our history timeline
We have been providing international education in Portugal since 1980
We have been working since 1980 to help your child grow as an individual. We’re proud that our students have had the opportunity to learn about new cultures and make friends from all over the world, and achievd their academic goals.
1980
September
Madeira British School was founded at the British Country Club
In September 1980, Mrs Susan Farrow founded the British School of Madeira, in Funchal, to nurture the educational needs of children of English residents living in Madeira as well as Portuguese students who wished to enrol in this private school, which offered British education
Back Row: Belinda, Fátima, Mrs. Farrow, Karin and Katrina
Centre Row: Alexis, John, Tim and Bernardo
Front Row: Susana, Gonçalo, Marina, Andrew and Caroline
1985
March
H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra and The Hon. Angus Ogilvy visited our school
On March 21, 1985, we received a royal visit from the Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, who was joined by Princess Alexandra of Kent during their visit to Madeira Island.
1990 / 2004
Madeira British School saw its facilities expanded to meet the high demand
The school offered the British curriculum (Scottish version) alongside part of the official Portuguese Programme. It was officially recognised by the Secretaria Regional de Educação of Madeira (SRE), the British Consulate and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
2006
September
British School of Madeira moved to its current facilities
Given the sharp increase in interest in international education on Madeira Island, the school felt the need to move to better and larger facilities.
Students leaving the British School of Madeira could transfer to any Portuguese school through a Certificate of Study Equivalence awarded by the SRE, or to any English-language school anywhere in the world.
2013
September
The school begins to implement an international education approach based on the International Baccalaureate Curriculum
Sharing Foundation begins to implement its mission and acquires British School, changing its the name to Madeira Multilingual School. During the academic year, Madeira Multilingual School begins the authorisation process to become an IB World School.
2017
September
Implementation of the International Sharing School’s education model in Cape Verde and Equatorial Guinea
2017
February — July
The ISS Madeira Campus is authorised by International Baccalaureate as an IB World School
After three years as a candidate school, we became the second school in the country to achieve accreditation to offer two IB Programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP).
In the academic year 2018/2019, the school began a transformation process and started using the new name – International Sharing School. This name was officially implemented in the academic year 2018/2019.
2018
September
Sharing Foundation acquires a new building to expand its educational vision
With this new acquisition, Sharing Foundation began its mission by offering the IB programmes to International families living in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.
2019
September
The ISS Oeiras Campus began its first year as an international school in Lisbon, offering all three IB Programmes
As an IB candidate world school, ISS started to offer all IB Programmes (PYP, MYP and DP) to students from 3 to 18 years of age, also welcoming students in our Foundation Programme from 4 months-old to 2 years-old. This was an exciting time for our school as we were starting to make our mark on the educational landscape in Lisbon and Portugal.
2020
June
ISS Oeiras Campus receives the authorisation to run the Diploma Programme as an IB World School
After two years of candidacy, we finally received the status of becoming an IB World School. During the IB verification meeting, the team recognised our hard work and authorised our Taguspark Campus to offer the Diploma Programme to our local and international community, aged 16 to 18.
2021
June — July
ISS Oeiras Campus is fully authosized to offer all IB Programmes as an IB Continuum School
Oeiras Campus is a fully authorised IB Continuum School and offers three programmes of IB; (PYP) Primary Years Programme, (MYP) Middle Years Programme and (DP) Diploma Programme.
We opened a new building fully dedicated to the MYP and DP.
2022
June
International Sharing School is featured as one of the 10 Must-Watch International Schools in Europe
Our school was nominated as one of the 10 Must-Watch International Schools in Europe by the International Advisory Board of K-12 Digest Magazine, composed of several specialists in the education sector around the world.
2023
May
International Sharing School – Oeiras joins the Dukes Education Family of Schools
International Sharing School – Oeiras Valley is now part of the Dukes Education Group, a group with over 30 international schools located in the UK and across Europe.
2024
June
International Sharing School is featured as one of the 10 Must-Watch International Schools in Europe
Our school was nominated as one of the 10 Must-Watch International Schools in Europe by the International Advisory Board of K-12 Digest Magazine, composed of several specialists in the education sector around the world.
