The Guide
Sat, 16 May 2026

Cities / Zurich / International School Zurich North

International School Zurich North

British-curriculum day school located four minutes from Wallisellen station - two stops from Zurich HBF - offering Nursery through A-Levels with small classes averaging 15 students at IGCSE and 7-8 at A-Level. Annual tuition runs from CHF 17,316 (Pre-K half-day)…


Curriculum
British
Fees, annual
CHF 17–35k
Ages
3 months to 18
Pupils
~400
Founded
1999

A British all-through school in Wallisellen run by Cognita, taking students from infant care through to A Levels, well placed for families on the north side of the city.

ISZN sits two stops from Zurich main station near Wallisellen and covers ages three months to 18. The British pathway runs through Cambridge IGCSE and Edexcel International A Level, with a dual-language English and German foundation in the early years. Recent A Level results have produced top marks in the sciences, among the highest in Switzerland according to school-published data. The school is part of the Cognita network and is CIS accredited.

More than 35 nationalities are represented and the parent body is described as friendly and easy to slot into. Class sizes are small, with strong pastoral provision and structured family engagement through open lessons. As a single-site through-school it removes the campus changeover other operators require, which is a practical advantage for siblings spread across age groups. Fees are mid-market for the British schools in the city, with the lower end covering younger years.


Fee Age Type Amount
Pre-K Half-Day (09:00-13:15) 3 Annual CHF 17,316
Pre-K Full-Day (09:00-15:20) 4 Annual CHF 24,480
KIGA 1 5 Annual CHF 29,640
KIGA 2 6 Annual CHF 31,344
Grades 1-5 6 Annual CHF 31,620
Grades 6-8 11 Annual CHF 34,872
Grades 9-12 (IGCSE & A-Level) 14 Annual CHF 35,136
Registration Fee (one-time, non-refundable) One-time CHF 750

  • Public parent discussion and Mumsnet is sparse; one r/askswitzerland comment lists ISZN among the canton's international options to approach for teaching jobs but there is little granular parent feedback.
  • Independent parent-facing reviews (Good Schools Guide, World Schools, International School Parent) consistently emphasise small size at around 240 students, a clear British IGCSE-and-A-Level pathway, and close teacher-parent communication.
  • Cognita acquired ISZN in June 2019; the school sits in Wallisellen and is the smaller option compared with Zurich International School.

Head of school

James Stenning

James Stenning is the Executive Principal of the Four Forest Group of Schools and the International School Zurich North (ISZN). He has extensive experience in education, having taught Economics and held various leadership roles in schools in London before moving to Switzerland in 2022. He is passionate about fostering a supportive and engaging learning environment for students.

Accreditations

  • Council of International Schools 01

  • A-Level results 2024 Average grade A

Schulstrasse 16, 8304 Wallisellen, Switzerland

School website