sections: National (bilingual Portuguese curriculum) and International (Cambridge IGCSE and IB Diploma Programme). 37,000 m² campus, consistently strong national-exam results, part of the Inspired Schools group.
Other international schools sit in Almada, Caparica and Lisbon (St. Dominic's, St. Julian's, CAISL, Oeiras International) — daily commutes of 40–60 minutes depending on traffic and where you live.
Public enrolment: the SIGA portal from the Ministry of Education. For non-Portuguese children, enrolment is legal and free — the Ministry requires schools to accept. For private schools, contact them directly — many have entrance exams.
Official sources
Last reviewed: 2026-04