Learning

We welcome and connect. We nurture and inspire. We challenge and prepare.

The International School of Berne (ISBerne) is a fully accredited, International Baccalaureate® (IB) World School providing education for students aged 3 to 18 in Switzerland’s capital. Since 1961, our school has had a long-standing reputation for innovative and highly qualified teachers, world-class facilities, a diverse community, and excellent academic results.

As the only school in the Berne region and one of a few in Switzerland to offer the entire IB 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.

Learning at ISBerne is supported by a number of unique programmes and learning experiences, such as:

Ski and Skate Fridays during the Winter season
Annual Outdoor Educational Camps
A Personal Development Programme with service learning activities
An inclusive Athletics programme
An robust Arts programme
A broad After School Activities programme
A Continuity of Learning Plan that supports at-home learning during school closures
Highly experienced English as an additional language support team

As you explore our school online, we hope it draws you into the 'ISBerne experience'. We look forward to welcoming you and your family to our community!

About our Learning Programme

Why are we an International Baccalaureate® World School?

For over 25 years, the International School of Berne has chosen to be an International Baccalaureate® World School. The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Organisation offers high-quality international education programmes to more than one million students from age 3 to 19 in more than 146 countries. The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an internationally-recognized school system that emphasizes intercultural understanding, caring, and enrichment. The IB aims to provide a challenging and comprehensive education to enable future adults to create a better world through cross-cultural communication, understanding, and respect.

The International Baccalaureate programmes are popular among expats families seeking a well-rounded and international education for their children. The IB is offered to more than one million students in more than 146 countries.

The top 5 benefits of the IB programmes:

Real-world situations
IB programmes offer a curriculum that is broad and balanced, conceptual and connected. It stimulates students to develop critical and analytical skills in order to apply them in ‘real-life situations.’ IB learning strategy is based on real-world situations, which makes it more interesting and helps children understand the relevance of what they are learning.
Holistic Approach
The International Baccalaureate programmes emphasize education beyond the confines of the classroom and focus on the fullest possible development of the students, encouraging them to become the finest version of themselves and enabling them to experience life and reach their goals. Subjects are not taught in isolation, but they are connected to each other, reflecting how the world works. Students are taught to think conceptually, allowing them to apply their knowledge to various situations.
Well Rounded Students
The vision of the International Baccalaureate programmes is that students experience a holistic academic journey. It develops confident individuals who can respond to challenges with optimism and can apply what they learn in our complex and unpredictable real-world. Through the IB, students are given an outstanding education that helps them develop strong academic, social, and emotional characteristics. As a result, students become very well-rounded, with an increased understanding of different languages, cultures, and globally significant ideas and issues.
Internationally Oriented Education
The International Baccalaureate works within global contexts. It stimulates and increases understanding of languages, builds awareness of cultures, and explores globally significant ideas and issues in order to prepare students to be active participants in a global society. The IB programmes develop international-mindedness and encourage students to play a positive role in society. The global nature of the IB also eases the transition from school to school for students who move frequently.
Academic Success
IB programmes emphasize academic rigor and international mindedness and help students develop a unique set of skills, attitudes, and perspectives they need to succeed at university and life beyond. IB students learn more efficiently and independently, which allows them to be more confident and increases their chances to enter the highest-ranking universities around the world. As a result, IB Students are likely to perform well academically – often better than students in other programs and often more likely to be recruited by top universities worldwide.

The following video will explain how the programmes of the IB teach students how to think critically and independently, and how to inquire with care and logic. To learn more about the benefits of the IB, please visit the IB website.

International Baccalaureate at ISBerne

For further information on how the International School of Berne implements the IB curriculum, please visit the pages for each of our school divisions: Early Learning, Primary, Middle, and High School

Which Accreditations and Certifications do we have?

ISBerne is proud to be accredited by the world’s most prominent international accreditation organizations such as the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. We regard accreditation and our memberships in leading educational organizations as part of an ongoing and continuous cycle of improvement, which is driven by our desire to provide an outstanding experience for our students.

Learn more

How Do our students perform on External Examinations?

At which universities and colleges are our students accepted?

What type of Learning Support do we offer?

What Kind of English Language Support do we offer?

How do we support students socially and emotionally?

At ISBerne, we believe that support needs to be available to students in a number of areas, including academic, health, social and emotional. ISBerne has trained staff to support students so that our learners achieve their best in all aspects of school life. We believe that students need to be healthy and feel safe, secure and comfortable in their environment to maximise their potential as learners.