Switzerland's Education System Is Complex

Get It Right For Your Child

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You've done the research.
Now talk to someone who's been inside the system.

Insider guidance from a teacher who’s worked across Swiss state, bilingual, and international schools, helping families define the right educational direction for their child.

Stefanie Swiss Educational Consultant

More than a school finder - your local education expert!

I’m Stefanie Busse, a qualified teacher turned education advisor.

I help international families confidently navigate the Swiss education system, from first school placement to university pathways, with insider knowledge and completely unbiased advice

How I Can Help

Swiss Education Overview Session

Need the big picture or help with a specific challenge? Get expert guidance tailored to your family’s situation — whether you’re just starting your research or navigating a particular decision.

School & Location Research Package

Already know where you’re moving? Get tailored research into specific areas and schools, covering programmes, support structures, and what each option really means for your child.

Navigating Transitions and Pathways

Facing secondary school decisions or planning for university? Deep dive into pathways from Gymnasium to apprenticeships to diploma choices — and understand the long-term implications of each option.

Corporate Education Support

Help your relocating employees succeed from day one. Customised solutions including group webinars, HR resource packets, and one-to-one relocation consultations for incoming staff and their families.

Not sure which service is right for you? 
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Why work with me


  • Specialist in language integration and additional needs. A language integration teacher and certified ADHD parent coach, I help you make informed decisions about the best fit for your child.

  • 15 years inside Swiss classrooms. I’ve taught in classrooms across Switzerland. Whether your child is entering the system for the first time or transitioning between schools, I know the ins and outs.

  • Strategic long-term pathway planning. From the first school placement to preparing
    for high school diplomas and university, I offer continuous guidance tailored to your family's journey — and future

  • No commisions, no hidden incentives. I’m not tied to any school or programme. That means you get unbiased guidance based on what truly fits your child — not what looks good on paper.

Your benefits

  • Reduce integration stress in the first year.
  • Understand Swiss school culture
  • Avoid costly school changes later.
  • Make informed diploma decisions early
  • Smoother onboarding and better staff retention
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What parents say about me

If you're looking for professional advice how to navigate the Swiss school system, customized to your own situation with your kids, look no further. We are an expat family and when moving to CH, we were looking for somebody that could help us find the right school path for our daughter. Stefanie was recommended to us by another family and her advice was very credible and valuable. She is very experienced in the field and has a lot of knowledge, which helped us decide what is best for our daughter and our family situation. I highly recommend Stefanie's services.
Spela H. Zürich
In our experience Stefanie is most professional and diligent in getting to the right solution for the individual learner. As we planned our move to Zurich, we turned to Stefanie to help walk us through the options for our high school daughter. Stefanie helped us with a plan and research. She talked with a specific school and coordinated a meeting. In addition she helped us understand the difference between the Swiss school system and what we were used to (US and Austria). I know that hiring Stefanie was one of the best decisions we made for this move!
Alicia C.Chapel Hill NC, USA
I just wanted to thank you for your 101 schooling advice. You explained everything very clearly and answered to all my questions and even went beyond what I expected by contacting the school and finding out the information I needed. It was very easy to communicate with you. I totally recommend your services!
Daniela Horgen, ZH
Stefanie's services proved to be invaluable! She helped us to understand different school options and thanks to her support we felt that we were able to make informed choices for our family. Our two girls are now thriving at their local school.
Isabel Küssnacht am Rigi, SZ

My Clients

Parents
Relocating to Switzerland

Getting off to a good start
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Parents
Settled in Switzerland

Taking the next steps
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Companies
with Swiss Operations

Educational guidance for onboarding staff and their families.
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News & Articles

All you need to know about Swiss education!

Selecting the best public school in Zürich?

Are you looking for a good public school for your child? Did you get school recommendations from other parents and think about moving to the catchment area for that school? Or do you live near a school that you really like for your child?

Do be careful selecting a location based on what is considered to be the best school in Zürich! You might be in for an unpleasant surprise!

School placement – how it works in canton Zürich

Unlike in other countries, school boundaries in Switzerland are not strictly and exclusively decided geographically. While your address determines your school district, it does not necessarily determine your school assignment. This is especially true for the Zürich metropolitan area and neighbouring towns. If you are equidistant from two schools, or on the ‘edge’ of a school boundary, other factors come into the equation, for example, class size, the number of German vs non-German speakers, gender mix etc.

Also, the nearest school or kindergarten might simply not have any spaces left. For example, in Zürich, the maximum class size is around 25 children, and the minimum size is between 15-18 children. If 29 children in the same area are starting in the same year, 4 will have to move to a different school within ‘a reasonable distance’. This is how your child might end up in a different school from that of your upstairs neighbours or even from her younger brother! If the school is too far to walk, school needs to provide transport.

Requesting a change of placement

You can request a placement in the school of your choice with the school administration of your district, but once the decision has been made, it is rarely reversed. While you can contest the placement decision, you will need very compelling reasons, i.e. on medical grounds. Be aware that (at least in Zürich!) having siblings or friends in the same school is not considered a compelling reason! Nor is the proximity of the parents’ workplace or other issues around family logistics! Also, if your request was turned down and you still chose to appeal, in some cantons you might have to cover the administrative costs for the appeal (around CHF 800).

Do you need more guidance on the Swiss school system? Book an online or face-to-face session with your local Swiss school expert!

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