Questions and Answers

Qualifications

The International School of Schaffhausen prepares students for the International Baccalaureate Diploma of the IB organization. Starting in the grade 1, we follow the worldwide curriculum of the Primary Years, Middle School and IB Diploma Programme to provide an international education of the highest quality. The network of International Schools ensures a consistently high standard throughout the world.

Primary Years Programme (ages 6-11) 
Grade 1 ages 6-7
Grade 2 ages 7-8
Grade 3 ages 8-9
Grade 4 ages 9-10
Grade 5 ages 10-11

Middle School Programme (ages 11-14)
grade 6 ages 11-12
grade 7 ages 12-13
grade 8 ages 13-14

High School & IB Diploma Programme (ages 14-19)
grade 9 ages 14-15
grade 10 ages 15-16
DP 1 / grade 11 ages 16-17
DP 2 / grade 12 ages 17-19

IB schools and their diplomas have worldwide recognition. In particular, the high level of social and communicative competence of the graduates, as well as their self-motivation, are considered as important advantages of this type of education by future employers. A recent survey with universities in the UK has confirmed that more than 60% of the universities interviewed confirmed that IB graduates were better prepared for university than A-level students coming from the British national system. The International Baccalaureate enables access to colleges and universities in more than 60 countries.

Students of primary age or younger are admitted with no knowledge of English. Students who have little or no knowledge of English are accepted into grades 6 to 8 on the understanding that they will strive to learn English. Older students wishing to enter higher grades will need to show proficiency in and motivation to learn English. Students (age 5 up) with only limited ability in English will enter the EAL program (English as an Additional Language) for a period of six to eighteen months (depending on their progress). The EAL program is provided at an extra cost.

Curriculum

The teaching content of an IB World School is defined worldwide by the same high quality curriculum; there are no transitional difficulties when changing to another International School or to a public school in the USA, England or Australia.

Many children of primary school age already have access to their parents’ computer. We introduce our students to IT at an appropriate age, so that they gradually get familiar with this powerful tool. By the end of their Primary Years our students can confidently research information on the internet, use scanners, video and digital cameras. They can also use word processing, data handling, presentation and publishing programmes with ease. In today’s world IT skills are essential, but at ISSH we also value books and reference books for research work, hand-written pieces of work, posters with hand-painted illustrations or hand-made books.

All ISSH students learn English, of course, and German, as it is the host country language in this part of Switzerland. French, a second host country language, is mandatory for Swiss students from the age of 10 and optional for students from other countries.

We follow the PYP (Primary Years Programme) and the Diploma Programme of the International Baccalaureate (IB). It is the established worldwide standard for an educational programme offered by top international schools. The students who are with us for part of their schooling can be sure of educational continuity if they ever transfer to another international school or to a public school. Our teachers receive, on a regular basis, training through special IB workshops. For more information we recommend that you visit their website at: www.ibo.org

The IB programmes aim to develop life-long learners who have the skills and conceptual knowledge to solve problems. The students are expected to become independent learners building up their own picture of the world through guided inquiry, with the teacher as facilitator. Self motivation and creativity are encouraged and a wide variety of learning experiences are offered to suit all learning styles. The students regularly reflect on their own learning, and assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning.

Quality

The ISSH provides a safe and caring environment for all community members. Building up an awareness for safety and security is part of our everyday interaction with the students and all staff. According to the ISSH behaviour policy we expect students and staff to “always check that what they themselves or what others do is safe”. This safety awareness is being supported through our Programme of Inquiry and through the Health and Safety Education which is part of the P.E. curriculum. Please find all information regarding safety and security in our policy document.

The International School of Schaffhausen is an authorized IB World School. This official recognition is awarded by the International Baccalaureate to schools who have met the standards required by the IB following an external evaluation. Being an IB World School ensures families of the training and qualification of teachers and the quality of teaching, facilities and resources. As an IB World School, ISSH demonstrates a commitment to a reviewing and developing cycle that is ongoing and has administrative support and financial backing.

Since 2006 we have used the ISA (International School Assessment) tests. ISA is a tool that has been especially developed for International Schools and provides an insight into students’ proficiency in the areas of Maths and Language, derived from a single measure on a particular day. The tests are being provided and assessed through ACER (Australian Council of Educational Research) – the organization that also designed the PISA study where national school systems are assessed.

In addition, as a cantonally recognized private school, we are under the supervision of the Education Department of the Canton of Schaffhausen.

School day

All information relevant to parents regarding the organisation of the school day is contained in the parent handbook. Take a look at the parent handbook for the Secondary School, Primary Years, the ELC and the Childcare Centre.

The attendance times at the International School of Schaffhausen, from the Grade 1 to 10 are from 8:00 am to 15:30 pm (Mo, Tu, Th, Fr) and 8:00 am to 12:00 (Wed). For the Childcare Centre and the Early Learning Centre, the opening hours are from 8:00am to 18:00pm. The Diploma Programme may also have additional hours in the afternoon.

If there is a requirement for individual supervision after school has finished, we provide an after-school care provision at an additional cost. 

Responsibility for transportation to and from school lies with the parents. If several parents have corresponding needs, the school helps to organize student transport, at cost. There is a shuttle bus connecting ISSH with the Schaffhausen main station. The shuttle bus is offered by the ISSH at no cost.

The school year starts at the end of August and is divided into two semesters (August – January, February – June). There is a two-week autumn break in October, a three-week break around Christmas, a ski break of one week in February and a two week spring break in April. The school year finishes at the end of June. We observe Swiss national holidays and schedule two days for professional development for teachers. The Childcare and Early Learning Centre is open all year except for two weeks in the summer and one week around Christmas. 

Here you will find the current holiday calendar.

At ISSH we accept students from 8 o’clock into the classrooms. There is a morning break of half an hour, of which some time is spent eating a light snack in the lunch room (Znüni) and the rest in outside play. There is an hour’s lunch break where parents provide a packed lunch or where students can enrol in the hot lunch service on a quarterly basis. Due to the corona virus pandemic special rules apply.

The school day (with the exception of Wednesday, when school finishes at 12:00 pm) is organized as follows:

08:00 – 08:30 Arrival time
08:30 – 12:00 Lessons incl. 30 min break
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch break and play time
13:00 – 15:30 Lessons
15:30     End of school day

Enrolment

You can contact the school via e-mail or telephone (+41 (0) 52 624 17 07) to inquire about availability of places and to schedule an initial visit to the school. This first visit can be with or without your child. For enrolment, you can download the application form and fax the completed application form to us (+41 (0) 52 624 17 56) or scan in the completed document and email it to info@issh.ch. The school will contact you for further details. We can only secure places upon receipt of the completed application form and upon receipt of the registrations fee.

Apart from previous school records there are no special requirements for entry at ISSH. It is open to all students, whatever their origin, skin colour or religion. There are no academic entrance requirements such as entry tests or certain performance requirements except for entry into the DP Programmes.

There is a four-week trial period for all students. During this period both sides are able to establish whether the International School of Schaffhausen is the most suitable place for the student. The International School of Schaffhausen accepts all children and young people who, following assessment by the teaching staff, are able and willing to adopt the maxims of self-motivated performance and who possess the maturity to appreciate the learning environment.

FEES

Please find the General Conditions here .

Please find the Financial Regulations here.

The annual school fees cover the tuition costs including school materials. You have the choice between quarterly and annual payment. Excursions, school trips, camps, clubs as well as visits to museums and other cultural events are charged separately.

ISSH offers scholarships to students of grades 11 + 12. They are merit based. Families with limited financial means can apply for a school fee reduction for students of all grades. For more information please follow this link: Fee Reduction

Discount
If you have older children already attending International School of Schaffhausen, the school fees will be reduced by 10% for the second or third child on request. This reduction only applies to families and not to companies.

Enrolment fee
For the relevant personnel and administrative costs we charge a one-time fee, which is due when the application forms are submitted. The enrolment fee is not included in the school fee.

Capital building fund fee
This one-time, non refundable fee is due together with the initial tuition fee invoice for grades 1-12. This fee is not part of the operational budget but goes into a fund for financing the building and up-keep of the ISSH facilities..

Support & patronage

The ISSH is under the patronage of the ISSH Foundation. The Board of the Foundation consists of representatives from the local industries and of representatives of the Schaffhausen government.  The educational programme is based on our mission statement and on the experience of the IBO organization, a provider of high quality education world-wide.