How can my son best move from GCSEs (Year 9) to study in a school in Italy?

Hi Mike, you have a few options as you move back to Italy, and this largely depends on personal choice, affordability and convenience. You can explore public, private and international schools. You can read more about it in Education and Schools in Italy.

For many expats, a big issue is the language of instruction in public schools. Does your son speak Italian? Additionally, high school-aged students in Italy in the public school system must generally specialise in a particular subject area. This can be a big decision to make, deciding whether your son is interested in more in the arts or the sciences, for example.

Alternatively, an easy way to integrate from the UK system of GCSEs and the English National Curriculum is to look for a British international school in Italy, or a school that follows a similar international curriculum. However, while these schools generally guarantee excellent quality and teaching standards, they are expensive, and so you will have to decide if it is worth the cost. Expat Arrivals has some useful lists of international schools in Italian cities. Where in Italy are you moving to?

Hopefully an expat or Italian family with children studying in Italy can respond here on the forum to give personal suggestions too.

I hope this helps.

Claire