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International Montessori School Lecce

Italy, Lecce

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 1 - 14 years
Pupil numbers 2000
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Italian Curriculum, Montessori Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary)
Taught languages English, French, Spanish, German
Strengths Languages, STEM, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

International Montessori School Lecce is a Paritaria private school in Lecce that serves children from 1 to 14 years old. It operates within the Oxford Group Lecce and is associated with Opera Nazionale Montessori. The school offers Nido, Infanzia, Primaria and Secondaria I Grado, providing continuity from early years through early adolescence. The primary program follows the MIUR Italian curriculum, supplemented by Montessori pedagogy and Cambridge International Primary programmes, with key subjects taught in English. English language instruction is a hallmark: subjects including English, Mathematics and Geometry, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, ICT, Drama and Global Perspectives are delivered in English by native-speaking teachers for about 18 hours per week. The aim is to foster autonomous, responsible citizens within a Montessori learning environment where classrooms are calm, home-like, and prepared to support independent exploration and hands-on learning. Cambridge accreditation, cosmical education, and ongoing enrollment for the upcoming year reinforce the school's long-standing commitment to diverse, international education.

Oxford Group / IH International House Lecce, Via Adriatica, 12 6 73100 Lecce, Italy

The Essentials

International Montessori School Lecce has 2,000 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Located in Lecce, Italy, the International Montessori School sits at Via Adriatica 12, 73100 Lecce. It is part of the IH Oxford Group Lecce campus. Oxford Group offers Montessori-based education and English language programs in Lecce. The address is Via Adriatica, 12, 73100 Lecce, Italy.

Stages
Nursery 1-3 years; Early Childhood 3-6 years; Primary 6-11 years; Lower Secondary 11-14 years.

Type
Paritaria private school (state-recognized private school).

Country affiliation
Italy
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
Private school with an International Montessori orientation; follows the MIUR curriculum, supplemented by Montessori methodology; Cambridge International Education accreditation for Cambridge programmes taught in English; part of Oxford Group Lecce.
Fees
Application fees

- No published one-time application fee or registration fee for child enrolment (Nido, Scuola dell'Infanzia, Primaria, Secondaria) is listed in the school's public school pages for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 school years.

- Published application/registration amounts associated with the Montessori teacher-training courses run at the Lecce centre (these are course enrolment fees for adult professional courses, not pupil tuition):
- Course (3–6) — a registration payment of EUR 700 inclusive of required bibliographic materials; total course fee indicated EUR 2,350.
- Course (6–11) — a registration payment of EUR 800 inclusive of required bibliographic materials; total course fee indicated EUR 2,450.

Tuition fees by school year / year group

- No published schedule of tuition (term or annual pupil fees) broken down by year group (Nido 1–3, Infanzia 3–6, Primaria 6–11, Secondaria 11–14) is available on the school's public school pages for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic year. There are no explicit per-term or per-year pupil fee figures shown.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- For the published Montessori teacher-training courses, fees are collected in instalments with named “prima rata” (first instalment) at the time of definitive enrolment and further rate scadenze (instalments) specified in the course regulation; specific instalment amounts and due dates (for example a third instalment of EUR 500 due 20 March 2026) are set out in the course regulations. Payments for those courses are directed to the Association's bank account with a specified IBAN. These payment-schedule details apply to the adult training courses rather than pupil school tuition.

- There are no publicly posted billing schedules, per-term deadlines, or standard instalment plans for pupil tuition on the school pages.

Boarding fees

- No boarding provision or boarding fees are published for the International Montessori School Lecce; the school materials describe early years and primary/secondary day programmes only. No boarding-related charges are listed.

Other costs and fees (uniform, materials, extras)

- No standard pupil uniform fees or published uniform cost schedule appear on the public school pages for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 years. No itemised lists of extra-curricular or materials fees for pupils are published.

- For the adult Montessori courses, the registration fee listed for each course explicitly includes bibliographic/materials provided by the organising body. For example, the course registration amounts of EUR 700 (3–6) and EUR 800 (6–11) are described as inclusive of required bibliographic materials.

Refund information

- For the adult Montessori course admission process, a small contribution for admission procedures (e.g., EUR 50) is sometimes requested; that contribution is noted as refundable only in the case the course is not activated. Refund rules for course instalments and withdrawals are specified in the course regulation documents for those adult courses.

- There is no published refund policy for pupil tuition or pupil-related fees on the school's public school pages.

Fee payment options

- For the adult Montessori courses, the published payment method is bank transfer to the Association's bank account; the course regulation documents give the IBAN and request that the appropriate causale (payment reference) be indicated on transfers. Card or other payment methods for course fees are not specified in the publicly available course documents.

- There are no publicly posted, explicit payment-method options (credit card, online portal, standing order details) for pupil tuition on the school pages.

Summary of findings

- The school's public pages clearly describe the educational levels offered (Nido, Scuola dell'Infanzia, Primaria, Secondaria) but do not publish a per-year or per-term tuition schedule, boarding fees, uniform costs, billing calendar, pupil refund policy, or standard payment-method list for pupil enrolment for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 academic years.

- The only explicit monetary figures available on the institution's public documents found are for the Montessori teacher-training courses (adult professional programmes): registration/payments of EUR 700 (3–6 course) and EUR 800 (6–11 course), total course fees of EUR 2,350 and EUR 2,450 respectively, a small admission-contribution of EUR 50 in some calls, and bank-transfer payment details shown in the course regulations. These figures relate to course enrolment for teachers rather than to pupil school tuition or boarding.

If you need an exact per-term or per-year tuition schedule, billing calendar, or pupil-payment options and refund terms for children, those specific pupil-fee items were not published on the school's public school pages or the downloadable course regulation files for the 2026/27 or 2025/26 period.
Academics

International Montessori School Lecce teaches Italian Curriculum, Montessori Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary) for students aged 1 to 14.

Curriculum
The primary school is a private school with an International Montessori orientation. It is the first and only primary school in Puglia accredited by Cambridge University to work with the Cambridge International programmes. The teaching follows the MIUR curriculum, supplemented by Montessori methodology and language studies, with disciplines taught in English (English, Mathematics and Geometry, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, ICT, Drama and Global Perspectives) and recognised by Cambridge Assessment International Education. Pupils study these disciplines in English with native-speaking teachers for 18 hours per week. The primary aim is to train free, autonomous and responsible citizens in line with Montessori pedagogy.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Holistic child development is the focus. The teaching fosters a positive atmosphere in which the child can express themselves freely and relate to their peers.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Pupils study English, Mathematics and Geometry, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, ICT and Global Perspectives in English, with native-speaking teachers, following the Cambridge International Education syllabi, for a total of 18 hours of English per week. The teaching follows the MIUR curriculum and is supplemented by Montessori methodology.
Parent Experience

History
Oxford Group Lecce is associated with Opera Nazionale Montessori and has been Lecce's reference point for Montessori education for over 30 years. The International Montessori School offers Nido (1-3 years), Infanzia (3-6 years), Primaria (6-11 years), and Secondaria I Grado (11-14 years). It has over 25 years of history and serves around 2,000 students. It operates as a private Scuola Paritaria from nursery to middle school within the Oxford Group. The Montessori method centers on the child, with the teacher guiding learning in a prepared environment and using developmentally appropriate materials.

Community
IH Lecce maintains an active community with student activities and cultural events documented on its blog. Open courtyards in Lecce showcase the work of students from the Nido and Infanzia groups during editions such as Cortili aperti. Neighborhood outings are part of the Montessori experience, with younger children from Casa dei Bambini Oxford going out into the neighborhood. Events include International Dance Day and other performances and school activities.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The International Montessori School in Lecce follows the Montessori method, placing the child at the center of learning. The teacher acts as a guide rather than a director, helping the child experience the world and develop their potential in a complete and effective way. The learning environment and development materials are arranged to support observation, experimentation, and internalization of concepts, with spaces designed like a welcoming home and prepared with everything needed for the various activities so each child can work independently. The core of the program is Montessori development materials, which integrate cognitive, motor, and emotional growth and provide entry points to language, writing, mathematics, and more. Enrollment is open for Nursery (Nido/Asilo Nido), Infanzia, Primaria, and Secondaria I Grado for the upcoming school year.

Academic Facilities
The Montessori method is the central approach, with the classroom environment and development materials crafted to let children observe, experiment, and internalize concepts. The environment is designed to be calm and home-like, with spaces and furnishings arranged by teachers to support autonomous activity and learning. Development materials are not just toys but tools that foster cognitive, motor, and emotional growth and help children master language, writing, mathematics, and related skills. The method includes cosmical education, a programmatic approach for children aged around 6 to 12, encouraging a love of nature, an understanding of the universe, and responsible citizenship. The school serves learners from nursery to middle school, aligning with the Montessori progression from Nido (1–3 years) to Infanzia (3–6), Primaria (6–11), and Secondaria I Grado (11–14).
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Montessori education centers on the child, guiding rather than replacing the learner. The school serves Nursery 1–3 years, Infanzia 3–6 years, Primary 6–11 years, and Lower Secondary 11–14 years. The prepared environment and materials enable children to observe, experiment, and internalize concepts, developing their intellectual, personal, and social potential. The Primary program follows the MIUR curriculum, supplemented by Montessori methodology, with Cambridge International Education programmes teaching subjects in English, including English, Mathematics and Geometry, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, ICT, Drama, and Global Perspectives.

Arts & Creative
The Infanzia program includes graphic and expressive arts, music, and English-language activities. Creative and artistic activities are integrated with practical tasks such as cooking and crafts. The classroom environment is organized to support self-expression, exploration, and collaboration through hands-on activities.

Cultural & Language
English is introduced early as part of a Cambridge International School approach, with lessons taught in English by native-speaking teachers. Subjects taught in English include English, Mathematics and Geometry, Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, ICT, Drama, and Global Perspectives, totaling about 18 hours of English per week. The program prepares children for Cambridge assessments, including Cambridge Young Learners and Cambridge Checkpoint at the end of Cambridge Primary.

Social & Hobbies
Social development is fostered through language activities, sports, and a range of playful activities. The Montessori approach emphasizes a non-competitive, cooperative learning environment that supports peer interaction and mutual respect. The curriculum encourages students to relate to others and work collaboratively in daily activities and projects.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The classroom is arranged to promote growth in a warm, welcoming, and well-ordered setting. The approach emphasizes autonomy, emotional balance, and a sense of belonging, with world-citizen ideals such as cultural awareness, openness to others, responsibility, solidarity, and cooperation shaping daily learning.
Languages

Language Provision
The school offers English courses for adults and for children, and offers additional languages including French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Admissions

Admissions
1.Admissions are open for the next school year. Enrollment is open for Nido (1-3 years), Infanzia (3-6 years), Primaria (6-11 years), and Secondaria di I Grado (11-14 years). The levels cover nursery through middle school. The school operates as a Montessori International School.
2. Complete the form below with the data requested and you will be contacted as soon as possible.
3. You can contact the school by telephone at 0832.39.03.12 or by email at info@oxfordlecce.it. The address is Oxford Group Lecce, Via Adriatica, 12, 73100 Lecce.
4. Scuola Montessori Internazionale is associated with Opera Nazionale Montessori and educates children from nursery through middle school. It follows Montessori principles and offers programs across the Nido, Infanzia, Primaria, and Secondary levels.
School Events
The school has not added events
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