Denise Coates
School Director
Dear prospective parents and students,
The International School of Berne (ISBerne) provides a high-quality academic programme that encourages students to be reflective and involved in the learning process. It starts in the Early Learning Centre and progresses through to Grade 12.
We are dedicated to excellence in international education and are a fully accredited International Baccalaureate® (IB) World School. Since 1961, our private day school has had a long-standing reputation for innovative and highly qualified teachers, world-class facilities, a diverse community, and excellent academic results.
Today, ISBerne students are intellectually curious and socially aware. They are actively involved, dedicated to personal growth and excellence, driven by compassion, and committed to serving others. They are artists, athletes, and global citizens. Our Admissions Team seeks prospective students who will embrace all that it means to be an ISBerne student.
We hope you visit us, take a tour, meet with an Admissions officer, talk to students, and learn more about ISBerne. We look forward to seeing you soon at ISBerne!
We have organised the information available for this school into 10 sections and 36 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
Nationalities
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Number of students
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275
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Number of nationalities represented in the school
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40
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Most common nationality
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American, British, German, Japanese, Kenyan and Swiss
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Ratio of local students to international students
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12% of our students have Swiss citizenship
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Languages
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Native English speaking teachers
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Many of our teachers are native English speakers or fluent. Our teachers for German and French are native speakers of those languages.
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Language support for students not fluent in English
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ISBerne offers English as a School Language (ESL) support to students. There is no additional fee for ESL support and it is included as part of our school's tuition fees.
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Additional language classes offered by the school
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German and French are taught as part of the curriculum and students have access to a First Language/Mother Tongue program after school.
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Classroom
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Max. number of students per class
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20
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Average number of students per class
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Student numbers vary per grade, but each class or homeroom group averages 15 students schoolwide.
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Does the school employ teaching assistants?
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We have specially trained assistants for our Early Learning Centre and High School Sciences.
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Use of technology in the classroom
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We embrace technology as a crucial tool for teaching, learning and inquiring that empowers students to think critically and creatively, to collaborate and communicate. We have a Digital Coach that support teachers throughout the school to meaningfully use educational technology when they plan, teach, assess and reflect on the curriculum.
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Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures)
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Our school uses virtual classroom technologies, hosts password protected student portfolios and has a Parent Portal for school-to-home communications.
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Academics
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External examinations or assessments available
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Students at ISBerne take exams for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program.
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Results in these examinations
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Students at the International School of Berne (ISBerne) consistently perform well above the world averages on external examinations.
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Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation
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Each year our graduating class of approximately 25 students, and of these students, 90% will go on to a college or university somewhere in the world.
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Student support
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Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs
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ISBerne is an inclusive community, and we pride ourselves on supporting students with mild to low-moderate learning needs. A certain level of learning support is included in ISBerne's tuition fees.
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The school supports gifted, able and talented students
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Our High School offers students multiple pathways to graduation. Students may pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma or ISBerne Diploma - a fully accredited, American High School Diploma. At our school, your family can select the most suitable high school curriculum for your child's talents, strengths, and plans for university.
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Student access to education psychologist
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We have a fully qualified and highly experienced Counselor on campus, trained to support students with behavioral, social, or emotional needs that affect their ability to operate successfully in school. Our team also has a collaborative approach to referrals and consultations with community mental health services. In addition, we actively monitor and respond in cases of emotional needs and have a rigorous Child Protection Policy to ensure each child's physical and psychological safety.
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Admissions
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Entry evaluation for students
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ISBerne does not require students to take a formal entrance exam. However, students applying to Grade 8 and above (and Grade 7 for January-June admission) are required to take an English and Maths assessment during their first week at ISBerne.
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Waiting list
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Currently there is no waiting list at ISBerne.
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Deadline for registration (new academic year)
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ISBerne does not have a registration deadline, but we strongly suggest submitting the application as soon as possible.
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Students can join after academic year begins
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ISBerne has a rolling admissions policy and students may register at any time during the year.
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School day
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School start time
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8:30
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School finish time
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15:30
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Supervised care before/after school
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The ISBerne ‘After School Care’ (ASC) program provides a safe and caring environment, offering a range of active and restful activities for children in Early Learning 1 to Grade 5 or aged 3 - 11. Our trained supervisors run the program every normal school day from dismissal time until 18:00.
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School bus service available
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ISBerne does not have a school bus service, but students have easy access to one of the world’s best and safest public transit systems.
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School provided lunches
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ISBerne has a full-service, on-site cafeteria open from 7:30-15:00 on school days.
The cafeteria offers a varied daily menu served as a free-choice hot buffet that always includes a vegetarian option and homemade soup.
Also on offer is a salad bar, sandwiches, baked goods and more!
All food is prepared fresh and on-site using local or organic foods whenever possible.
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Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc)
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Our cafeteria offers a healthy and varied menu served as a free-choice hot buffet. The buffet always includes a vegetarian option, homemade soup, salads, sandwiches, baked goods, and much more. All food is prepared fresh daily and on-site using local or organic foods whenever possible. Microwaves are available for students who prefer to bring meals from home or have special diets.
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Uniform required
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There is not a school uniform at ISBerne, but students are required to have an ISBerne sports kit.
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Facilities
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Facilities at the school
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Our state-of-the-art campus brings all of the school's age groups together under one roof – from the Early Learning Centre through to the final year of High School. A double gymnasium with an adjacent soccer pitch, library, aula, science labs, art studios and plentiful outdoor spaces supplement what our school has to offer.
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Sports facilities at the school
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Our purpose-built campus in Gümligen offers a modern double gym, changing rooms, soccer field, and basketball court as well as easy access to nearby swimming pools, golf courses, tennis courts and athletics tracks.
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About the school
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Qualities and characteristics best defining the school
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Established in 1961, the International School of Berne is a creative learning community for students from all over the world. Within the framework of the three International Baccalaureate Programmes, guided by ISB teachers and staff, students aged 3 - 18 have the opportunity to become open-minded, principled, knowledgeable, confident lifelong learners and multilingual citizens of the world.
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Teaching approach of the school
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As the only school in the Berne region and one of a few in Switzerland to offer the entire International Baccalaureate continuum, our curriculum gives students a coherence of programs and a sustainable learning experience whether your child continues to study at our school or elsewhere. The ISBerne Mission is at the heart of everything we do, and as it states: We welcome and connect. We nurture and inspire. We challenge and prepare.
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Campus
ISBerne is proud to call our purpose-built campus home. The architecture of our school reflects our view of community: students and faculty learn in common and connected spaces, with respect for both the community’s diversity and our shared rules and values.
South of the Siloah site in Gümligen, our new campus opened in 2017 brings all of the school's age groups together under one roof – from the Early Learning Centre through to the final year of High School. A double gymnasium with an adjacent soccer pitch and plentiful outdoor spaces supplement what our school has to offer.
Early Learning | Ages 3-5
As the oldest international school in the region, ISBerne has long provided children with engaging and meaningful learning experiences that form the foundation for academic success. We offer a preschool and Kindergarten programme, which fosters in each child a love of learning and sense of self through an inquiry-based curriculum. We emphasise play and discovery both in- and outdoors, which sparks a sense of wonder and curiosity.
As an accredited IB World School, our early learning programme develops the whole child. The learning experience in our Early Learning Centre is focused upon providing a safe, nurturing environment in which your child can explore the early stages of the various literacies (reading, writing, mathematical) that will be key to all of their future learning.
Primary | Ages 6-11
Since 1961, the Primary School at ISBerne has been a thriving learning community where children and their families experience a sense of belonging through the joy of working, playing, and learning together.
As an IB World School, our philosophies and curriculum are developed within the IB’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework. From Kindergarten to Grade 5, we view each child as the chief architect of their own learning, with teachers and assistants acting as facilitators. We consider every child to be a competent researcher and our teachers support their curiosity about the world around them. Students are challenged to be inquirers who ask questions, propose hypotheses, and conduct investigations and research to find answers.
Middle | Ages 11-14
Since 1961, Grades 6–8 have been a vibrant, student-centered community. Following the IB Middle Years Programme, our programme meets the unique needs of young adolescents as they develop the knowledge, understanding, attitudes, and skills necessary to participate actively and responsibly in a changing world.
Grades 6–8 are a crucial time of development for students. They are building, reflecting, and strengthening the attitudes, values, and dispositions that will shape and guide the adults they will become. We are eager to support them in building the skills they need for their overall sense of wellbeing and future success. Most students seek more independence during these years, so our school environment provides them with opportunities to have more control over their experience, preparing them for the more complex life choices they will face.
High | Ages 14-18
Founded in 1961, ISBerne offers over 150 High School students multiple pathways to graduation. Students may pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma or ISBerne Diploma - a fully accredited, American High School Diploma. At our school, your family can select the most suitable high school curriculum for your child's talents, strengths, and plans for university.
We are renowned for our balanced approach to education, designed to broaden young minds and nurture their global perspectives. The Arts, Athletics, after school activities, field trips, and service-learning engagements will also enrich your child's holistic experience. In addition, Outdoor Education Camps and 'Ski and Skate Fridays' will develop your teenager well beyond traditional education.