From South East Asia to Switzerland - IB/IGCSE schools - help!

[ekkythump]

Hi all, I desperately need some guidance on schools in Switzerland.

Apologies, this is a long post (and my first post ever) but I don't want to drip feed. I've been on sites like the English Forum ch and had a fairly good google generally but I've come to a bit of a block. Sat here this morning still in my nightie chain smoking with worry.

We live in South East Asia and my kids (daughter 14, son 8) are lucky enough to attend a fab and fairly big international British school that does IB, IGSCE, with heaps of opportunities and extra curricular stuff, is CIS accredited, university counselling etc. Next summer if were to stay here my daughter would be starting year 11 IGSCE and then going on to IB.

It's likely we will need to move to Switzerland next summer for 3 years. My husband is an EU citizen (but not Swiss) and I'm an Aussie. I am looking for a school similar to the one the kids are in now. I know that there are differences in Canton's regarding tax, language, housing costs etc but my primary concern is finding the right school first. My worry is that I cannot seem to find many international schools, in the locations we would prefer, with core English instruction in IGCSE and IB. A lot of them offer IB with MYP. I know local Swiss schools are of a high standard, and we will be definitely considering this option for my son but we have decided that local school isn't an option for my daughter given her age. She needs to finish her education with English as the core language to give her the best chance in her IB. She's very academic but she doesn't speak German and only has (a bit) of French.

I'm looking for an IGCSE/IB school as I've read a discussion online saying that it isn't a great idea to switch curriculums and I want to ensure continuity for her as much as possible. But I also actually have no idea in practical terms how hard it is to switch curriculums from IGCSE to MYP in year 11, or whether kids moving to Switzerland switch curriculums with ease. All I understand is that IGCSE is more test based and standardised and MYP is more of a 'framework'. She'll probably be going to uni in Australia (or to a lesser possibility , the UK).

We can't live in Geneva or Lausanne, too difficult for husband's work (he'll be travelling all around but mainly to Basel, Zurich, Berne, Zug areas and other random areas, and also will be working from home). Living over the border and commuting won't work for us either.

Zurich, Basel, Zug, Berne, would be workable locations. Maybe Vaud as well but it would be a stretch location wise.

Schools I've found so far that are close to my criteria: ISZN in Zurich that offers IGSCE and IB but the reviews I've read have not exactly reassured me, and it also appears to be in an industrial estate. International school of Basel looks ok but doesn't seem to offer IGCSE. There is La Chat in Vaud, which looks amazing and offers IGCSE/IB and has an English stream for older kids but is a bit far south, which would be a strain on my husband travel-wise, and waiting list is apparently normally very long. I love the look and reviews for ISZL in Zug but there is no IGCSE. The international school in Berne looks tiny and doesn't seem to offer IGCSE's, (and I can't find any IB scores online for it either). We aren't looking at Montana, or the uber rich boarding schools like Aiglon (even though it looks incredible) as we don't have a private jet:)

So I would love to hear from:

• anyone who is or has been a teacher or parent over there and has any advice or insight on the schools I have mentioned or has any other suggestions?
• anyone had experience of switching their child from IGCSE to MYP at a late stage - how did it work out - or are there any educators who can advise whether switching is no big deal or completely non-advisable? Perhaps I'm making a mountain out of a molehill?

Ladies, I know the above is a brain dump - but I would be REALLY grateful for any assistance, cheers and thank you!

I’m in Switzerland but DS is just a baby so can’t personally help. If you’re in Facebook you can join the International mothers in Switzerland group and post on there or search previous posts. Schooling questions come up a lot.

Betsyboo thank you very much for your your suggestion and I hope you are getting on well over there with your little one:) I've just tried to join the group you suggested, it looks great, but my request to join was rejected unfortunately and I was advised to apply again a few weeks before my move which doesn't help me at the moment :(

If anyone else has any other thoughts I would be grateful.

Hi I have teenagers in a local school in Zurich, so I don't have direct experience of the English speaking schools but I hear stuff from friends. In Zurich Hull's school offers IGCSE and A Level. Mostly Swiss kids so a good place to learn German too. Maybe getting IGCSE's done there and then moving to ZIS for IB would be an option ? ZIS seems very good at preparation for university entrance, from what I hear from friends.

I would ask some of these schools if they would be happy to have a transfer at the beginning of Y11 because it would usually be strongly discouraged even if moving between two IGCSE schools.

SherryPalmer and Bontopia thanks for your replies.

Appreciate the feedback on Hulls and ZIS.. switching wasn't something I had on my radar so it's good to put it down on an option - those schools do seem to have some good feedback too so great to get some local feedback thank you.

I have contacted a couple of schools as suggested .. they have not discouraged enrolling but it's clearly not ideal.

I have a meeting with a teacher who has worked both in Switzerland and here where I'm living so I'm hoping this will help me reach a decision .. thank you everyone

Would you consider boarding school for your daughter? Possibly something like United World College could suit her, they have 18 schools world wide that take a 16 year old to do the International Baccalaureate over two years. She could possibly apply through the Australian National Committee (b/c of you being an Aussie) when she is 15 - that would give her an advantage as Australia has such a small population.
Worth having a look at their website - they are nothing like UWCSEA in Singapore which is enormous. Most only offer Yr 11 and Yr 12 - the ethos is fabulous and the experience for most is transformative. Sorry can't be any help re Switzerland, I wish you all the best for your move.

Zimbomama thanks for the suggestion I didn't know that about UWC. To be honest I'd find it hard to part with her though. I'll take a look - thank you.

Ohhh I know that feeling ! Both of mine ended up going and had the absolute best time. All I can say is a lot changes between 14 and 16 ....but I totally understand! There is a stunning UWC in a castle in Italy on the Adriatic coast near Trieste...another at Maastrich ..not too far from you or the original one, Atlantic College at St Donat's Castle, Llantwit Major.

Switching curricula is hard, but ultimately it depends on how your child learns. MYP is very self-study based; lots of projects to research. IGCSE is more ‘do this’. Simplified explanation, but basically this.

I’ve got a friend moving to Zug soon, but her criteria are very different from yours. The larger the main city, the more likely you are to find a selection of schools to choose from.