International School Parent Magazine - Spring 2022

BOOK
CLUB
A guide to
the Swiss
educational
system
WRITTEN BY ISP EDITORIAL TEAM
The Swiss international school system has been wrestled
with by international families looking for the ideal niche
for their children for decades. But such a nuanced system
needs a knowledgeable escort - and here in the newest guidebook,
we find one in Robin Hull.
A guide to the Swiss educational system, published last year, offers
an essential guide to the Swiss school system for parents of
international families, particularly those from the UK and Ireland.
The book will help those intending to settle in Switzerland longterm,
planning the next steps for children already in the system
or approaching it for the first time. This sets it apart from many
similar guides, which instead focus on international schools in
Switzerland and tend to cater to short term ex-pat families.
Book summary
The book is divided into 14 sections, concluding with a couple
of chapters of conclusions and analysis. Robin looks first at an
overview of the system as a whole, from primary school through to
further education - including information for students with special
needs.
Next, Robin compares the education systems of Switzerland and
the UK, illustrating the differences in school characteristics and
curriculum and how students and their parents can navigate this.
Alongside a more factual basis, he also tackles broader cultural
contexts, such as the societal and linguistic nuances of the Swiss
and the export of UK education and culture.
He then turns his attention to progression and goes on to
outline a typical Swiss school education, covering vocational
training, selection of the academic elite and the more liberalarts
“Matura”/“maturité”/“maturità”. Next, he explains how
international students can get accepted into the elite Swiss schools
and, once in, how they can go on to succeed. Finally, he aims to
cater to those struggling in the elite Swiss school system, explaining
how and why this may happen and the alternative options available
to families.
Robin also sheds valuable light on the later stages of the
education system, exploring apprenticeships, the relative merits of
the various Swiss examinations and qualifications, and a relatively
bleak look at the Swiss university system. Once again, there is a
direct comparison with UK higher education, in which he discusses
the main differences between the two.
Review
The book is comprehensive; there is a tremendous amount of
material to cover, and Robin has a very detailed understanding
of the system’s nuances. Moreover, he covers its full breadth and
geographical variations, from the German-speaking parts of
Switzerland and the Greater Zurich Area to the French-speaking
cantons, Italian-speaking cantons and the Rumantsch areas of
Graubünden. It’s a refreshing - if rather daunting - perspective
that offers a much more comprehensive view of the diversity of the
compulsory system.
Robin does acknowledge that complexity with a very clear
breakdown of the Swiss educational structures and offers handy
tables to make direct comparisons with the more familiar UK
system. In particular, the initial overview chapter from primary
school to university entrance and initial vocational training is an
excellent introduction for families at the start of their planning.
The book also sets itself apart by catering to students with
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