Southlands English School is one of the British curriculum schools mapped on our Rome city hub. Founded in 1976, it sits apart from the international schools clustered in the north and centre of the city, serving instead the residential south of Rome from a park campus in Casalpalocco. It teaches the English National Curriculum across the full age range, taking pupils from age three through IGCSE and into the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the final two years, which gives families a continuous English language pathway with a globally recognised exit qualification.
This profile is an independent reference page. GlobalSchoolGuide does not accept payment for coverage, and Southlands 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
Southlands teaches the English National Curriculum from the Early Years onward, working through primary and secondary stages to IGCSE examinations in the middle teenage years. Where it differs from a purely British school is at the top end. Rather than A levels, the sixth form leads to the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the broad two year programme in which pupils study six subjects across the disciplines alongside the theory of knowledge course and an extended essay. The result is a British style education up to sixteen followed by an internationally portable qualification at eighteen, a combination that suits families who may move on from Rome before university.
As an approved British Overseas Establishment recognised by the English Department for Education, the school follows English national standards and reporting, and lessons are taught by English mother tongue teachers. Ask the school for its current IGCSE subject list and IB Diploma subject groups, and use our British curriculum guide to see how the Key Stages, IGCSE and the sixth form fit together before you compare it with the A level route offered elsewhere in the city.
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Southlands English School fees
We do not publish a confirmed fee schedule for Southlands English School, because the school sets and revises its own tuition each year and the published schedule is the only reliable figure. Our Rome international school fees guide sets out the wider market, where the premium international schools in the city run into the mid twenties of thousands of euros a year at secondary level while smaller community schools sit below that headline. Treat any number you see on third party listings as illustrative until the school confirms it.
As with any Rome school, tuition is only part of the budget. Expect a registration or enrolment charge on entry, and plan for the usual extras of lunches, school transport, trips and examination entry costs at IGCSE and for the IB Diploma. Because Southlands sits in the south of the city near Ostia Antica, families who live further north should price in a coach service or a longer commute. Use our fee calculator to model the full annual figure rather than the headline tuition alone, and compare it against the wider city market in the Rome fees guide.
Admissions
As a British school the year runs from early autumn to summer, and Southlands accepts applications for the main September intake with in year places offered where space allows. Families are usually asked for previous school reports, and the school meets the family to confirm the right year group and, in the senior years, IGCSE and IB Diploma subject choices. Pupils joining without English may be assessed for language support.
Because the school draws from a defined catchment in the south of the city, year groups can fill, so parents relocating on a fixed timeline should contact admissions early, particularly for entry into the IGCSE years and the IB Diploma where subject availability matters. See the Rome city hub for how Southlands sits among the city's other British and international options.
Location and who goes there
Southlands serves British, international and Italian families who want an English language education in the south of Rome rather than a daily commute into the centre. Its Casalpalocco campus is set in parkland with sports facilities, and the position near Ostia Antica makes it convenient for families living in the southern suburbs and along the coast towards Ostia. This southern footprint is its distinguishing feature, since most of Rome's international schools cluster to the north of the city.
Families weighing English language options in Rome often look at Southlands alongside the British provision at Britannia International School Rome and The New School Rome, and the IB route at Rome International School. For the wider picture, see our roundup of the best British schools in Rome and compare how each school's location shapes the daily commute.
Reviews
We do not yet have verified parent reviews for Southlands English 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 the school, 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
What curriculum does Southlands English School follow?
Southlands English School teaches the English National Curriculum from age three, leading to IGCSE examinations in the middle teenage years and then the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the sixth form. It is an approved British Overseas Establishment recognised by the English Department for Education.
Where is Southlands English School in Rome?
The school is in Casalpalocco in the south of Rome, set in a park campus near Ostia Antica rather than in the historic centre. This places it close to the southern and coastal residential districts that many international families choose.
When was Southlands English School founded?
Southlands was founded in 1976 and is one of the longest established English language schools in the south of Rome. It is a member of the Rome International Schools Association and part of the Globeducate group.
How much does Southlands English School cost?
We do not publish a confirmed fee schedule because the school sets and revises tuition each year. See our Rome international school fees guide for the wider market and confirm the current figure directly with the school.
Does Southlands English School offer the IB Diploma?
Yes. Pupils follow the British pathway through IGCSE and then take the International Baccalaureate Diploma in the final two years, giving a globally recognised university entrance qualification in the sixth form.
