Quick summary of key school information
School details
| Number of students |
About 500 students on one campus from Kindergarten to Grade 12 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
34 different nationalities (Italian, French, American, English, Scottish, Irish, Welch, Belgian, Dutch, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Lebanese, …) |
| Most common nationality |
Italian, French |
| Ratio of local students to international students |
65 |
| Native French speaking teachers |
French native speakers : school agreement by French Ministry of Instruction
|
| Language support for students not fluent in French |
Yes : dedicated teachers, schedules, classes
|
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
- Italian (second language of instruction)
|
| Max. number of students per class |
25 |
| Average number of students per class |
15 - 18 |
| Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes, for afternoon / afterschool activities |
| Use of technology in the classroom |
Senior school students have their own laptops (Chromebook) provided by the school, Junior/Middle school students use the tablets, laptops, or computers in class with many teachers, all teachers use the electronic whiteboard, homework is given and submitted electronically. |
| Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
Yes : daily use at secondary school of Google classroom or other platforms to transfer and give homework or advice to all students, depending on their needs |
| Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
Not at school. We are a secular school. |
| External examinations or assessments available |
1. French Baccalaureate
Dedicated classes for the preparation of major Italian examinations at primary and middle school, in addition to the preparation of French-Italian Baccalaureate (Esabac) at senior school. |
| Results in these examinations |
French Baccalaureate / French-Italian Esabac : 100 %
|
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes, but usually only at Middle and Senior school.
|
| Approximate hours of homework given |
Max. 1 or 2 hours/day (depending on age, grade, level) |
| Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
French-Italian Baccalaureate allow all students choose wherever they want to study after graduation : most of them go to Italian universities or international institutes in France, Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, USA, … |
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
Yes, in every class, in cooperation with the school assistant staff
|
| Learning support offered |
Dedicated learning programms, following the advice of psychologist and doctors (if necessary) : elaboration from school assistants, in cooperation with teachers and families. Adaptated examinations (if needed) in cooperation with French and Italian Ministry of Instruction, on request from the families. |
| The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
No specific programm |
| Student access to education psychologist |
Not at school. Daily care provided by school assistant staff to inform teachers or families about help needed from psychologist (outside from school) |
| Entry evaluation for students |
For non-French-speaking / non-Italian-speaking students (evaluation of help and dedicated schedule needed before entering the class with other students) |
| Brief description of entry evaluation required |
No language certificate needed before entering school: dedicated French or Italian support teachers to prepare the French or Italian certificates (DELF or CILS). Dedicated sessions for parents to learn French, in order to be able to help their child when needed. |
| Waiting list |
No waiting list : admissions free anytime |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
No deadline : online registration possible anytime
|
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes, anytime. Dedicated French or Italian support teachers/classes when needed. |
| School start time |
Kindergarten and Primary: 8:15
|
| School finish time |
Kindergarten and Primary: 15:30
|
| Supervised care before/after school |
Yes, teachers and school assistants present from 8AM onward. |
| School bus service available |
No, but the school is close to all major bus, train stations. It is easy to reach by car or even by foot. |
| School provided lunches |
Yes (school restaurant, lunches cooked at school) |
| Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
On request |
| Uniform required |
Yes |
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Instrument lessons (strong and longtime partnership with Music Academy of Fiesole), school choir (primary and middle school), yoga, homework help, math games, chess, reading club, plastic art, English and French theatre, Italian studies (history, geography, culture) |
| Sports activities included |
Primary school : one hour a day of physical activities
|
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Football squad : competition once a year with other private and public schools from Florence |
| Facilities at the school |
Library (primary/middle/high school), science lab, radio studio, art studio, student lounge, locker rooms, school restaurant, historical garden with ancient trees. |
| Sports facilities at the school |
Garden, playground for collective sports or athletics |
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
Lycée Victor Hugo is a French international school that has been in activity since 1974 in Florence. As a non-profit educational institution, we promote global education in an international environment. We are the only Florentine school accredited by French Ministry of Instruction. We are one of the 566 French International Schools belonging to the MLF (Mission Laique Francaise) and AEFE network abroad. Our school welcomes students from 3 to 18 years in its only campus situated in the neighbourhood of Santa Maria Novella, close to the train station and historical centre of Florence. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
We follow the French curriculum, but we offer furthermore an excellent trilingual curriculum with an international instruction in French, English and Italian from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Most of our students follow from Grade 10 to 12 the French-Italian curriculum and pass the examination for French-Italian Baccalaureate (Esabac). Many students at primary school or secondary school study music thanks to a strong and longtime partnership with the teachers from Music Academy Fiesole. Our educational community prepares students to be life-long learners, critical thinkers and engaged citizens. |