Swiss Academy - The School

The International A-Levels, as the world’s most widely recognised upper secondary school leaving qualification, are an ideal foundation for talent development in sports, dance and music. They are designed for academic excellence while providing enough flexibility to achieve peak performance in each individual area of development (sports, dance or music).

Our offer

The Swiss Academy Group, with schools in Zurich, Basel and Winterthur, offers talented young people in sport, music and dance a unique combination of first-class grammar school education and individual support in their respective areas of talent. Our flexible teaching concept enables students to combine their school career with their training and artistic ambitions without having to compromise. With our holistic approach, our qualified teaching staff and our specialists in the respective talent areas, we support all students individually and accompany them on their personal development path.

Secondary School

The Swiss Academy in Basel offers a comprehensive talent program from secondary school level I onwards, combining school education with targeted support in the areas of sport, music and dance. The aim is to provide a unique, positive and first-class holistic educational experience. The Swiss Academy at secondary level 1 follows the Swiss curriculum (Curriculum 21).

Upper Secondary School

The Swiss Academy offers an English-language two-level educational pathway: first, we prepare our students for the IGCSE examinations, thus laying a strong subject-specific foundation. This is followed by the International A-Levels, a flexible and in-depth qualification that is recognized by universities worldwide. With talent classes in sport, dance and music, personal coaching and modern infrastructure, we combine academic excellence with individual talent development. The curriculum follows the national English curriculum (Cambridge/Pearson). The examinations are taken in 166 countries at more than 10,000 schools by Cambridge Assessment International Examinations and Pearson Edexcel, making it the most widely used secondary school qualification in the world.

Individual development

We accompany each student personally on their own path.

Personal coaching and learning support in a holistic approach
Support in balancing school requirements and talent development
Promoting self-organization and clarity of purpose
Regular GROW group sessions on mental health, nutrition, resilience and regeneration
Additional offers for physical check-ups and prevention options for injury prevention
Workshops on communication, motivation and stress management
Cross-disciplinary learning and thinking
Regular exchange between school, coaches and parents

International Matura

At our sports, dance and music high school, we prepare students for the International A-Levels. This British Matura entitles students to study at universities and colleges all over the world, including Switzerland, of course. They are taken at more than 10'000 schools in 166 countries, making them the secondary school qualification with the widest global distribution. The International A-Levels are known for their excellent preparation for academic studies at the most excellent universities.

Our sports program

Sport offers challenges like no other area of learning and contributes to holistic development. The Swiss Academy provides students with age-group-specific and varied movement experiences, which first of all optimally develop their coordination skills. Thanks to our specialized trainers and movement coaches, we can also unleash the individual and specific potential of each student by creating ideal conditions.

In order to give our students the best opportunity to develop, the Swiss Academy program is divided into two phases, which merge seamlessly into one another. (General sport/competitive sport)

In addition to motor skills training, the Swiss Academy attaches great importance to personal, mental and health development, which are fundamental to sport.

Our music program

For a successful career, musical talent must be identified, encouraged and supported as early as possible so that there is plenty of time for practicing. For all musical talents, aptitude, motivation and enthusiasm should be encouraged. We therefore incorporate these elements into our curriculum from an early age and consolidate musical skills and knowledge at all school levels (primary, secondary, grammar school) and in various settings (music lessons, instrumental lessons, choir, orchestra).

In order to give our students the best opportunity to develop, our program is divided into two phases, which flow smoothly into one another. (Music in general/instrument as main subject)

Advanced students are trained for their professional music studies and prepared for the respective entrance examinations. The Swiss Academy organizes international concerts and master classes.

Our dance program

The earlier young dance talents are identified and intensively supported, the better the chances for a professional dance career.

In order to become a successful dancer, a great deal of time must be invested; experts assume a minimum of 20 lessons per week - we make this time available to young dance talents and their dance teachers, who are recognised by Danse Suisse, as part of our training.

Our school offers the ideal environment and creates optimal structures, but at the same time provides the necessary creative space for the development of each dance talent. The training goal of many young dancers is to prepare them for a secondary dance school or even to join a renowned ensemble abroad; we lay the foundation for this.

eSports program

The digital transformation can be seen in a new area of the sports world: competitive video games, eSports. The Swiss Academy offers a modular eSports program to comprehensively prepare our students and incorporate eSports in the long term.

Football training

Swiss Academy students can attend additional football training sessions run by our partner school, the Sport Academy Zurich (SAZ), and its partner, FC Zurich (FCZ). The training sessions take place in the morning (9.30am) and are always led by professional FCZ coaches.

The football graduates continue to train and play in their clubs. The training sessions are therefore seen as additional football education that complements that of the clubs and is intended to help the students progress individually. The aim is to enable the pupils to achieve optimal, sustainable football development.

HERO STORY

Liv Kofmel

Liv can already look back on impressive milestones: In July 2024, she danced the solo performance "hope" at the ballet school's final performance on the main stage of Zurich Opera House. In the same year, her performance was awarded the top grade A+ at the Talent Scouting Days in Zurich.

Swissness and Swiss Quality Education

Multilingual and Multicultural Education (Languages and Local Curriculum)

Early detection
and support

Unique Health and Wellbeing Program

Swiss Pedagogy

Swiss Academy works with a contextualized and modernized version of the balanced educational program according to Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi, which incorporates the latest findings from brain research and research on cognitive learning.

Head

Learning, reflecting and studying, becoming excellent in academics
Implementing future skills, being critical and open-minded
Focusing on targets and following objectives rigorously
Develop belief in your own abilities and your chances of success
Being mentally strong and resilient

Heart

Following passions and developing talent
Have an open attitude, accept diversity and act in a solution-oriented manner
Living healthy, caring about wellbeing and sustainability

Hand

Practicing to mastery and developing automatisms
Training and growing beyond ourselves
From holistic to specific and from individual to group
Learning in a realistic, concrete context (project- and phenomenonbased curriculum)