AMI Montessori Diploma 12-18

Overview
What Students Say
What can I do with this qualification?
Fees

Overview

The sought-after AMI Diploma for working with adolescents – offered for the first time at the Maria Montessori Institute with world-renowned expert 12-18 trainer Jenny Marie Höglund. With AMI training at the 12-18 years stage you could become a Montessori Teacher and teach authentic Montessori for 12-18 year olds anywhere in the world, set up your own school or extend the age range of your school or use the approach with your own children.

This modular course is your opportunity to learn about young people’s development and psychology and how to deliver the Montessori educational approach for this age group. The course includes lectures and discussions, a practical residential module at a farm school in Sweden and teaching practice in schools run by teachers who hold AMI Diplomas.

Details

course Modular

Location London and Sweden

Next course March 2026-August 2027

Entry requirements Over 18 and ‘A’ levels or equivalent qualifications/ work experience

Suitable for those working in a school or new to Montessori/ education The scheduling of the course has been designed with those working in schools in mind and observations/ teaching practice can possibly be done in your own school if it is suitable

Open to international students International students will not need a student visa for the in-person modules and practice placements could be completed at a school local to you

Course Fees To be confirmed - varies depending on payment option - see below for details

A unique training opportunity

This course offers the opportunity to train with one of the world's leading AMI 12-18 experts and experienced trainer Jenny Marie Höglund. With modules in London, observation/ teaching practice at a location to suit you and a short module in Sweden this course offers a practical way to gain one of the best groundings in AMI 12-18. The four-week residential module at the Montessori farm school in Sweden is likely to be a highlight of the course.

Training Information Session

Quality in-person modules in London

Students will be on-site at our specially designed AMI training centre in central London for 2 week and 5 week modules. The modules are short enough that you won’t require a student visa if coming from overseas. See below for further visa information. You will be able to engage directly with experienced AMI trainers, the materials and each other.

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A unique residential experience at a Montessori farm school for adolescents in Sweden

The course includes a four week residential experience in Sweden where you will live and work together on the land as a community just as the adolescents do in the Montessori 12-18 programme.

Flexible observation and teaching practice placements to best suit individual students

Observations of children and young people (2 weeks) and a practice placement (4 weeks) can take place at suitable AMI schools or environments local to you. We can advise you on securing these placements. There may be the opportunity to complete these parts of the course at a school you are already working at.

What Students Say

Training Information Session

Elena
AMI Diploma 12-18 Graduate

“It was a privilege to experience the life that could be offered to adolescents, to all adolescents, with the work, the study, the games, the jokes, the laughter and the hardships and misunderstandings that are part of all human relationships. Above all, it was a privilege to find a course that not only enriched me intellectually and in terms of knowledge, but also truly gave me the opportunity for a spiritual enrichment, as rare as it is profound.”

Elisabeth
AMI Diploma 12-18 Graduate

“By experiencing the position of the adolescents in their environment, we rediscover the simple joy of serving others, of feeling useful, of making an effort for the community around us, but also of making a positive contribution to humanity.”

Regina
AMI Diploma 12-18 Graduate

“I am genuinely grateful for this course and happy to be part of the community of adolescent educators. The time I spent in Sweden was not only an educational experience but also a spiritual fortification that deepened my understanding of Montessori philosophy. Now, I feel ready not only to teach but also to open a school, implement the work and study program, and be a mentor for future teachers.”

What can I do with this qualification?

Work in Montessori setting for young people between 12 and 18 anywhere in the world
Set up your own Montessori school or expand your school to include young people aged 12-18 years
Use your qualification in your work as a teacher, educator or school administrator or for social work, research in child development, nannying or childminding
Run ground-breaking child or family support programmes
Enhance and inform your approach with your own children

Montessori careers Training Information Session

Course Content

The approach to learning is unique - theoretical modules at our training centre in London; a residential module at a farm school in Sweden; observation and teaching practice at schools to suit you and reading and written assignments.

On the course learning will be facilitated by:
• Stimulating lectures and reading assignments
• Group discussion and collaborative project work
• Reflection questions and reading responses
• Practical experience of a residential living and working setting that will be experienced by the adolescents in a Montessori 12-18 environment
• Classroom observations and teaching practice placements
• An independent literature review on a self-chosen topic relating to adolescents and their development

Montessori Educational Theory

Learn in-depth Montessori philosophy, psychology and child development with a focus on children and young people aged 12-18 years. Look in-depth at a topic of your choice in an independent literature review assignment.

Teacher Training

You will be fully trained to deliver the authentic Montessori educational approach for young people aged 12-18 years. You will learn how to prepare an adolescent programme and how to nurture young people at this stage of development. This will include a plan of Study and Work, including production and exchange, self-expression and community life for adolescents aged 12-18.

Residential module at a farm school in Sweden

You will spend four weeks at the Montessori farm school in Sweden working on the land and living with your fellow students and experiencing the Montessori programme for 12-18-year-olds yourself.

Teaching Practice and Observation

A key component of this course is a practice placement and observation with children in AMI Montessori settings. This includes observations with children from the 0-3, 3-6, 6-12 and 12-18 years age groups. The practice placement in a 12-18 environment will see you spend four weeks working alongside adolescents. All observations and placements can take place at a suitable school of your choosing and we can assist with arranging the placements.

AMI Diploma 12-18 Trainer

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Jenny Marie Höglund

12-18 Course Director

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Course Dates and Times

This is a modular course with in-person modules at our Central London training centre with seminars and lectures; a residential module at a farm school in Sweden; observations and teaching practice at a school convenient to you; and study and written assignments.

Part 1 – Session 1 – 23 March to 2 April 2026 at our London training centre

Part 1 – Session 2 – 6 July to 31 July 2026 residential placement at farm school in Sweden

Part 2 – 2 weeks observation and 4 weeks practice placement plus study/coursework

Part 3 – 27 July to end of August 2027 at our London training centre

The observation and teaching practice placements include the following:

6 hours observation in a 0-3 environment run by an AMI qualified teacher
6 hours observation in a 3-6 environment run by an AMI qualified teacher
18 hours observation in a 6-12 environment run by an AMI qualified teacher
40 hours observation in a 12-18 environment run by an AMI qualified teacher
Four consecutive weeks working alongside adolescents in a 12-18 environment run by an AMI qualified teacher

Training Information Session Ask A Course Advisor

Fees

To be announced

Training Information Session Ask A Course Advisor

Frequently Asked Questions

Training Information Session

What will I need to do to gain the qualification?

90% course attendance
70 hours of child observation
160 hours (4 consecutive weeks) of teaching practice placement at an approved school/ environment
Submission of written assignments
Written and oral examinations

Do you accept students from outside the UK? Do I need a Visa?

Our students come from all over the world and our fees are the same for everyone.

You will not need a student visa for the in-person modules in London. However, depending which country you come from you may need a visitor visa. For UK visas please see https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa and contact us with any visa queries at course@mariamontessori.org

For information on visas for the module in Sweden please see https://www.government.se/government-policy/migration-and-asylum/information-on-visas/

The practice placements can potentially take place outside of the UK at an approved school with an AMI trained Montessori teacher.

Where is the training located?

The course is modular.

London modules take place at our training centre at 41 Riding House Street, London, W1W 7BE.

The Swedish module takes place at a Montessori farm school at Kärra Gunnlered 8, 511 99, Sätila, Sweden. Accommodation and half-board dining is included in the course fees.

You will also undertake observations and a teaching practice placement at an approved school or environment – this could be in a school you already work at.

What are the dates and times of the course?

Part 1 – Session 1 – 23 March to 2 April 2026 at our London training centre

Part 1 – Session 2 – 6 July to 31 July 2026 residential placement at farm school in Sweden

Part 2 – 2 weeks observation and 4 weeks practice placement plus study/coursework

Part 3 – 27 July to end of August 2027 at our London training centre

Do you offer help in finding a job after completion of the Diploma course?

AMI Diploma holders are sought after for employment both in the UK and internationally. We advertise jobs at the Maria Montessori School on our Current Vacancies webpage where you can also find links to AMI and Montessori Society job listings. We share details of school vacancies and other external vacancies with our students.

What if English isn't my first language?

You need a good level of English to succeed on our courses. All applicants need to demonstrate their ability to understand and express themselves in both written and spoken English.

For applicants without English as a mother-tongue, a copy of a recent recognised English Language test which must be equivalent to CEFR Level C1 or higher in reading, spoken and written English. If you have studied at degree level or above in an English-speaking university, please enquire if this is required. Please email us with any questions about this – course@mariamontessori.org

Do you provide student accommodation?

London modules – we do not provide accommodation but we can send you general information about finding accommodation in London. We will also connect you to other students before the start of the course as students sometimes organise accommodation together.

Swedish residential module – accommodation and half-board dining is included in the course fees.

What is the application process?

Applicants are asked to complete our online application form.

You will then be asked to email a number of supporting documents including a personal statement, a fitness to teach health form, references and education certificates.

You may also be asked to have an interview online or by phone with the Course Director. You will be notified during the application process if this is required.

Successful applicants will be offered a course place.

Does the Maria Montessori Institute arrange the teaching practice placement?

The teaching practice placement is arranged by the student in collaboration with the Institute and can take place in the UK or outside of the UK at an approved Montessori school r environment with an AMI trained lead teacher.

The Maria Montessori Institute will advise on how to contact an appropriate school and provide support with this process if needed.

How long is the teaching practice?

You will observe children and undertake teaching practice in an approved AMI Montessori school/ environment. The observation and teaching practice placements include the following:

6 hours observation in a 0-3 environment run by an AMI qualified teacher
6 hours observation in a 3-6 environment run by an AMI qualified teacher
18 hours observation in a 6-12 environment run by an AMI qualified teacher
40 hours observation in a 12-18 environment run by an AMI qualified teacher
Four consecutive weeks working alongside adolescents in a 12-18 environment run by an AMI qualified teacher