From Cambridge Excellence to IB Success: The Academic Journey at Acorn International School
Academic success is built over time. It grows through consistent learning, dedicated teachers, and an educational environment that encourages students to develop confidence, curiosity, and a genuine passion for learning.
At Acorn International School, every stage of a student’s education is designed to prepare them for the next. The outstanding achievements celebrated this year by both our Middle School and High School students reflect a coherent educational journey—one that begins with strong language foundations and culminates in internationally recognised qualifications that open doors to universities around the world.
Building Strong Foundations from an Early Age
From the very beginning of their educational journey, Acorn students benefit from a Dual Curriculum that combines the best of the British and Italian education systems. Through daily English immersion, students develop advanced language skills naturally, using English not only as a subject but as the language of learning across the curriculum.
This approach is reflected in the exceptional results achieved in this year’s Cambridge English examinations.
Every Year 9 student successfully achieved the Cambridge C1 Advanced qualification, demonstrating an advanced level of English proficiency that is widely recognised by universities and employers around the world.
One student went even further, earning the prestigious Cambridge C2 Proficiency certificate—the highest qualification offered by Cambridge English.
These achievements are the result of a carefully structured learning journey that begins years earlier. Many Acorn students reach B2 level as early as Year 6, giving them a significant advantage as they progress through Middle School and beyond.
Preparing Students for Academic Excellence
Cambridge qualifications represent far more than language certificates.
They equip students with the confidence to analyse complex texts, express ideas effectively, participate in academic discussions and study entirely in English. These are essential skills that prepare students not only for the challenges of High School but also for the academic demands of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.
The outstanding Cambridge results achieved by our Middle School students therefore represent an important milestone within a much broader educational journey.
Celebrating the Success of Our First IB Diploma Cohort
This year also marked another historic milestone for Acorn International School as we celebrated the graduation of our first International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme cohort.
The results were exceptional.
Our students achieved an average score of 33.5 points, placing the school above the global IB average and reflecting the strength of our academic programme.
The majority of graduates were also awarded the IB Bilingual Diploma, recognising their ability to study and excel in more than one language while embracing an international approach to learning.
Students achieved particularly strong results in Economics and English, demonstrating outstanding analytical thinking, communication skills and academic writing.
Opening Doors to Universities Across Europe
The success of our students extends well beyond their examination results.
Graduates from Acorn’s first IB cohort will continue their academic journeys at universities across Italy and Europe, pursuing degrees in Engineering, Mathematics, Biology, Design, Drama and Music.
These diverse destinations reflect not only academic achievement but also each student’s confidence in pursuing their individual passions and ambitions.
More Than Academic Results
While examination results are an important measure of achievement, they tell only part of the story.
Behind every qualification is a learning environment that values personalised support, critical thinking, international-mindedness and the development of each student’s unique potential.
From the first Cambridge qualifications achieved in Middle School to the outstanding results of our inaugural IB Diploma cohort, Acorn International School provides students with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to succeed—not only in examinations, but throughout university and beyond.
