International IB School in Schaffhausen, close to Zurich

International School of Schaffhausen (ISSH):
Located in Schaffhausen, north of Zurich, The International School of Schaffhausen offers high quality international education in English to local students and international students. We are an authorized IB World School for the primary program, the middle years program and the IB diploma program. Our Junior College boarding program is specifically designed for teenagers aged 16-18 from around the world. Situated just 51 km north of Zurich, our school is 3 km from the main railway station, and is accessible by public transport (bus No 23), by road from Schaffhausen centre, and from the motorway coming from Singen or Winterthur.

Education Programs:

- Early Years Program:
This program is for young learners ages 3-5 years. The early years are not only the foundation for a happy and successful school career. In their first two years, the children also develop many social, personal and emotional skills like interacting with other children, sharing toys, expressing their feelings in an appropriate way, waiting for their turn or becoming more independent when dressing and eating.

There are many different activities like games, role play, circle time, puzzles, maths or language games and story time in an early years day. In a safe and caring environment, our dedicated educators ensure that our youngest become happy and confident learners who succeed in gradually entering the realm of letters and numbers.

- Primary Years Program:
The ISSH is following the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP), an international curriculum framework designed for children between the ages of 3 and 11 years. The PYP takes a holistic approach in developing the whole child, nurturing hearts as well as minds and addressing social, physical, emotional and cultural needs in addition to academic development.

A world-wide recognized primary curriculum:
The PYP synthesizes insights of educational research and best practice from a range of national systems, with the wealth of knowledge and experience of international schools. It is an inquiry based transdisciplinary curriculum which is highly relevant, engaging and challenging.

- Middle Years Program:
The middle years program is designed for students aged 11-16. In this period, students are making the transition form early puberty to mid-adolescence, which is a particularly critical phase of personal, social and intellectual development. Such a time of uncertainty, sensitivity, susceptibility, resistance and questioning requires an educational program that supports students in their search for a sense of place in their natural and social environments. The middle years program guides our students to develop the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need to participate actively and responsibly in a changing and increasingly interrelated world.

The middle years program is holistic in its approach. It aims to educate the whole person, stressing the interdisciplinary perspective. This interdisciplinary perspective asks the student to consider issues and problems from a wide range of contexts and to realize that good solutions often draw upon insights one has acquired from many sources.

- The IB Diploma Program:
This comprizes the final two years of secondary school (grades 11 & 12) leading to a world-wide recognized university entrance diploma, the International Baccalaureate. The IB program combines new approaches to learning and teaching with an international perspective on curriculum content. The program is rigorous and intellectually challenging, requiring critical thinking and communication of understanding through the study of a wide range of subjects in the traditional academic disciplines while encouraging an international perspective.

Beyond completing courses, coursework and examinations in the subject areas in preparation for higher education and beyond, the holistic nature of the IB Diploma Program also emphasizes personal, emotional and social growth. Three core requirements challenge students to apply their knowledge and broaden their understanding of life:

- Creativity, action and service
- Individual research through the extended essay
- Inquiry into the Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

 Additionally:  Extra curricular activities: As well as the structured lesson timetable, ISSH also offers a wide variety of activities that go beyond the classroom to promote personal development and support academic success.