We are delighted to announce a new affiliate school in Italy from the 1st January 2025. Also known as The British School of Taranto, IH Taranto is a community school in a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy.
"IH Taranto is a strong community school with a significant presence in the city,” noted Emma Hoyle, Managing Director of IH World. “With their enthusiasm for collaboration and community, we are in no doubt that they will be a wonderful addition to the IH network.”
Next year is the school’s 50-year golden anniversary which is a testament to their status in the community.
“We're glad to celebrate our golden anniversary with this amazing self-gift,” commented Roberta Buono, School Owner and Director. “We are honoured to join such a well-known international group and can't wait to bring a bit of Taranto worldwide.”
IH Taranto’s courses
IH Taranto offers a range of courses for young learners, teens, and adults. These include General English, Exam Preparation, and Business English courses both on-site and online. The school also provides language training at local state schools and runs government-funded courses for unemployed youth (18–29 years old). Additionally, the school teaches General English to teachers in state schools and IGCSE Physics, Biology and ESL courses at one of the most important Cambridge International High Schools in the city.
The school is accredited as a Cambridge Exam Open Centre and is also a member of International Association of British Schools of English group (AIBSE), a cultural body that brings together over 70 locations in Italy.
How the school started
The school has an intriguing history with the founder, Suzanne Marchington, arriving in the city in the 1970s from Toronto, Canada. She chose Taranto as a destination to compare it to her hometown of almost exactly the same name (“apart from just a letter”). Suzanne founded the school in 1975 when there was little interest in language learning. In 1992, Suzanne returned to Canada and passed the reins to Anna Ancona, who, along with her daughter Roberta, continues to manage the school today.
“We are glad to say that the school is one of the most recognised, accredited and recommended language schools in the area,” reported Anna Ancona. “With a large, established team of staff and a family-run school atmosphere.”
Why IH Taranto wanted to join IH
We asked the team why they chose to affiliate with International House and they expressed their desire to be part of a global network that fosters collaboration and innovation.
“We wish to become part of the big IH family in order to work with an international organisation that can give us the opportunity to exchange ideas and projects with colleagues from all over the world. Moreover, we really appreciate the importance given to teacher’s development and we would love to give our teachers the chance to get in touch with professionals based in other countries in order to share tips and materials. We have a great mix of nationalities within our team and I think this would be a great opportunity for them too.”
The school premises and facilities
The school is housed in a private, four-story building that includes classrooms, offices, and a computer lab (where Cambridge exams are held). Part of the ground floor and the second-floor house the administrative offices, while the other floors are dedicated to teaching spaces. IH Taranto also has a private car park and a courtyard used for summer camps. The classrooms are well-equipped, as is the teacher staff room, creating a conducive learning environment for both students and staff.
A warm welcome to the IH network
We are overjoyed to welcome this well-established and ambitious school into the network. We believe the IH Taranto team will bring valuable expertise and be an important asset to the IH network.
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