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Saint Francis International School

Italy, Rome

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees €6,900 - 9,200
Ages 3 - 14 years
Pupil numbers 200
Type Co-educational
Opened 1985
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum IPC (International Primary Curriculum), American Curriculum
Taught languages Italian, Spanish
Typical class size 18
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Leadership and Professional
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction

Saint Francis International School in Rome, founded in 1985, offers a blended American and International curriculum for children aged 3 to 14. The school teaches in English, with Italian and Spanish as second languages. It is a laic, international school with an optional Italian Ministerial program, enabling Italian-speaking students to take Italian state exams in Grades 5 and 8. Core learning is supplemented by Theatre, Music, Information Technology and Physical Education. The campus at Via delle Benedettine, 50/b, 00135 Rome, provides class sizes and fosters ties between students and parents. The school is part of Ingenium Education and affiliated with RISA, linking it with other international schools in Rome and Lazio. After-school clubs run Monday to Thursday, including Dance, Art Lab, IT and sports, with an early drop-off option from 8:00. The program prepares students for international English- or American high schools, and Italian high schools through the Ministerial Program.

Via delle Benedettine, 50/B, 00135 Roma RM, Italy

The Essentials

Saint Francis International School has 200 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English.

Location
Via delle Benedettine, 50/b, 00135 Rome, Italy. Core education is in English for children aged 3 to 14. A bus service is provided to and from the school via a partnership with Tuttinsieme, available from September 2023 and booked directly with the association.

Stages
Early Childhood (Preschool 3-4, Kindergarten 5), Elementary School, Middle School

Type
Laic, international school with an American curriculum and optional Italian Ministry program

Country affiliation
No formal country affiliation; follows an American international program with optional Italian Ministry program

Religious affiliation
Laic (non-religious)

School day structure
School day 8:30–15:00; Pre-school 8:00–8:30; After-school activities 15:15–16:15

Bus service
From September 2023, bus service to and from the school via a partnership with Tuttinsieme; service must be booked directly with the association
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The dress code is white and blue; the uniform is provided by OVS and can be purchased directly from the online shop.

Food Options
Lunch is provided by Happy Catering, with a typical meal of a first course (pasta or rice), a second course (fish, meat or cheese), vegetables, and fresh fruit or fruit juice; menus are available for Early Childhood and for Elementary and Middle School; separate meals can be supplied for allergies, intolerances, and other dietary requirements.

House System
There are four houses: Juno (Yellow), Minerva (Green), Neptune (Blue), and Vulcan (Red). Students in Elementary and Middle School participate in house activities and events; Grade 8 students are house captains who lead meetings; house points are awarded for effort and good conduct, with prizes and awards for achievements.

Governance and Ownership
The school is proudly part of Ingenium Education.
Fees

Annual tuition at Saint Francis International School ranges from EUR 6,900 to EUR 9,200 for 2026/27.

Application and Registration Fees

- Annual re-registration / registration: Existing students pay €500 per student, billed annually.
- New-student admission/registration charges: a one-off admission/registration charge is applied for new families. The published levels are €1,000 for one child, €1,200 for two children, and €1,500 for three children. These registration/admission charges are non‑refundable.

Tuition Fees by Year Group (per installment and annual total)

- Pre‑School (Age 3–4): €1,775 per installment x 4 installments = €7,100 total per year.
- Kindergarten: €1,775 per installment x 4 installments = €7,100 total per year.
- Grades 1–2: €2,050 per installment x 4 installments = €8,200 total per year.
- Grades 3–4: €2,125 per installment x 4 installments = €8,500 total per year.
- Grades 5–8: €2,300 per installment x 4 installments = €9,200 total per year.

- Lunch (annual): €1,200.

Optional / Extra annual costs

- Italian 5° elementare (Grade 5) extra programme (exam fee included): €1,000.
- Italian Licenza scuola media (Grades 6–8) (exam fee included): €1,850.
- After‑School Activities (annual, optional): 1 day/week €300; 2 days/week €400; 3 days/week €600; 4 days/week €800 (rates apply when registered within stated deadlines).
- Early Morning Club (annual, optional): 1 day/week €280; 2 days/week €330; 3 days/week €390; 4 days/week €440; 5 days/week €500 (rates apply when registered within stated deadlines).
- Uniform: Uniform is supplied via the school's supplier (OVS) and is purchased by families from the supplier's shop; uniform cost is not published on the school fee pages.
- Bus service: A partnered external minibus service is available; bus arrangements and fees are organised directly through the provider.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Standard instalment plan: tuition payable in four equal instalments due by 30 April 2026, 10 September 2026, 10 December 2026, and 10 February 2027. Each instalment equals the amounts listed above for the chosen year group.
- Alternative (annual) payment: full annual payment by 31 July 2026 qualifies for a 2% discount on tuition. The annual total (and any optional extras) will be divided equally across the instalment plan if instalments are used.
- Sibling discount: a published sibling discount applies (5% indicated for the academic year shown).

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not provided for the school's stated age range and programmes (school operates as a day school for ages 3–14); no boarding fees apply.

Refunds and non‑refundable items

- Registration and admission fees are explicitly stated as non‑refundable.
- The school's financial regulations set conditions and penalties related to non‑payment (late payment review after 30 days; the administration may terminate the contract and apply contractual penalties, including a specified contractual penalty percentage).

Payment methods and invoicing

- Published payment method: bank wire transfer (Bonifico Bancario) to the school's bank account (IBAN and SWIFT details provided in the school's financial regulations). The financial regulations list the bank name and full IBAN/SWIFT for electronic transfer payments.
- Payment plans (instalments or annual) are available as outlined above; discounts apply for annual prepayment or sibling arrangements as published.

Penalties and conditions linked to payment

- Student attendance and continued enrolment are contingent on timely payment of fees. Unpaid fees 30 days past due are subject to administrative review; persistent non‑payment may result in contract termination, expulsion, and financial penalties as set out in the school's financial regulations.

Notes on optional providers and purchasing

- Lunch is provided by an external catering partner and billed as a school cost where applicable.
- The school's bus service is arranged through an external association; families contract and pay that provider directly.
Academics

Saint Francis International School teaches IPC (International Primary Curriculum), American Curriculum for students aged 3 to 14.

Curriculum
American program for all grades: Pre-school I and II (3 and 4 years), Kindergarten (5 years), Elementary School and Middle School. Optional Italian Ministerial Program. Specialist subjects such as Theatre, Music, Information Technology and Physical Education complete the core curriculum. Language of instruction: English. Italian and Spanish are offered as second languages. The program enables Italian-speaking students to obtain titles recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education, with exams at the end of the fifth grade and the third year of middle school. At the end of the program, students are prepared to access international English- or American high schools, as well as Italian high schools if they have completed the Ministerial Program. The school is part of RISA, the association that brings together the best international schools in Rome and Lazio.

Student Teacher Ratio
Average class size is 18 students in Elementary and Middle School; Early Childhood classes are smaller; total student body about 180.

Higher Education Progression
The school prepares students to enter international English- or American high schools, as well as Italian high schools if the Ministerial Program is completed.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Students grow in a stimulating, safe, and positive learning environment, permeated by the values of tolerance, solidarity, trust, integrity, and respect for diverse cultures. Each child can reach their academic, emotional, and social potential, with constant support from teachers and staff.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Small class sizes allow close academic and emotional attention to every student, with ongoing engagement with families.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The language of instruction is English; Italian and Spanish are offered as second languages.

Mental Wellbeing
Emotional development is supported through a nurturing environment, with constant support from teachers and staff.

Safeguarding
The school provides a safe and positive environment.
Parent Experience

History
Founded in 1985, Saint Francis International School in Rome offers a blended American and International curriculum for children aged 3 to 14. The school serves a diverse, vibrant, and close-knit community. A small student body helps maintain close relationships between students and parents. Saint Francis is proudly part of Ingenium Education.

Community
The school community is diverse, vibrant, and close-knit. School Life features a House System and after-school activities that support student engagement. Recent school news highlights Spirit Week and the election of House Captains, as well as events such as Easter celebrations and Miró-Inspired carnival masks. Open Day and Open Doors Day provide opportunities for families to visit and learn about the program.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school provides a blended American and International curriculum for children aged 3-14. Core education is delivered in English for ages 3-14. Small classes maintain a close relationship with students and parents. The campus is located at Via delle Benedettine, 50/b, 00135 Rome, Italy. Saint Francis International School is proudly part of Ingenium Education.

Sports Facilities
The garden is used for basketball, volleyball and soccer, and the gym is available in bad weather. The Basket/Volley/Soccer club serves Elementary and Middle School students. The gym is used as a backup space for sports during bad weather and for indoor activities. The program allows both girls and boys to participate and have fun.

Academic Facilities
Early Childhood, Elementary School and Middle School form the academic program. Core education is in English for children aged 3 to 14. The program blends American and International approaches and focuses on language development, creativity and inquiry through play. Small classes maintain a close relationship with students and parents.

Extra Curricular Facilities
After-school clubs and activities enrich the curriculum with experiences in Dance, Art and Craft, Sports and Computer coding. After-school activities run Monday through Thursday from 3:15 to 4:15 pm. An early morning club starts at 8 o'clock for parents who would like an earlier drop-off time. Clubs include Act and Play, Art Lab, Craft and Play, Drama, Learning Spanish through play, IT, Homework club, Electronics Club (scheduled for 2024), Basket/Volley/Soccer, Books and Stories, Games and Social club and Music-Guitar. Not all activities are offered each term.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school provides a blended American and International curriculum to children from ages 3-14. Core education is delivered in English for children aged 3 to 14. The About Us page notes an American curriculum for Pre-school, Kindergarten, Elementary and Middle School, plus the Italian State Program allowing completion of Italian state exams in Grades 5 and 8. The school is a one-form entry, enabling staff, children, and parents to get to know and support each other closely.

Arts & Creative
After-school activities include Dance, Art and Craft, Sports, and Computer coding. There are arts-focused clubs such as Art Lab (EC/ES), Drama (EC), and Music-Guitar (MS). Grade 1 artists have created Miró-inspired Carnival Masks as part of the arts program.

Cultural & Language
The language of instruction is English. Italian and Spanish are offered as second languages. The school welcomes people of all backgrounds, cultures, and religions. The school aims to create responsible global citizens through its mission and values.

Social & Hobbies
After-school clubs provide a range of experiences from Dance and Art to Sports and Computer Coding. The House System fosters collaboration, fun, and friendly competition among Elementary and Middle School students. Drama and language-through-play clubs support social skills and confidence, and Spanish-through-play introduces language in a playful way.

Leadership & Professional
Grade 8 students are elected as house captains to lead meetings and inspire their teams. The small student body enables close relationships with staff and parents, supporting leadership development. The Principal emphasizes a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment that fosters collaboration and positive school culture.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school provides a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment. The school community is diverse and close-knit. There is an early morning club running from 8:00 to 8:30 for earlier drop-off, and after-school activities run from 3:15 to 4:15. The school day runs Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 15:15, with before- and after-school options available.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the language of instruction. Italian and Spanish are offered as second languages. The program follows an American framework for all classes (Pre-school I and II, 3–4 years; Kindergarten, 5 years; Elementary School and Middle School) and serves ages 3-14. An optional Italian Ministry program allows students to earn titles recognized by the Italian Ministry, with exams at the end of fifth grade and the third year of middle school, and specialist subjects include Drama, Music, Computer Science and Physical Education.
Admissions

Admissions
Step 1. Complete the online Enquiry Form to provide initial information about you and your child. The Enquiry Form starts the admissions process. This initial step allows the Admissions Team to identify the next steps for your family. Submit an enquiry to learn more and begin the journey.

Step 2. Upon receipt of your Enquiry Form, the Admissions Team will contact your family to arrange either a school visit or an online meeting. This provides the opportunity to learn more about the community. The meeting helps you understand how the school operates and what to expect next. Next steps are guided by the Admissions Team.

Step 3. If a place is available, your family will be invited to complete the official application form, submit the registration fees, and share the required certificates. Three-year olds must be potty-trained by September to enter Pre-school 1. Students (grades 1-8) undergo testing to determine their English and Math proficiency.
School Events
The school has not added events
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