Moving Abroad with Kids: International Schools, Adaptation, and What We Learned

Why We Moved (And Why We Moved Again)

By Amanda & David T., British expats who moved from London to Lisbon in 2023, then to Barcelona in 2025, with their children Sophie (10) and James (7).

When we told our families we were moving to Portugal, the first question was always: "But what about the children's school?" Not "what about your jobs?" or "what about healthcare?" — always the school.

It's the right question. Schools make or break a family relocation. Get it right, and your kids thrive. Get it wrong, and you'll be booking return flights within months.

International Schools: The Real Costs

Let's start with the number everyone wants to know — what does it actually cost?

Lisbon International Schools

School	Annual Fees	Ages	Language	Notes
St. Julian's	€14,000-20,000	3-18	English + Portuguese	Our first choice, very long waitlist
Carlucci American	€15,000-22,000	3-18	English	IB curriculum
International Prep.	€8,000-12,000	3-12	English	Smaller, more personal
Deutsche Schule	€5,000-8,000	3-18	German + Portuguese	Best value if German-speaking

Barcelona International Schools

School	Annual Fees	Ages	Language	Notes
Benjamin Franklin	€12,000-16,000	3-18	English + Spanish	American curriculum
British School	€9,000-15,000	3-18	English	UK curriculum
Escola Europea	€7,000-10,000	3-18	Catalan + Spanish + English	Trilingual!
AACI	€10,000-14,000	3-18	English	IB focused

Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions

Registration fees: €1,000-5,000 (one-time, non-refundable!)

Uniforms: €300-800/year per child

School bus: €1,500-3,000/year

Lunch: €1,000-2,000/year

Extracurriculars: €500-2,000/year

School trips: €200-500/year

Total real cost per child: €15,000-30,000/year when you include everything. For two kids, that's a second mortgage.

The Local School Alternative

In our second year in Lisbon, we switched Sophie to a local Portuguese school. It was the best decision we made. Here's why:

Cost: Free (Portuguese public schools are free for residents)

Language: Sophie became conversational in Portuguese in 4 months

Integration: She made local friends, not just expat kids

Quality: The school was smaller, teachers were caring, and the curriculum was solid

The catch? James struggled more. At 5, he adapted faster linguistically but missed the structure of an English-language classroom. Every child is different.

Third Culture Kids (TCKs): The Emotional Reality

Our children are now what researchers call "Third Culture Kids" — children raised in a culture different from their parents' nationality. It comes with unique gifts and challenges.

The Gifts

Language skills: Sophie now speaks English, Portuguese, and Spanish. At 10.

Adaptability: Both kids handle change better than most adults

Cultural empathy: They understand that "normal" looks different everywhere

Resilience: Moving countries builds genuine mental toughness

The Challenges

Identity questions: "Where am I from?" becomes complicated. Sophie says "I'm British but I feel Portuguese."

Friendship grief: Leaving friends behind is real pain. James still talks about his Lisbon best friend.

Academic gaps: Different curricula create knowledge gaps. Portuguese math is taught differently from British math.

Belonging: TCKs often feel like they don't fully belong anywhere — too British for Portugal, too international for the UK.

Our Advice for Relocating Families

Visit schools before committing — We visited 6 schools in Lisbon. Only 2 felt right.

Consider the local school option — It's free and offers deeper integration

Budget realistically — International schools are a significant financial commitment

Give kids a role — Let them choose their room, decorate their space, pick a local activity

Keep routines — Same bedtime, same family dinner rules. Stability helps.

Expect regression — Younger kids may temporarily regress (bedwetting, clinginess). It passes.

Stay connected — Video calls with home friends, annual visits home

Join parent groups — "Expat families in [city]" Facebook groups are lifelines

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