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The Italian education system

Depending on where you choose to live and what you want for your children's time in Italy, you will need to decide whether to integrate them into the Italian state system or look for an international or bilingual school.

To help you understand more about the Italian school system and how it differs from the UK, you might find the following information useful.

Pre-school education - Scuola Materna

Children aged 3 to 6 can attend pre-school education, although it's not compulsory. Children are organized into groups of between 15 and 25. Places are free of charge although a contribution is asked to help fund transport and food.

Primary education - Scuola Elementare

Primary school attendance is compulsory for children aged 6 to 11 through the state education system or independent private schools.

Lower secondary education - Scuola Media

Lower secondary school attendance is compulsory for three years, and is the minimum level students much reach to complete their compulsory education.

Current education reforms are planning to raise the compulsory education ages for children from 6 to 14 years to 6 to 16 years.

To enrol a child, make sure you bring birth certificates, any health records listing vaccinations and any relevant school reports from the UK or Ireland.

Upper secondary education

After lower secondary education, children can leave school or go on for another three years, at the end of which they can go on to higher education or take their chances in the real world of work.

Upper secondary education is split in to the following categories:

• classical (liceo classico), scientific (liceo scientifico) and artistic (liceo artistico)
• technical education (istituti tecnici)
• vocational education (istituti professionali).
liceo classico, scientifico and artistico
liceo classico is the study of humanities with a classic slant.
Liceo scientifico aims to develop the skills and education of those wanting to go on to university and study the sciences.
Both liceo classico and Liceo scientifico schools follow a five year course divided into an initial two year period, followed by a three-year period with no exams until the end. Students who pass the final exam (la Maturità) will then be able to choose from a range of university and higher education courses.
liceo artistico offers students a more cultural knowledge and encourages the development of skills in the visual arts. Studies last five years with the last two years being a choice of two specialties: the first is the study of painting, sculpture, decoration and stenographic arts; the second is the study of architecture.
Students take a state examination for their maturità artistica and depending on which area they studied in their final two years, they can go on to a Fine Arts Academy or a Faculty of Architecture.

Technical Education

Technical education is an option for students aged 15 to 19 who are looking for a more vocational career. Istituti tecnici (Technical schools) prepare students for jobs within the agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors.
The first two years of study include general subjects common to all of the industry specialisations, with the only difference being in the practical exercises carried out in workshops and firms in the sector to which the school belongs.
The remaining three years consists of the teaching of subjects like Italian literature, history, civics and physical education continues along with areas specific to the sector. At the end of the five years, successful students are awarded the Diploma di Maturità Tecnica and the right to call themselves a Perito (expert) in their field.