Liceo Giotto Ulivi di Borgo San

Liceo Giotto Ulivi di Borgo San Lorenzo

Studying for a better life

The School

An avant-garde construction
Surrounded by greenery, within an area of 36,700 square metres, lies the Liceo Giotto Ulivi. The school – measuring 4,800 square metres – each year receives around 1100 students, offering large classrooms, laboratories, a refectory and an auditorium measuring 780 square metres with room for 300 seated persons.

Giotto Ulivi is a school which keeps up with the times, responding to all safety regulations, without physical obstacles for the disabled, blessed with ample classrooms, modern laboratories, special lecture halls and cutting edge educational equipment. The laboratories provide a modern and effective approach to learning thanks to the instruments available to all students, irrespective of their chosen educational path. Attached to the school is a large agricultural terrain and an entirely computer-operated greenhouse, allowing those studying Agricolo-Forestale(farming experts) the chance for practical experiments. The school, situated in the heart of the Mugello, is connected by bus and train to all the towns and villages in the region. The school timetable is devised with close attention to the transport timetable, thus avoiding long waits for the students. School is Monday to Saturday from 8.05 am to 1.35 pm with students of the traditional Liceo Scientifico (scientific path) leaving school, in some cases at junior level, as early as 11.55 am. Teachers move to different classrooms for their lessons except when classes are held in laboratories. In this case the students leave their usual classroom and go to the various labs of the school. With PE classes the students go to the gym or yard within the school premises or to a nearby swimming pool.

After-school

In the afternoon the school is used for various extra-curriculum activities, such as:

Drama school (with theatre productions)

Filming and post production film editing

Computer courses for the attainment of the European Computer Driving Licence (EDCL)

Language courses for the European certificate in linguistic knowledge

Driving courses to achieve the necessary scooter licence

What’s inside

Inside the school are:

Video projection theatres

Linguistic laboratory with booths

Multimedia laboratory

Videoconference room

Computer suites

Biology laboratory with multimedia room

Chemistry laboratory

Chemical-physics laboratory

Physics laboratory

Weather laboratory with meteorological hut

Art room

Agrarian mechanics laboratory

What’s outside

Attached to the school are:

Sports hall

Refectory with kitchen

Auditorium for student assemblies, music and theatre productions, meetings and other events

Library using the territorial librarian system

Museum of natural sciences

Special laboratories

Extra-curriculum activities

Looking to the future

For the future of its own students the school organises:

University and careers guidance for students in the 4th and 5th year

Work experience for the 4th year in collaboration with public bodies, companies and training colleges

Educational projects in conjunction with local authorities

Specialised post-18 courses

Formative courses by individual application

Apprenticeship modules

Refectory and bar

Inside the school students can make use of a communal canteen providing low-cost meals; in addition to which, a welcoming bar is available for drinks, snacks and quick meals during lunch and mid-morning break.

Student support

Operating within the school, in colloboration with the A.S.L., the C.I.C. (Advice and Information Centre) provides support to all students, in addition the school offers its own students support activities featured annually in the P.O.F. (Piano Offerta Formativa – Educational Plan).

First and second literacy courses for foreign students

Tutoring services

Health education activities

Advice centre in association with the psychologists of the A.S.L.(National Health Service)
Employment of professional educators

Extra-curricular activities

For its own students the school organises:

Sports groups

Summer study holidays in France, England, Ireland and Germany

Class or individual cultural exchanges with schools in Germany, Austria, France, Poland, Greece and Australia

Depending on interest and complying to the school’s capabilties the following after-school activities are organised:

Ceramics courses

Photography courses

Music courses

Painting courses

Fishing courses
video production courses

Other activities depending on student demand

Scientific Path: a platform for University

The school’s teaching programme provides a thorough educational and cultural preparation, indispensable for further study. Graduates can enrol at any university faculty or sign up for specialised post-18 courses aimed towards various types of employment.

The teaching programme offers the study of humanities, sciences and the English language.

P.N.I. (National Computer Plan): this course is characterised by a more thorough and modern learning of Mathematics and Information Technology.

Experimental Sciences: this course provides a more in-depth understanding of Biology, Chemistry, general Geography and Astronomy, further enhanced thanks to the experimental methods within the laboratory.

Study programme for normal course

Subjects: Religious Education/alternative subject, Physical Education, Italian, Latin, English, History, Philosophy, Mathematics, Human Geography, Natural Sciences – Chemistry – Geography, Physics, Drawing and Art History. (28 average weekly hours in the 5-year course)

Study programme for P.N.I. course

Subjects: Religious Education/alternative subject, Physical Education, Italian, Latin, English, History, Philosophy, Mathematics and Information Technology, Human Geography, Natural Sciences – Chemistry – Geography, Physics, Drawing and Art History.

(30 average weekly hours in the 5-year course)

Study programme for Experimental Sciences course

(29 average weekly hours in the 5-year course)

Linguistic Path

The linguistic path, outlined by a solid and in-depth learning in both the literary and scientific fields, offers students the chance to learn three foreign languages: English, German and French.

The study programme includes:

The presence in all language classes of a mother-tongue assistant

Regular use of the linguistic and multimedia laboratories

Cultural exchanges with foreign schools (at least 2 within the 5-year period)

Participation in the European Comenius projects and Language

Lessons via videoconference with foreign schools

Work experience at the end of the 4th year in collaboration with tourist/hotel companies/farm holiday resorts

The possibility of summer study holidays in England, France, Ireland and Germany

Graduates from the linguistic school can sign up at any university faculty. An ability in linguistics allows, moreover, a greater chance of finding work, above all in the tourism/hospitality field and public relations sector.

Study programme for the linguistic school

Subjects: Religious Education/alternative subject, Physical Education, Italian, History and Geography, History, Latin, 1st Foreign Language, 2nd Foreign Language, 3rd Foreign Language, Law, Philosophy, Mathematics and Information Technology, Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, Laboratory Physics/Chemistry, Geographical Sciences, Practical Drawing, Artistic and Visual Understanding, Artistic and Visual Understanding and Art History. (35 hours a week )

To understand and be understood

The school is equipped with two language laboratories, one multimedia and the other with booths both with a television satellite system, and a state-of-the-art videoconference room on 3 ISDN lines. A new digital language laboratory is scheduled for the year 2005-06

Technical two-Year Programme

(Biennio tecnico)

The technical 2-year programme is designed with the aim of reaching two final goals:

To make easier the transition from compulsory to further education, introducing the methods of advanced learning expected at degree level.

To allow an easy passage from one study path to another, without getting caught behind in study; for this the student must study a number of core subjects (27 hours of lessons a week) as well as the lessons of their chosen study path (9 hours a week).

Here follows the study programmes for the three study paths of the technical 2-year programme, with their relative weekly hours:

Core Subjects

Religious Education/alternative subject, Physical Education, Italian, Mathematics and Information Technology, English, Chemical Physics, Earth Sciences, Biology, History, Law.

These subjects are added to those of the student’s chosen study path making a total of 36 hours a week.

Agricultural-Forest Path

Subject: Physics, Drawing and Cartography, Ecology and Botanics, Chemistry.

Building and Land Surveying Path

Subject: Technical Drawing, Physics, Construction, Technolgy.

Commercial Path

Subject: French or German, Company Economics, Word and Data Processing.

Linguistic Path (only in the mountain town of Firenzuola )

Subject: 2nd Language, Latin, Drawing and Art History.

A good starting point for everyone

Modern, functioning science laboratories in line with all safety regulations allow for numerous experiments to be carried out. The laboratories are fully equipped for the study of Chemistry, Biology (with a multimedia room), Physics and Chemical Physics. Also available to students is a weather laboratory with a meteorological hut and an agricultural mechanics laboratory.

Three-year programmes to prepare for the working world

Agricultural-Forest Three-Year Programme

The Agricultural-Forest path from which students obtain a diploma in agriculture consists of a theoretical preparation of practical exercises relative to various subjects, carried out on the land connected to the school and in conjunction with the rural workers of the area.

It is different to the government’s CERERE study programme because:

it increases the hours of: Vegetable production techniques, Chemical agriculture and food agriculture technology, Drawing and Cartography, a 2-year study of cultivation, work experience at the end of the 4th year

At the end of the course the student has achieved the following level of capability:

manage or collaborate in the running of a commercial farm

look after a farm in various aspects (technical, economical, accounts)

provide explanations for the choices in production and on the methods of breeding livestock

make appropriate decisions in the running and conservation of the country’s woodland

carry out plans for country planning and for the protection of the environment

The diploma in agriculture allows the student to:

gain access to any degree course

carry out the profession of farmer (after a 2-year apprenticeship and the passing of an exam in order to be registered professionally)

enter public administration (environmental bodies, local authorities)

enter the private sector (farming companies or transformation)

Study programme for the Three-Year Agricultural-Forest Path

Subjects: Religious Education, Physical Education, Italian, History, English, Animal Production, Vegetable Production, Applied Biology, Drawing, Cartography and Topography, Chemistry and Agricultural Food Technology, Mathematics and Information Technology, Cultivation, Management, Valuation, Elements of Legislation, Mechanisation and Rural Construction.

The greenhouse’s heating and airing systems are controlled by computer. Farming work is carried out on an area of land 15,000 square metres, for which numerous types of modern agricultural machinery are used.

Three-year programmes for a worthy qualification

Building and Land Surveying Three-Year Programme

The Building and Land Surveying path has been conceived according to the guidelines set out by the government project CINQUE.

At the end of the course, which includes work experience, the student will have achieved

a professional competence in the fields of planning, transformation and improvement of public buildings

the ability to organise and compile metric calculations, also with the use of a computer

the ability to carry out surveys using both classic methods and also more sophisticated instruments provided by the school (satellite surveying)

the ability to plan simple installations carried out with particular attention to energy-saving problems

a knowledge of CAD, graphic software used for planning and surveying

With the geometry diploma it is possible to:

gain access to any degree course

gain employment thanks to a technical qualification

become self-employed, upon a 2-year apprenticeship at a technical studio and the completion of an ability exam to sign up for the professional register.

Study programme for the Three-Year Building and Land Surveying Path

Subjects: Religion, Physical Education, Italian, History, English, Construction, Drawing and Planning, Chemistry, Hydraulic Installations and Applications, Law, Geopedology, Economics, Valuation, Mathematics, Topography.

Students who choose the Building and Land Surveying study path must work out their surveys and measurements using both mental calculations and also professional software commonly used in the real working environment.

Three-year programmes in pursuit of a certain professionalism

The Commercial Three-Year Programme

This three-year programme is designed for students who wish to become expert accountants in legal, economic and business problems, also possessing competence in the study of processes which distinguish the management of an enterprise, a good knowledge of languages and an excellent understanding of information technology.

The course is structured according to the study programmes set forth by the government’s IGEA (Indirizzo Giuridico Economico Aziendale) and is characterised by:

a greater number of hours devoted to Information Technology activities carried out in the computer laboratory

the teaching of two foreign languages for the entire five years (English/French or English/German)

a three-week work experience at a company or professional studio at the end of the 4th year.

The accounting diploma allows the student to:

participate in public and private competitive examinations (public administration, banks, insurance agencies etc.)

carry out entrepreneurial activities

gain direct entry to the Chamber of Commerce in one of the following roles: R.E.C. (Traders of Commerce Ledger); register of estate agents, register of agents and representatives of Commerce, register of insurance sub-agents.

Students with a degree in accounting have access to all university faculties and to courses necessary to achieve self-employment.

Study programme for the Three-Year Commercial Path

Subjects: Religion, Physical Education, Italian, History, 1st Language: English, 2nd Language: French/German, Business Economics, Political Economics, Economical Geography, Law, Mathematics, Financial Science.

The school is home to three modern computer suites in which students can work individually using software normally used only in a professional environment.

Not just studying – plenty of room for sport

Within the school a fully-equipped Sports Hall (2230 square metres) allows the practice of a variety of sporting activities such as basketball, handball, volleyball, five-a-side football, table-tennis, gymnastics and aerobics. Close by, a modern public swimming pool means swimming can also be easily practiced. The extensive green areas which surround the school are perfect for practicing outdoor sports such as mountain-biking, athletics and cross-country; in addition, golf and sailing courses are organised in the afternoons making use of the nearby spaces. For those students who wish to enter in competition the school offers the opportunity to participate in student championships.