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.
Need help? Perhaps you suspect your child has some learning difficulty and you would like advice on what you should do. Or perhaps it is becoming clear that your child's current school is not working for him or her, and you need help to find a mainstream school which has better SEN provision, or to find a special school which will best cater for your child's area of need. Our SEN consultancy team advises on both special schools, and the mainstream schools with good SEN support, from reception through to the specialist colleges for 19+. Special Educational Needs Index
Find top international, British, IB and American schools in over 40 countries. The Good Schools Guide International publishes impartial and forthright reviews of international schools across the world.
We examined the value-added from KS2 to GCSE for 2022 to see which state selective grammar schools added the most value to their offspring. A note of caution - the more highly selective a grammar school, the less scope there will be to add value.
Grammar schools are state-funded, academically selective senior schools. The education a child receives at grammar school is paid for by the state unlike at private schools which provide education for a fee. There are currently around 163 located in 36 English local authorities, with around 167,000 pupils between them. Northern Ireland has a further 67 grammar schools, but there are none in Wales or Scotland. A word of caution: there are private schools that have the word 'grammar' in their name but this is purely for historical reasons.
At specialist music, dance or performing arts schools, the arts aren't optional extras. They’re intrinsic to the school curriculum. Students are expected to fit in high level training and hours of practice alongside a full academic provision. It's a lot to ask any child to take on, but for those with exceptional performing ability this kind of education can be transformative.