Four Forest Bilingual International School Zug

Four Forest follows the Swiss cantonal curriculum (Lehrplan 21) for all subjects and adds the British National Curriculum for the teaching of English, with phonics as a core strand in kindergarten. Instruction is genuinely bilingual: German and English alternate weekly in the early years and primary, while in secondary each subject is taught in one fixed language. French is introduced from Grade 5. Leavers can move on to the short-cycle Gymnasium, an apprenticeship or international schooling. The school does not offer IB, IGCSE or other foreign diplomas.

Four Forest is a German-English bilingual school. From preschool onwards children are immersed in both languages, with teachers who teach in their native or fluent language; younger classes alternate languages week by week and secondary classes assign each subject to one language. English lessons follow the British National Curriculum. French is taught from Grade 5 and continues in secondary, and extra language support in German or English is offered when pupils need it. Mandarin is available as an after-school club in Zug.

In Zug, children can start preschool at age three (part-time mornings at first), then move through 1st kindergarten (around 4) and 2nd kindergarten (around 5), the first compulsory year in Switzerland. Primary covers Grades 1 to 6, after which pupils may continue in the three-year secondary school (Grades 7 to 9). Admissions are open throughout the year subject to space, and families can book a private tour and taster days before applying.

Four Forest presents itself as a small, nurturing bilingual community where every child is known and where each pupil's individual strengths are celebrated. Its stated values are community, integrity and curiosity, applied in the classroom, in relationships with families and in school management. The school aims for children to be happy, to enjoy learning and to leave with the skills and confidence to succeed wherever their next step takes them, combining academic study with clubs, sport and outdoor learning.

In Zug, clubs run by semester (18 weeks) after lessons, led by school staff and external specialists. The current offer includes art clubs, dance, football for primary and kindergarten pupils, karate, Playball multi-sport for the youngest, kids' yoga, coding, a future-technologies club, after-school science workshops, Young Engineers building sessions, Mandarin for beginners and advanced pupils, chess, and individual guitar, piano, flute and violin lessons. Free homework and study clubs are available for Grades 1 to 6. Clubs carry an extra fee and are reserved for enrolled pupils.

The Zug campus occupies the second floor of a building at Chollerstrasse 23, with visitor parking outside and bus and train stops within walking distance. The school describes its two campuses as having well-equipped classrooms with modern learning technology, dedicated rooms for art, music and science, libraries, playgrounds and spaces for clubs and events. The Zug activities brochure mentions a Four Forest sports hall used for some clubs and a small Mensa for breakfast care and snacks. Forest school days in nearby woodland complement the indoor spaces.

Families can drop children off from 7:30, with a free Early Bird service before lessons start at 8:30, and paid after-school care runs in set slots until 18:00. A catered lunch is available at extra cost, or pupils may bring a packed lunch; only water is served. A Parents Club organises community events and fundraising. The Zug campus hosts Talentia, a weekly enrichment morning for highly gifted primary pupils (in German), and extra German or English language support is provided when needed. For Zug residents, a cantonal childcare subsidy can reduce preschool and 1st kindergarten fees.