High School

AGES 14 TO 18: YEAR 10 TO YEAR 13

RIS Rome high school provides a well-rounded education for students aged 14 to 18. The four-year high school experience commences with the Cambridge IGCSE in the first two years and culminates with the globally recognised IB Diploma.

RIS Rome is accredited as a Cambridge International School and examination centre. The Cambridge IGCSE programme is designed to provide a well recognised academic education for the first stage of High School and also prepares students for the rigorous and demanding International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme offered in Years 12 and 13.

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IGCSE PROGRAMME

AGES 14 TO 16: YEAR 10 TO YEAR 11The world’s most popular international qualification for 14 to 16 year olds, the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is a two-year course of study, validated by Cambridge Examinations. With a focus on research, problem-solving and inquiry based learning, it is excellent preparation for the demands of the IB Diploma Programme. Students interested in joining the Cambridge IGCSE programme at RIS Rome will be required to sit an assessment test.

Cambridge Assessment International Education

RIS Rome student performance

We are proud of our students' results. The IGCSE grades have steadily improved over the years.

2022-23 Highlights:

80% of all grades were A* to C; with 20% achieving A*
100% pass rate in 11 subjects

Grades explained

IGCSE grades are on a scale from A* to G. These grades are achieved through a combination of coursework and oral examinations (taken mostly in May and June for Year 11). We have high expectations for our students in these exams.

Subject options

Students study a range of subjects over the two-year course leading to the IGCSE qualification in each subject studied. Successful completion of these examinations is a requirement for entry to our IB Diploma Programme.

Each student meets with the IGCSE Coordinator to discuss the most appropriate choices. Students take a minimum of one subject from each category as compulsory subjects and in addition they choose subjects according to their interests and skills. Language options are normally chosen according to those previously studied.

Our students can take examinations in eight to eleven subjects from the following categories:

English language
English literature
Mathematics
Coordinated Science
Humanities (History, Geography, Economics)
Italian
Creative Arts (art, music, drama)
Languages (French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese)
Physical Education* or Information Technology

*(in addition to P.E. lessons available to all students)

School Day

08.25 to 15.45 | After-school activities.

IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

AGES 16 TO 18: YEAR 12 TO YEAR 13RIS Rome is proud to be an inclusive school where all students study for the full IB Diploma (IB DP). Our scores have been consistently above the global average, enabling students to pursue their studies at the university of their choice.

The IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) is an academically challenging two-year curriculum, privileged as a means to university entrance worldwide. It encourages students to become internationally minded and reflective life-long learners who embody the attributes of the IB Learner Profile.

Our subject offering is robust, challenging and requires commitment, organisation and resilience.

Students can choose from a wealth of subjects, taught by experienced IBDP teachers and are also able to qualify (with the right subject combinations) for the Italian Maturità.

IB Diploma Programme Handbook

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More about IBDP at RIS Rome

Subject choices

At RIS Rome, all students study six subjects selected from the following groups:

Mother Tongue
Languages
Humanities
Sciences
Maths
Arts

Three are studied at Standard Level and three at Higher Level. This enables students to study virtually any discipline at university level.

In addition to these six subjects, each student completes the three core components of the IB DP:

Theory of Knowledge
Extended Essay
CAS (Creativity, Action and Service)

Our approach

Students’ timetables are personalised and reflect individual subject choices. During the week, students will have individual study periods during school time – in line with the belief that independent research and ownership of one’s learning are core values in the IB Philosophy.

Our students can count on:

systematic, individual guidance when choosing their subjects
a pastoral care structure that, through the Form Tutor and the DP Coordinator, allows progress to be constantly monitored and supported

IBDP and the Italian Maturità

Our students have the opportunity to choose from a wealth of subjects, taught by experienced teachers, and are also able to qualify (with the right subject combinations) for the Italian Maturità.

We offer subject combinations for the Liceo Linguistico, Liceo Scientifico and the Liceo Scienze Umane. There are certain requirements for each of these and it is important to discuss the options with the IB DP Coordinator in order to find the right fit.

Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)

Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) provides the main opportunity to develop many of the attributes described in the IB Learner Profile. For this reason, the aims of CAS have been written in a form that highlights their connections with the IB Learner Profile.

The CAS programme aims to develop students who are:

reflective thinkers | they understand their own strengths and limitations, identify goals and devise strategies for personal growth
willing to accept new challenges and new roles
aware of themselves as members of communities with responsibilities towards each other and the environment
active participants in sustained, collaborative projects
balanced | they enjoy and find significance in a range of activities involving intellectual, physical, creative and emotional experiences.

Entry requirements

“University admissions officials say the DP is the best qualification for developing students' non-academic skills and preparing them for further education and career.”

- University Admissions Officers Report 2015