By Robin Hull, lic.phil. Dip RSA
Who this guide is for
- international families who see their long-term future in Switzerland and are planning to or are already sending their children to Swiss schools
- not intended for expat families who are only spending a few years in Switzerland and will quite rightly have chosen international schools
Aims of the guide
- compare the educational systems of Switzerland and the UK
- offer help in coping with Swiss education and the differences in school culture and curriculum.
- identify the neuralgic points in the Swiss educational system, when the academic elite is selected for elite schools (“Gymnasium”/“lycée”/“liceo”)
- show who does well in Swiss elite schools and who might encounter problems
- explain why children from international families often struggle to get into Gymnasium
- provide advice for those who do not fit the mould of Swiss Gymnasium and show little or no interest in apprenticeships
- show the relative merits of the Swiss Matura, IGCSE / A-levels and the IB
- compare Swiss – with UK universities and offer advice on how to get in
- provide helpful information for students with special needs
An article about Mr. Hull's book can be found in the international School Parent magazine and on the website of thelocal