New Offerings at ISBerne

New Educational Offerings at ISBerne

The International School of Berne (ISBerne) is pleased to announce the introduction of a new educational pathway, further enhancing the range of learning opportunities available to students.

Located in Gümligen, Switzerland, ISBerne is an accredited private day school that has been educating children aged 3 to 18 since 1961. We will continue to offer a comprehensive education in English, grounded in the International Baccalaureate (IB) through our authorised Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP).

We are dedicated to fostering curiosity, personal growth, and future readiness for every student.

Kindergarten

Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, ISBerne will expand our educational offerings to provide families with more choice and flexibility. From August 2025, ISBerne’s Kindergarten will be officially authorised by the Canton of Berne as a learning environment with both English and German as languages of instruction.

This Kindergarten programme will meet the requirements of both the Swiss national curriculum, Lehrplan 21 and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP). A locally trained, German-speaking teacher will teach alongside the English-speaking Kindergarten teacher.

Our new offering comprises lessons with specialist teachers for Physical Education, Music, and Visual Arts, which will be taught in English for all students. The IB PYP students will have the choice of German or French as an additional language.

This builds upon the success of the English and German learning environment already established in the Early Learning Centre 1 and 2 classes for children aged 3 to 5.

For further details, please visit our Kindergarten webpage.

Grade 1

In August 2026, ISBerne will launch a new Grade 1 Lehrplan 21 (LP21) class, delivering the Swiss national curriculum. We will therefore offer two classes for Grade 1 - one following LP21 in German and one following the IB PYP in English.  Each class will fully meet the stipulated requirements.

In addition, the LP21 and IB PYP students will combine for lessons with specialist teachers for Physical Education, Music, and Visual Arts, which will be taught in English for all students. The IB PYP students will have the choice of German or French as an additional language.

Grade by Grade: The offering will expand each year

The new LP21 Pathway will expand by one grade level each year, ultimately reaching Grade 9 by the 2034–35 school year. Each grade level in the LP21 Pathway will be taught by locally trained, German-speaking teachers.

Our new offerings enable us to develop stronger local integration and enhance our educational programmes. Our pathways ensure that all students, both local and international, can follow an educational path that aligns with their educational aspirations and future plans.

At the heart of ISBerne is a diverse and inclusive community of approximately 300 students representing over 50 nationalities and a rich variety of languages. Students benefit from small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and an engaging, inquiry-based approach to learning. With modern facilities and a warm, supportive environment, ISBerne fosters the development of skills, attitudes, and values, enabling each child to become an independent lifelong learner who can choose their future pathways.