Icone d'impression

Compulsory education

Primary school

Primary school consists of six academic years for children aged between 6 and 11. It follows two years of non-compulsory schooling for children aged 4 to 6 (infant school). More than 90% of children are registered for infant school, where they experience a smooth transition from family life to school life.   

Secondary education

Secondary education, the next three years, which is open to all children aged between 12 and 15, represents the last phase of compulsory education.

It teaches a general curriculum and paves the way for post-compulsory courses: école de maturité (grammar school/high school, leading to the federal certificate), école de culture générale et de commerce (high school providing general studies) or école professionnelle (vocational school offering course-based or company-based training).
  

Support of non French-speaking students

Non French-speaking students are offered different types of structures and cares to make integration easier in public schools of the canton:

  • Support courses (French, German or other subjects- appui)
  • Intensive French courses (CIF – cours de français intensif)
  • Integration classes (secondary level – classes d’accueil) or groups (primary level – groupe d’accueil)

School hosting

The choice of a school to host a new student depends on the place of residence.

Before attributing a specific level and course of study, the following parameters have to be taken into account:

  • Student’s age
  • Student’s education level (must be assessed by an exam - “examen du retour du privé” - from 7th grade on, or by the evaluation of previous school records and files provided by the parents)

    Examples of exams can be found here :

Other services in public schools

The following services are offered (free of charge) as part of public schooling:

  • School psychological support
  • Logopedics
  • Child development support
  • School medical support
  • Career counseling