Best schools in Geneva
Education in Geneva
Many families come to Geneva believing the level of education is the best in the world (it must be all those stories of Swiss boarding and finishing schools). Unfortunately, the reality can be rather different, particularly for those used to private schools in the UK and US.
When it comes to neighbourhoods and schools, Geneva is fairly straightforward as it divides firmly into Rive Gauche (Left Bank) and Rive Droite (Right Bank), joined by the romantically named but traffic-filled Pont du Mont Blanc. As crossing the bridge can be something of a nightmare at drop-off and pick-up time, a high proportion of families choose to live on the Right Bank in Nations or Petit Sacconex, where a number of international schools are around a maximum of 20 minutes’ drive away.
But travel is made easier for everyone, wherever they choose to live, as Swiss trains are every bit as clean, efficient and on-time as you would expect and most schools can be reached from most places, in not much longer (and, occasionally, less) time than it takes to drive.
Choosing a school in Geneva
Several of Geneva’s private schools teach in English, while others offer the Swiss, French and German based curricula.
When it comes to the English teaching schools, don’t think you can just pick any one blindfold, or indeed the nearest one, as they have very different curricula. The common ground is that they all teach the International Baccalaureate Diploma – in fact, the programme was developed here by Ecolint (International School of Geneva) teachers in the 1960’s before spreading to over 5000 (and growing) schools around the world.
The remainder are basically French schools with international sections offering a smorgasbord of American, English, French and Swiss curricula with the corresponding choice of graduate qualifications.
It is not for the faint of heart - and fluent French is a given - but if you are after an academic hothouse, a small selection of schools offer the BFI (formerly known as the OIB or ‘Option Internationale’) - an option within the framework of the French Baccalaureate. There is an American, English, German and Italian version - and if you succeed, you end up with a mighty fine qualification, consisting of the equivalent of two A levels and a French Bac.
If you are after a really wide choice of curricula offered in one place, there are French curriculum schools that have an English section offering an English curriculum up to IGCSE and then the IB Diploma.
Parents who don’t have assistance with school fees may choose the local Swiss state system, but the quality of schools varies enormously. The primary schools in the Terre Sante region in Vaud (villages of Mies, Tannay, Commugny, Coppet and Founex included) are considered to be the best. All schools offer non-French speakers ‘welcome lessons’ to improve their French, but again these vary in quality. The quality of the secondary schools and system in Geneva is perhaps reflected in the fact that many wealthy Swiss opt for the private system in the first 3 years (known as Le Cycle). Education in Switzerland is obligatory from age 6 to 15, but some primary schools will accept children from 4 years.
La Maturité Suisse
In some private schools in Switzerland, secondary students can opt to take the Fédérale Maturité Suisse, (or ‘la matu’ as it is known colloquially) which qualifies them for entry into any Swiss university or universities overseas. Parents should note that the Maturité Cantonale taken in the Canton de Vaud state schools may not be accepted by universities outside of Switzerland.
It is a very broad and totally exam based qualification which takes 4 years of study. The subjects are divided into two categories, the first of which is taken at the end of Grade 12 and includes 3 humanities, 3 sciences and an arts subject. The second category includes 3 languages (2 Swiss languages plus English), Maths and 2 other options depending on the school - these subjects are assessed in both written and oral exams.
These final exams are taken in August (so no summer holiday as students are expected to revise) and since students receive their results immediately after the oral exams they can enter the Swiss university of their choice at the end of September. However, the results are usually too late for entry into UK and US universities and a gap year is needed. Subjects are graded 1 to 6 points with 6 being the highest. A student must obtain 115 points or more (with an average of 5) to obtain the Maturité.
Two things to note: One, entry into UK universities can be more difficult with the Swiss Maturité exam than some other European leaving school qualifications (although some global, student destinations tend to look on it more favourably). Two, the communes and cantons provide the sports facilities in Geneva, rather than the schools, although private international schools do provide some sport and after-school activities - at a cost.
Pre-schools, kindergarten and nurseries in Geneva
For nursery aged children, some Montessori schools have an English section. Bell One World Nursery School, for instance, has an English based curriculum and takes children from 2 ½ years. A number of other schools also now have a nursery class. Otherwise, there are the local Garderies and Jardins des Enfants where young children will experience French immersion.
