International School of Monza

In the heart of the city of Monza, on the doorstep of the buzzing city of Milan and the Italian lakes, the doors of the International School of Monza open every day to approximately 300 students of nearly 40 nationalities from age 2.5 to 18. A highly dynamic and collaborative environment, where curious and internationally-minded learners strive for a world without frontiers. Whilst the school has a near forty-year-long year history and has close ties with its sister schools around Italy, there is a fresh and unique feel to everything we do.

IS Monza is a full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum school authorised to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP, ages 2.5-11), Middle Years Programme (MYP, ages 11-16) and Diploma Programme (DP, ages 16-18). We endeavour to deliver the IB programmes in the purist of forms, with the school’s core values and the IB’s Learner Profile embodied in everything that we do. Both the school and the Inspired Education Group to which it belongs, have an established record of success in the IB, from age 2.5 all the way through to admission to the world’s leading universities at age 18. Furthermore, in our Early Years section (ages 2.5-6), our curriculum is heavily influenced by Reggio Children.

Perhaps most of note is the sense of collaboration that exists amongst all members of the school community. This is most evident in the way in which our highly qualified English-fluent teachers and inquisitive students work towards a common goal of academic success which is seamlessly balanced with an inherent commitment to active global citizenship at every level. Although all classrooms are fitted with smart TVs and students bring iPads and MacBooks to school, we use technology in a blended approach where we feel it adds value to teaching and learning and not merely to replace traditional methods (yes, we do use books and, yes, we do talk to one another).

All this takes place in our city-centre campus – a stylish and colourful factory conversion – which has been specifically designed to foster collaborative approaches to teaching and learning. Our science laboratories are fitted with state-of-the-art equipment and we also boast carefully designed on-site spaces which support the delivery of our Reggio-Inspired Early Years Curriculum, three beautiful libraries, as well as studios for visual arts, drama and music, a theatre, as well as a large indoor and outdoor sports complex just a three minute walk away. That said, living in such a culturally rich part of the world, we take many opportunities to knock down our classroom walls and learn from opportunities in the local and not-so-local area.

More information about the school can be found on our website at https://www.internationalschoolofmonza.it. The school is one of several very successful Italian schools belonging to ISE (International School of Europe) which in turn is part of Inspired, the leading global group of premium schools offering global best practice and professional development.

OUR MISSION & VALUES
Curious and internationally-minded learners striving for a world without frontiers.

Happy learners: We value a safe and caring environment, where wellbeing is prioritised and all learners are included in a holistic and personalised approach
Experiential learners: We value learning which is driven by inquiry and where learning experiences integrate technology and action mindfully
Ambitious learners: We value the agency of learners and help develop their resilience on the journey to achieving the highest standards
Respectful learners: We value a community which is based on respect where we are caring towards ourselves, towards all others and towards our environment
Thoughtful learners: We value the development of creative and critical thought and the nurturing of transferable skills for a complex and interconnected future

SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Our three core development plan principles from 2020-23 are: inclusion & wellbeing for learning & achievement; making assessment meaningful; harnessing technologies for learning. In 2022/23 we are focussing on the Consolidation of our learnings in these three areas; the Consistency of their implementation; as well as rekindling a sense of Community Spirit now that Covid restrictions have been relaxed.

WHY WORK WITH US
* A highly collaborative and dynamic environment, at every level, that you will find;
* Official IB professional development during first few months of employment;
* A small, modern and colourful school where teachers are highly respected as professionals and afforded a good degree of autonomy to teach in a creative and exciting way;
* A beautiful part of the world.

WHAT OUR TEACHERS SAY ABOUT US
The following our quotes from our latest staff engagement survey:
"ISMonza is a great school. Staff are professional and caring. Students are enthusiastic and expressive. Parents are supportive and trusting."
"I feel very fortunate to work in a school like ISMonza. There is a positive work environment here and the management and leadership (Principal/Coordinators) are very supportive."
"I'm proud to teach in a great learning environment."
"You can really feel the community spirit around the whole school (teaching/non teaching staff, parents, students). Great place to grow professionally surrounded by so many experienced people ready to help you out and give you advice."
"I have just started but I enjoy the work and the work environment."
"I have only been here a few weeks but I am really enjoying working here. I really like the programme and enjoy working collaboratively with the friendly staff here."
"Students are happy to be in school since there are a lot of experiences. The atmosphere in school is lovely."
"Teachers and students work together to achieve common goals."
"This is a very special place to work...we're a school that creates a lot of buy-in from me (and virtually all other stakeholders as well) and I think that's because I invest so much into what's going on here (and again, I think we all do). That makes it easy every day to come in and truly want to do everything I can do to make our school even better today than it was yesterday...it's easy to be motivated to be part of a team such as ours."
"I feel positive about the school and have always been committed to it. There is always room for improvement but the school has made very big strides in the last 5 years. There is a definite spirit of working towards excellence."
"I am very happy and proud to work at ISM."

WHAT THE IB SAID ABOUT US IN THEIR LAST FIVE-YEAR EVALUATION:
What the International Baccalaureate said about us in their last five-year evaluation visit:
• Remarkable growth and development since the school’s last evaluation;
• Staff are professionals with a deep understanding of modern educational research and demonstrated their shared dedication to putting principles into practice;
• Teaching and learning is excellent, often outstanding, offering experiences which are authentic and inquiry-based;
• A rich and stimulating learning environment;
• High levels of student action and agency;
• The pedagogical leadership team of the school have deep knowledge and understanding of the IB philosophy;
• The relationships between students, parents and staff are very positive.

OUR HOST CITY
Monza is Lombardy’s “second city” and is perhaps most famous for hosting the annual Italian Grand Prix within its walled park, the largest in Europe. It is a small city with plenty of green spaces as well as rich cultural heritage. Many of its 120,000 inhabitants chose it for its international outlook, affordable accommodation and quick rail access to the fashionable and buzzing city of Milan, as well as the world-renowned Italian lakes.

BUILD A CAREER WITH INSPIRED EDUCATION
Inspired offers academic excellence to over 65,000 students in over 80 schools across 23 countries. The international group of leading, premium schools utilises best educational practices from every corner of the globe to ensure each student receives a first-class learning experience, from Kindergarten to Year 13.
Inspired schools remain anchored in the vibrant cultures of their respective locations, and collectively, they form an international community that nurtures each student's academic and personal development in a progressive, dynamic, and innovative learning environment.
Specialist-led, extracurricular activities and exchange programmes are woven into the fabric of Inspired's approach to schooling, resulting in a well-rounded, diverse student population of engaged, active learners who confidently apply their wide-ranging skills within a global context.
Students benefit from a robust, holistic, international curriculum formed around the Inspired three pillars of modern education: academic excellence, sports, and performing & creative arts, with dedicated, highly qualified teachers who demonstrate Inspired's exemplary methodology. In the application of a student-centred teaching model, Inspired schools achieve outstanding examination results and, importantly, nurture happy, multi-skilled individuals who have faith in their abilities. Inspired students are empowered to fulfil their potential and are fully equipped to thrive in a modern world.