Best schools in Tuscany

For all those lucky enough to have been here, it is easy to conjure up endless dancing images – the sparkling kaleidoscope that is the Siena palio, the wooded valleys of Chianti, the tilting beauty of the square in Pienza, the glories of the art and architecture of Florence, the Romanesque purity of the abbey of Sant’Antimo and on and on – but if you are trying to find an English language education for your child, you’re going to have to work harder. 

An alternative is Italian state schools, which - provided they are not in the south - are well-regarded by international school assessors. The system consists of five years of primary school and eight of secondary (three of middle and five of high school), ending in the esame di stato, which grants access to university. Teaching is in Italian, but a foreign language is introduced from the third year onwards and the study of a second language begins in lower secondary. 

These are, however, a less popular option for families who are not intending to settle down here for a lengthy stay (unless speaking Italian is part of family life), as all schools follow a purely Italian curriculum. But smaller children tend to adapt and become integrated more easily and it is a good solution (particularly at the primary stage) if you want your child to speak fluent Italian and understand Italian culture and attitudes. 

The other point to consider is that it is easier to move from state to private than vice-versa.