Meeting National & International Standards

We fulfill all expectations of the Swiss national curriculum ‘Lehrplan 21’ and incorporate elements of carefully selected international curricula for a holistic and truly bilingual educational experience. Our goal is to prepare our students for an academically challenging upper school experience, which includes the Bilingual Swiss Matura. After Lakeside School, the world is your child’s oyster.
Bilingual Matura

Bilingual Education with Teachers who are Native Speakers

English and German are not merely two subjects. Both are used in speaking and writing in every subject. Our teachers are either native German or English speakers, able to impart the linguistic and cultural diversity that non-natives cannot offer.

Creative Education

Physical Education, Music, Drama and Crafts, Design, Technology are essential components of our Lakeside School curriculum. In addition to academic knowledge, skills and understanding, we promote the development of a healthy self-esteem, approaches to learning as well as social skills.
Bilingual Education

Caring Atmosphere

We value a close relationship with students and parents. Our students’ wellbeing and academic success are the result of trusting relationships and shared responsibility between family and school.

Putting Students First

As one of the few non-profit private schools, we do not have to satisfy shareholders or maximise profits. All of our proceeds go back into the school so that every Swiss Franc benefits your child.
Lakeside School Foundation

Registration & Fees

Discover our offers and dynamically calculated prices.
Registration & Fees

Lakeside School in Numbers

12-15

students is the average class size

1 to 8-10

is the ratio of teachers to children in Kindergarten

1996

is the year Lakeside School was founded

100

% of the school fees are invested in the school

18

years is the average years of teaching experience of our staff

31

nationalities are represented on our campuses

5

subject specialist teachers teach in our Primary School

1

iPad per student from Grade 3 upwards

Lakeside School Campuses

Horgen

Find out more about where our families are from, what languages they speak and where they live.
Statistics


For questions and enquiries, you can reach us during office hours by phone or at any time by email and contact form.
horgen@lakesideschool.ch

Küsnacht

Find out more about where our families are from, what languages they speak and where they live.
Statistics


For questions and enquiries, you can reach us during office hours by phone or at any time by email and contact form.
kuesnacht@lakesideschool.ch

Highlights

Learn about news and special highlights.
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FAQ

What makes bilingual education so beneficial?

A bilingual education from the early years comes with various advantages that last a lifetime. Being able to acquire both English and German like a native speaker is clearly the largest advantage. Even if a child transitions to a monolingual education system after Primary School, the acquired language stays with them for the rest of their life. Additionally, research suggests that the brain of a bilingual learner forms differently and fosters skills such as adaptability and cultural competency, allowing one to make conceptual connections more easily.

What follow-up options does my child haveafter Lakeside School?

As a private school that is accredited by the cantonal authorities, we follow Lehrplan 21, the Swiss national curriculum. This makes transitioning to a local Swiss school possible at any time. Additionally, our curriculum is enriched through international curricula. This means that transitioning to international schools or schools that follow an Anglo-Saxon or Germanic education system is seamless.

What is the difference between a bilingual school and an international school?

As a bilingual school, we offer the best of both worlds. During the German weeks, students experience school life as they would in a German-speaking country, while their English week provides them with an experience of a school in an English-speaking country. Unlike international schools, accepting local students (Swiss passport holders) is not subject to a limited duration.

What are the benefits of a non-profit private school?

Lakeside School is one of the few bilingual schools in the country that is private and non-profit. While for-profit schools budget for up to 30% of tuition fees to be paid to investors, our school is able to invest every Swiss franc received into the school. This means that our proportional budgets for teaching resources, field trips, and infrastructure are larger than those at for-profit schools.

Is learning at a bilingual school difficult?

When joining a bilingual school, it is advantageous to do so from the earliest possible point. Acquiring the additional language is easier at a young age. The older children get, the more it changes from language acquisition to an effort of language learning. However, we do accept monolingual students at primary age. For monolingual students joining us after Grade 3, we carefully assess whether our curriculum and pace of learning is suitable for the individual child.

How do bilingual classes work?

In both Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, each class has one English and one German-speaking class teacher teaching together. Like in a bilingual family, children are simultaneously exposed to both languages. In Primary School, students are instructed in English and German. One native English-speaking and one native German-speaking class teacher share the responsibility for the class and coordinate their planning closely. The class has an English week where all subjects, including Mathematics and Environmental & Social Studies, are taught in English. The following week the same applies in German. Specialist subjects, such as Music, Sports, etc., are taught in either English or German.

What is the difference between a bilingual school and a public school?

We offer a fully immersive English and German (50:50) programme with equal instruction in both languages. As an academically rigorous school, 60 % of our students transition to a Gymnasium (secondary university prep school) compared to the local school average of 20 %. As a day school, we offer comprehensive care, including Day Care (before and after school care), catered lunches, extra-curricular activities, and a door-to-door school bus service. We celebrate our school community by organising events for our students and parents. Our small class sizes, the small and familiar environment as well as our qualified and experienced educators who view teaching as a vocation are further characteristics that make a difference towards our school. At Lakeside School, parents are viewed as partners in their child’s education.

Does my child’s German suffer at a bilingual school?

A German-dominant child reaches at least the same level in German as they would in a monolingual school. For children with other language dominances, German language acquisition is slower than if they were taught in a purely German-monolingual school. In the bilingual setting, however, they benefit from also reaching a native-speaker level in English in the areas of reading and writing.

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