We are moving to Zürich in January 2007 and are looking for an international school for our two older kids aged 9 and 10. Not sure yet which one but we are hoping to live somewhere in the area between Zug and Zürich. Have come across International School of Zug on the internet, we like it cos it seems to be in a more rural location but have discovered that it only goes up to end of Middle School.

Dunno if it´s worth changing schools after 2-3 years and ending up with the kids at two different locations, or are we being unrealistic here?

We also have a 2 and a half year old son to consider in the long term...(!)

Any advice or input would be appreciated.

Jane

Don't know about Zug, but we went round Zurich International school (zis.ch) and thought it was super. It's a split campus and we went round the one in Wadenswil which is brand new purpose built. It is lovely. Don't know about the other campuses.
THere is also the international community school on the North side of the lake but if you want to be Zug/Zurich then zis is better I guess.
Hope that helps!

Should have added - we ended up somewhere else - long story! But are happy though!

We are thinking of moving out to Baar or thereabouts in order to be able to send our kids to the ISOZ. We think it provides a better environment than that in Zurich and the local council also subsidise the costs if you live there. Additionally it is cheaper than Zurich's multiple international schools.

And then there is the tax...

Isn't it also the case that everyone who sends their child to a private school gets a rebate back, to account for the fact that they aren't using the school system that their taxes paid for? Or does Zug do something special?

Well, all we know so far is that we do get rebates for sending our kids to ISOZ if we live in the Canton of Zug. Dunno about the others just yet. Would be a real advantage though!

Am keeping an open mind with the other schools i.e. IOZ etc. Suppose it´s more of where we can find a place to live - so far it seems like that finding accomodation in the proxomity of the school we prefer, is not as straightforward as we believe..!

As for the split sites, yeah, it seems to be the norm over this end of Zürich. Just have to get used to the idea cos over here in Germany it´s a little different. We are still learning..!

thanks for your input anyhow.

jane

You might want to look at http://www.sgischools.com/ (I must admit that Riverside looks to have a great location, but I don't have kids, so what do I care )


Why am I even posting on this thread

Anyways, I hope that helps a little

Hi

My sons go to the ISO Zug and we are really happy with the school. They are referred to by the IB as the school with the "wow" factor! Just dashing out to a parents meeting, but let me know if you have any specific questions or concerns.

Jo

Sorry that was a somewhat flippant reply yesterday!

There are three large international schools in the area, ICS, ZIS and ISOZug and I think you really need to visit each with your children to understand the differences and see what works best for you.

When we visited, we all felt most comfortable with ISOZug as it was closest in feel to the school that the boys were at in the UK. We had already chosen to live in Wadenswil, but there are great bus routes that cover a huge area including Adliswil, Kilchberg and all the way down to Richterswil - and our bus comes to the corner of the garden. (NB bus cost and lunches are expensive at all the schools and it is worth trying to get them included in your package). Academically and socially it is very good, but friends have chosen ZIS for the sport on offer.

Hope this helps,

Jo

Oh, no probs at all! Am in a mad rush most of the time anyway..

Am actually writing this on my hubbys laptop - our computer accquired a virus and crashed two days ago... and is now at the "cleaners"..

Yes, you are right, it all boils down to personal preference - we are hoping to make a visit to those schools sometime in the Autumn. ISOZug appeals to us at the moment because it seems more rural and it offers things that our kids are most interested in (swimming and music etc). And we plan to look for a house to rent in that area anyway.

Does the IB curriculum differentiate alot from the English curriculum? Did your kids have to adjust alot, on the assumption that they attended school in the UK?

To be honest, I have lived away from the UK for so long, I haven´t a clue what is the English curriculm like anyway! My daughter has just started attending an English school last month so I am learning a lot on how it all works after so many years with her and my son attending the local German school....

Just wondering, is there some kind of a waiting list to enroll kids there? (Two bi-lingual schools had waiting lists) Should we apply as soon as possible or wait until we find accomodation first and even with that, we probably won´t know til the very last month before we move...

Thanks for your input anyhow, every little bit helps.

Cheers

Jane

Hi
We are moving to Zug at the end of December 2007 (arriving 30th Dec), and our two boys will be starting at ISOZ on the 7th of January 2008. They are aged 6 and 7 and we would really like them to meet some kids of similar ages ... or same classes....BEFORE they actually start at the school, as it might make the transition a bit easier.... you know, a friendly face, etc.

The 7 year old will be going into the 3rd year of school and the 6 year old into the kindergarten.

Anybody out there willing to make a new friend or two?

Looking forward to your responses
Zaphod.

Hi

If you contact the school office of ISOZ they will give you a class list so you can try contacting a couple of people beofe school starts in Jan. For those who are not sure because of the middle school move, ISOZ have announced that they are joining forces with Riverside school which will become ISOZ as well. The two schools will become one with the preschool to 8th grade taking place on the current campus and then there will be a new campus built for 9-12 grades.

Thanks CK7. Will check with them.

Did you ever send your kids to ISOZ? ....

Hi, I wondered how you found the transition from schooling in the UK to the iSOZ? We are planning a move early next year and have no visited the school yet but are due to do so. My husband went to Zurich last week and visited ISZ and really liked it but I sense that the Zug school is a little more personal?
We are really moving blind as we are not moving with a company but just as a family so we are open to anywhere really - at the moment either Zurich, Geneva or Lausanne, we are going to Geneva with the kids (6,9) on Wed for 2 days to visit the school there.
Any opinion/advice will be appreciated!!

I know every ZIS class is full for the coming year and I understand that all the other international and bilingual schools in the Zurich area are also full or close to it. You would be strongly advised to visit the schools as soon as possible and get your children on the waiting list of your chosen school. I don't know the situation in Geneva or Lausanne but I imagine it must be fairly similar.

I attend Zurich International School, but a younger brother that attends Zug International School. Recently Zug International School and Riverside School has merged so Zug International School now goes up to twelve grade. Zurich International School is also very promising, but I found the Zug International School has grown and the primary school is very good.

Hi,
I will be moving to Zugerberg in January to become Head of Boarding at Institut Montana and Internation School 930m above Zug.

We have just come back from 3 days there.

The staff and students were friendly, polite and there was a very peaceful atmosphere.

The school has primary classes through to year 12.

There are 168 boarders from all over the world and 110 day students.

Total numbers 278 students.

I would recommend that you have a look.

Ask for Andrea she is the Directors PA and tell here Sean Morrison sent you.

We are Australian who have been living in the UK for the last 5 years.

Hope this helps.

Sounds like you have some answers.
Yes the schools fill up very quickly, yes ISOZ merged and now has grade 12, and yes you can't go wrong with any of the International Schools in Zug or Zurich.
I have 3 children, all new to Zurich this year. We have children at ZIS and ISOZ. ZIS was full for our daughter. Extremely happy at both. You should visit both and then decide, use your home as a good judge for location.

The one thing that I have been told about Institute Montana is that it's 60% Russians. Nothing against Russians but any nationality dominating a school is not good.

My kids are going to the International School of Zug and Luzern (as it is called now - ISZL) and they are very very happy there. But the best thing about it is the community. I have met so many people through the school and have made a bunch of new friends. I have lived here for 2 years now and it's been the best thing that has happened to me - for me personally as well as for them.

The only complaint I have heard is that some people don't think the school is "intellectual" enough but funny enough it's from people who don't actually have kids there. The people who have kids there seem extremely happy with the school.

Snowgirl, I recently visited the Institute Montana to check it out, I was informed that 50% of the students were Swiss and the next largest contingent were from Germany. I think that parents of youngish children who are planning to be here for more than 3 years might want to take a look at the Swiss state system as an alternative to the international schools before making a decision.