Choosing a school from a website is one thing. Walking through the doors is another. An Open Day gives families the chance to see classrooms, meet teachers and admissions teams, understand how a school works in practice and, perhaps most importantly, get a sense of how it feels. But school visits can also be surprisingly overwhelming. There is a lot to take in, particularly if you are comparing several international or bilingual schools in Milan within a short period of time.
Beyond the presentation, campus tour and facilities, there are some questions that can help you understand whether a school is genuinely the right fit for your child.
Here are 10 worth asking.
1. What curriculum does the school follow — and where does it lead?
Start with the basics.
International schools in Milan may follow the International Baccalaureate, British, American, Cambridge or other international programmes, while bilingual schools may combine an Italian curriculum with international elements. The important question is not simply what the programme is called, but how it develops as your child gets older.
Ask:
- Does the curriculum remain the same throughout the school?
- What qualifications will students eventually receive?
- Are there choices between different academic pathways later on?
- Where do students typically continue their education?
For younger children, secondary school and university may seem far away, but understanding the pathway now can make future transitions much easier.
2. Which languages are actually used in the classroom?
A school may describe itself as international, bilingual or multilingual, but that does not necessarily tell you how languages are used during the school day. Ask which subjects are taught in English, Italian or other languages, and whether this changes as students progress through the school.
It is also worth finding out how the school supports children who arrive without strong English or Italian, as well as students who are already fluent and need more advanced language work. The aim is to understand the everyday reality, not just the percentage of teaching assigned to each language.
3. What does teaching look like in practice?
Curriculum tells you what children study. It does not necessarily tell you how they are taught. During an Open Day, ask how lessons are structured and how students are expected to participate.
Is learning mainly teacher-led? Project-based? Inquiry-driven? Collaborative? How much independent work is expected?
For older students, ask how assessment works too. Are grades based primarily on examinations, coursework, projects, continuous assessment or a combination?
If you can see classrooms in action, observe them. Student work on the walls, classroom conversations and the way teachers interact with children can often tell you as much as a formal presentation.
4. How large are the classes?
Class size is an obvious question, but it is worth going one step further. Ask about the typical number of students rather than simply the maximum permitted class size. Also find out whether classes become larger or smaller in later years, and whether some subjects are divided into smaller groups.
For families with younger children or students who need additional academic support, the amount of individual attention available may be particularly important.
5. What learning support is available?
This is an area where schools can differ considerably. If your child has dyslexia, ADHD or another learning difference, ask specifically how support works rather than simply whether it is available.
Questions might include:
- Is there a dedicated learning support team?
- How are individual learning needs assessed?
- What classroom accommodations are available?
- Is additional support included in tuition?
- How are accommodations managed during external examinations?
The same applies to language support for students entering the school in a new language. If support is likely to be important for your child, try to speak directly with the person responsible rather than relying only on a general admissions answer.
6. What is everyday student life actually like?
Schools naturally talk about academic programmes, but children experience much more than the curriculum. Ask about a typical school day.
How much homework is expected? What happens at lunchtime? What extracurricular activities are available? How are new students helped to settle in? You may also want to ask about pastoral care, wellbeing and how the school handles friendship issues, conflict or bullying.
If students are present during the Open Day, listen to how they talk about the school. They often provide a very different perspective from the official presentation.
7. How stable is the teaching team?
The quality of a school depends heavily on its teachers. Rather than asking simply about qualifications, find out how long teachers tend to remain at the school and how the faculty is structured.
International schools naturally attract teachers from around the world, so some movement is normal. What you are looking for is a sense of continuity and whether the school is able to retain experienced staff.
For secondary students, you may also want to ask about specialist teachers in key subjects.
8. What support is available for university planning?
For families with older children, university preparation can become a major consideration. Ask when university counselling begins and how students are supported through subject choices, applications and admissions requirements.
If your child may apply outside Italy, find out which countries students commonly apply to and how experienced the school is with those systems. It can also be useful to ask where recent graduates have gone—not because a university list tells you everything about a school, but because it provides some indication of the pathways students typically follow.
9. How practical is the school for everyday family life?
A school may look perfect during an Open Day and become much less practical at 7:30 on a Monday morning.
In Milan, location and transport can be significant factors.
Ask about:
- school bus routes
- journey times
- drop-off and pick-up arrangements
- after-school supervision
- extracurricular schedules
- whether activities require parents to return to campus later in the day
For families with children at different schools or parents working across the city, logistics can become almost as important as academics.
10. What does tuition actually include?
School fees are rarely as simple as the headline tuition figure. Ask for a clear explanation of what is included and what is charged separately.
Depending on the school, additional costs may include:
- registration or enrolment fees
- school transport
- lunches
- uniforms
- textbooks or technology
- extracurricular activities
- school trips
- examinations
- learning support
It is better to understand the complete annual cost before making a decision rather than discovering additional expenses later.
One More Question: Is There Actually a Place Available?
It sounds obvious, but families sometimes spend considerable time comparing schools before asking about availability. Admissions can vary by year group, and some classes may have waiting lists while others still have places.
If you are considering entry for the following academic year, ask when applications should be submitted, whether an assessment or interview is required, and when families normally receive an admissions decision.
For families moving to Milan during the school year, ask whether mid-year entry is possible.
What Should You Observe During an Open Day?
Not every important question needs to be asked.Pay attention to what you see.
Do students appear comfortable approaching teachers? Are classrooms being used in the way the school describes its teaching philosophy? Does student work look individual or highly uniform? Are communal spaces actually being used?
And look beyond the newest building or most impressive facility. A science laboratory, theatre or sports centre may be attractive, but the experience your child has with teachers and classmates every day will matter much more.
Perhaps the most useful question to ask yourself as you leave is simply: Can I imagine my child being happy and learning well here?
Comparing Schools After the Visit
If you are attending several Open Days, take a few notes immediately after each visit. It is surprisingly easy for schools to begin blending together after the third campus tour. Rather than trying to rank every detail, note the things that matter most to your family: curriculum, language, learning support, atmosphere, commute, extracurricular opportunities, university pathway and, importantly, how your child responded to the school. The right school is rarely determined by one factor alone.
Explore International School Open Days in Milan
Easy Milano’s International School Open Day Calendar brings together upcoming Open Days, campus tours, information sessions and admissions events from international and bilingual schools in Milan and the surrounding area.
Open each school’s listing to see its full calendar of upcoming dates and find the best opportunity to visit.
You can also explore the Easy Milano International School Guide for school profiles, curriculum information and practical guidance to help you compare your options.
Article by Easy Milano Editorial Staff
Featured Photo by Note Thanun
