Education in Italy is free and compulsory from 6-15/16 years of age, and is divided into five stages:

Children start at the age of three

nursery school isn’t compulsory

Primary school lasts five years.Children start school at the age of 6 (although some children start school

at 5)And finish when they are 11Until middle school, the educational curriculum is uniform for all:

although one can attend a private or state-funded school, the subjects studied are the sameIn the last years each class had several teachers. But now a new law is changing the method of teaching because it introduces one teacher in each class. Some schools have classes in the afternoon. Children learn basic skills such as reading, writing. The subjects they study are: Math, History, English, Music, Art, Geography, Art. Books are free. Students wear a uniform

It corresponds to Middle School, lasts three years, and involves an exam at the end of the third year.

Students start first grade Secondary School at 11 and finish at 14.

Students study 2 languages: English and French/ German/ Spanish.

Other subjects they study are: Italian, Maths, Geography, History, Art, Technology, Music, Religion, P.E. Some schools have classes in the afternoon. Students don’t wear a school uniform .Parents have to buy the books

At the moment there are several kinds of High Schools differentiated by subjects and activities. The main division is between the "Liceo", the "Istituto Tecnico“(Technical Institutes) and the "Istituto Professionale“(Professional Institutes) . Any kind of High school that lasts 5 years grants access to the final exam, called Esame di Stato conclusivo del corso di studio di Istruzione Secondaria Superiore or Esame di Maturità. This exam takes place every year in June and July and grants access to any faculty at any University

In 2009 the minister of Public Instruction, M. Stella Gelmini approved a new law that aims at restructuring the Italian High School System. These changes will take efffect starting in the year 2010 and will bring about several changes. There will be six main tipes of secondary schools:

CLASSICAL STUDIES (LICEO CLASSICO)This lasts for five years and prepares the student for university level studies. Latin, Greek and Italian literature form an important part of the curriculum. During the last three years English. philosophy and history of art are also studied.

SCIENTIFIC STUDIES (LICEO SCIENTIFICO)Lasts for five years with an emphasis on physics, chemistry and natural sciences. Students study Latin and one modern language for 5 years

MODERN LANGUAGE STUDIES (LICEO LINGUISTICO) study of three foreign languages. Starting from the third year, one subject will be taught in a foreign language, and the same will happen with a second subject startig from the fourth year

FINE ARTS HIGH SCHOOL (LICEO ARTISTICO)is divided in: FIGURATIVE ARTS that focuses on themes such as the safekiping and valorization of Italy’s cultural treasures. ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENT utilizes audio visual comunications for the actuation of cultural programs and researche. AUDIO-VISUAL, MULTIMEDIA AND SET DESIGN helps students utilize the latest technologies to fully develop their artistic potential.

LIBERAL ARTS STUDIES (LICEO DELLE SCIENZE UMANE) focuses on the main areas of human centered sciences. This will replace the old Liceo Sociopedagogico with the possibility of enabling (upon the institute’s choice) a socio-economic track

MUSIC AND CHOIR STUDIES ( LICEO MUSICALE E COREUTICO) is potencially ancillary to conservatories and dance schools. At the end of these studies the students will have a great knowledge of the national and international musical domain accompained by the historical and social context that inspired the works