A snapshot: schools in Tuscany considered (but not necessarily chosen) by English-speaking expats.
Schools with a full GSGI review are noted with next to their names.
(pending) means that the school is on our list to review.
By full GSGI review, we mean school write-ups that are completely selected, researched, visited and written by our own editors. Our final reviews take the good with the bad, warts and all, but we look for a preponderance of good before we drill down for in-depth details and descend on the school for an exhaustive visit. We are aware of the other schools on this page and we continually add or remove schools, as deemed appropriate.
International schools
Florence
Canadian School of Florence
Canadian curriculum/ Ontario High School Diploma; ages 14-18; co-ed; day and boarding; independent; privately owned; 120 students
Established in 2017 as Blyth Academy, based in central Florence and now owned by the global education group, Globeducate. Teaching the academically rigorous Ontario curriculum, culminating in the Ontario High School Diploma, which is looked on favourably by top universities across the world.
International School of Florence
PYP/ adapted curriculum/ IB Diploma/ esame di stato; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 520 students
One of the oldest international schools in Europe, founded in Rome in 1952 and moving to Florence in 1963. On two campuses (seniors in the centre and juniors in a villa 10 kms outside the city). Approximately 40 per cent of the students are Italian, with the remainder from over 35 different countries. Accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSA).
Lycée Francais Victor Hugo Florence
French curriculum/ Brevet/ French Bac/ EsaBac; ages 2-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 400 students
Located in the Palazzo Venturi Genori, built in 1498. Teaching three languages (French, Italian, English) from kindergarten and offering the choice of either the French Baccalaureate or the EsaBac, which allows students to combine two national diplomas (the Italian State Exam and the French Baccalaureate) in one qualification.
Pisa
Elizabeth English Academy
Adapted curriculum; ages 4-11; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned
Very little information available about this new, small primary school in San Guiliano Terme, outside Pisa, except that they teach in English apart from Italian language lessons.
Westminster International School
PYP; ages 3-12; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned
A pre-school and primary in Pisa, a small city on the sea, west of Florence. Founded in 2000 and authorised to teach the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme since 2012. Mainly British teachers, no after-school activities and uniform is required. Approximately 70 per cent of the students are Italian citizens.
Siena
International School of Siena
PYP/ MYP/ IB Diploma/ esame di stato; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned
Opened in 2010, in a villa outside the beautiful city of Siena, now relocated to a brand-new building. Part of a group that also manages international schools in Milan, Modena and Monza. An International Baccalaureate World School, recently authorised (2019) to teach the IB Diploma in addition to the IB Primary and IB Middle Years programmes and an Italian curriculum.
For more information on the schools above, please go to each school’s individual entry on The Good Schools Guide International search.