Castelli International School is a bilingual Cambridge curriculum school in Grottaferrata, the Castelli Romani town in the hills south east of the capital, and one of the schools mapped on our Rome city hub. Founded in 1977, it was among the early schools in the area to pair the Anglo Saxon approach to learning with the Italian ministerial programme, and it teaches in English from the early years through lower secondary. Because the school concentrates on the years up to roughly age 14, families need a plan for the upper secondary stage, and its fees sit in the community tier for the Rome area rather than the premium band.
This profile is an independent reference page. GlobalSchoolGuide does not accept payment for coverage, and Castelli appears here because it is a real school relocating parents ask about, not because it paid to be listed. We researched the facts below from the school and public sources at the time of writing, and mark anything we could not confirm as not published.
At a glance
Curriculum and academics
Castelli teaches the Cambridge curriculum as an authorised Cambridge International School, which means its programme and assessments are recognised by Cambridge Assessment International Education. English is the working language of the school, and lessons are built around the Cambridge framework in English, mathematics and science, integrated with the Italian ministerial programme so that pupils keep a foothold in both systems. This bilingual design is the school's defining feature and the reason families in the area choose it over a single language route.
Pupils progress through Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Lower Secondary, sitting the Cambridge Checkpoint tests that benchmark progress at the end of the lower secondary stage, and taking IGCSE subjects including English as a Second Language. Because the school concentrates on the years up to around age 14, the practical question for most parents is the onward route into upper secondary and a school year leading to IGCSE completion, A Level or the diploma. Our British curriculum guide sets out how the Cambridge stages, Checkpoint and IGCSE fit together and what the sixth form options look like.
Budgeting for a place near Rome?
Model tuition, registration and the usual extras with our fee calculator before you commit to a school in the Castelli Romani area.
Castelli International School fees
Castelli sits in the community tier on our Rome international school fees guide, the band of small bilingual and community schools that runs well below the premium international secondaries at EUR 19,000 to EUR 27,500 a year. A small school in Grottaferrata carries lower overheads than a large campus in the centre, and early years and primary places typically land further down the city range again, since primary fees across Rome run roughly 15 to 25 per cent below the secondary headline. Treat these as bands rather than a quote, because schools revise fees each year and the published schedule is the only reliable figure.
Tuition is only part of the budget. Expect a registration or enrolment charge on entry, and budget for the usual extras of lunches, materials, uniform where required, trips and after school clubs. Transport matters more here than at a central school, since many families drive in from the surrounding Castelli Romani towns. Use our fee calculator to model the full annual figure rather than the headline tuition alone, and compare it against the wider Rome market in the city fees guide.
Admissions
The Italian school year runs from September to June, and Castelli accepts applications for the September intake through the year, with places filled as they arise across the early years, primary and lower secondary classes. As a small school, year groups are limited in size, so the most popular entry points can fill early. The school typically meets the family and assesses the child's English and Italian to confirm the right class and any language support needs, an important step in a bilingual setting where pupils arrive with very different starting points in the two languages.
Mid year entry is considered subject to space, which suits families relocating to the area outside the usual cycle. Because places are limited and the catchment is spread across the Alban Hills towns, parents moving on a corporate, academic or diplomatic timeline should contact the school as soon as their move is confirmed to secure a place at the preferred stage.
Location and who goes there
The school is in Grottaferrata, one of the Castelli Romani towns set in the wooded Alban Hills south east of Rome, a green and quieter setting than the dense centre. The position suits families who live in the southern arc of the metropolitan area or in the hill towns themselves, and who want a bilingual education without a daily commute into the historic centre.
The intake mixes international and mixed nationality families who want an English language education with Italian families seeking a bilingual Cambridge route for their children. Commutes are shortest for families in Grottaferrata, Frascati, Marino and the neighbouring towns, with many arriving by car. For the wider picture of where international families settle across the city and the schools near them, see the Rome city hub.
Reviews
We do not yet have verified parent reviews for Castelli International School. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish reviews only once we can confirm they come from real families. If your child attends or has attended Castelli, we would value your first hand account. Share your experience through the school reviews hub and help the next relocating family decide with better information.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Castelli International School fees?
As a small bilingual school in Grottaferrata, Castelli sits in the community tier for the Rome area rather than the premium band of the city's large international secondaries, which run roughly EUR 19,000 to EUR 27,500. A registration charge and the usual extras of lunches, materials and transport apply on top of tuition. Confirm the current schedule with the school, as fees change yearly.
Is Castelli International School a good school?
Castelli is an established Cambridge International School founded in 1977 and one of the longer running bilingual schools in the Castelli Romani area near Rome. Whether it fits your family depends on your child's age and your plan for the upper secondary years, since the school concentrates on the early years through lower secondary. We do not publish a rating without verified reviews.
What curriculum does Castelli International School follow?
Castelli is an authorised Cambridge International School that teaches the Cambridge pathway in English alongside the Italian ministerial programme, leading through Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary to the Checkpoint tests and IGCSE subjects such as English as a Second Language.
When do Castelli International School applications open?
The school year runs from September to June, and Castelli accepts applications for the September intake through the year, with mid year entry considered when places allow. Families relocating to the Castelli Romani area should contact the school as soon as a move is confirmed.
Where is Castelli International School located?
The school is in Grottaferrata, a town in the Castelli Romani hills south east of Rome, drawing families from the Alban Hills towns and the southern suburbs of the city.
