COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL “INSIEME”

                                                                         ABOUT US                                                    

MONTALCINO                                    BUONCONVENTO                                     TORRENIERI 

Nursery School                                                            Nursery School                                                 Nursery School

Primary School                                                           Primary School                                                  Primary School

Low Secondary School                                               Low Secondary  School

                                                                                                                           SAN QUIRICO D'ORCIA

                                                                                                                                                          Nursery School

                                                                                                                                                           Primary School  

                                                                                                                                                           Low Secondary School   

THE FIRST THREE GRADES OF THE ITALIAN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM

Ø      Nursery School / Pre-school

Public schools are financially dependent on the national government. Pre-school education is not compulsory.

This optional beginning to the educational system lasts for three years (children are from the ages of 3 to 5).

This first part of the educational system seeks to educate and effectively develop fine motor skills, thinking, moral, religious and social development of children, promoting the potential of social interactions, independence, creativity, learning and assuring an effective and equal educational opportunity. With respect to the primary educational responsibility of the parents, Preschool contribute to primary childhood development in the areas of self-sufficiency and language development which are further enhanced in Elementary school (art.2 Law . 53/2003).

Ø      Primary / Elementary School

In Italy compulsory education  consists of the first cycle and the first two years of the second cycle.  The first cycle has two consecutive divisions:

1. Primary/Elementary School
2. Lower Secondary School (previously called Middle School)

Primary/Elementary School promotes individual diversity and personality development, facilitating the acquisition, development and basic ability of logical and critical thinking, favoring expressive teaching methods, including reading in at least one of the official languages of the European Union (typically English) in addition to Italian. It also lays the foundation for the use  of the  scientific method by studying the natural world, natural laws and phenomenon. Elementary School gives the students the ability to evaluate their inter-personal abilities and is active in educating young citizens in the principal foundations of Italian civil society.

Attendance in Elementary School is mandatory for Italian and resident children who are six years old on December 31st (those whose sixth birthday is between 1 January and 30 April can be enrolled that year or the following one.

Students spend  27/30 hours per week at school, which can be raised to 40 hours (full time service) at the request of the family. This is especially helpful when children’s parents are both working full time.

Ø      Lower Secondary School/Middle School

Attendance in Lower Secondary School/Middle School is mandatory for all Italian and resident children that have finished Primary/Elementary School. It covers a wide range of disciplines (e.g. literature and grammar, math and science, history and geography, music, art, technical drawing, English) including learning computer skills and a second European language with the goal of the increased capacity of individual study and growth of organized social interaction, increasing knowledge and skills keeping in mind social and cultural traditions and cultural and scientific evolution as they relate to modern times. This school progressively develops the ability and the competency of the students’ skills and helps to orient them for the next step in their education. It is usually organized in 29/33 hours per week.

This first part of the student’s education ends with State exams.

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN ITALY

UP