Education and schools in Rome have roots that reach back centuries ago to the time of the classical empires. Along with the Greeks, the Romans were among the first to organise a formal system of learning that looked to do more than just promote the passing of knowledge from parents to their children.

Today that tradition of education continues in the Eternal City, and expats will find a robust state school system as well as a large selection of international and bilingual schools to choose from.

International and bilingual schools in Rome

Expat pupils of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds will have the opportunity to attend an international school if they so prefer - there are over a dozen in the area. The majority of these schools uphold high standards, though the language of instruction, the curriculum, the learning environment and the educational philosophies of each may vary.

In many cases, even native Romans choose to enroll their children in these schools; and for expats only planning on living and working in Rome for a short stint, this is undoubtedly the best choice.

The smaller class sizes and the elevated quality of facilities do come with a price tag, however; expat parents should be prepared to shell out anywhere between €10,000 to upwards of €20,000, depending on the school and the grade level of their child.

Admissions policies also vary from school to school, but in most cases the following is required:

• Report cards
• Transcripts
• Letters or recommendation
• Interviews (in some cases)

It is a good idea to organise these documents prior to your move so you can enroll your child as soon as possible upon arrival.

In 1974 the Rome Association of International Schools was founded to design and develop a curriculum that would enable those temporarily learning in Rome to return to their home country having never missed a beat. Many of the schools subscribe to this International School Curriculum and the association is still a good place to begin your search even today.

Public (state) schools in Rome

State school in Italy is free from primary school to university, and is available to foreigners as well.  This system is widely regarded as on par with the standards of its private counterpart, and is used by over 150,000 expats annually.

Expats who can predict a long-term living situation in Italy or who would simply prefer their child be immersed in the Italian language should certainly consider public schools as an option.

The Italian school system is divided into four parts:

• Scuola materna (three to five years old) - not financed by the state
• Scuola primaria (six to ten years old)
• Scuola media (eleven to fourteen years old)
• Scuola superiore, liceo (from age fourteen onwards)

Children in Italy only begin school at the age of six, but the curriculum is more intensive and the school day is longer - running from 8.30am to 4.30pm.

For the first five years of instruction children will have the same teacher, a point that definitely has its fair share of pros and cons. Expat parents should certainly do some research and consult others for reliable recommendations.

Furthermore, teachers in Rome prefer to function independently with little involvement with parents, a principle that may take some getting used to for those expat accustomed to being quite active in their child's school life.

In some cases state schools in Rome may lack funding and as a result may suffer from sub-par facilities, but overall, the system is highly reputed.

The Italian school year usually runs from mid-September to the end of June.