The International Sharing School in Madeira has invested over 20 million euros in new installations in central Funchal. This investment will double the school's capacity from 240 to 500 students through phased growth.
Francisco Ladeira Santos, CEO of Sharing Education Group, called it the largest private education investment in the Madeira region. The school recovered a historic building without waiting for financial aid, focusing on quality facilities for current students.
Tuition ranges from 600 to 1,400 euros, with agreements in place with professional organizations and municipalities including Funchal to improve accessibility for middle-class families. The school also receives annual subsidies allocated to private education institutions in the region.
Currently, about 50% Portuguese and the rest are international. The school aims to maintain and grow its Madeiran community alongside its international student body.
"This school has a very large Madeiran component that we want to continue and we want to continue growing with Madeirans too, not only with foreigners"
Francisco Ladeira Santos, CEO of Sharing Education Group
The historic hall being renovated will become a music room, multimedia lab. Completion is expected by the end of the academic year, with opening scheduled for September 2027.
International Sharing School (ISS) Madeira
International Sharing School (ISS) Madeira has provided international education in Funchal since September 1980, when Susan Farrow founded the British School of Madeira at the British Country Club for English-speaking families and Portuguese pupils seeking a British-style private education.
Key milestones
1985: Received a royal visit from the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Alexandra during their Madeira tour.
1990–2004: Expanded to meet rising enrolment, teaching a British (Scottish) curriculum alongside Portuguese elements; it gained recognition from Madeira’s regional education authority, the British Consulate, and the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
2006: Moved to larger facilities because of growing demand.
2013: The Sharing Foundation acquired the school, renamed it Madeira Multilingual School, and began moving toward an international, IB-based education model.
2017: Became an IB World School, authorised to offer both the Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme; it was the second school in Portugal with two IB programmes.
2018/2019: Officially adopted the name International Sharing School – Madeira.
2024: Was listed among Europe’s 10 Must-Watch International Schools by K-12 Digest.
February 2026: Opened its new campus at the historic Seminário da Encarnação, in central Funchal.
In short
It began as a small British school in 1980, expanded and gained official recognition through the 1990s and 2000s, then transformed into an IB-focused international school after its 2013 acquisition. It adopted the ISS name in 2018/2019 and entered a new phase in 2026 at its central-Funchal campus.
Source: dnoticias.pt
Comments