International High School
An international path of excellence
START DATE
September 2026
END DATE
June 2027
AGES
From 14 to 19 years
OPEN DAY
LOCATIONS
Select your point of view:
Families
Students
Teachers
BBS High School: An international path of excellence
BBS International High School offers a comprehensive educational pathway designed to support students aged 14 to 19 within an international, stimulating and multicultural environment.
Our programme combines strong academic rigour with the development of linguistic, personal and global competences, all of which are essential for successfully approaching university and the world of tomorrow.
BBS International High School is the only school in Bergamo to offer the IGCSE as a full diploma, not limiting the provision to just two or three subjects, but delivering a genuinely structured pathway recognised at an international level.
BBS International High School is an academic programme delivered entirely in English (with the exception of Italian language lessons), taught by highly qualified native-speaking teachers specialised in their subject areas.
Our educational programme spans five years and combines two internationally recognised pathways:
-
IGCSE in the first three years, to build solid academic foundations, strengthen language skills and develop study methods and critical thinking;
-
The IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) in the final two years, to prepare students for university through an interdisciplinary, international and autonomy-oriented approach.
This model enables students to grow progressively, consolidating knowledge, skills and maturity within a modern environment that is open to the world and attentive to student wellbeing.
SIGN UP FOR THE OPEN DAY
The Campus
- Indoor and outdoor classrooms
- Auditorium
- Theatre
- Bar & Canteen
- Gym
- Italian/English Library
- Science Lab
- IT Lab
- Art & Design Lab
- Music & Sound Recording Studio
Indoor and outdoor classrooms
The campus is a pleasant and functional space for learning, socialising and living. Designed and implemented through the adoption of an advanced pedagogical approach, the campus is divided into humanities, science and research departments. What makes it unique is its open and modular architectural structure, which encourages flexibility and communication between the different areas.
Spaces include laboratories for science, technology, art, and music, indoor and outdoor classrooms, a bilingual library, as well as communal spaces such as an auditorium, theatre, café and gymnasium. The unique design promotes interdisciplinary learning and offers students a stimulating environment for their personal and academic development.
Auditorium
The campus is a pleasant and functional space for learning, socialising and living. Designed and implemented through the adoption of an advanced pedagogical approach, the campus is divided into humanities, science and research departments. What makes it unique is its open and modular architectural structure, which encourages flexibility and communication between the different areas.
Spaces include laboratories for science, technology, art, and music, indoor and outdoor classrooms, a bilingual library, as well as communal spaces such as an auditorium, theatre, café and gymnasium. The unique design promotes interdisciplinary learning and offers students a stimulating environment for their personal and academic development.
Theatre
The campus is a pleasant and functional space for learning, socialising and living. Designed and implemented through the adoption of an advanced pedagogical approach, the campus is divided into humanities, science and research departments. What makes it unique is its open and modular architectural structure, which encourages flexibility and communication between the different areas.
Spaces include laboratories for science, technology, art, and music, indoor and outdoor classrooms, a bilingual library, as well as communal spaces such as an auditorium, theatre, café and gymnasium. The unique design promotes interdisciplinary learning and offers students a stimulating environment for their personal and academic development.
Bar & Canteen
The campus is a pleasant and functional space for learning, socialising and living. Designed and implemented through the adoption of an advanced pedagogical approach, the campus is divided into humanities, science and research departments. What makes it unique is its open and modular architectural structure, which encourages flexibility and communication between the different areas.
Spaces include laboratories for science, technology, art, and music, indoor and outdoor classrooms, a bilingual library, as well as communal spaces such as an auditorium, theatre, café and gymnasium. The unique design promotes interdisciplinary learning and offers students a stimulating environment for their personal and academic development.
Gym
The campus is a pleasant and functional space for learning, socialising and living. Designed and implemented through the adoption of an advanced pedagogical approach, the campus is divided into humanities, science and research departments. What makes it unique is its open and modular architectural structure, which encourages flexibility and communication between the different areas.
Spaces include laboratories for science, technology, art, and music, indoor and outdoor classrooms, a bilingual library, as well as communal spaces such as an auditorium, theatre, café and gymnasium. The unique design promotes interdisciplinary learning and offers students a stimulating environment for their personal and academic development.
Italian/English Library
The campus is a pleasant and functional space for learning, socialising and living. Designed and implemented through the adoption of an advanced pedagogical approach, the campus is divided into humanities, science and research departments. What makes it unique is its open and modular architectural structure, which encourages flexibility and communication between the different areas.
Spaces include laboratories for science, technology, art, and music, indoor and outdoor classrooms, a bilingual library, as well as communal spaces such as an auditorium, theatre, café and gymnasium. The unique design promotes interdisciplinary learning and offers students a stimulating environment for their personal and academic development.
Science Lab
The campus is a pleasant and functional space for learning, socialising and living. Designed and implemented through the adoption of an advanced pedagogical approach, the campus is divided into humanities, science and research departments. What makes it unique is its open and modular architectural structure, which encourages flexibility and communication between the different areas.
Spaces include laboratories for science, technology, art, and music, indoor and outdoor classrooms, a bilingual library, as well as communal spaces such as an auditorium, theatre, café and gymnasium. The unique design promotes interdisciplinary learning and offers students a stimulating environment for their personal and academic development.
IT Lab
The campus is a pleasant and functional space for learning, socialising and living. Designed and implemented through the adoption of an advanced pedagogical approach, the campus is divided into humanities, science and research departments. What makes it unique is its open and modular architectural structure, which encourages flexibility and communication between the different areas.
Spaces include laboratories for science, technology, art, and music, indoor and outdoor classrooms, a bilingual library, as well as communal spaces such as an auditorium, theatre, café and gymnasium. The unique design promotes interdisciplinary learning and offers students a stimulating environment for their personal and academic development.
Art & Design Lab
The campus is a pleasant and functional space for learning, socialising and living. Designed and implemented through the adoption of an advanced pedagogical approach, the campus is divided into humanities, science and research departments. What makes it unique is its open and modular architectural structure, which encourages flexibility and communication between the different areas.
Spaces include laboratories for science, technology, art, and music, indoor and outdoor classrooms, a bilingual library, as well as communal spaces such as an auditorium, theatre, café and gymnasium. The unique design promotes interdisciplinary learning and offers students a stimulating environment for their personal and academic development.
Music & Sound Recording Studio
The campus is a pleasant and functional space for learning, socialising and living. Designed and implemented through the adoption of an advanced pedagogical approach, the campus is divided into humanities, science and research departments. What makes it unique is its open and modular architectural structure, which encourages flexibility and communication between the different areas.
Spaces include laboratories for science, technology, art, and music, indoor and outdoor classrooms, a bilingual library, as well as communal spaces such as an auditorium, theatre, café and gymnasium. The unique design promotes interdisciplinary learning and offers students a stimulating environment for their personal and academic development.
-
IGCSE, the first step towards an international future.
During the first three years of the BBS International High School, BBSchool offers students a unique pathway to build solid academic foundations, strengthen language skills, and develop effective study methods and critical thinking through the IGCSEs.
The IGCSEs (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) are internationally recognised qualifications designed for students aged 14 to 16/17. They can be considered the equivalent of the first two/three years of upper secondary school, but with a more international and structured approach.
The IGCSEs help students develop a strong grounding in key subjects—such as English, mathematics, the sciences, languages, and the humanities and social sciences—and to acquire the skills needed for future study, including study skills, critical thinking, and time management.
They are rigorous because:
-
they require consistent and in-depth study;
-
they include external examinations assessed by international bodies;
-
they develop both practical and theoretical skills to a high standard;
-
they accustom students to working independently and responsibly.
This level of commitment helps students become more mature and ready to take on more advanced programmes, and the IGCSEs also provide an excellent foundation for the next stage, the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP).
-
-
IBDP, the interdisciplinary approach that develops mind, character and future.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) supports the growth of curious, well-prepared, and empathetic students, capable of contributing to a more harmonious world through openness to different cultures and mutual respect.
The IBDP values the holistic development of the student—intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically—and prepares them to engage consciously and responsibly in a constantly evolving global society. Thanks to its academic rigour and international outlook, the programme is recognised and highly regarded by the world’s leading universities.
The IBDP enables students to achieve a high level of international-mindedness, defined both by its content and by the methodologies it employs.
Teaching.
The IB Diploma Programme groups subjects into six categories:
- Language and Literature
- Language Acquisition
- Individuals and Societies
- Experimental Sciences
- Mathematics
- Arts
Students must choose one subject from each of groups 1 to 5. In addition, they study a sixth subject, either from group 6 or from any group between 1 and 5.
Beyond the academic subjects, the IB Diploma Programme includes two further compulsory components:
- OK (Theory of Knowledge) – a core course in epistemology
- CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) – a programme of artistic, sporting, and community activities
Assessment also includes the preparation of an Extended Essay on a topic related to one of the subjects they have chosen.
BBSchool is an accredited IB World School for the teaching of the IB Diploma Programme.
The IBDP is an internationally recognised upper secondary qualification. The diploma is recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education and is legally equivalent to the Italian maturità.
For more information:
www.ibo.org
The tailor-made approach and international openness of the school programmes allow students from all over the world to easily fit into BBS classes, whatever their personal, cultural and academic background. Every student is supported on the path of admission, placement and studies.
A development implemented at school to help students progress in life
BBS International High School presents itself as a modern, up-to-date school, open to the world and capable of responding to the ever-changing and constantly renewed demands of today’s and tomorrow’s professional landscape.
BBS International High School is, in fact, the only school that, by offering all the most prestigious and widely recognised international academic programmes, enables students to gain access to the world’s top and most selective universities, whatever the student’s or their family’s interests, inclinations, or aspirations.
Ongoing counselling
To achieve high goals, such as admission to prestigious universities, it is necessary to take the right steps and make appropriate choices, including practical ones: selecting the right pathway, the most suitable subjects, and the activities that help build a curriculum tailored to future applications.
For this reason, BBS International High School offers a comprehensive and carefully designed counselling programme, which supports students and their families throughout the entire academic journey, starting from the first year, in order to jointly define the most suitable pathways, tools, and academic choices.
The counselling team at BBS works with the aim of encouraging students to gain a deep understanding of themselves through thorough self-exploration and self-analysis. The counsellor’s goal is to help students develop a profound awareness of their abilities and aptitudes, while fostering a sense of self-determination that enables them to find the most effective solutions and responses to their personal needs and aspirations.
What You Will Study in the First Three Years: IGCSEs
IGCSE Subject
- LANGUAGE: English Language and English Literature OR ESL (English as a Second Language)
- MATHEMATICS: Core or Extended
- SCIENCES: Coordinated Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
- HUMANITIES: History
- SOCIAL STUDIES: Economics
- CREATIVE/TECHNICAL: Art & Design and Computer Science
- LANGUAGE 3: Spanish/German/Chinese
SCHOOL-BASED Subject
- LANGUAGE: Italian/History (in italian)
- CREATIVITY: Music and Drama
- PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT: P.E. (Physical Education)
- PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) Project
- LANGUAGE 3: Latin
What You Will Study in the Final Two Years: IBDP
DP Subject
- LANGUAGE: English OR Italian
- MATHEMATICS: Standard OR Higher
- SCIENCES: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Design Technology
- INDIVIDUAL & SOCIETY: History, Economics, Psychology
- LANGUAGE 2: English
- 6th SUBJECT: One subject from the above
CORE
- CAS
- TOK
- EXTENDED ESSAY
The student at the centre
The International High School offers students the opportunity to make important decisions for their own future and for the society of tomorrow. At the heart of the entire educational programme is the student, who is first and foremost asked to make a consistent effort to focus on and shape themselves—their knowledge, personality, and interests—in order to determine where they want to go, which profession they would like to pursue, which field they wish to explore, and which country they would like to live in.
Through a tailor-made process that clarifies the final objectives, the school is able to work backwards, defining all the necessary steps for each student to achieve their goals. In this way, a BBS student can progressively acquire the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to apply to universities and colleges around the world and become the person they aspire to be.
TEACHING AT BBS HIGH SCHOOL
Teachers are experts and professionals in their subject areas and are responsible for planning, delivering, and assessing lessons in line with the curriculum objectives.
BBS teachers are required to stay constantly updated on developments in their discipline, as well as on new resources, methods, and international standards. Their role also involves networking with other professionals, parents, and teachers, both informally and formally.
Roles and responsibilities
As secondary school teachers, they are expected to adopt a teaching approach that is both effective and flexible, innovative yet solid.
At BBS, flexibility is understood as cross-curricular and multidisciplinary practice; this highlights the importance of the cooperative and collaborative attitude demonstrated by the BBS teaching staff.
Teachers are required to be well-prepared and up to date in order to effectively support and guide students through demanding programmes that require high levels of knowledge, focus, and skill.
For these reasons, teachers are not regarded merely as information providers, but as essential resources in defining the high level of preparation that BBS offers its students.
Values such as proactivity, a cooperative spirit, openness to dialogue and constructive discussion, inventiveness, creativity, sensitivity, and enthusiasm are therefore essential prerequisites that BBS International High School expects from its teaching staff.
BBS requires its teachers to possess an exceptional level of expertise, as well as a broad range of soft skills and values considered indispensable for delivering an educational pathway capable of developing students into well-rounded individuals.
What to expect
BBS strongly believes in the concept of a school community, supporting and valuing opportunities for meetings, exchange, and dialogue. Every BBS teacher is expected to give their best and to consistently propose up-to-date solutions and strategies that can guide the resolution of specific challenges or open questions.
BBS provides its teachers with training and professional development opportunities, in which each member is encouraged to participate according to their interests and needs.
The BBS environment is therefore dynamic, demanding, and constantly evolving, but above all it is open to new ideas, initiatives, and people. Everyone is welcomed into the community and made to feel an integral part of a system that, with ambition, determination, and positivity, works towards creating the best possible future—not only for students but for the entire school community.
Work with us!
Fill in the contact form: tell us about yourself, your qualifications, your goals and what you would like to do with us!
