Academia International School Winterthur vs International School of Central Switzerland
Academia International School Winterthur and International School of Central Switzerland are both in Zug, about 40 km apart. Both schools offer Cambridge IGCSE programmes. Academia International School Winterthur also offers Cambridge A Levels, and International School of Central Switzerland also offers Cambridge (Primary) and Cambridge (Secondary). Published annual fees are close, at CHF 28,800 - 32,800 for Academia International School Winterthur and CHF 27,200 - 32,800 for International School of Central Switzerland. Both take pupils from 3 to 18. The two are similar in size, at around 150 and 150 pupils. Typical class sizes are 17 at Academia International School Winterthur and 15 at International School of Central Switzerland.
The Academia International School Winterthur is located at Grüzefeldstrasse 34, 8400 Winterthur. The campus sits within the WIN4 complex in Deutweg, surrounded by professional sports facilities. Campus life is compact, supportive and dynamic, with a modern learning space and a vibrant community.
Location
The school is located in Cham, Canton of Zug, Switzerland, at Lorzenparkstrasse 8 (CH-6330 Cham). The Lorzenpark area is adjacent to the school grounds.
Primary School, Middle School, and High School (Private Gymnasium).
School type
School type
Private college
School type
Private international day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
More than 35 nationalities are represented at ISCS.
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school provides personal coaching with a Study Coach for every student to help set learning goals, reflect on progress and take responsibility for learning.
Additional learning support
The Guidance Counselor provides learning support with Individualised Educational Plans (IEPs) to support students' needs.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
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Country affiliation
Switzerland.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
The school day typically starts around 8:15–8:30 and ends at 15:30; after-school clubs run 15:30–16:30 and after-school care is available 15:30–18:00.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
The school offers a school bus service for local routes within the canton of Zug.
Tuition fees (annual, per term and instalment options) - School fees per school year (day programme): CHF 28,800. - School fees per semester: CHF 14,400. - School fees per quarter: CHF 7,200. - Payment by 10 monthly instalments (administrative surcharge ~3% included): CHF 2,965 per month. - German Booster (additional German lessons for non‑native speakers): total school fee including the German Booster is CHF 32,800. - Individual subjects and mixed programmes: fees vary by subject and level; individual subject enrolment is possible and is charged separately. Private one‑to‑one lessons: CHF 140 per 60 minutes.
Billing schedule and payment terms - School fees are invoiced in advance. Fees may be paid as a one‑off advance payment or by instalments; instalment plans carry an administrative surcharge. The standard time allowed for payment is 30 days unless otherwise specified on the invoice or in the price list. - If a pupil enters during the school year, fees are calculated pro rata temporis. - If one or more instalments are not paid after lessons have started, the student may be excluded from the programme until outstanding instalments are paid; school fees remain due for any period of exclusion. Late payment may lead to reminders, administrative fees, interest (annual interest 3%) and ultimately contract withdrawal and collection measures. - Registration fees and any deposit required must be paid within five days after signing the school contract.
Boarding fees - Academia International School Winterthur operates as a day school; no boarding fees apply for the Winterthur campus.
Other costs and fees - Teaching materials and most electives/extra‑curricular activities are included in the school fee. Examination fees, school trips, camps and certain additional services or activities are invoiced separately. - Sibling discount for self‑paying families: 10% discount on the youngest child's school fee when more than one child from the same family is enrolled concurrently. - Private tuition and certain individual subject fees are additional costs (private lessons CHF 140 per hour; single‑subject or mixed‑programme pricing varies by subject and level). - There is no separate uniform fee stated in the published fee schedule; other incidental costs (travel, personal items, optional extracurricular third‑party services) would be additional.
Refund information - If an entire course of study is definitely cancelled, fees already paid shall be refunded. The deposit is refundable after the student leaves provided the contract has been terminated observing the prescribed notice period (not during the probationary period) and all tuition and additional charges have been settled in full; otherwise the deposit may be forfeited in favour of the school. - If the contract partners cancel late or the student does not attend despite a concluded contract, an administrative fee and a cancellation fee equal to three months' school fees may be charged. In the event of extraordinary termination by the school, the deposit may also be forfeited and cancellation fees may apply. Missed lessons do not give a right to reimbursement. - A probationary period may apply (the first twelve school weeks in some cases); during the probationary period either party may withdraw from the contract under the conditions set out in the contract and general terms.
Fee payment arrangements and practical notes - Fees are invoiced in Swiss francs (CHF). Instalment pricing examples are provided above; instalment plans incur an administrative surcharge (the 10‑month option shown includes an approximate 3% surcharge). - The school reserves the right to withhold certificates and diplomas until outstanding fees are paid in full. Examination fees are not included in the tuition fee and must be paid separately when applicable.
(Effective fee schedule and terms are published for the 2025/2026 price list.)
Fee details
Application / Registration Fees
- Early Years and Primary (Ages 3–12): CHF 3,000 one-time non-refundable registration fee per student. - Middle School and all High School years (IGCSE / A-Levels; Ages 12–18): CHF 4,000 one-time non-refundable registration fee per student.
Tuition fees by year group (annual, per-term and per-month breakdown)
For the 2025–2026 academic year the annual tuition and the calculated billing breakdowns are:
Notes on these amounts: the annual tuition figures above are the published year-group tuition fees; term and monthly figures are the annual tuition divided into 3 or 10 equal instalments to match the school's available billing options (3-term or 10-month plans).
Sibling discounts and other fee reductions
- First sibling discount: 25% off tuition for the first sibling. - Additional siblings: 50% off tuition for each additional sibling. - Early payment discounts: 5% discount for annual payment by 30 May (Early Bird); 4% discount for annual payment between 1 June and 1 December; 2% discount applied for termly payments (3 payments on the dates shown by the school).
Billing schedule and payment terms
- An invoice for the annual fees is issued before the start of the new school year; annual fees are due on August 15 and payment must be received before the student attends school. - The full annual year-group fee is payable in advance unless an alternative instalment arrangement has been agreed in writing. - Payment options published by the school include: annual payment, termly payment (three instalments), or monthly instalments (ten instalments, August–May). Families seeking payment plans must sign a formalised payment schedule agreement. - Overdue balances may incur an annual interest charge of 5% plus collection fees. - If a new student is enrolled but does not take up the confirmed place on the agreed start date, 25% of the annual tuition fee becomes immediately due.
- School transport (Cham routes): - 1 instalment: CHF 1,995.00. - 3 instalments: CHF 686.00. - 10 instalments: CHF 210.00.
- School transport (wider Kanton Zug): - 1 instalment: CHF 2,850.00. - 3 instalments: CHF 980.00. - 10 instalments: CHF 300.00.
- School transport (Kanton Luzern and Sins): - 1 instalment: CHF 3,135.00. - 3 instalments: CHF 1,078.00. - 10 instalments: CHF 330.00.
- Corporate fee packages (annual tuition + lunch + transport) are published as fixed annual amounts by year group and by catchment (Cham, Kanton Zug, Kanton Luzern & Sins). Examples: Early Years corporate fee (Cham) CHF 30,210.00; A-Level corporate fee (Kanton Luzern & Sins) CHF 36,195.00.
Items expressly not included in tuition
- Textbooks (where indicated on book lists), official IGCSE/AS/A-Level external exam fees, school and PE uniforms, school lunch and transport (when not included in a corporate package), after-school care / academy fees, replacement cost for lost/stolen/damaged school materials (including laptops), and one-to-one exam, language or music lessons. Tuition does include exercise books, laboratory practicals, school laptop provision, classroom educational resources, SEN support, career advice and internal clubs as published.
Uniforms
- School uniforms are not included in tuition and are handled through the school's uniform supplier arrangement; uniform purchase is an additional cost and is not covered by the tuition fee.
Boarding
- The school does not operate a regular boarding provision in Switzerland. ISCS publishes an international boarding experience through SAGE College in Spain (an exchange/boarding opportunity) rather than a Swiss on-site boarding house; therefore ongoing boarding fees are not applicable to standard ISCS enrolment in Zug.
Refunds and withdrawal charges
- Notice requirement: a minimum of three months' written notice is required to withdraw a student unless the signed contract specifies otherwise; failure to provide the required notice may result in the school charging one term's tuition in lieu of notice. - Refunds for prepaid fees beyond the withdrawal date will only be considered when the required notice period has been observed. No refunds are given for short-term absences or withdrawal without proper notice. - Any overpayment will be refunded within 30 days following the student's final day of attendance once financial clearance is completed.
Fee payment options and practical notes
- The school issues invoices for registration and annual fees; the published due date for annual invoices is August 15 and payment must be received before the student's first day. - The school states that alternative payment methods may be available and that families wishing to use instalment plans must enter a signed payment agreement; the school may apply interest and collection fees to overdue accounts. Specific accepted instruments (for example, which credit cards or bank account details) are not listed in the published fee documents.
Brief note on completeness of published fee information
- The school's 2025–2026 published fee schedule provides annual tuition by year group, registration fees, payment schedule options (annual, termly, monthly), early-payment and term-payment discounts, additional service pricing for lunch and transport, corporate-package figures, and the school's withdrawal/refund rules. The published materials do not list specific payment instrument details (for example explicit credit-card acceptance or IBAN/BIC for bank transfers) nor a Swiss on-site boarding tariff because standard ISCS enrolment in Zug is day-school only; an international boarding experience is offered via SAGE in Spain.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
The school has an international boarding experience in Spain. This program is branded as SAGE College Boarding School in Spain.
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
Uniforms are required. There are academic and sports uniforms; all items must be purchased from the designated uniform provider with the school logo. Shoes must be closed and socks must be black.
Food options
Food options
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Food options
ISCS-The British School of Zug offers catered hot lunches for students in all year groups. Meals are prepared from local fresh produce, meet Swiss nutritional standards, and include a salad buffet, a main course, and fruit or dessert; water is provided.
House system
House system
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House system
The school has a house system with four houses and runs monthly inter-house events and competitions.
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
ISCS is privately authorised to provide private education by the Canton of Zug and by the Cham Local Authority. It is Cambridge International Education accredited and a member of the Swiss Group of International Schools (SGIS). It is authorised to deliver the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award.
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Kindergarten and Primary offer a bilingual start in a close-knit setting, linked to Academia Bilingual School. The programme follows international standards and prepares students for next steps in Switzerland or worldwide. Lower Secondary leads to either vocational training or college pathways, supported by the sister school Academia Bilingual School. College/Upper Secondary provides a four-year programme tailored to student strengths leading to an internationally recognised diploma that opens doors to universities in Switzerland and abroad, with IGCSE and A Levels as the qualifications. Campus life complements academics with personal coaching and project-driven learning. Learning with Personal Coaching supports goal setting and progress.
Curriculum details
The school provides a broad and balanced Cambridge International Curriculum as part of British International Education. It promotes development across the academic, social, cultural, physical and moral dimensions and prepares children for adult life while encouraging them to become good citizens with a global mindset and respect for others. The school enables proficiency in both English and German for all students, regardless of their mother tongue.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Around 150 students are enrolled across Kindergarten to Year 12. There are 9 teachers (Y9–12).
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
IGCSE and A‑Level exam results reflect student and teacher effort, with a 100% A-Level pass rate in Year 13. These results support university access in many countries around the world.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
The College/Upper Secondary programme runs four years and leads to an internationally recognised diploma that opens doors to universities in Switzerland and abroad. The diploma supports entry to universities in Switzerland and internationally. The qualifications include IGCSE and A Levels, preparing learners for higher education worldwide.
Higher education progression
Students are prepared for university in the USA, UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and many other countries.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
Clubs and elective courses such as Cooking and Young Entrepreneurs expand learning opportunities. Personal coaching supports goal setting and progress.
Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
Learning with Personal Coaching: each student is supported by their own Study Coach, who helps them set learning goals, reflect on progress and take responsibility for their own learning. This mentoring builds confidence, independence and a genuine joy for learning, creating a strong connection between academic progress and personal development. [Source: Campus Winterthur page]
Social & emotional learning
ISCS fosters social and emotional development through the House System and the Student Council. The House System creates a positive atmosphere where children feel safe, happy and secure and helps them develop self-discipline and self-esteem. The Students Council represents the student voice and supports peers and staff in daily school life.
Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
The Guidance Counselor uses assessments and Individualised Educational Plans (IEPs) to address each student's non-academic and academic learning needs. An IEP is created after admission assessments, and student progress is monitored formally and informally during the school year. Parents receive progress updates twice per school year.
English as an additional language
English as an additional language
Kindergarten & Primary: A bilingual start in a close-knit setting at our sister school Academia Bilingual School. [Source: Campus Winterthur page]
English as an additional language
English is the language of instruction at ISCS. English as an Additional Language is an IGCSE qualification designed to support non-native English speakers by helping them access instruction across subjects and achieve English IGCSEs.
Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
Personal coaching supports personal development and well-being by building confidence and independence. [Source: Campus Winterthur page]
Mental wellbeing
ISCS nurtures health and emotional wellbeing from Early Years onward. Early Years focuses on nurturing health and emotional wellbeing. In Secondary, PSHE supports wellbeing, with leadership programmes and activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award contributing to personal development and wellbeing.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
A Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy is included in the Downloads and Policies section.
Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
The Winterthur campus is located within the WIN4 sports complex in Deutweg, Winterthur, and offers a compact, modern learning environment. It sits alongside professional sports facilities and a sport arena as part of the campus. The learning spaces provide short distances between spaces for ease of movement. The campus highlights include a laboratory, crafts room, kitchen, hallway, entrance and other spaces that support daily school life. Campus life is dynamic, with movement, achievement and team spirit within a close-knit community.
Facilities overview
The story of ISCS is ongoing, and the learning spaces have developed with growth. Classrooms are bright and well-resourced, and technology is integrated with personal laptops for students from Grade 1 and interactive whiteboards in classrooms. The school has specialist classrooms for Art, Drama, Science, Music, German and learning support, and a spacious, well-stocked library. The location offers access to a wide range of outdoor spaces and local amenities, and strong ties with the Cham community enhance learning experiences. ISCS students enjoy daily outdoor play in Lorzenpark, adjacent to the school.
Sports facilities
Sports facilities
The campus is set within the WIN4 sports complex in Winterthur, providing access to professional sports facilities. A sport arena is part of the campus facilities. Activities and sports at WIN4 are a feature of campus life. The campus uses spaces such as the sport arena to support student engagement in physical education and team sports.
Sports facilities
ISCS offers a broad PE program including Athletics, Fitness, Gymnastics, and Games such as Football, Basketball, Badminton and Tennis, plus Outdoor and Adventure activities and Swimming. ISCS Wolves participate in inter-school sport competitions. For PE, ISCS uses local facilities including Sportplatz Röhrliberg sports hall, a track and a swimming pool, nearby wanderweg trails, Puregym, Seeweg Baadi, and the football club SC Cham. PE is built on the principles of variety and diversity rather than early specialization.
Academic facilities
Academic facilities
The Winterthur campus provides a laboratory, crafts room and kitchen for hands-on learning. Each student is supported by a Study Coach as part of personal coaching to set learning goals, reflect on progress and take responsibility for learning. The school offers a four-year College/Upper Secondary program (IGCSE & A Levels). The educational programme follows international standards and prepares students for next steps in Switzerland or abroad.
Academic facilities
ISCS has specialist classrooms for Art, Drama, Science, Music, German and learning support. There is a spacious, well-stocked library. Classrooms are bright and well-resourced, and technology is integrated with personal laptops for Grade 1 and above and interactive whiteboards in classrooms. This combination supports diverse learning experiences.
Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
Clubs and elective courses such as Cooking and Young Entrepreneurs are offered based on student interests. Learning beyond the classroom includes excursions and special project days, as well as sports activities at WIN4. The school day is lively and varied with a strong sense of community.
Extra curricular facilities
Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is offered at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels to pupils aged 14 and older. Trips and Events include visits to cities, universities and museums, plus residential trips to London, Berlin, Sicily, Rome, Vienna, the Netherlands, and a ski trip to Verbier. After School Clubs run year-round, offering sporting, artistic and scientific activities designed to build aspirations, transferable skills, and friendships. ISCS Talks provide career talks across sectors such as Business, IT, Engineering, Science, Pharmacy, Law and Economics. Our Local Community program connects students with well-resourced clubs (soccer, swimming, martial arts, orchestra, art and craft) and supports library use and community excursions.
Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
Academia International School Winterthur was founded in 2023. It is described as the first private college in Winterthur, offering a personal yet international environment. The campus is nestled within the WIN4 sports complex in Deutweg. The educational programme follows international standards and prepares students for next steps in Switzerland or abroad. The Head of School is Lawrence Wood.
History
The International School of Central Switzerland commenced operations in December 2008, initially as a primary school. It evolved to include secondary education and offered the IB programme, and was established under the legal entity International School of Central Switzerland AG, trading as ISOCS. From 2015 to 2019 the school faced significant financial challenges, including a temporary loss of its IB licence, with the final IB Diploma cohort graduating in Summer 2019. In January 2019, the school was acquired by Necus Education SL and adopted the Cambridge International Curriculum from September 2019. The inaugural IGCSE certificates were earned in 2020, the first A-level certificates in 2021, and enrollment grew to 143, with many former students pursuing higher education in the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, the US, Australia, Spain, Germany and Italy.
Community
Community
Campus Winterthur offers a compact, supportive, dynamic learning environment with a strong sense of community. Each student is supported by their own Study Coach, who helps set learning goals, reflect on progress and take responsibility for learning. Learning beyond the classroom includes excursions, special project days and sports activities at WIN4, creating shared experiences and a lively school life. Clubs and elective courses such as Cooking and Young Entrepreneurs are offered based on student interests.
Community
ISCS community gains from inclusion into a wide variety of well-resourced local clubs and initiatives (including soccer, swimming, martial arts, orchestra, cultural music clubs and art and craft offerings) which aid language learning and community integration. Regular use of the local modern library for students helps them become confident in using community learning resources regardless of language. The school benefits from the local safe transportation system and teachers accompany students on learning excursions to foster confidence and connection to community resources.
Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
ISCS has a Parents' Organisation (PO) that is an active, lively group of parents whose purpose is to foster and celebrate a strong sense of community by offering a wide variety of activities. The PO is supported by a strong team of amazing parents who assist us throughout the year and has organized whole school gatherings, Swiss and international celebrations, charity sales, challenges, contests, and many other events that contribute those ‘little extras' that make school life memorable. Always open to new members and fresh ideas to add to the fun, the PO welcomes new members.
Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
The educational programme follows international standards and prepares students for their next steps in Switzerland or anywhere in the world. Kindergarten and Primary offer a bilingual start at Academia Bilingual School. Lower Secondary provides pathways through the sister school for vocational training or college. Upper Secondary offers a four-year IGCSE and A Levels programme leading to an internationally recognised diploma.
Academic & intellectual
ISCS provides a broad and balanced Cambridge International Curriculum. It promotes the academic, social, cultural, physical and moral development of students and prepares them for adult life, encouraging a global mindset and respect for others. It enables pupils to become proficient users of English and German, regardless of their mother tongue. The school supports university access and career planning through Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level pathways, preparing students for higher education worldwide.
Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
Arts education is a vital component of ISCS curriculum, fostering creativity, self expression and holistic learning. Visual arts, drama and theatre, and music are taught, with musicals expanding opportunities for collaboration across artistic disciplines. The school collaborates with Zukunft Kinder Cham and Zuki to extend opportunities in art, languages and the natural sciences.
Cultural & language
Cultural & language
The Winterthur campus is personal and family-like, international yet rooted in the local community. It is nestled within the WIN4 sports complex in Deutweg. Kindergarten and Primary offer a bilingual start at Academia Bilingual School. The programme follows international standards to prepare students for future study.
Cultural & language
ISCS follows a British International Education through the Cambridge International Curriculum. The school enables pupils to become proficient users of English and German, regardless of their mother tongue. German is a core subject in primary, and English as the language of instruction is supported by specialist EAL input to help non-native speakers access the curriculum.
Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
Campus Life in Winterthur is compact, supportive, and dynamic. Excursions, special project days and sports activities at WIN4 are part of the learning experience. Clubs and elective courses such as Cooking or Young Entrepreneurs are offered based on student interests.
Social & hobbies
ISCS offers experiences that blend sport, culture, languages and leisure through a rich program of trips and events. Trips include visits to cities, universities and museums, residential trips to London, Berlin, Sicily, Rome, Vienna, the Netherlands and a school ski trip to Verbier. Our students, ISCS Wolves, also take part in inter-school sport competitions. Community dinners and picnics, the Christmas Fair, Halloween and charity events foster belonging and school spirit.
Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is offered at ISCS for pupils aged 14 and older, with Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Doing the Award involves four sections—Service, Skill, Physical and the Adventurous Journey—fostering personal growth, responsibility and service to the community. The school also uses a House system and a Student Council to promote community involvement and student voice.
Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
Each student has a Study Coach who helps set learning goals and reflect on progress. This mentoring builds confidence, independence and a genuine joy for learning. Clubs such as Young Entrepreneurs foster entrepreneurial thinking and leadership.
Leadership & professional
ISCS runs a House system and a Student Council that provide leadership opportunities and a student voice in school life. Students apply for Council roles and undergo a formal interview process. The Duke of Edinburgh Award also emphasises leadership and teamwork through its four sections.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
The Winterthur campus is set within the WIN4 sports facilities in Deutweg. The campus offers a modern, inspiring learning space with short distances and a vibrant community. Learning beyond the classroom includes excursions, project days and sports activities that support wellbeing.
Lifestyle & wellbeing
Physical Education is an integral part of ISCS, focused on the body, movement, and well-being. The PE program includes athletics, fitness, gymnastics, a range of games, outdoor and adventure activities and swimming, with students participating in inter-school competitions. In Early Years, health and emotional wellbeing are nurtured, with a balance of teacher-led and child-initiated learning and daily outdoor time.
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Kindergarten & Primary provide bilingual learning; Upper Secondary is English-language.
Language provision
Cambridge curriculum uses English for core subjects across Primary to High School. English is a core subject in Primary, Middle School, and High School. German is a compulsory core subject from Primary through High School, and there is a German Language Enrichment Programme in Early Years. Spanish and French are offered as elective subjects in High School and appear among Middle School options.
Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
A bilingual start is offered for Kindergarten & Primary at Academia Bilingual School.
Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
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Admissions
Initial Enquiry form registers interest; admissions team will contact you promptly.
Scholarships
Scholarships
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Scholarships
Bursaries and scholarships for sporting, performance or academic excellence are offered and can be discussed during your application.