Children living in Italy must attend school (or be formally home-educated) between the ages of six and 16. Italian schools are split into categories according to age group:
- Preschool or nursery
- Primary
- Lower secondary
- Upper secondary
However, some parts of Italy have Istituto Compresivo (comprehensive schools), which teach all age groups from preschool children to those in upper secondary education.
Italian schools fall into two categories: public (state-funded) and private (funded through school fees). Both public and private schools must follow the regulations of the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR).
Italy's quality of public education is high, to the same standard or better than private schools. Most students in Italy attend public schools - just 10% of Italian students are enlisted at a private school.
Public schools in Italy are free to attend until the end of primary school. After that, parents must pay an enrollment tax of around EUR 20 at the beginning of each school year.
Parents must pay for stationery, sports clothing, and textbooks when their child starts secondary school. Families with low incomes can apply for financial assistance from regional authorities to buy textbooks.
School hours vary between schools. In primary and lower secondary schools, classes usually run between 08:00 and 13:00, Monday to Saturday. Some schools are only open from Monday to Friday, and these usually run until 16:00, with an hour for lunch.
Preschool & Nursery
Infant education, including preschool and nursery, is not compulsory in Italy. Parents can decide whether to enrol their child in kindergarten or preschool, depending on their child's needs and family.
Nurseries (asilo nido) are suitable for children between 0 and 3. Local councils run them, and you must apply to enrol your child directly with your chosen nursery.
Preschools in Italy are for children aged between 3 and 6 years. They are usually open 40 hours per week. It is not compulsory for your child to attend preschool (scuola materna). If you choose a state-run preschool, your child is guaranteed a place free of charge. However, if you prefer, you can pay for them to attend a private preschool.
Primary education
Compulsory education in Italy begins at age 6, and children living in Italy must attend primary (or elementary) school between the ages of 6 and 11. During primary education, children learn how to read and write and begin to understand other topics such as Maths, English Geography, History, Science, Music, and Physical Education.
Secondary education
Children between 11 and 13 attend first-grade secondary (or middle) school. During these years, they cement their knowledge on the topics they studied in primary school. At the end, they have to sit for the middle school exam, which includes the following sections:
- Written Italian
- Written maths
- Written language
- Oral test, where they must present work on a specific topic from the subjects that they have studied
Children between 14 and 19 attend upper secondary (or high) school. From the age of 16, education is not compulsory.
There are three different types of upper secondary schools:
Liceo offers theoretical education. It is the best choice for students who wish to pursue a university degree. There are several different subject routes, for example:
- Language - English and foreign languages
- Technology - Computer Science
- Art
- Music
- Science - Maths, Physics and Science
- Grammar - Latin, Greek and Italian
Professional Technical High School is best-suited to students who wish to acquire practical-technical skills to improve their employment prospects. Students can learn about various sectors, including agriculture, the economy, healthcare, technology and tourism.
Vocational Education and Training (ITF) is ideal for anyone who wishes to learn practical and professional skills. This type of school allows students to learn about working in various trades, including plumbing, construction, hairdressing and beauty therapy.
Upon completing high school, students must sit for the graduation exam, consisting of three written and an oral test.
If a student passes the graduation exam, they will be granted a degree of maturity, which means they will be eligible to apply for university education.
English-speaking schools/International schools vs Italian speaking
If your child attends a public school in Italy, they will be taught all subjects on the curriculum in Italian. If you prefer that your child be taught in English (or another language), you should consider applying for an international or private school. Another option is to apply to a Catholic school, although you should bear in mind that attending a Catholic school means Catholicism will form a key part of your child’s education.
Some of the best international schools in Italy are in large cities such as Milan, Naples, and Rome. International schools are an excellent option for international students who wish to learn a range of subjects in a language other than Italian. Most international schools offer the British curriculum taught in English, but there are American, French, German, and Japanese schools too.
Brief comparison of Italian to UK and US curriculums
- State schools in Italy are run in line with a centralised system, although they have some autonomy to define their own curriculum. One hour of religious studies per week forms part of the curriculum at all Italian schools, although parents can request that their child be excused from these classes.
- There is no standard school curriculum in the US. Each state, city or school district sets its own curriculum framework.
- In the UK, state-maintained primary and secondary schools must follow the National Curriculum.
To move to the next class, Italian students must achieve satisfactory grades in all subjects. If they don’t, they must undergo additional tuition over the summer break or extra classes in the following academic year. If students fail more than half of their subjects, they will usually be required to retake the entire school year. If your child’s performance is falling short of expectations, you’ll be asked to attend regular parent-teacher meetings to discuss support.
In Italy, a 10-point grading scale is used in both primary and secondary education settings. 6 is usually the minimum passing grade. A score of 9 or 10 is considered to be excellent. Although the same scale is used throughout Italy, it is not applied by all teachers in the same way, which means it can be ambiguous.
Extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities in Italian schools are limited compared to those offered by schools in the UK and US. Subjects like art, drama, music and sport are usually included in the general curriculum, but schools rarely participate in inter-school competitions or events.
If your child wishes to join a sports team, you will probably need to pay for them to attend a private club. If they want to learn to play a musical instrument, you will probably need to pay for lessons at a private music school.
Children with special educational needs and disabilities
The education system in Italy has a well-established policy for inclusion and integration in schools. Children with special educational needs and disabilities are encouraged to enrol in mainstream schools, depending on the severity of their additional needs. All schools must install lifts and ramps as required, and children with special educational needs are allocated up to 12 hours of tuition per week with a qualified support teacher.
If you’re moving to Italy, you should collate all of the information on your child’s special educational needs, including medical certificates, psychological/educational assessments and learning plans. If you want to apply for your child to attend a local Italian-language school, contact the headteacher or principal to discuss your requirements.
If you wish to apply for a place at an international school in Italy, you can visit the Good School Guide website to find information on support services available for children with special educational needs.
Whichever school your child is enrolled in, you may be required to pay the fees required to hire a qualified support teacher.
Homeschooling in Italy
Home education is legal in Italy. Parents must inform local authorities of their intentions to homeschool annually. Parents might be asked to show they can provide high-quality education at home and must be educated to a level higher than the children they teach.
Home-educated students must sit the same annual exams as those attending school. To facilitate this, parents must create a personal curriculum (in Italian) and submit a written request for their child to sit the exam.
University options in Italy
The Italian university system is split into three cycles:
- The first cycle (laurea triennale) requires a study period of three years. It includes humanities, science and technical faculties.
- The second cycle (laurea magistrale or specialistica) is a second-level degree, normally requiring two years of study. It’s a continuation of the first cycle, and it allows students to gain a higher level of specialist knowledge. Some second-cycle courses last five years, such as Architecture, Law, and Pharmacy, while Medical School is a six-year course. These longer second-cycle courses are known as Single Cycle Degree Courses.
- The third cycle is the highest level of a university degree in Italy. It includes master’s degrees and doctoral degrees.
Conclusion
The standard of the education system in Italy is generally good, although it does vary between towns and regions. Schools in northern Italy are widely considered to be better than those in the south.
If you intend to enrol your child at a free state school, remember that they will be taught in Italian, with English taught as a second language. If your children are primary-aged, this will be less problematic than if they are older. If you would prefer for your child to be taught in English or another language, consider an international, private or Catholic school.
