Relocating to Switzerland with children often comes with a long list of questions, especially when it comes to education. The Swiss school system is known for its structure, early academic tracking, and strong public institutions, yet for many international families, navigating it can feel unfamiliar and, at times, overwhelming.

As someone who has taught within both local and international contexts, I’ve seen firsthand how language, culture, and expectations shape a child’s experience in school. But beyond the system itself, what many parents are really searching for is perspective, real, lived insight into what it actually feels like to raise and educate children here.

That’s why I sat down with Maria, founder of Momizen, a platform dedicated to supporting modern parents by helping them find quality activities for their kids. As a mother of three in a multilingual family, Maria has experienced both the Swiss public school system and private international education.

In this conversation, we explore her journey, the decisions she made along the way, and what she wishes she had known earlier, offering an honest and nuanced look at schooling in Switzerland for families considering the move.

1️⃣ Background & Family

“Maria, you have three children and come from a multilingual family—can you tell us a little about your background and which languages you speak at home?”

I'm from Greece and attended international school education since the 3rd grade. My husband is Italian, so our household has always been multilingual by nature. We speak Greek, English and Italian at home. Our three children were born in Zurich and since then German has gradually woven its way into our daily life too. I was delighted to discover a wonderful bilingual kindergarten taught in German and English, near our house and it was the best choice we made looking back. The children picked up German very quickly. While each of the three children, now 10, 11 and 12 have a different experience growing up in the same household and experience their environment in a unique way, their formative years in the bilingual kindergarten is their common platform where German and English language made them natives locally with the German and confident English speakers as well.

2️⃣ First Schooling Decision

“When you first arrived in Switzerland, which type of school did you choose for your children, and what influenced that decision?”

When the time came to choose schools we enrolled the children in the local Swiss public school. We wanted them to integrate, to make local friends, to feel at home in our community rather than exist in an expat bubble, especially in their early years of school.

Not knowing what the future holds or which academic direction would be best for each child down the road we enrolled the children for extra English Literacy group classes once a week, something which paid-off a few years down the road when we considered switching to international education. Now we follow the same approach in keeping their German language level up to par!

3️⃣ First Impressions

“What were your first impressions of the Swiss public school system?”

When we began at the local school, I won't pretend language wasn't a concern from day one. While the bilingual kindergarten helped tremendously in the children’s confidence in German, it was still the weaker language compared to English, but thankfully the DAZS (German as a second language) program within the school facilitated all our children in strengthening their language level, and by 2nd grade each child was adequate in speaking and writing. From our side at home, we encouraged our children to participate in local teams, music classes and connect with friends, so their play language included both English and German as they moved through the grades. The school system itself was encouraging and supportive embracing them as individuals while focusing on how children behave as citizens. Lots of field trips they went on made our children familiar with moving independently on buses and trains, respecting the rules of commuting and knowing how to be responsible citizens. An element of teaching that prevails as they moved away from the Swiss school, is the confidence to build things with their hands. The Swiss school has dedicated classes in crafting with different materials, using tools such as sewing machines, and wood cutters. These skills have proved integral in building a sense of independence and creativity at home and wherever they go.

4️⃣ Language Experience

“How big of a role did language play in your children’s experience, especially in the beginning?”

While Greek, English and Italian were the spoken languages at home the children had a good foundation with German.

5️⃣ Integration & Belonging

“Did your children feel integrated into the Swiss school system, or did they experience challenges fitting in?”

The role of the kindergarten in Wollerau was pivotal in helping our children integrate in the Swiss school system. While teaching kids how to play and interact in German, they also brought the children in touch with Swiss traditions and culture. During Fassnacht they created their own costumes and participated in the Fassnacht parade in Einsiedeln, carved turnips and walked in the procession of the Wollerau Raebelichtli parade, visited local farms and did trips around the region like the Rapperswil castle. These activities were a great foundation in making them feel that they belonged and had explored their region, even before they began school. Many of their friends continued together in the first grade at local school also, and having a friend to start with on the first day of school also makes a big difference in having a smooth experience fitting in.

6️⃣ Academic Structure & Pressure

“How did your children experience the structure and academic expectations of the Swiss system?”

The approach of the Swiss system is to begin setting the foundations of basic knowledge across the known academic subjects. Math, German language, NMG (Natur Mensch Gesellschaft), and crafts or woodwork. Teachers help students arrive to a good level that is acceptable for Swiss Secondary School. For higher achievement, for example Gymnasium, children must demonstrate with their own willingness and performance that they have the knowledge and interest to push further. In this case parents often help the children at home with extra practice or support classes, but this is not required nor is it the norm in Swiss families.

7️⃣ The Turning Point

“At what point did you decide to move to a private international school, and what led to that decision?”

The turning point for us was when our eldest daughter finished the 5th grade, and it was time to consider what type of academic path she would follow. At the international school she would begin middle school the next year, while at Swiss school there would be one more year of primary school. The next expected step would be either to take the exam to enter the private Gymnasium or apply to Secondary School which would be followed by the Gymnasium or a Fachschule. From our perspective we wanted to use the extra time offered by the middle school years of the international school to help her discover what she loves to do and to have more time to explore what and where she wants to continue her studies. The other two children, 4th and 3rd grade, followed her the same year as her change, for different reasons, but eventually the aim was the same, to gain some time throughout middle school and open up their academic options.

8️⃣ Public vs Private

“Looking back, what are the biggest differences you’ve observed between public and private schooling in Switzerland?”

What struck me most in the Swiss public school in Switzerland compared to my experience in international school is the approach toward the parents. There is greater distance between the school and the parents in the public school, while in the international school parent involvement and bilateral communication is encouraged. Another interesting difference between the two systems is also that in the public school system there are many interesting options for those who do not choose an academic path and choosing to work while in school, after secondary school is highly encouraged and not stigmatized.

9️⃣ Misconceptions

“What do you think parents often misunderstand about the Swiss school system before relocating?”

The Swiss education system is indeed one of the best in the world and there is a significant investment per child. There is continuity and professional development for those who pursue it no matter which path a child chooses after secondary school, and the salaries of entry level jobs for specialized professions as well as university education required jobs is high compared to the rest of the world.

This applies if the children and their families remain in Switzerland until the end of their studies and pursue a professional career here. It can be challenging for students in secondary school or gymnasium if the parents have to relocate and change systems in the middle of their academic path. In the international system this flexibility exists any time, especially if the children pursue internationally credited diplomas such as the IB, or AP exams.

Finally, a relocation to Switzerland has a lot of benefits depending on the time span that a family plans to stay here. What is important is that children familiarize themselves with the language prior to coming so that they can be open to the local community and children from any school system. This will make their integration smooth and fun.

🔟 Advice for Parents

“What would be your biggest piece of advice for families moving to Switzerland with school-aged children?”

I would highly recommend children to attend the first 2-4 years of primary school at local school in order to benefit from feeling part of the community, learning independence by walking to school and home on a daily basis, and cultivating a sense of self-reliance all while learning German through a system that supports foreign children through DAZS program. Afterwards it depends on the family needs, if both parents are working, frequency of travel and how long do the parents plan to stay in Switzerland.

For children that are already attending international school in Switzerland, it is always recommended that they stay in touch with their German language skills in order to connect with the local community and build friendships with kids from all backgrounds that provide them life-long friendships.

Raising Global Kids in Switzerland: A Real Mother’s Perspective