THE UNITED KINGDOM

1) Secondary school (ages 11-16):

After primary school, English students enter secondary school, which lasts 5 years.

At the end of Year 11 they sit the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams.

2) Post-16 education (ages 16-18):

After GCSEs, students move on to Sixth Form, where they can choose between two programmes: A-Levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB).

A-Levels: students select 3 or 4 subjects in total and study them intensively throughout their time at the chosen school.

IB: students choose 6 subjects plus 3 compulsory core components: Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS (Creativity, Action, Service). The IB course lasts 2 years.

Post-16 (A-levels)

Students choose 3-4 subjects of interest and study them in great depth.

The English school year is divided into three terms:

Autumn term: September – December (before Christmas)

Spring term: January – end of March

Summer term: mid-April – end of May/June

This structure makes it possible to join for one term, two terms or the full academic year.

There are no oral tests as in Italy: students are assessed mainly through final exams and practical work.

Student life in England places a strong emphasis on extracurricular clubs (sport, drama).

Schools encourage transferable skills such as critical thinking and collaboration.

The English system is known for its inclusive approach:

Support for students with special educational needs (SEN): personalised education plans and specialist staff.

Cultural integration: dedicated programmes for students from different language backgrounds.

Counselling and wellbeing: many schools offer psychological guidance and emotional support.

In Italy students choose a specific track — scientific, classical, artistic or technical — as early as 14, which limits flexibility. The Italian curriculum is rigid, with many compulsory subjects and few free choices. Assessment is continuous, with marks spread across the year, and culminates in the Esame di Stato, whereas England places far more weight on final exams. Italian student life is also more academic and less oriented towards extracurricular activities than in England.