ITALIAN SCHOOL SYSTEM
from Nursery School to Upper Secondary School
SCHOOL LEVELS
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Primary School starts at the age of 6 and lasts 5 years.
At school the pupils study: Italian, Maths, Science, History, Geography, English, Art, Music, Information Technology, Physical Education, Religious Education. They wear a smock.
LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL (Middle School)
Lower Secondary School starts at the age of 11 and lasts 3 years. At school, the students study: Italian, Maths, Science, History, Geography, English, a second foreign language chosen among French, Spanish and German, Information Technology, Art, Music, Physical Education and Religious Education. They don’t wear a school uniform.
Last year students take a final exam “Esame di Stato”. There are five written tests: Italian, Maths, English, the second language and a National Test (INVALSI) on Italian and Maths. There is also an oral test. The students talk about a topic and connect it to all the subjects.
UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL (High School)
Upper Secondary School starts at the age of 14 and lasts 5 years, but it’s compulsory only until 16. There are different types of High Schools:
Liceo
There are Science, Classical, Art, Language, Music, Human Science Licei (mostly theoretical education).
Technical Institute
There are Economy, Tourism, Technology Institutes (both theoretical education and specialization in the specific field of studies).
Professional Institute
Services, Technical assistance, Tourism, Industry, Handcrafts Institutes (education oriented towards the specific fields of practical subjects, enabling student to search for a job after they finish school).
In every type of school students study Italian, Maths, Science, History, Geography, English, Physical Education, Religious Education, but each type of school has specific subjects, too. Students don’t wear a school uniform.
Last year students have to take a final exam, Esame di maturità or Esame di stato. There are three written tests: Italian, a specific subject of the type of school, and a test on 4-5 subjects of the last year. There is also an oral test. Students discuss a topic in an interdisciplinary way, connecting all the last year subjects.
NOT COMPULSORY EDUCATION
NURSERY SCHOOL
Nursery Shool starts at the age of 3 and lasts 3 years. It isn’t compulsory. At school children do a lot of activities to learn to know the world: they play, listen and tell stories, sing, draw, learn to count, do little scientific experiments and learn a little English. They usually wear a smock or a coloured track suit.
To sum up
Nursery School: 3-5 year olds
Primary School: 6-10 year olds
Middle School: 11-13 year olds
High School: 14-18 year olds