Hello all:

I am looking for some advice/insight into what has become a dilemma for my family. We are contemplating a move to the Buchs SG area in February. We have 3 boys ages 8, 11, and 12. All of native english speakers with very little german language ability at this point. (we have been doing tutoring once weekly for the past month or so in anticipation of the move) We had been relying on advice we got about 1.5 years in an international school being sufficient time to allow for a transition to the swiss education system. We are looking at this move as a long-term move and not just a 2 or 3 year thing.

It is our understanding that the swiss school system "tracks" students in the 6th grade into either a vocational/real program or a university/gymnasium path.

Knowing that our kids would be unlikely to pass the test(s) initially we are not sure how to proceed. Any advice or insight into your experience with kids this age would be appreciated. I am also looking for insight into how the swiss schools deal with kids who are past the 6th grade when they move there or attempt to transition into the swiss schools. What are their options for getting on the gymansium track.

All of our kids are bright and in the gifted and talented programs at their schools in the US. We would not want them to be limited to vocational education simply because their language knowledge was not sufficient quickly enough.

thanks in advance.