<P> Usually students start Primary School at the age of 6, but students who are born between January and March and are still 5 years old can access primary school early; this is called Primina . For example, a student born in February 2002 can attend primary school with students born in 2001 . </P> <P> Secondary education in Italy lasts 8 years and is divided in two stages: Scuola secondaria di primo grado (Lower secondary school), also broadly known as Scuola media, which corresponds to the Middle School grades, and Scuola secondaria di secondo grado (Upper secondary school), also broadly known as Scuola superiore, which corresponds to the high - school level . </P> <P> The Scuola secondaria di primo grado lasts three years (roughly from age 11 to 14). </P> <P> The Scuola secondaria di secondo grado lasts five years (roughly from age 14 to 19). Every tier involves an exam at the end of the final year, called esame di maturità, required to gain a degree and have access to further university education . </P>

How does the school system work in italy