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Our View
This outdoorsy all-through school in the heart of rural Switzerland offers a finely honed, holistic education to its 1,000-plus pupils, who span some 65 nationalities. Founded in 1961, it’s the only fully accredited, four-programme IB school in the region and is a top choice for expat families. Outdoor learning is an integral part of the curriculum for all ages – the school even has its very own purpose-built chalet in the Swiss Alps where pupils go to ski, hike and explore.
Where?
The school spans two sites 17km apart, and the Zug Campus for Early Years, Primary and Middle School sits on the outskirts of Baar, an idyllic rural setting surrounded by fields and forests. The main building, Wettinger House, dates back to the 17th century and around it are slick, contemporary buildings housing science labs, a gallery, a theatre and two indoor sports halls. Outside there are two playgrounds and an all-weather sports field.
Chalet Bergheim, the school’s outdoor education centre, is located in the mountain village of Wengen, which is around 100km away, and is used by the whole school for class trips, winter sports and outdoor learning.
Pupils are served by 35 dedicated school buses that cover a huge area with 20 routes and 200 stops. Parents can follow the buses’ locations via an app.
Head
The approachable and hugely experienced director Barry Dequanne oversees the whole school. Originally from Canada, he has worked in schools in Brasilia, Buenos Aires and Swaziland (among other international locations), and he’s also president of the board of directors of the Association of American Schools in South America. At his right hand as deputy director is Maria Voutos, also from Canada, who joined in 2023 from Atlanta International School where she led the IB Primary Years Programme.
Middle-school principal Stuart Byfield has been at ISZL for 10 years. For the first seven, he was assistant principal and before that he worked in the UK at Ranby House School at Worksop College.
Admissions
Pupil intake is fairly fluid, so children can join and leave at any point. Some year groups are oversubscribed, but interested parents should get in touch and arrange an individual tour if they’re moving to the area.
Academics and destinations
Pupils are taught in homerooms of up to 22 students, with two dedicated teachers per class. They learn German, French, Spanish and English as an additional language if necessary. Humanities are big too, with I&S (humanities, individuals and societies) and social science on the timetable. Throughout Grades 6 to 8, drama, music and visual art are taught on a rotational basis, and pupils can choose a musical instrument to study.
Co-curricular
Sport is a big part of school life. In autumn, pupils take part in football, cross-country and rugby. Winter sees them playing badminton and basketball, as well as having swimming and skiing lessons. Track and field, volleyball and softball are the main sports during the spring and summer. There are regular fixtures against other international and Swiss schools.
Music is a core part of IB, with middle-school pupils taking weekly instrumental or vocal lessons and learning an instrument. Drama, art and design are all timetabled, too. Grade 7 sees pupils studying film-making and digital media creation; in Grade 8, coding, robotics and 3D rendering are introduced.
All pupils regularly visit Chalet Bergheim for field trips and musical retreats. Older years often venture to locations in Verbier too.
Every year, pupils take part in Personal Development Week, an integral part of the curriculum at ISZL and an important part of the school’s globally-minded education. Each year group heads off on a residential trip to a different European location, where they get stuck into team-building activities designed to help develop independence, social awareness and leadership skills. It’s the perfect opportunity to get under the skin of a new environment and culture – and pupils head back to the classroom with a wealth of new experiences under their belts. Unusually for an international school, they also participate in DofE.
After-school clubs are plentiful and wide-ranging – everything from theatre production, bouldering and skiing to chess, stop-motion animation and Leadership & Action Club.
School community
Homeroom teachers are the first port of call for any pastoral concerns that pupils or parents may have. There is also an on-site counselling team with expertise in social and emotional issues, which offers individual, group and family support to the whole ISZL community. A team of qualified nurses are on campus full-time. Learning support is comprehensive, with SEND teachers working alongside classroom teachers to support pupils in situ.
There’s a large international community at ISZL, with many families relocating to and from the area all the time. The school is well liked by expats, who are made to feel very welcome with lots of social activities laid on, from coffee catch-ups to skiing and hiking get-togethers.
And finally....
From its idyllic setting to its on-point academics and superlative outward-bound learning programme, ISZL offers a fantastic education to its international pupil body.