European Commission - Socrates Programme, Comenius Project 1- School Development -* 2006/2007 Preserving the past, confronting the present to create the future * The European Commission supports this project but is not responsible for the information here contained nor for its possibile use. ISTITUTO DISTRUZIONE SUPERIORE DI VIA DELLE SCIENZE COLLEFERRO

BASIC INFORMATION The Italian School System

The Italian school system is based on At present, school is compulsory from the age of 6 to 15 years old (probably 16 in a short time), although there is a formative duty/ compulsory training (obbligo formativo) until the age of 18. PRIMARY LOWER SECONDARY UPPER SECONDARY education

Before starting the Primary school, children can go to the INFANT - SCHOOL (Scuola dellInfanzia) from the age of 3 until they are 6 years old. This school is not compulsory but is now rather normal for childern to attend it

The primary level starts at the age of 6 and lasts five years, until the age of 11. It is called SCUOLA ELEMENTARE and is compulsory. It is free, in State schools, and families dont have to pay for books. At this level children start to learn a foreign language, usually English. The timetable may vary from a minimum of 27 hours to a maximum of 40 hours a week.

Class sizes generally run about twenty-five children per class. The curriculum includes: Italian, Maths, English, Geography, History, Science, Music, Art, Physical Education, Information Technology and Catholic Religion as a non compulsory subject. Municipalities manage transportation and school meals asking for contributions but making exceptions for needy families.

The primary school is followed by the lower secondary school, called SCUOLA MEDIA, lasting three years, until 14 years of age. It is compulsory and free, but families have to pay for books. The timetable may vary from a minimum of 29 hours to a maximum of 40 hours a week, according to the families requests, but the average timetable in many schools is 33 hours. Class size is about pupils per class.

The study of a second foreign European language has recently been introduced at this level. The curriculum includes: Italian, maths, history, geography, science, English, a second foreign language, technology, information technology, art, music, physical education and religion (if chosen by the pupils family).

SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE At the end of lower secondary education, children take an EXAM and those who pass it can start their upper secondary education

Upper secondary education (Scuola Secondaria di secondo grado) is made of several kinds of schools: LYCEUM (an academic kind of school which can be Classical, Scientific, Pedagogic, Art or Languages) TECHNICAL INSTITUTES (for Chemistry, Electronics, Mechanics, IT, etc.) VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS

LYCEUM and TECHNICAL INSTITUTES consist of a five-year study course and, at the end of their chosen course, students have to take a State Exam in order to get their diploma. This diploma gives access to professions or to University.

VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS are organized in a three-year study course plus a two-year study course. At the end of the third year, students take an exam to get a qualification for some kind of job. After that, if they want, they can complete their education by attending two more school years and taking a State Exam to get a diploma

Class sizes are between twenty-five to twenty- eight students in upper secondary schools. Upper secondary schools charge a tuition fee. However, based on family income or on very high marks, some students may qualify for exemptions or assistance. The curriculum varies depending on the course of study chosen. Lyceums are characterized by the study of Philosophy and, in most of them, Latin.

The timetable in upper secondary schools varies significantly according to the kind of school, with an average of 5 or 6 hours a day. Didactic activities approximately go from the middle of September to the middle of June and each school must guarantee 200 school-days at least.

The State Exam starts after the middle of June and finishes by the middle of July. It consists of three written tests and an oral interview. The minimum score to pass the Exam is 60/100 (whereas all through the Upper Secondary school, students marks may range between 1 and 10, with 6/10 as pass/fail treshold in each subject). Since the school leaving qualification has been called DIPLOMA DI ESAME DI STATO

In the year 2000, Italian schools were given didactic, organizational and research autonomy. This means that, still respecting the general educational goals fixed at national level by the Ministry of Public Education, every school can adapt its offer with regard to the cultural, social and economic situation in which it operates.

In order to put this autonomy into practice, every school has to prepare a document, known as P.O.F. (Piano dellOfferta Formativa or Educational Offer Plan) that allows the school to modify the educational plan so to adjust to the needs and interests of students, families and tothe characteristics of the social context.

Always following the suggestions coming from the Ministry of Education, each school can modify the timetable (adding teaching hours or adapting the calendar) and make it more flexible (that is organizing the timetable so to give more or less relevance to the different subjects according to the students needs in different periods of the school year or even to introduce subjects of interest); it can also activate special projects to give students orientation, support and help so to reduce insuccess. This possibility is offered to the students in optional way.

This document (P.O.F.) is arranged and written down by a team of teachers of the school, approved by the Collegio dei Docenti (that is the Assembly of all the Teachers in the school), published and given to the students and their families when they enrol.

Liceo Classico Statale Liceo Scientifico Statale Dirigente Scolastico: Prof. Angelo Fagiolo Docenti referenti: Prof.sse Renata Giorgi – Rossella Iannucci Prof. Angelo Fagiolo Prof.sse Renata Giorgi – Rossella Iannucci Via delle Scienze e della Tecnica s.n.c Colleferro (RM) tel fax