Bilingual European School (BES) – Bilingual Education with a Global Perspective

"Our mission is to develop the intellect and character of each learner by providing the opportunity for an outstanding bilingual education with a global perspective."

Founded in 1999, the Bilingual European School (BES) is Milan's first bilingual school. A state-accredited institution recognised by the Ministero dell'Istruzione e del Merito (MIM), BES offers a bilingual Italian-English educational pathway from Primary School through Lower and Upper Secondary School, with a new bilingual Liceo Scientifico delle Scienze Applicate (Applied Sciences-focused upper secondary school) launching in the 2025-2026 school year.

BES was founded as the natural continuation of the British American Pre-School (BAPS), a full English immersion nursery school established in 1987. Together, BAPS and BES accompany students from age 2 to 18 through an integrated educational journey, preparing each student to become a global citizen capable of contributing to society and meeting the challenges of the future.

The school's mission is to develop the intellectual and personal potential of every student through an outstanding bilingual education, fostering curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and a love of learning. The teaching approach places the student at the centre: teachers build an individualised relationship with each pupil, supporting both their personal growth and academic progress.

The BES educational model integrates the Italian national curriculum with internationally recognised programmes:

●      Bilingualism: for students aged 2 to 6, the programme is delivered primarily in English (90%), while from age 6 to 18 instruction is split 50% in Italian and 50% in English. From secondary school onwards, students may also study a second foreign language, choosing between French and Spanish.

●      International Baccalaureate (IB): BES integrates the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) in a bilingual format with the Italian national curriculum and is a Candidate School for the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP).

●      Teaching Innovation: the school is accredited as a LEGO® Education Innovation Studio and uses innovative methodologies inspired by Bruno Munari® workshops in the early childhood section.

●      Double Upper Secondary Diploma: the bilingual, four-year Liceo Scientifico delle Scienze Applicate (Applied Sciences) enables students to earn both the Italian Maturità and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), through a partnership with Blyth Academy. The programme combines strong scientific and technological skills with an international outlook, preparing students for admission to leading universities in Italy and abroad.

The school operates across two campuses in Milano:

●      Campus BAPS e BES Primary (Niguarda area): approximately 9,000 sq m, including 4,500 sq m of garden, recently renovated in line with the philosophy of the international architecture studio Rosan Bosch, with spaces designed to foster learning, creativity and collaboration.

●      Campus Resegone (Scalo Farini area): dedicated to lower and upper secondary education, with approximately 4,000 sq m of floor space, including 1,800 sq m of outdoor areas designed to provide modern, innovative learning environments.

BES and BAPS are part of Globeducate, one of the leading international networks of bilingual and international schools. Through the Globeducate network, students and teachers take part in global projects, exchanges, international events and collaborations with organisations such as WWF, LEGO, Eco-Schools and sports academies. The group's presence in several European cities also offers educational continuity for international families who relocate.

"We prepare each student to be a global citizen who can shape the world."

PRIMARY SCHOOL

Curricula

The BES bilingual programme is based on a 50% English – 50% Italian model.

At primary school, learning is a constructive process: children learn best when they are actively involved in building their own knowledge and connecting it to their personal experience and prior understanding. At the Bilingual European School, the Primary Years Programme (PYP) focuses on the holistic development of each student and their capacity as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the wider world.

Curriculum

We have integrated the syllabi for all year groups with the skills and competencies set out by the Italian Ministero dell'Istruzione.

The PYP fully preserves the study of traditional subjects: Italian, mathematics, science, social studies, humanities and the arts, and personal, social and physical education. The syllabus for each year group defines the general objectives for every subject and is aligned with those established for the corresponding years of the Italian school system.

Weekly Timetable

The school day begins at 8.30 and ends at 16.00.