3. EDUCATION IN ITALY compulsory from 6 to 16 years of age, [2] [2] divided into five stages: 1.KINDERGARTEN that is actually three years of non compulsory nursery school 2.PRIMARY SCHOOL lasts five years 3.LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL lasts three years 4.UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL lasts five years 5.UNIVERSITY Italy has both public and private education systems.

4. AT ALL STAGES INITIAL ASSESSMENT INTERMEDIATE ASSESSMENT FINAL ASSESSMENT Every 4 months (or three months) THEY MAKE REFERNCE OF BOTH LEARNING ACQUIRED BEHAVIOUR NOT AT ALL STAGES INVALSI Every year

5. Assessment… … is a continuous process Initial Makes it possible to know the pupil’s initial situation, with the purpose of drawing up a personalised programme Intermediate or ongoing Makes it possible to check the progress of the learning process, check the efficacy of any steps taken (objective, content-related, methods and instruments…) and to modify them at any stage Final or summary Makes it possible to check the “finished product” in terms of results achieved and, above all, of processes carried out by the pupil, and to check the level of productivity of the teaching method used in terms of achievement of the objectives set by the curriculum. Invalsi Assessment of the educational system prepared by the National Institute for the Evaluation of schooling

6. Teachers meet periodically for parallel classes and subject areas. These groups of teachers work TOGETHER to compare the programs carried out with the students, to choose TOGETHER the verification tests and to organize new activities. All by taking into account the vertical curriculum and the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public Education. TOGETHER TO EVALUATE

7. Based on the learning indicators of the various subjects, teachers plan together the work to be done with the children, choosing the tests and criteria necessary for assessment. Primary school learning indicators

8. ITALIAN Listening comprehension in different situations. Expression of thought and mood. Giving an account of personal experiences following an order of logic and time. Reading comprehension. Production of written texts. Reflection on the structures and functions of language. ENGLISH Listening and reading comprehension and the ability to express ideas both orally and in writing, using the vocabulary and linguistic structures learned in class. HISTORY, CITIZENSHIP AND CONSTITUTION The ability to find one’s way through the past time. The ability to place events in space and time and put them in a logical sequence. Analysis of situations that have occurred in the same place and at the same time. The ability to read and interpret local evidence of past events. The ability to adopt democratic forms of co-existence. Recognition of rights and obligations in the relationships with peers and adults. Understanding the importance of respecting the property of others, common property and the environment. The ability to make people aware of and reflect on the values and principles of the Italian Constitution. GEOGRAPHY Understanding the world we live in. Recognition of the main physical and anthropological elements of Italian landscapes. Recognition and understanding of geographic instruments. MATHEMATICS Ability to carry out arithmetic functions. Identification and construction of relationships. Exploration, construction and drawing of the main geometric figures. Identification, exploration and solving of mathematical problems. SCIENCE Observation, recognition and description of fundamental phenomena in the world of physics and biology. The ability to formulate theories and check their validity, also through experiments. The ability to understand and use specific scientific terminology. TECNOLOGY Observation and classification of materials depending on their characteristics. Ability to use the most widely known information communications technology. MUSIC The ability to listen to music and translate them into words, movement and art. Sing simple pieces of music. The ability to understand and use music terminology. The ability to compose, interpret and re-elaborate sounds. ART The ability to read, understand, produce and re-elaborate visual messages. The ability to read and recognise elements of visual language and contemplate certain works of art. PHYSICAL EDUCATION Bodily awareness to understand how it works. The ability to carry out movements and adapt them to more and more complex situations. Observation of the rules of the sports practised. CONDUCT The ability to fulfil commitments. Constructive participation in the various activities. The ability to work together with class mates in the school activities. Keeping the surroundings in a decent state and a fair attitude towards the school staff. Proper use of the school aids and materials. Compliance with the rules established.

9. As far as acquisition in different subjects is concerned, for elementary and middle school pupils, assessment is based on the provisions in law 169/2008 and is a mark out of ten rather than being a brief description. To the assess the behaviour of elementary (primary) school pupils there aren’t marks but comments. Law 169/2008

10. Assessment at Elementary School The learning and behavioural assessment of pupils, as well as the decision to advance them to the following year, is made by the class teachers. There is a designated document for this purpose (pupil’s report card), the report is given to the pupil’s family during an explanatory meeting (every four months). The pupil’s report card may be viewed on the web site by entering a password. As far as advancement to the subsequent year is concerned (art. 3 of law 169/2008), any decision not to advance the pupil must be of an exceptional nature and be justified. The decision not to advance the pupil must be unanimous. There is no final state examination for elementary school students.

11. Assessment at Middle School The learning and behavioural assessment of students, as well as the decision to advance them to the following year, is made by a commission of the class teachers. Also in middle school there is the pupils report card, the report is given to the pupils family during an explanatory meeting. Th e pupil’s report card may be viewed on the web site by entering a password. The students must have a pass mark in each subject and in the behavioural in order to gain their advancement to the subsequent year or admittance to examinations. Any decision not to advance the student to the following year or not to admit them to the examination requires a majority vote of the commission of class teachers. A school cycle ends with State examinations that must be passed if the student is to be admitted to secondary school. Admittance to the examination is based on a review of eligibility and is accompanied with an evaluation out of ten that refers to the student’s entire course of study at middle school. The final examination includes a written test carried out nationally, the so-called Invalsi, prepared by the National Institute for the Evaluation of schooling. The final examination is marked out of ten.(Includes 5 tests)

12. The content of the test are made by the National Institute for Evaluation of the Education System (INVALSI). introduced by Law no. 176 of 25th October 2007, PRIMARY SCHOOLLOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL In the second and fifth year Tests of Mathematics and Italian In the third year Tests of Mathematics and Italian The test INVALSI affects the final evaluation INVALSI Written National Test 1)The levels of student’s learning That is designed to assess 2)The educational Teaching 3) the training system

13. ORDERS OF SCHOOL (Levels of schooling):

14. SKILLS CERTIFICATION UPON LEAVING KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL After consulting the documentation pertaining to the teachers’ assessments, the cross-class committee’s final evaluation, results obtained and documentation acquired The Headmaster and Teachers of the section CERTIFY That the student ____________________________ born in _______________ on _____ Has obtained the following LEVELS OF COMPETENCY during his/her cycle of studies, in the areas of: field of experienceCOMPETENCE LEVEL REACHED Him/Herself and others Has acquired self-confidence. Is able to follow rules. Is able to exercise self control. Is able to understand and respect the needs of others. Respects diversity. □Comprehensively attained □Attained □Generally attained Body and movement Draws the human body completely. Is able to control basic postural and dynamic schemas. Has complete fine motor control. Has acquired motor autonomy and control for interaction with the environment. □Comprehensively attained □Attained □Generally attained Utterances and vocabulary Has acquired good communicative skills through the use of language. Has acquired the ability to express his/her conclusions, ideas and feeling. Has acquired good listening skills. Is able to understand and process stories heard and read. □Comprehensively attained □Attained □Generally attained Language, creativity, expression Is capable of graphic expression and respects graphic space. Is able to use body, sound and visual languages in a creative way. Is able to experiment with symbolic games. □Comprehensively attained □Attained □Generally attained Knowledge of the world (field of mathematics) Has acquired the ability to collate, classify, order and sort. Performs comparisons and establishes quantity relationships. Has acquired topological concepts. □Comprehensively attained □Attained □Generally attained Knowledge of the world (scientific field) Has acquired a scientific bent for observation, investigation, explanation and conjecture. Has acquired a proper relationship with the environment. Is able to place facts and events in a logical sequence. Has acquired the concept of time (temporal passages). □Comprehensively attained □Attained □Generally attained

15. CERTIFICATION of SKILLS ACQUIRED UPON LEAVING Primary school - ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Having reviewed the documentation pertaining to the teachers’ assessments, the final evaluation of the Inter-class committee, results obtained and documentation acquired, The Headmaster and the Class Teachers CERTIFY That the student __________________________ born in ______________________ on ___________ Has attained the following LEVELS OF COMPETENCY in extracurricular and scholastic activities: AREASUBJECTSKILLSLEVEL REACHED LINGUISTIC ARTISTIC EXPRESSION ITALIAN  Makes clear and relevant contributions to communication exchanges, expressing his/her ideas  Recognises and understands various types of texts.  Recognises linguistic structures. Produces functional texts for different purposes, using appropriate syntax and spelling. Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained ENGLISH  Understands and uses daily spoken expressions, interacts in personal subjects pertaining to his/her world; exploits these skills to produce simple correct utterances. Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained MUSIC  Uses musical linguistic expression in some choral forms. Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained ART & IMAGES  Describes, produces and reconstructs the world and his/her experiences through various forms of visual expression. Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained BODY MOTOR SKILLS SPORT  Makes use of motor and postural schema, interacting in combined and simultaneous situations. Follows the rules of sports and games participated in, making use of his/her technical and tactical abilities to play an active role in the team. Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained

16. HISTORY GEOGRAPHY HISTORY GEOGRAPHY Is oriented in time and space, comparing different geographical and historical situations. Reads texts, geographical charts, obtains information and processes the knowledge acquired. Uses the fundamental laws of society in a responsible way. Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained MATHEMATICS SCIENCES TECHNOLOGY MATHEMATICS Is capable of reading situations and solving practical and real problems by analysing these situations and translating them into mathematical terms. Investigates, compares, analyses, reproduces and measures 2-dimensional geometric shapes. Uses techniques and procedures of mathematical calculations, even in graphic format. Gathers, classifies and organises information in order to perform a statistical survey. Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained NATURAL AND EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES Observes and investigates the world around him/her, using a scientific approach and simple language to understand and express the events comprising phenomena studied. Develops curiosity towards the natural world. Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained TECNOLOGIA Observes and analyses everyday objects, identifying their operation. Knows computer components and uses graphic and word processing programmes. Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained ( 1) Grades are marked in terms of: Comprehensively attained (9/10) Attained ( 7/8) Generally attained ( 6) The last year of study involved participation in: - extracurricular activities……………………………………………………………………………………... - other activities of note: …………………………………………………………………………………………

17. SKILLS CERTIFICATION UPON LEAVING Secondary school - MIDDLE SCHOOL After consulting the documentation pertaining to the teachers’ assessments, the final evaluation of the Class committee, results obtained and documentation acquired during the State examinations, The Headmaster and Chairperson of the Examination Commission CERTIFY That the student ____________________________ born in ______________________ on ___________ Has passed the state examination at the end of the first cycle of study with a final grade of ……………… The following LEVELS of COMPETENCY have been awarded on the basis of course work and examination results in the school cycle and any extracurricular activities Italian language Understands the linguistic and communicative features of a text Communicates clearly and coherently Produces texts that are fit for task Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained ………………...…… First EC language ENGLISH Understands the general meaning and details of spoken and written texts on familiar subjects, Interacts by responding to communicative input Produces oral and written messages on subjects of personal and cultural interest Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained …………………………… Second EC language FRENCH Understands the general meaning and details of spoken and written texts on familiar subjects, Interacts by responding to communicative input Produces oral and written messages on subjects of personal and cultural interest Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained …………………………… Mathematics Knows the basic concepts of mathematics and applies this to solve problems Identifies and applies relations, properties and methods Understands and uses mathematical language and symbols Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained ……………...……… Sciences Observes the world and recognises relations, stability and changes Understands the most important aspects of the natural world and has acquired respect for the environment Understands and uses scientific language Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained ……….…..…………

18. Tecnology Observes and analyses technology and its interaction with man and the environment Plans, implements and checks on practical experiences Understands and uses specific language Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained ……………………… History-Geography Has acquired knowledge for the understanding of phenomena, events and historical processes Identifies and describes physical/anthropological characteristics of an area Uses specific subject-language Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained ……………………… Artistic Observes, reads and describes the descriptive world Knows and uses visual language and suitable tools to express him/herself Understands and places a work of art in its historical context, having an awareness of its communicative and social purpose Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained ……………………… Music Reads and describes a musical work Sings or plays a piece of music Listens to a musical composition, noting its formal elements and placing it in context Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained ……………………… Physical education Uses abilities acquired in a range of situations and different problematic situations Respects the code of conduct of a sports person and the rules of any sports practiced, interacting with others in a fair and proper manner Has an awareness of the characteristics and purpose of physical activities in order to stay healthy Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained ……………………… Personal growth Respects the rules of living together Respects the rules for school life Organises his/her work Fulfills scholastic obligations Has acquired the ability to work in a team Comprehensively attained Attained Generally attained …….………………..