Acorn International School vs Castelli International School

	A Acorn International School Rome, Italy	C Castelli International School Rome, Italy
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year €9,000 - 14,900	Fees / year €8,200 - 12,800
Age range	Age range 3 - 19 years	Age range 5 - 14 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, EYFS (Early years foundation stage), Reggio Emilia Approach	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, Indian Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 400	Pupils 135
Typical class size	Typical class size 18	Typical class size 16
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Italian	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1999	Opened 1977
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Vejo Park Campus, Via della Giustiniana, 1200, 00189 Roma (RM), in the Vejo Park area of northern Rome, Italy.	Location Via degli Scozzesi, 13, 00046 Grottaferrata (RM), Italy. Located a few kilometres south of Rome, on the Castelli Romani hills, far from the city smog and surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The campus is green and multi-functional with an outdoor amphitheatre, a vegetable garden, a greenhouse, a multi-purpose court (tennis, basketball, volleyball) and two artificial turf football pitches.
Stages	Stages Early Years; Primary School; Middle School; High School.	Stages Kindergarten (5 years); Primary (6-11); Lower secondary (11-14)
School type	School type Dual curriculum (English/Italian); IB World School.	School type Private day school
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix More than 30 nationalities are represented.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support English language support is provided for students who need improvement.	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Italy	Country affiliation Cambridge International program integrated with the Italian curriculum (UK Cambridge); Cambridge Lower and Upper Secondary; Cambridge Checkpoint and IGCSE exams are internal
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The school day runs from 08:30 to 16:30
Bus service details	Bus service details A bus and shuttle service is offered, with routes designed to provide a safe, timely, and cost-efficient journey to and from school; students come from across Rome, including Castelli and Bracciano.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / registration / enrolment fees - An admission / enrolment / registration fee is required at the time families submit the enrolment form and secure a place. Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year) - The school does not publish a full, itemised tuition fee schedule by year group or per term for the current academic year on its public pages. No definitive per-term or per-year tuition numbers for Early Years, Primary, Middle or High School are publicly available on the school's published pages. Billing schedule and payment terms (school-wide and specific services) - Payment timing for the general school tuition and the detailed billing schedule (term dates, instalment dates, discounts or penalties) are not published in a public, itemised schedule on the school's site. - School bus service billing and instalment dates are published by the bus provider used by the school: a registration fee is payable by mid‑June with the balance split into two instalments (example schedule: first instalment by July 15 and second instalment by December 15 for the school year). Late-payment and non‑refund terms for the bus service are stated by the provider. Specific amounts for routes and service types are available from the bus provider. Boarding fees - Acorn International School operates as a day school with bus and on‑campus services; there is no published boarding or residential provision and no boarding fees are listed. Other costs and typical additional fees - Bus / school-transport fees: annual fees and the provider's registration and instalment schedule are published by the school's transport supplier. Example service-type annual amounts and the registration/instalment schedule are published by the transport provider. - Cambridge English and extra-curricular course fees: the school publishes fees for its short/term Cambridge English courses and individual tuition packages (examples: Weekly group course €590 + €70 enrolment; Bi-weekly 80-hour course €1,000 + €70 enrolment; private 20-hour package €750 + €70 enrolment). These items are charged separately from standard school tuition. - Summer school / camp: the summer programme is offered with lunch and snacks included in the camp fee; transport meeting points (where provided) are charged as an additional fee. Specific summer-camp fees and transport supplements are published seasonally for the camp. - Canteen / lunches: the school operates an internal canteen (lunch and healthy snacks) but individual lunch-price items are not published on the school pages. - Uniforms and textbooks: the school requires standard school uniforms and textbooks for the relevant year groups, but specific uniform pricing and textbook charges are not published on the school's public pages. Refund information - Transport (bus) provider: the provider states that the registration fee and any instalments already paid for the bus service are non-refundable in case of cancellation of the bus service. - For other school fees (tuition, enrolment, lunches, uniforms, textbooks, exams), no public, itemised refund policy or full fee refund schedule is published on the school's public pages; specific refund and cancellation rules are handled in the school's terms and conditions and are provided at enrolment. Fee payment options - Bus / transport payments: the transport provider accepts bank transfers and publishes full bank details (IBAN and BIC/SWIFT) for payment to the transport company. Example banking details are provided by the provider for school-bus payments. - The school's public pages do not publish a complete list of accepted payment methods for general tuition (for example: whether tuition can be paid by credit card, online card payment, direct debit or bank transfer). Parents are required to complete the enrolment process and follow the school's invoicing instructions at registration. Availability note (what is and is not publicly published) - Publicly available and itemised fees on the Acorn pages include short-course (Cambridge) programme fees, summer-school inclusions (lunch included for camp), and the transport provider's fees and payment schedule. - The school's detailed annual tuition schedule by year group (per term / per year), exact admission/enrolment fee amounts, uniform and canteen price lists, and the school's full refund terms for tuition are not published in an itemised fee schedule on the school's public pages; these details are held in the school's formal fee schedule and enrolment paperwork. Where a specific numeric tuition table or per-term breakdown is required, the school's admissions or finance office holds the current, definitive fee schedule.	Fee details Application & registration fees - Registration fee: EUR 800.00 (non-refundable). - Deposit to secure a place: EUR 500.00 (non-refundable in case of withdrawal). - Capital assessment (one-off for new students; not applicable to Kindergarten): EUR 1,000.00 (non-refundable). Tuition fees (annual and per term / per semester) - Kindergarten (Primina, age 5): Annual tuition EUR 8,400.00 — per semester EUR 4,200.00. Lunches are included in the tuition. - Grades 1 and 2: Annual tuition EUR 10,700.00 — per semester EUR 5,350.00. Lunches are included in the tuition. - Grades 3, 4 and 5: Annual tuition EUR 12,200.00 — per semester EUR 6,100.00. Lunches are included in the tuition. - Middle School (Grades 6, 7 and 8): Annual tuition EUR 13,100.00 — per semester EUR 6,550.00. Lunches are included in the tuition. Billing schedule and payment terms - Standard billing: tuition is payable in two semi-annual installments. First-semester payment is due by September 1; second-semester payment is due by January 11. A 1% discount on tuition applies if the full year's tuition is paid in a single payment by the first-semester deadline. An administration charge of EUR 40.00 applies to each installment beyond the standard semester payments. Late payments are subject to a 1% interest surcharge per month (or fraction thereof) and may trigger other administrative measures (suspension of attendance, withholding of documents, or cancellation of concessions). Transaction charges and bank fees (including foreign-currency charges) are payable by the payer. - New enrolments: the Registration fee is payable once the application is accepted; the Deposit and Capital Assessment (where applicable) must be paid by the stated deposit deadline to finalize and secure the place. For returning students, registration and deposit deadlines apply as billed for the next academic year. Individual invoices are issued at the time payments are received. Boarding / accommodation - Castelli International School operates as a day school for ages 5–14; no boarding fees apply. Other costs and optional fees - School trips: costs are billed separately and vary by grade. Estimated ranges are up to EUR 150 for KG–Grade 3, EUR 150–300 for Grades 4–5, EUR 300–700 for Grades 6–7, and EUR 2,000–3,500 for the overseas Grade 8 trip. These are charged in addition to tuition as appropriate. - Examination fees: internal exams set by the school are at no additional cost; Cambridge Checkpoint and IGCSE exam fees, and any Italian State examination fees, are charged separately as appropriate. - Special tuition and support: fees apply for additional lessons, special educational needs support, individual lessons, supervised study or other services outside regular hours (optional and charged as appropriate). - After-school activities: optional activities (sports, arts, music, languages, etc.) carry additional charges. - Private bus service (outsourced): optional and charged separately. Payment terms for the bus service are an annual subscription with 60% due by September 1 and the remaining 40% due by January 15. Withdrawals from the bus for the second semester must be communicated by December 15 or the full annual amount will be due. - Uniforms / dress code: a school uniform must be worn. Uniform items are part of standard school requirements; uniform purchase costs are not itemised in the fee schedule and are treated as an additional family expense. Refund, cancellation and withdrawal rules - Registration fee, Deposit and Capital Assessment are non-refundable. No reductions or refunds are made for absence, suspension, dismissal or withdrawal. However, the second-semester tuition may be waived if formal written notice of withdrawal is given by December 15 and the student will not attend the school after January 31. Fractions of months for pro-rata charges are treated as full months. The school reserves the right to retain payments as partial settlement of unpaid tuition and to enforce late-payment measures. Discounts and individual payment plans - Sibling discount: a 10% reduction applies to tuition only for siblings currently attending the school. Individual payment plans may be approved by the School Treasurer before the academic year starts and are valid only for that school year. Accepted payment methods and instructions - Accepted methods: cash (within legal limits), cheque, and bank transfer (preferred). Bank transfer details for euro payments are provided by the school (IBAN and SWIFT/BIC as indicated by the school). Transaction taxes, bank charges and foreign-currency fees are payable by the payer. Credit-card acceptance is not specified in the fee schedule; bank transfer is the preferred method. If you need these fee items formatted differently for your database, the figures and terms above present the full fee structure and key rules for billing, optional charges, refunds and payment methods as stated by the school.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details The school offers a dual curriculum that integrates the UK curriculum with the Italian national curriculum. It serves students from age 3 to 19 and includes Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, and International Baccalaureate High School.	Curriculum details English is the language of instruction. Kindergarten is for 5-year-olds; Primary School is for 6-11 years; Lower Secondary is for 11-14 years. The international student body is well prepared to enter local Italian high schools as well as international high schools. Our students then proceed to national and international universities leading to successful career paths. IGCSE exams are taken in Grade 8 as part of the curriculum. Learning by doing and a holistic approach underpin the curriculum.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Average class size is 18 students.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results Students achieve top results in their exams and in their study path beyond Acorn.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Includes an International Baccalaureate High School as part of its curriculum, supporting study beyond Acorn.	Higher education progression Upon graduating Castelli International School, students gain access to prestigious secondary schools followed by excellent universities in Italy and around the world.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions The school has a five-step application process: 1. Initial Enquiry 2. Parents' Visit 3. Children's Visit 4. Open Day 5. Acceptance. The Initial Enquiry is submitted online by clicking Enquire and should be accompanied by the previous two years of school reports (where applicable) and a motivational letter explaining the reasons for applying, including any mid-cycle entry considerations. An initial visit with the Principal is arranged, providing a tour and informal questions; this visit is essential to understand the school's approaches. If the initial visit is successful, a time is scheduled for the child to visit the school, meet the prospective class teacher, and undergo a formal interview or entry test. If parents wish to continue, the child may have a day trial placement in the relevant class (longer if possible); after the trial, the parents meet with the Head of School and the class teacher to discuss the application and the school ethos, and the trial may be extended if deemed necessary by the admissions board. Parents must confirm unequivocal commitment to the dual curriculum and to respect school policies; if all agree, a place is offered. The first term is a probationary period to ensure the child settles in. Enquiring families may be placed on a temporary waiting list according to space availability. Age entrance for 2026-2027 is by age with a December 31 birthday cutoff, with grade placement determined by birth dates as follows: Early childhood (EC) born 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024; Preschool born 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2023; Reception born 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2022; Year 1 born 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021; Year 2 born 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2020; Year 3 born 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2019; Year 4 born 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2018; Year 5 born 1 January 2017 – 31 December 2017; Year 6 born 1 January 2016 – 31 December 2016; Year 7 born 1 January 2015 – 31 December 2015; Year 8 born 1 January 2014 – 31 December 2014; Year 9 born 1 January 2013 – 31 December 2013; Year 10 born 1 January 2012 – 31 December 2012; Year 11 born 1 January 2011 – 31 December 2011; Year 12 born 1 January 2010 – 31 December 2010; Year 13 born 1 January 2009 – 31 December 2009.	Admissions 1. Castelli International School has a rolling admissions policy, with applications accepted throughout the school year and summer. However, due to the limited number of places available, it is advisable to apply by January preceding the academic year of entrance. The school evaluates applicants on the ability to relate to the school environment academically and socially, readiness for critical analysis, and the ability to face and solve problems, to gather information and communicate it, which are integral to the experiential approach to learning. 2. For Primary School, there is an informal admissions interview held at the school. The interview assesses the child's fit for the program and their readiness to participate in classroom activities. It helps determine the child's capacity to engage academically and socially within the school environment. 3. For lower secondary (Grades 6-8), applicants undergo a written evaluation in English, math and Italian, as well as an interview.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist Waiting list for school year '25-'26 and '26-'27: For the 2025-26 school year, limited places are available in some classes and many sections have waiting lists. For 2026-27, until January 31, 2026, enrolled students have priority to enter the next class; after that date, external students are admitted until places are filled; most classes also have waiting lists for external students.	Waitlist —
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