Geneva English School

In 2025, popular UK university destinations included University of Cambridge, King's College London, Imperial College London, University College London, University of St Andrews, Durham University, and others. In Switzerland: ETH Zürich, University of St Gallen and University of Geneva. In the rest of Europe: Ecole Polytechnique (Paris), Bocconi University (Milan), IE Business School (Madrid) and others. On other continents: Concordia University (Canada), Villanova University (USA) and UNAM (Mexico) to name a few.

Some students head off to top British public schools at age 13, often winning scholarships. However, most of the students stay on to attend the secondary school for the IGCSE/A level combination. For those wanting IB, Ecolint continues to be a popular choice though there are other options in the Geneva area and in the neighbouring canton of Vaud, including Swiss schools that offer the IBDP or even the French Baccalaureate or Swiss Maturité.

The primary objective of the school is to offer the best modern British education for children from age 3-18 living in or around Geneva, and to prepare them for higher education. The school can also prepare students for UK boarding schools (11+ and 13+ exams) and some students do leave at age 11 to attend other local international schools.

The primary school does not slavishly follow the English national curriculum. Rather, it extends it to take in local aspects such as language learning, taking real advantage of a rich international education and its Swiss location.

There are no Sats here (thank goodness, say many parents), but teachers closely monitor children's academic progress. Staff pride themselves on adapting the curriculum to be more international, which does give the school one of its unique points - maintaining the flexibility to incorporate the best of all educational practices. It also means that they can teach rather than constantly practice for tests.

In primary school there is a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy, and later science, as well as French language and technology skills such as robotics and coding. A high standard of work is both expected and achieved. On our visit, everyone was beavering away at their desks or otherwise actively engaged and very happy to be doing so. There was lots of laughter to be heard.

The teaching staff consists of over 16 experienced and fully qualified British teachers, supplemented by four French teachers and six part-time class assistants (some of whom have had specialist SEN training) plus a specialist director of inclusion. They are enthusiastic, dedicated and well-liked and respected by the parents. Maximum class sizes are 20 pupils in reception and 22 in the other years, with three classes per year across up to year 4 and two classes per year in years 5 and 6.

In secondary school students follow a traditional British curriculum preparing for I/GCSE exams. The recent introduction of A levels is a huge benefit to the local and international community as it offers students, who might struggle with the broad IB Diploma or even broader French Baccalaureate and Suisse Maturité curricula, the opportunity to specialise in three subjects that they enjoy and are good at.

Secondary school's location in an office block (not so unusual among international schools in Switzerland) means that this is not a traditional secondary school experience but smaller class sizes (currently around 20 students) and just two classes per year group allows for a very individual learning environment.

There is a fully qualified director of SEN and a number of class assistants have had specialist SEN training to help those students with minor to moderate learning disabilities. Students are supported within the classroom whenever possible with dedicated learning assistants and booster sessions on offer for those who need further support. Some students may receive one-to-one help for speech and language support.

As the head makes clear, this is a school for English mother tongue or students who are fluent in English, however there is EAL support in both primary and secondary with dedicated coordinators and lessons. The newly introduced - and already popular - language academy offers classes for children in the local system to need to brush up their English skills.

This is a family school, with many opportunities for the community to gather for the different school shows, the Christmas and summer fairs, carol concert, ski competition or the spectacular sports day. Parents are very active participating in the events - it is an essential ingredient in the school’s family atmosphere. And many hours of hard work go into the school productions by staff and children of course.

Weekly assemblies are also a time when children can showcase work of exceptional quality as well as demonstrate their musical gifts - 30 to 40 music lessons take place in school each week. Throughout the year, the school benefits from a diverse range of visitors from the local police and fire brigade to authors and specialists in music and drama and visitors from CERN, the European organisation for nuclear research.

Art is an important part of the GES curriculum and, as usual with primary schools, the walls are adorned with pictures and paintings. The excellent art facilities at both primary and secondary schools allow for a wide range in the type of art and media the children can get involved with.

In primary school there is an extensive range of extracurricular activities that take place during lunchtimes and after school. Free activities include: choir, drama, art, cooking and chess. Paid for include: ballet, judo and golf.

In secondary school students also get the opportunity to do the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, the Sports Leadership Programme, Model United Nations (MUN) as well as debating, entrepreneurship, eco-club and robotics to name just a few.

There is an extremely well organised after-school care programme every day.

Sport is taken seriously at GES. Football, rugby, basketball and netball teams all fielded in local school competitions and GES organises other interschool events including cross country and athletics. The extensive primary school grounds provide ample space for football and rugby during winter and cricket and rounders in the summer. There is a five a-side football pitch at the secondary school which doubles up as a basketball court. Ski camps are also available for older primary and secondary school students. Netball, a sport that is increasingly popular in Switzerland, is also played on the basketball court. A few table tennis tables also dotted around for enthusiastic players.

There are four houses: Rhone, Leman, Jura and Dole. This provides both a family feeling and a spirit of competition firmly built on teamwork as the school’s older children work with younger schoolmates from their house at events throughout the year.

Discipline is not a problem at this school, according to parents and pupils. The children live by school's core values (integrity, community, achievement, resilience and excellence) and the pastoral co-ordinator tracks both academic and personal progress.

Established as a British school for the expat community in this very international city, the school is evolving with a more international demographic. Currently, the student body is about 40 per cent British, 25 per cent with a British or Commonwealth parent and 35 per cent from the rest of the world including local Swiss families. Parents are largely working professionals, many with one of the international companies or organisations based locally. Those parents who have come from London ‘hot-house’ schools will get a surprise - thankfully the academics are strong here without a pressurised atmosphere. Although all students learn French, which is a priority as it is the local Swiss language, But English is the language in the playground and the parking lot, and there is a very English feel to the school culturally.

Graduates reflect fondly on their days at GES; one told us she loved it and never had a day or time that she didn’t want to go. None of them want to leave when that day finally arrives at the end of year 6, even if they can now move onto the secondary school.

Parents are equally positive about the school and appreciate that there is discipline and academic achievement, built on a true sense of community and belonging. The children’s smiling eyes and eagerness to learn say it all. Lifetime friendships are made between parents, staff and pupils.

GES is privately owned as Geneva English School SA. There is a board of governors, half of which is made up of annually elected parents including the chairman, several external governors and the headmaster. There is no endowment as such and nor is support solicited from other organisations, which protects the autonomy of the school and allows it to create the environment it chooses. Fees are slightly lower than the surrounding international schools.

For many parents, the Geneva English School evokes strong loyalty as they see their children thrive in a beautiful setting with a dedicated teaching staff striving for excellence in the educational, social, cultural and physical development of their children. GES is a community marked by its happy children who are self-disciplined with high moral values - values they take with them for the rest of their lives.