United Lisbon International School: transforming education for a global future

Located in Lisbon’s vibrant Park of Nations district, United Lisbon International School (ULIS) provides a world-class learning environment for children aged 3 to 18. With a student body representing over 50 nationalities and state-of-the-art facilities - including 6,500 square meters of outdoor space and a recent expansion adding 7,300 square meters of classrooms, labs, and sports areas - ULIS combines academic excellence, cultural diversity, and innovation.

The Lisbon Oriente area, known as an emerging “technology district” is home to international companies such as Microsoft, Vodafone, Novabase, and Feedzai, along with numerous banks and a burgeoning start-up community; the area offers an exciting backdrop for families relocating to Portugal.

In its fifth year of operation, United Lisbon International School (ULIS) is revolutionizing education for its students with a forward-thinking curriculum designed to inspire curiosity, foster independence, and prepare students for success in the modern world.

Redefining Middle School: The Golden Years

For Grades 6–8 (ages 11-14), described by Executive Director Martin Harris as “the Golden Years of learning,” ULIS is creating a dynamic and stimulating curriculum that balances core academic subjects with a wide array of new disciplines to foster well-rounded development aligned with the school’s pillars.

“We are building a carousel of experiences around the core subjects of Maths, English, Portuguese, Science and sport while introducing greater opportunities in the Creative Arts, Performing Arts, IT (coding, AI, and filmmaking), financial literacy, study skills, service, and adventure,” says Martin Harris. “As students emerge from the primary school they have a growing awareness of the world around them, the excitement of discovering all that is out there in the world and the boundless possibilities that exist. These years are so exciting as we begin to explore and help students discover their passions and beginning to develop critical skills for the future.”

During their Middle School years, students will engage with each of these subjects, laying the groundwork for more specialized learning in Grades 9 and 10. Guided by our mentors and the specialist University and careers guidance team, this approach empowers students to make informed choices about their educational and career pathways.

Individualized Pathways in High School

In Grades 9 and 10 greater breadth and depth is added while offering students the opportunity to construct a more individual academic program around core subjects, allowing them to specialize in greater depth in areas like languages, sciences, humanities, the creative arts and technology or a mixture of these if the individual pathway is still not clear.

“Our High School program is designed to offer both structure and flexibility,” Martin Harris explains. “Students are able to specialise or remain on a broader pathway, however, whichever route they choose they are beginning to hone skills that will help them as learners while studying for the IB Diploma, or at University and in life beyond. Students are assessed on a range of skills and knowledge, culminating in a project that ties their learning together and prepares them for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma in Grades 11 and 12.”

This tailored approach ensures students are well-prepared for university and equipped with the skills needed to navigate an ever-changing global landscape.

The school’s programs go beyond academics, placing a strong emphasis on adventure, creativity, and personal growth through various initiatives. “ULIS’s pillars dictate that creative arts, performing arts, coding, filmmaking, AI, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and sports are as important as the curriculum,” Martin emphasizes. “Equally important are our values of responsibility, integrity, curiosity, resilience, and empathy, that underpin all we do at school,” he stresses. A glance at the wider world indicates just how important these values are in life and not just at school; “these students are our future global citizens and leaders”.

United Lisbon International School is at the forefront of education, with a curriculum designed to meet the needs of children growing up in the 2020s and addressing the question of what is the best blend of skills, experiences, and knowledge that they will need when they move on to life beyond school. United Lisbon offers an inclusive, innovative community where students grow into confident, global citizens.

For more information or to schedule a visit, please contact:

Admission enquiries: admissions@unitedlisbon.school

General enquiries: info@unitedlisbon.school

Website: www.unitedlisbon.school

Instagram: @unitedlisbonschool