Apologies, I have seen many posts about Zurich schools but I couldn't find anything latest, that is 2014 posts on schools. We will be moving to Zurich from England, next year and I would like to know your experiences / recommendations on following schools. My son will join Grade 6 next year.
ZIS Baden, International School of Zurich North(ISZN) and International school of Zug and Luzern.
We are flexible on our location to live, depending on a good school.
Thanks
We too will be moving to Zurich kids who would be finishing primary school this year.
I'd be particularly interested in hearing the experiences of anyone who:
- enrolled late primary/early middle schoolers into the local Swiss system and whether the immersion + intensive German lessons allowed them to keep learning in other areas (eg maths, science, social studies) or whether it meant a complete year-long break from everything but language acquisition.
- attempted to discuss grade-placement or other accommodations for abler kids at school (local or international) to account for this - eg not sitting through maths that they already did last year in another country.
- has experience of which (if any) international schools do well at offering differentiated teaching at the middle school level to account for the varying educational backgrounds to those they integrate.
In Zurich there is also Intercommunity (ICS) and a number of other bilingual schools, including three with Montessori programmes for primary school and one (Lipschule) offers a differentiated/individualised programme for age 12-16.
Even with the best recommendations you are advised to get around and visit each potential school. The issues are far too varied.
If you cannot afford or want to attempt to integrate your child, then each individual area has their own local schools and there will be a big variation in wat is offered. They will need to do intensive language classes, and I would say that even for the brightest and most dedicated student (which adolescents normally are not), it will take 2-4 years at least to get the language to a confident level to thrive...and that is not taking into account the social challenges...
My eldest did 4 years (9-12 years) in the Montessori bilingual school and is just about to finish the local secondary school in the A level class, and has applied to go to the FMS (Fachmittelschule) to get in, she needs to pass an exam in German, French and Maths. She is a highly capable student who performs badly under pressure and is considered 'gifted' in languages...she is finally getting the hang of the concept of 'studying' now... At 15.5 years old..
Our second has complex medical needs, but did 6 years in bilingual Montessori and is also in the local Sek A, and doing reasonably well despite having erratic attendance due to ill health since he started secondary. Unfortunately, puberty affects his health condition, and it is making it highly complex, he is also 18 months behind in physical growth, so is the smallest boy in the class, which will either make him a target for bullying or a firecracker...it's going to be pretty complex to balance his needs, but so far the local school has been highly supportive...other than very worried...
The big 'plus' side of the Swiss system is flexibility with entry ages. Acceleration is frowned upon, but we have a friend whose son is 17 and entering his second attempt at gymnasium this year... If he completes the short gymi, he will be 21 going to university. Time will tell whether that is the best option for him.
If our daughter goes to FMS she can do a 3-4 year programme, finish at 19 then decide whether to do the teaching course that she has her eye on, or something else at the Fachhochschule (applied sciences/pedagogical university) or do a bridging to get to a classical university... Or go back to Australia and continue on there...
There may be a new international school opening in Baden in the location of the current school - that will be decided sometime in March so I'd look into that more if you are interested. As it will be a new school, my guess is that there will be open spaces to fill.
As others have suggested, it really is very important to visit all the potential schools and see what fits your family. At grade 6, I think if you can afford it I'd suggest going the international route rather than local schools.
Good luck with your move!
They had been attending grades 4 & 6 in a French Immersion school in Canada. We enrolled them in grades 4 & 6 over here (due to their late Spring birthdays, they would have been in those grades here anyways). In hindsight it was a good decision to give them the extra year. Due to differences in curriculum, and it being taught differently they were not really that much ahead in maths. They did not receive intensive German lessons (small school/village), but were pulled out of class for extra German for the first 3 months or so).
Son, now 13, still struggles quite a bit with the language, especially since in the higher grades so much depends on it. Sciences are particularly difficult. However, the teachers did recognize his potential and he was placed in Sek ( middle of 3 tiers of streaming) for Grade 7, where he manages to hold his own and he brings home pass marks in all subjects, including German. We could not get him exempted from English unfortunately, so that is very boring for him. Sometimes he answers questions in English on tests in all subjects, when he can't find the German words, and they have been quite tolerant of this. We don't mind if he chooses the apprenticeship path down the road, so going on to Gymnasium is not that important to us, there are other ways to get to university if he chooses later on.
Daughter , now 11, has had an easier time. Languages come easily to her, and the subject matter and language required in grade 4/5 has been easier, she averages a 5 (B), even in German now. Although, she is still upset about this, as she was an A student in Canada, but we are confident she will get there again. Her goal is to be streamed into Spez. Sek at the end of Grade 6, as she wants to attend Gymnasium, she needs about a 5.2 average for this.
My mom is supporting both of them every afternoon with homework help, and extra German, maths, and whatever they need help with, about 1/2 hour per kid. This has helped the most, and I would highly recommend you find a native speaker to give homework and language support through the school, neighbours, etc. if you choose local school.
Me on the other hand, missed out on my preferred degree by a tiny percentage point, went another route, finished a community work degree, worked in administration and project management, got married, had three kids and now run a child-care centre... did a few other things in between... and currently have an employer that absolutely supports my ability to work and my responsibilities as a parent.... which is worth more than the money, for sure...
As other have said Baden will be closed down. My son goes go ZIS and I very much like it. It is a great "support" community. If you are looking at staying long term and you want your kids to fully intergrate, this might not be the best choice.
I toured the Int'ls School of Luzurn and Zug and loved it, it was my first choice. We could not find an apt in Zug as quickly as we needed though so we ended up with ZIS (it was a win/win). The part I like about this school is they do try to intergrate more.
Good luck with your move.
This year Herr Remo Kasper exHeadmaster at the FreiesGymnasium (FGZ) in Zurich moved to be the new head of the International School in Winthertur. This in my experience, makes the ISW one to watch. He was a brilliant head of the FGZ - lucky ISW!
GT