International School of Bergamo, International School of Bergamo

• Location: Bergamo, Italy,
• Year founded: 2011,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of education: blended.

International School of Bergamo — an international school with a full cycle of secondary education programs: pre-school, primary, middle, and high school. Children from 2 to 18 years old study here.

Opened in 2011 to provide quality international education, International School of Bergamo quickly earned the trust of the local community and international students. The academic process of all academic departments is based on the world-renowned, highly regarded International Baccalaureate program, which opens the doors of leading universities around the world. This and other advantages make International School of Bergamo a competitive institution, annually leading in national and international rankings.

English serves as the primary language of instruction, while the curriculum includes the study of Italian as a native or second language, allowing students to speak two languages fluently by the time of graduation.

Specialized staff help high school students build their future academic path: choose subjects to take in exams, and learn about the admission requirements of universities they are interested in. Throughout the academic year, students attend various exhibitions with representatives of international and Italian universities, as well as lectures and workshops by invited speakers, including entrepreneurs, scientists, and alumni.

Programs for all academic stages of school education are available:

• Kindergarten: three preschool groups and grade 1 — from 2 to 5 years old,
• Primary School: grades 2–6 — from 6 to 10 years old,
• Middle School: grades 7–11 — from 11 to 15 years old,
• High School: grades 12–13 — from 16 to 18 years old.

International School of Bergamo partners with the globally recognized premium catering company Compass Group, which provides daily meals with a balanced menu featuring hot/cold dishes, fresh fruits and vegetables, a variety of drinks, and healthy snacks. At lunchtime, students are offered a three-course meal prepared in the school kitchen by a team of chefs and nutritionists, and at other times — snacks and desserts. Special attention is given to composing menus for younger students.

The curriculum of all academic departments includes sports and creative activities, which are also available as extracurricular clubs and sections. Sports play an important role in students' development and give them the opportunity to acquire valuable leadership qualities, the ability to achieve goals, and teamwork skills. After-school training sessions are held in the following sports:

• Football,
• Volleyball,
• Judo,
• Skiing,
• Cycling,
• Dancing,
• Athletics,
• Rock climbing,
• Padel,
• Rugby.

In addition to sports, International School of Bergamo offers a wide selection of themed clubs focused on developing creative abilities. The list of clubs changes from year to year to meet the interests of all students. Typically offered:

• Visual arts: painting, sketching, design, sewing and patchwork,
• Playing musical instruments: guitar, piano, violin, drums,
• Solo and choral singing,
• Dramatic arts,
• Robotics,
• Programming,
• Literature: reading, public speaking,
• Model UN: research in global health, human rights, ecology, conducting negotiations and debates,
• Volunteering with local organizations that assist people with disabilities, animal shelters.

In academic clubs, students receive additional support in studying topics they find challenging, broaden their horizons and deepen their knowledge, improving their overall preparation and understanding of the main curriculum. Teachers organize elective classes in virtually all subjects: from mathematics and natural sciences to English, Italian, French, and Chinese.

Each year, 5–6 field trips are organized for students of each class, including single- and multi-day trips for senior students. Students visit local museums, various enterprises, scientific laboratories, multimedia companies, art galleries, farms, and government institutions. Some recent trips:

• Master class on making musical instruments,
• University fair,
• Laboratory of the Sesto San Giovanni Science Museum,
• Archaeological Museum of Bergamo,
• Sports tournaments in Padua, Milan,
• Trips to Tuscany, Geneva, Aosta,
• Model UN in Melbourne,
• Drama club performances,
• Trips to Rome, Trieste, Slovenia, Florence, and Maranello,
• Mountain hiking, orienteering,
• Teatro Donizetti.

• #5 among schools in Europe offering the international diploma program,
• Accreditation allowing to teach the continuous international diploma program starting from primary school,
• Excellent exam results: 30% of high school students score 38 points or more on their final exams,
• 100% of students successfully complete their school education,
• Admission to Italian education system exams, where 15% of students receive grades of 10/10, and 39% — 9/10.

The campus of International School of Bergamo, located 30 minutes from Milan, covers 15 000 sq. meters of green, well-maintained grounds in the suburbs of Bergamo. Its location next to the La Città dello Sport sports complex makes the school easily accessible by both car and public transport: the center of Bergamo is just a 10-minute drive away, and Milan airport is 15 minutes away.

Classrooms, designed to meet the age-specific needs of students, are equipped with flexible furniture and desk arrangements: lessons are conducted in lecture format as well as in the form of team projects, debates, and collaborative research. Each classroom is equipped with interactive whiteboards, and many rooms feature a virtual reality (VR) system. In addition to the main learning areas, the campus offers:

• Specialized studios for music, singing, theater arts, and musical instrument instruction,
• Laboratories for fine arts, industrial and digital design,
• Two science laboratories with a shared preparation room,
• Two libraries with reading rooms and self-study areas,
• Recreation areas with table tennis and foosball.

The sports infrastructure supports training in individual, pair, and team sports:

• Football pitch,
• Basketball courts,
• Playgrounds for younger students,
• A garden with areas for walks and outdoor relaxation.

A covered multi-purpose pavilion, located a five-minute walk from the campus, is used for group and individual sessions and competitions.

The school's bus fleet serves the surrounding residential areas, providing safe and convenient transportation of students to and from school.

Classes are held on a trimester basis:

• Fall: September–December,
• Spring: January–April,
• Summer: April–June.

Students attend classes on weekdays (Monday through Friday), and have weekends, public holidays, and seasonal breaks off.

Approximate list of additional expenses:

• Administrative and registration fees,
• Meals,
• Optional English language course,
• School uniform,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• After-school childcare,
• Exams,
• Personal study materials, starting from middle school,
• Personal expenses.

The admission process includes several steps:

• Completing the registration form and providing the required documents,
• Payment of entrance fees,
• Passing an interview, mathematics and English language tests, CAT4,
• Receiving results and an official enrollment offer.

Outstanding exam results allow high school students to enter the best universities around the world, including elite Russell Group and Ivy League institutions.

Applicants enrolling from abroad must have a passport, visa or residence permit, and health insurance. Personal documents of the child and one of their parents/guardians will be required for enrollment. The following must also be provided:

• Academic transcripts for the last two academic years,
• A recommendation letter from the previous place of study.

The level of language skills and academic preparation is assessed through entrance examinations.

The school offers a discount system for multiple children from the same family:

• Second child — 5%,
• Third — 10%,
• Fourth — 15%.

Students can participate in the global Nsuli scholarship program, which allows 50 outstanding students to study at one of 80 Inspired international schools with full funding.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision