Philosophy

Ambrit provides an international education for students from diverse cultural backgrounds. The school’s programmes of study and activities foster the cognitive, aesthetic, physical, social and emotional growth of the whole child, helping each child to reach his or her greatest potential in a stimulating and caring environment. Children are encouraged to develop a sense of identity, self-esteem and independence.

The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to maintain high standards of academic learning while allowing children to make meaningful connections across subject areas using an inquiry-based approach. Classroom activities provide opportunities for cooperative and experiential learning which emphasize process-oriented skills and the communicative importance of language.

Children are taught to respect others, their natural environment, and to develop an awareness of global issues through school and community service activities. Cooperation amongst parents, staff, students and the community is actively encouraged. Students leave Ambrit with an appreciation of different cultures and the tools to become lifelong learners.

Yes, our Code of Conduct is used throughout the school and applies to all students, staff members and parents.

Every member of the Ambrit community has the right:

  • To feel safe
  • To learn to the best of their ability
  • To be treated with dignity and respect

Ambrit is an independent, for-profit organisation led by Director Giovanni Piccolo and governed by Ambrit founder and legal representative, Bernard Mullane. Ambrit is owned by a non-profit foundation with its own Board of Governors.

Admissions Procedure

Once we receive your completed application with all required supporting documents, our Director of Admissions will review your application within 7 working days and will decide whether to recommend the admission of your child(ren).

If the Director of Admissions recommends admission, we will check if we have any vacant places available in the grade(s) you applied for, and should that be the case, we will make you a formal offer. In cases when the Director of Admissions approves your child’s admission but a place is not available, we will discuss the situation with you and will put your application on the waiting list, and offer you a place when/if a place becomes available.

Most applicants are assessed based on the documentation submitted and through interview. If your child is new to English or has particular language, behavioral or special learning needs a language and/or learning evaluation will be required and administered by a school representative. The results of these evaluations will help us determine if Ambrit can accommodate your child.

Applications are accepted throughout the school year. However, an early application will increase the chances of being able to accommodate your family’s needs.

Admissions decisions will be communicated via email. Acceptance emails will contain information about payment, bus/lunch services as well as the confirmed start date, and other necessary school contacts.

You are required to submit the following documentation before your application will be reviewed:

  • Completed Application Form
  • Copy of student passport or birth certificate
  • School transcripts and records for the past two years (in English or Italian)
  • One recent, passport-sized electronic photograph of the student
  • Student Referral form completed by current teacher for Grades Prep-8 and sent directly to the school
  • Student Questionnaire form, completed by the student for Grades 4-8
  • Standardized testing results, if available
  • Psychological/Educational Evaluations, if applicable

Students will be placed in classes as indicated below and must be 3, 4, 5, etc. years of age before/on August 31st in order to be admitted into a grade level.  Below is a chart showing how classes are organized at Ambrit compared to the UK and USA systems.

Age (on 31 August) AMBRIT UK USA
3 Nursery Nursery Nursery
4 Kindergarten Reception Pre-K
5 Prep Year 1 Kindergarten
6 Grade 1 Year 2 Grade 1
7 Grade 2 Year 3 Grade 2
8 Grade 3 Year 4 Grade 3
9 Grade 4 Year 5 Grade 4
10 Grade 5 Year 6 Grade 5
11 Grade 6 Year 7 Grade 6
12 Grade 7 Year 8 Grade 7
13 Grade 8 Year 9 Grade 8
14 n/a Year 10 Grade 9
15 n/a Year 11 Grade 10
16 n/a Year 12 Grade 11
17 Year 13 Grade 12

The EAL program at Ambrit aims to assist students whose first language is not English, in becoming competent users of the English language so they can participate fully in the social and academic life of the school. English language learning is not intended as a replacement for the student’s home language(s) but as an additional language. Through differentiated support options, the EAL support teachers collaborate with class teachers to facilitate the integration of all English language learners into the mainstream classrooms. Entrance evaluations of students new to English are administered to ascertain the level of support needed. Please note that some of the EAL services incur additional fees.

Due to restrictions of space, facilities and personnel trained to cater for significant special educational needs, Ambrit is unable to admit children with serious learning, physical, emotional or behavioral difficulties. A child with mild to moderate learning difficulties may be admitted on a probationary basis with dates of evaluation clearly established in writing. When applying to Ambrit, parents are required to provide past records of students, which may include: previous diagnostic testing or evidence of special education assistance. Please note that some of the services in Learning Support incur additional fees. In certain circumstances, it may be necessary for parents to provide an assistant in a classroom for children with special educational needs. Withholding information about special needs may lead to the withdrawal of the student.

The school organizes onsite information sessions about International High Schools as well as visits to schools in Rome. The Grade 8 Dean of Students works with families and students to help make appropriate school selections and ensure a smooth transition into High School.

Some students have interests outside of school which could conflict with the school day. Ambrit does not condone the participation in activities that interrupt the regular school day.

Ambrit does not offer any financial aid.

Curriculum/Learning

Ambrit Primary School is an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) school. Our teaching philosophy reflects the fact that young children are naturally curious and wish to experiment, explore and make sense of the world around them. We aim to enable students to become lifelong learners and to equip them with the academic and life skills necessary to be responsible citizens in a rapidly changing world.

Our Early Childhood and Primary programmes emphasize the growth of children’s inquiry, creativity, curiosity, and imagination, alongside the development of academic and social competencies.

In the Middle School, the expectations of high academic standards are combined with the development of social and thinking competencies to allow students the appreciation and understanding of the curriculum. Strong connections with these competencies during this critical time, set a pace and tone for future successes. The curriculum aims to develop an understanding of global issues, social dynamics in addition to traditional subject area content. Classroom activities provide opportunities for cooperative and experiential learning which emphasize process-oriented skills and the communicative importance of language. At the end of middle school, Ambrit students are prepared to enter into International High School or Italian High School, depending on the program they choose for their Middle School education.

Ambrit offers Italian as an additional language/mother tongue language from Nursery through Grade Five. In the middle school, depending on the program selected, students can also study Spanish, French or Mandarin.

Today’s children are growing up in a world increasingly dominated by technology and media. Ambrit’s ICT philosophy aims to empower students and enable them to become competent and responsible users of Technology in all its applications. To this end, ICT at Ambrit is treated as a means of achieving the desired result rather than as a subject whose skills are taught in isolation. Therefore, Technology lessons are based upon a curriculum subject area, the lessons being the result of close collaboration between the class or subject teacher and the ICT team. The technology curriculum endeavors to empower students with the necessary skills, knowledge, and understanding of ICT in a modern world through the integrated use of up to date, industry-standard programs and teaching methods. To enhance the way students learn and interact with technology, teachers use technological tools found in our Media lab, equipped with 25 iMacs as well as mobile technology consisting of 40 MacBooks, 3o Chromebooks, and 20 iPads located on carts throughout the school alongside other electronic teaching resources.

Ambrit is committed to helping every student live up to the expectations set out in our Code of Conduct. When it comes to discipline, we believe in conversation and education. If students fail to meet expectations, staff will take appropriate action to help them understand their own behaviour as well as the consequences of that behaviour and prepare them to meet these expectations in the future. Consequences for minor infractions include retracting privileges and conversations with parents, while more serious instances may result in detention, suspension or expulsion.

Student growth and progress is measured through a range of formative and summative assessments in all subject areas. Assessment tasks vary across the school and may include projects, discussions, reports, tests, presentations, and/or quizzes and may be done individually or in a group. Reporting to parents happens regularly throughout the year in the form of Parent/Teacher Conferences, Student Led Conferences, Student Portfolios and Written Reports.

Students who find it challenging to meet academic expectations will be given support and guidance by their teacher and if necessary, the EAL or Learning Support departments. Students are encouraged to take an active role in their learning and express any challenges they may be experiencing to their teacher. If a student requires significant support, the school will develop a Personalized Education Plan (PEP) and work closely with the family and the student to provide the necessary assistance.

At Ambrit, homework is meaningful and aims to extend and not replace classroom learning. All students are expected to read every day and other assignments vary according to grade level. In Early Childhood and Primary, home-school connections are emphasized and explained by teachers for parents to work on with their children. Students will not be assigned busywork or stacks of worksheets but will be asked to make regular connections to their classroom learning. Homework expectations for students in Middle School increase considerably but their assignments are no less meaningful.

Student Life

Ambrit meets the needs of approximately 440 students. We aim to maintain a maximum class size of 20 students, barring exceptional circumstances. All Early Childhood classes and Grade 1 have a class teacher and an assistant while grades 2-5 have one class teacher. Across the three programs, there are specialist teachers for art, music, physical education, and library as well as technology teachers who work closely with subject and homeroom teachers on technology integration.

Ambrit is a very international school with students representing over 50 different nationalities. The school makes every effort to maintain a student body composed of at least 30% English first language, 40% Italian first language and 30% native speakers of other languages.

Ambrit is interested in internationally minded students and families who value education, diversity and cultural understanding. We are looking for students and families who want to be part of and contributors to our exciting school community.

Students enjoy warm, freshly prepared, and balanced lunches each day. The menu changes regularly to take advantage of seasonal produce. The menu is pork-free. Special meals can be requested if needed.

Ambrit supports the timely and safe transportation of our students to and from school. The school offers a bus service in partnership with a private bus company. The bus company operates 13 buses on a daily basis from 7:00 in the morning. Bus routes are established based on the areas where families reside. Adjustments to the bus routes can be made to accommodate new families, space permitting.

Ambrit is situated 6 kilometers south of the historic center of Rome in the Portuense area. The campus is centrally located on a 10-acre hill overlooking the Tiber River.

Ambrit strives to offer students a balanced variety of educational experiences that will meet each individual child’s needs. After school activities are an important component of this goal. These varied offerings provide opportunities for physical activity, teamwork, creativity, skills development, intellectual pursuits, enhancement of the child’s mother tongue, and socialization. Our goal is to offer our students an enjoyable experience which will enrich their academic program.

Most activities are taught by Ambrit staff members so a wide range of possible activities, varying according to their multiple talents and interests, are offered for Early Childhood, Primary and Middle School students. Examples of the over 90 possible activities offered annually include Choir, Orchestra, Violin, Oil Painting, Weaving, Bracelet Making, Arts and Crafts, Sketchbook, Drama, Creative Writing, Tennis, Yoga, Soccer, Basketball, Badminton, Robotics, Technology, Mine Craft, Art on the iPads, Ambrit News, Engineering Future Cities, Spanish, Mandarin, French, Math Club, Science Club as well as tutoring and private music lessons. Additionally there are courses for adults offered at Ambrit free of charge which may include English Lessons, Italian Lessons, Women’s Choir, Mandarin Lessons and Painting. The after school activity program also includes four choirs and an orchestra. Private music lessons and/or tutoring by Ambrit staff members can also be arranged.

Calendar/Hours

The school day begins at 8:30 and ends at 15:30 Monday through Friday. Students can arrive at school anytime after 8:00 a.m.

The school year runs from early September to late June.

Ambrit school holidays are longer than most national systems. There are two half-term breaks; one in late October/early November and another in February. The school is typically closed for up to three weeks at the end of December/beginning of January and is also closed for up to two weeks at Easter. The school is also closed when Italian public holidays are observed.

Parents

Ambrit regularly communicates with parents face to face and via email. At least one parent must be able to communicate effectively in English in order to establish an open and supportive relationship between the school and the family. It is essential that the school have a current, permanent email address to use for communication purposes.

Our parents are very involved in our community whether it’s as part of the parent association Friends of Ambrit (FOA), volunteering to be a class representative, assisting with the many social events scheduled throughout the school year or volunteering in classrooms and/or the school libraries. Parents are expected to be actively involved in their child’s education and to be active, supportive members of the school community.

The Friends of Ambrit (FOA) is the Ambrit parent organization.

©2024 Ambrit International School, Rome.

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