Welcome to our learning community
It is a profound privilege to welcome you to the International School of Florence. Whether you are a prospective family looking for a educational home or a current member of our community, I invite you to discover what makes ISF a deeply special place to grow.
Since 1952, ISF has stood as a beacon of international education in one of the most culturally significant cities in the world. To me, our school is a vibrant space where we don’t just study history, culture, or science—we live it. Every day on our campuses, we strive to create an inclusive environment where every student feels seen, challenged, and inspired.
Learning for our shared future
Our school operates with a clear, collective purpose. Our Mission, Learning for our Shared Future, captures our deep belief that education is about far more than individual achievement.
It is about learning together, from one another, and with genuine intent. This mission serves as a daily reminder that our students, teachers, staff, and families all play an invaluable part in shaping the future of ISF. Together, we work to prepare young people to contribute with confidence, compassion, and integrity to the complex world around them.
Engaging together to explore and grow
How do we bring this mission to life? Our Vision, Engaging together to explore and grow in our complex world, reflects the very heart of an ISF education.
We want our community to engage deeply with big ideas, with one another, with the city of Florence, and with the wider world. We design learning to be active, deeply reflective, and interconnected. This approach gives both our students and adults the courage to explore new ideas, the resilience to grow through challenges, and the lifelong curiosity to keep learning.
Our core values in action
At the heart of my leadership and our school are four key pillars: Respect, Responsibility, Relationships, and Resilience.
- Respect: we celebrate diversity and honor every individual’s voice, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
- Relationships: we are a small, tight-knit community where teachers and students know each other by name.
- Resilience: we encourage our students to be “makers and doers,” teaching them that mistakes are simply milestones on the path to innovation.
- Responsibility: we nurture global citizens who understand their impact on the world around them.
A partnership for the future
Education is a journey we take together. I believe that the strongest schools are built on a foundation of partnership between educators and parents. Our faculty, a talented group of professionals from over a dozen countries, is dedicated to nurturing the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally.
As an IB World School, we provide the tools for academic excellence, but we also provide the space for imaginative thinking. We want our graduates to leave the school not just with a diploma, but with the curiosity to keep asking “Why?” and the confidence to answer “Why not?”
Join our community
I encourage you to visit our campuses. From the tranquil olive groves of the Junior School’s Villa le Tavernule, to the historical halls of the Upper School’s Villa Torri di Gattaia.
Warmly,
Sharyn Baddeleey