THE ARTS

Middle School students have the opportunity to explore and delve deeply into the three disciplines of Drama, Music, and Visual Art on a rotational basis throughout Grades 6 - 8. Recognising the positive impact on the cognitive and physical development of the body, all Grades 6 and 7 students choose a musical instrument to study.

DESIGN

Students are challenged to apply practical and creative thinking skills to solve genuine real-life problems. In Grade 6, they are introduced to design thinking through physical products and construction methods. In Grade 7 they deepen their understanding and appreciation of Design through filmmaking and digital media creation. In the final year of Middle School (G8), students develop digital design abilities including coding, robotics and 3D rendering. At the heart of the programme is the element of enthusiastic inquiry, where students engage in self-directed projects.

INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETIES

This subject includes Humanities, such as Geography and History, but also incorporates elements of Economics and the Social Sciences within its framework. It provides opportunities to consider the diversity of human culture, attitudes, and beliefs which allows students to explore their own identity within their local and global community. The programme focuses on real-world examples to develop empathy and encourage open-mindedness.

LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND FIRST LANGUAGE

All Middle School students have access to German classes, with French, Spanish or EAL being offered as second language options. There are also opportunities to study the student’s First Language (mother tongue) independently as a course or as part of our extensive after-school programme or multilingual academy.

LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

Students interpret, explore, and create a variety of texts from scripting plays to speeches and from poetry to creative writing, all as a means of fostering a love of stories and language. They develop the skills and knowledge to be able to communicate effectively and creatively, in a range of contexts.

MATHEMATICS

We strive to nurture confident and engaged mathematicians, able to analyse, think critically and creatively, communicate their ideas and collaborate. Students develop a strong conceptual understanding and fluency in Mathematics, with an emphasis on the relevance to the world around them. Students are encouraged to participate actively and develop problem-solving skills. Read more about our philosophy of standard and extended mathematics here.

PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION (PHE)

We offer the opportunity to experience a wide variety of sporting and physical activities as well as to develop knowledge, skills and attributes that contribute to a balanced and healthy lifestyle. We use local community gymnasiums, our High School facilities and the natural landscape that surrounds us here in Central Switzerland. The curriculum includes individual and team sports. We want our Middle School students to experience the satisfaction of performing an activity well whilst developing an understanding of their bodies and how they can express themselves.

SCIENCE

Students study Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Environmental Science, which gives them a strong foundation in scientific literacy, along with knowledge of scientific concepts, theories and processes. For many children, this is their first opportunity to experience working in a laboratory environment, and our Science team captures this excitement and wonder.  Students actively participate in safe, hands-on, scientific investigations and develop the skills associated with forming scientific explanations.