Cities / Zurich / International School Zurich North
International School Zurich North
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.
In brief
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.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-K Half-Day (09:00-13:15) | 3 | CHF 17,316 |
| Pre-K Full-Day (09:00-15:20) | 4 | CHF 24,480 |
| KIGA 1 | 5 | CHF 29,640 |
| KIGA 2 | 6 | CHF 31,344 |
| Grades 1-5 | 6 | CHF 31,620 |
| Grades 6-8 | 11 | CHF 34,872 |
| Grades 9-12 (IGCSE & A-Level) | 14 | CHF 35,136 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Registration Fee (one-time, non-refundable) | CHF 750 |
Reviews
- Public parent discussion is sparse; one ex-student or parent 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.
Positives
- Small school with British pathway through A-Level. Consistent positioning across aggregator pages: around 240 students, clear British curriculum, dual-language English/German Early Years.
- Close teacher-parent communication. Parent-facing reviews describe issues being raised early and resolved between teachers and families.
Considerations
- Cognita-operated since 2019. Acquired by Cognita in June 2019; this is the operator behind day-to-day governance.
- Limited public discussion online. Reddit and parent-forum signal is thin compared with larger Zurich-area peers like ZIS and ISZL.
Leadership
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
Academic results
- A-Level results 2024 Average grade A