Cities / Geneva / Swedish International School of Geneva
Swedish International School of Geneva
A small bilingual primary and preschool in Meyrin, close to CERN, founded in 1974 and now in the Les Vergers neighbourhood. Around 90 pupils across the full primary range, working in English-French or Swedish-French streams.
In brief
A small bilingual primary and preschool in Meyrin, close to CERN, founded in 1974 and now in the Les Vergers neighbourhood. Around 90 pupils across the full primary range, working in English-French or Swedish-French streams.
The pedagogy follows Sweden's Lgr22 curriculum overlaid with Montessori-influenced practice: no homework, no rote memorising, lots of exploration. Five values frame the school: love of learning, empathy, commitment, community, equality. Families looking for a soft-edged, nature-leaning primary with a Scandinavian flavour land here, and the small numbers mean teachers know every child.
Parent voice splits along expected lines. The warmth, low pressure and inclusive feel get strong praise, with words like cocoon, community and bilingual recurring at open days. The harder critiques are about academic level, particularly French outcomes, with some families running parallel tutoring to keep pace with the Swiss system. Worth being clear-eyed about what this school is and is not: a small alternative primary, not a feeder to a competitive secondary. Plan the next step early.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Crèche/Preschool 4 days part-time (1-2 yrs) | 1 | CHF 27,780 |
| Crèche/Preschool 4 days full-time (1-2 yrs) | 1 | CHF 31,200 |
| Crèche/Preschool 5 days part-time (1-2 yrs) | 1 | CHF 34,740 |
| Crèche/Preschool 5 days full-time (1-2 yrs) | 1 | CHF 39,000 |
| Crèche/Preschool 4 days part-time (2+ yrs) | 2 | CHF 24,360 |
| Crèche/Preschool 4 days full-time (2+ yrs) | 2 | CHF 27,360 |
| Crèche/Preschool 5 days part-time (2+ yrs) | 2 | CHF 30,480 |
| Crèche/Preschool 5 days full-time (2+ yrs) | 2 | CHF 34,200 |
| Primary School | 4 | CHF 26,845 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | CHF 250 | |
| Enrollment Fee | CHF 750 |
Reviews
A small bilingual preschool and primary on the Meyrin side of Geneva, close to CERN. About 90 pupils across ages 1 to 12, taught in English and French or Swedish and French, with two teachers per class on a one-language-one-teacher model. The Swedish curriculum sits alongside the Plan d'études Romand. New principal Lotta Bartosch took over in 2024 after a Swedish school-leadership career and stints in England, Germany and Hong Kong. The mood from families is consistently warm: small, friendly, exploratory, light on homework. The trade for that is exactly what you would expect from a school of this size, narrower secondary pathway (it ends at primary) and a less structured feel than the bigger Geneva names.
Positives
- Small bilingual setting. Around 90 pupils with two teachers per class running one-language-one-teacher in English and French or Swedish and French. Families describe it as genuinely international and easy to settle into.
- Exploratory, low-pressure approach. Play-based and project-led in the Swedish tradition, no homework, no rote memorisation. Parents who want curiosity and outdoor time over worksheets tend to be the happy ones.
- Pastoral feel. Recent parents describe a secure, attentive environment with low conflict and teachers who know the children well. The small roll makes that easier to sustain.
- Leadership reset. Lotta Bartosch took over as principal and general director in 2024, bringing a Swedish state-school leadership background and overseas experience. The current leadership team is newly settled rather than long-tenured.
Considerations
- Scope of the school. Primary only, ending around age 12. Families need a plan for the secondary jump to Ecolint, CDL, Florimont or the Geneva state system.
- Structure and academic register. The Swedish-rooted, exploratory model is the appeal for some and the worry for others. Parents looking for a tightly scaffolded, traditional academic environment tend to find it light.