We understand that families often relocate to Geneva at short notice and as such we are pleased to accept applications during the school year.

We recommend that you submit your application form as soon as possible: forms are processed as they are received and will register your child(ren) for available places in the relevant year group. If a year group is full, we maintain a waiting list and will advise you as a space becomes available.

We teach the English National Curriculum whilst also taking full advantage of our international and multicultural setting and the wonderful opportunities offered by our location and environment. In the senior school, students follow the GCSE and A Level programmes.

At Secondary, pupils work towards GCSEs (aged 16) and A Levels (aged 18). These qualifications are internationally recognised.

For more information, please see: Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5

At GES our main language of teaching is English.

In Pre-school, French is integrated by immersion, gradually transitioning into more structured lessons. French is then integrated into the curriculum from the age of 4 upwards and all pupils have French lessons 4 times per week. As they progress through the school, pupils are grouped into beginner, intermediate and advanced learning groups which allows new pupils access to French anytime at the appropriate level. Throughout Primary school, French is used in all theatrical and musical productions. French vocabulary is reinforced across the curriculum, with some courses, such as P.E., delivered purely in French on occasion.

Given the fortunate location in French-speaking Switzerland and our early teaching of French, many students will be ready for an early GCSE French at the end of Year 10, which is facilitated at GES.

In Years 5 and 6 at Primary, all pupils receive German and Spanish lessons (for part of the school year).

From the age of 11, at Secondary, all pupils study French and choose either German or Spanish as a second Modern Foreign Language until they have completed their GCSEs (aged 16).

In their final two years of school, pupils choose the subjects they wish to study for A Levels. Depending on their choices this may or may not include languages, but the opportunity to continue language learning will be encouraged via complementary courses for students to achieve language proficiency level to allow them to study at local or neighbouring countries’ universities.

As our main teaching language is English, we do ask that all pupils have sufficient English in order to access the curriculum appropriate to their age group.

For Early Years, this may be possible with little or no English prior to joining GES.

During the admissions process we ask all families to send their child(ren)’s current school reports, along with relevant reports about any additional needs, which will be reviewed together with their application form before we offer a place.

For full information, please see our Admissions Policy.

A bus service is available for Primary children aged 5 or above at an additional cost. The service covers neighbouring areas in Geneva and Terre-Sainte. Details may be obtained from the Primary school administration team at [email protected].

At Secondary, most students who travel to school independently, do so by public transport, which is easily accessible from the Secondary campus. There is parking for both cars and bicycles available at each of our campuses.

School lunches are available at an additional cost at both Primary and Secondary.

Meals provided are nutritious, varied and nut-free, prepared with a minimal amount of additional salt and with a preference for seasonal products. Pupils may also bring a healthy packed lunch from home.

All pupils eat together in the Dining Room (Primary) or the Grand Café (Secondary).

At Primary, the day begins at 8:30 and runs until 15:20 with the exception of Wednesday when we finish at 12:20. After School Care is available for a fee each day until 18:00.

At Secondary, pupils arrive in school in time for registration at 8:30 and finish their lessons at 15:30. Extra-Curricular Activities run from the end of the school day until 16:30 or 17:00.

We have on average 80 activities on offer for pupils each week. The majority of activities are run free of charge by GES staff, who choose their activity according to their areas of interest. Certain specialised and paid activities are run by external teachers and instructors.

In addition, our visiting music teachers come into school during the school day to teach private singing and instrumental lessons.

Our pupils are an incredibly diverse group with over 60 nationalities represented, and many of our students holding more than one nationality!

Our class sizes do vary as some year groups are busier than others. Our Admissions team will be able to best advise you on current class sizes for your child’s year group.

Geneva English School is inspected regularly by three different inspection bodies:

• The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), whose work is monitored on behalf of the Department for Education (DfE) in the United Kingdom – please click here to read the latest full report (2017) as well as the latest compliance report from 2024
• ProCert, a highly acclaimed quality control enterprise in Switzerland – please click here to read the latest full report (May 2023)
• Le Département de l’Instruction Publique, de la formation et de la jeunesse, République et Canton de Genève in Switzerland (DIP)