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Schools Reviews assessment
✓ What we like
Genuinely unique concept — Cambridge curriculum combined with Forest School, one of very few in Portugal
3+ hours outdoors daily in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park — an extraordinary environment for children
7,000m² of private gardens, woods, and green space on campus — animals, climbing trees, gardening
Very small school — 56 students total, max 16 per class, 17 nationalities
Organic lunch included in tuition — meaningful saving compared to most international schools
Bilingual EN+PT from the start
Organic food served daily — lunch included in tuition
◎ Worth noting
Very new school — opened 2023, still building track record
Currently ages 3–10 only (Nursery–Grade 5) — families will need to plan a school transition for older children
Hypha International School is one of the most distinctive new schools to open in Portugal. Situated in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, on a 7,000m² estate of private gardens and wooded areas in Colares, Sintra, Hypha combines the Cambridge curriculum with Forest School principles — a rare and compelling combination that is almost unheard of in international education in Portugal.
Children spend a minimum of 3 hours per day outdoors — climbing trees, tending animals, gardening, and exploring the natural environment around them. This is not a separate "outdoor programme" but woven into the school's entire educational philosophy. Academic rigour and deep nature connection are treated as complementary, not competing.
The school is small and intentional — 56 students in total, up to 16 per class, with 17 nationalities represented. Teaching is bilingual in English and Portuguese. Lunch and school transport are both included in the fees, which is unusual for international schools in Portugal. Hypha currently serves ages 3 to 10 (Nursery through Grade 5).
School profile
Programme
Cambridge + Forest School
Ages
3–10 years (Nursery–Grade 5)
Class size
Max 16 students
Campus
7,000m² · Natural Park
Institutional accreditations
Portuguese education licence
✓ DGE authorised (Ministry of Education)
Owner / type
Independently owned — private individual
Academics
Teaching language
English + Portuguese (bilingual)
Ages covered
3–10 years (Nursery – Grade 5)
Outdoor time
3+ hours per day outdoors
Extra languages
Portuguese (bilingual)
Sport & activities within curriculum
Sport
Pool, Football, Basketball, Volleyball
Nature
Caring for animals, Gardening, Climbing trees, Forest exploration
Extra language
Portuguese (bilingual)
After school activities
Arts & crafts
Arts, Crafts
Fees · 2026/27
Kindergarten (3–5 yrs)
€12,800
* Organic lunch included. Transport available separately. Always verify fees directly with the school.
Frequently asked questions
What makes Hypha different from other international schools in Portugal?
Hypha combines the
Cambridge curriculum with Forest School principles — a combination that is almost unique in Portugal. Children spend a minimum of 3 hours per day outdoors in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, caring for animals, gardening, and exploring the natural environment. Academic learning and nature connection are treated as inseparable.
What is a Forest School?
Forest School is an educational approach originating in Scandinavia that uses outdoor environments as the primary learning space. Children develop confidence, resilience, creativity, and independence through regular, sustained contact with nature. At Hypha, this is combined with the structured academic rigour of Cambridge — children get both.
How much does Hypha International School cost?
Annual tuition ranges from €10,900 (Nursery) to €14,900 (Grades 4–5). Notably, organic lunch is included. School transport (van service) is available but charged separately — which adds meaningful value compared to most international schools where these are paid separately. Application fee is €50, enrollment fee €1,500, annual re-enrollment €850.
What ages does Hypha cater for?
Hypha currently accepts children from ages 3 to 10 — Nursery through Grade 5. The school does not yet have a senior programme, so families should plan for a transition to another school for children aged 11+. For full-cycle options in the wider Lisbon area, see
Oeiras International School or
ISS Taguspark.
Where exactly is Hypha located?
The school is in Colares, in the municipality of Sintra — within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park. It is approximately 40 minutes from central Lisbon by car. The school runs its own van transport service. The location is remote by design — the natural surroundings are integral to the school's philosophy.