Ages 
School stands out as the only international school in Milan to hold paritaria status until year 11 which allows Italian students to enjoy an international programme while maintaining their cultural and linguistic heritage. It’s also a school with creativity at its heart - putting reading areas and reflective areas within corridors. A school-wide challenge to build a Mars rover from recycled materials brought entire families into the learning process. ‘They're helping kids grow,’ one parent commented and it seems that parents are learning things along the way too.
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Overview
- Student numbers
- 660
- Curricula
- Other curriculum
- International
- SEN provision
- SEN considered case by case
- Religion
- Non-denominational
- Fees
- € 12,550 - € 20,750
- Ownership
- Globeducate
- Linked schools
Head of school
Executive principal
Luke Osborne
Since 2025, Luke Osborne BSc MEd. Previously deputy head of the Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai and director of the International School of Ulm in Germany. Also Evaluation Team Chair at the Council of International Schools (CIS).
Entrance
School is non-selective. All families have an interview with the head of primary or secondary along with a member of the academic team to assess level of interaction of spoken English. Admissions are personalised and there is no hard and fast rule
Exit
University guidance is a team effort, with the IBDP coordinator, head of secondary and principal all supporting students applying to universities in the UK, across Europe and America. A dedicated staff member focuses on admissions within Italy. Many
Latest results
July 2025 will see the first cohort of students sitting exams.
Teaching & learning
The school delivers the Italian national curriculum alongside an international curriculum. The main language of instruction is English and all of the children learn Italian as well. School holds paritaria status - the only international school in
- Curricula & qualifications
- Other curriculum - Italian Curriculum (Italian Ministry of Education Diploma - Licenza Media)
- International - International Baccalaureate - PYP (candidate)
- International - International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP)
- International - International Baccalaureate (Diploma)
- Bilingual programmes
- Spanish/English
Learning support & SEN
One qualified SENCO works with several learning mentors (one dedicated for primary and another for secondary) for students with mild to moderate learning needs (eg dyslexia, dysgraphia). Learning mentors support small groups inside and outside of the
Language support
School has a dedicated EAL department and a multilingual learner room for small-group and one-on-one language support.
Arts & extracurricular
Its roots as a design school remain an integral part of the school’s identity - unsurprising in a city globally recognised for creativity, fashion, and innovation. The philosophy of the original Ludlum School continues to shape the school's approach
Sport
The ground floor, where shared indoor facilities such as the gym and swimming pool are found, opens to a large, fully equipped outdoor playground complete with athletics track and multi-purpose sports field. On our visit we saw a girls-only football
Ethos & heritage
Symbiosis is one of three campuses that forms ICS Milan, which has experienced significant growth since the 2017 merger of KC Infant and Primary Schools with the Ludlum School (when school was acquired by Globeducate). The opening of the Symbiosis
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
This is an inclusive school that supports a wide range of student abilities. Academic success is important, but the school does not place the highest priority on exam scores or league table rankings. Instead, the focus is on helping each student
Classroom & community
Compared to the Colletta and Tenca campuses, ICS Symbiosis tends to attract an older demographic of families - mainly dual-career professionals. Just over half of the community is Italian - a significant number returning from abroad, influenced by
- School year
- September - June, with three terms
- School hours
- 8:30am – 4:00pm and extracurricular until 6:00pm
- Uniform requirements
- Yes
Money matters
Fees are consistent with other international schools in Milan. Corporate fees available.
- Annual fee range
- € 12,550 - € 20,750
- Fee information
- Admission fee: €1,500 - €3,000
Yearly registration fee: €1,100
The last word
School stands out as the only international school in Milan to hold paritaria status until year 11 which allows Italian students to enjoy an international programme while maintaining their cultural and linguistic heritage. It’s also a school with
Accreditations, inspections & memberships
- Accreditations/Inspections
- None (school may be licensed, or may be "inspected" by its own owner, but it is not independently accredited or inspected by recognised agency or organisation)
