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A broad education programme of high standing

The education offered by Freies Gymnasium Zürich comprises three preparatory classes, a Progymnasium and a lower school and upper school of the Gymnasium with state-recognised House Matura.

In the upper school of the Gymnasium students can choose from four study profiles: Classics, Modern Languages, Mathematics - Natural Sciences and Economics and Law.

The Swiss Matura Regulations govern the Gymnasium programmes; the preparatory classes and the Progymnasium are subject to the Curriculum of the Canton of Zurich.

Special subject teachers, Latin and social competence
Our monolingual preparatory classes lay the foundations for the Progymnasium and the lower school of the Gymnasium.

There are three preparatory classes at Freies Gymnasium Zürich:

•    following grade 4 of the primary school: V5
•    following grade 5 of the primary school: V6

V5 and V6 are intended for good pupils from grade 4 or 5 of the primary school who are aiming to transfer to our Gymnasium or Progymnasium. This is where the foundations are laid to enable pupils to enter the lower school of our Gymnasium or Progymnasium.
 

Our 5th grade primary class (Aufnahmeverfahren)
Would you like to give your child a solid educational basis that will prepare him or her for Progymnasium or Gymnasium?

Are you looking for a school that can give your child the space and time to develop and further his or her personal talents and interests?

Would you like your child to have the opportunity to develop his/her skills in a class of other motivated children and in a quiet, conscientious, but also disciplined atmosphere?

Have you just moved to Zurich and are looking for a school that can prepare your child, who has been educated in a different school system, for the demands of a Swiss Gymnasium?

Our 5th grade primary class allows us to support motivated and talented students over a period of two years in such a manner that the transfer to the Progymnasium or Gymnasium proves no problem at all.

Public primary schools are finding it more and more difficult to develop all their students to their full potential. Individuals who intend to overcome the hurdles on their way into a public Gymnasium see themselves forced to take up additional, extracurricular and costly preparatory courses for the entrance exam. The procedure to enter the FGZ Gymnasium is no less demanding than the admission exam in public institutions, but our preparatory classes are laid out to carefully enable students to meet the demands of the next educational level step by step. Moreover, they are focused on the transfer to the Progymnasium or lower school of the Gymnasium.

Features of the new class
Our 5th grade primary class (V5) forms a unit with the subsequent 6th grade (V6) and has the following features:

  • It consists of a group of maximum 16 motivated students.
  • It provides a solid educational basis which corresponds to the official syllabus for primary schools in the Canton of Zurich. The language spoken in class is German.
  • Class takes place all day. An in-school canteen (Mensa) caters to the students’ needs; playgrounds and sport facilities ensure the students get the exercise they need.
  • Every week, students receive individual support to further their talents and interests during project mornings; the aim is to promote independent learning and creativity.
  • A class teacher teaches most of the subjects (approx. 70%), the remaining subjects are taught by subject teachers who also teach other levels at our school.
  • Students with exceptional (for example linguistic) previous knowledge can be supported individually (not during class lessons; separate price list)
  • Admission to 5th grade primary class does not require students to pass any exams. Students who enter 5th grade can normally stay at the FGZ until they finish 6th grade of primary school.
  • Admission to the following Progymnasium or lower school of the Gymnasium takes place according to the procedure that has applied to the 6th grade primary students for numerous years now:
    Admission exam during the second semester of 5th grade and fulfilling a certain average in grades during 6th grade. The 5th grade students are prepared for the exam in class.

Conditions for admission and transfer

Special subject teachers, Latin and social competence
Our monolingual preparatory classes lay the foundations for the Progymnasium and the lower school of the Gymnasium.

There are three preparatory classes at Freies Gymnasium Zürich:

•    following grade 4 of the primary school: V5
•    following grade 5 of the primary school: V6

V5 and V6 are intended for good pupils from grade 4 or 5 of the primary school who are aiming to transfer to our Gymnasium or Progymnasium. This is where the foundations are laid to enable pupils to enter the lower school of our Gymnasium or Progymnasium without having to take an examination.

Special subject teachers and the same subjects as in the Gymnasium
Pupils are taught by special subject teachers in our preparatory classes just as later in the Gymnasium. Lessons aim to prepare the students for the Gymnasium and Latin is on the timetable. Extra lessons aim to fill gaps in the basic knowledge of German and Maths should this prove necessary. By working closely together with the language teachers (German, French, English and Latin) pupils learn to recognise fundamental similarities in language structures. In Mathematics lessons, we also attach great importance to teaching and reinforcing the basic concepts.

Transfer to the secondary level
Pupils can qualify for the next education phase on the basis of a six-month assessment period rather than needing to take a stressful entrance examination.

After one year in the preparatory classes, our pupils are prepared to transfer to the Progymnasium or Gymnasium level. They have already become accustomed to being taught by special subject teachers and have been introduced to Latin. Furthermore, they have been instructed in learning and organisation skills.

Friendly atmosphere with day school structure
Freies Gymnasium Zürich is a performance-oriented school. However we believe that it is essential for pupils in the preparatory classes to be able to learn in a relaxed yet focused atmosphere. All the children should feel at ease in their class as this facilitates the acquisition of vital social skills. We are committed to communicating key values to our pupils.

The integration week, which takes place away from Zurich after the first six weeks of term, provides pupils with the opportunity to practise vital inter-personal skills, including learning to treat each other with respect and tolerance. The programme also comprises art excursions, hikes, singing and learning about the geographic location of the field trip.

At Freies Gymnasium Zürich, there is a day school structure in place from early morning until the evening. Pupils can benefit from comprehensive supervision during this time. Lunch is served in the school canteen. After regular school hours, there is a homework support service (subject to charge) where pupils can complete their homework under supervision or, if necessary, receive further learning support.

Special programme: introductory course in German and Mathematics
To help prospective pupils to prepare for the entrance examination for the preparatory classes, candidates can register for a special introductory course in German and Mathematics. This course aims to familiarise candidates with the content and structure of the entrance examination.

Admission to the preparatory classes
Prior to registration for the examination, parents and prospective pupils take part in an admission interview with the Principal (V6) as part of the admission process. The entrance examination is based on material from the previous primary school classes. It comprises a written and an oral examination in German and Mathematics.

Eligibility to take the entrance examination for preparatory class 6:

  • Pupils must have a minimal grade of 5 in German and Mathematics each in the February report.   

Conditions for admission and transfer

 

First-class preparation for the upper school of the Gymnasium

Our Progymnasium is academically more demanding than the regular Secondary A level in the state schools and incorporates the following distinctive features:

  • special subject teacher system
  • most teachers are Gymnasium teachers
  • same learning goals as in lower school of the Gymnasium
  • same number of lessons per week as in lower school of the Gymnasium

Differences to the lower school of the Gymnasium

The students in the monolingual Progymnasium have set themselves the goal of transferring to the upper school of the monolingual Gymnasium. For this reason, lessons differ only slightly from those of the lower school of the Gymnasium. Instead of Latin, students have more lessons in Mathematics, German and French. Textile and three-dimensional design are also on the curriculum. The students’ performance is evaluated in line with the standards of the Progymnasium.

Transfer to our upper school of the Gymnasium

In the course of the 2nd or 3rd class of the Progymnasium, our students can qualify for transfer to the upper school of Freies Gymnasium Zürich based on their performance in the 2nd and 3rd quarters and without needing to take an entrance examination.
The education in the Gymnasium is concluded with the state-recognised Matura which qualifies students for admission to all universities.

Admission to our Progymnasium from other schools

Students from other schools who want to transfer to our Progymnasium are required to pass an entrance examination. The preconditions for admission to the entrance examination are:

Final admission to the entrance examination is based on the application dossier and is subject to the number of available places.

The entrance examination is based on work covered in the primary school and comprises written and oral exams in German and Maths. Parents and prospective students take part in an admission interview with school management as part of the admission process.

Internal transfer to our Progymnasium

Transfer to the 1st class of our Progymnasium is based on the level of performance in the preparatory classes. Students do not need to take an entrance examination.

 

Vorbereitung auf das Kurzgymnasium auf hohem Niveau

Unsere dritte Progymnasialklasse bietet Schülerinnen und Schülern einen fachlich hochstehenden Sekundarschulabschluss A mit gleichzeitig intensiver Vorbereitung auf einen Übertritt ins Kurzgymnasium. In einer rein gymnasialen Umgebung und in überschaubarem Rahmen werden die Schülerinnen und Schüler sowohl auf einen internen Übertritt in unser hauseigenes Kurzgymnasium vorbereitet (prüfungsfreier Übertritt aufgrund eines erreichten Notendurchschnitts) als auch auf die Aufnahmeprüfung an eine Kantonsschule. Der Unterricht findet im Fachlehrersystem durch unsere Gymnasiallehrer statt und fokussiert ganz besonders auf die Grundlagen- und Prüfungsfächer Mathematik, Deutsch und Französisch. Der Eintritt erfolgt über eine Aufnahmeprüfung in den Fächern Deutsch, Mathematik und Französisch. Für die Anmeldungsmodalitäten sowie weitere Auskünfte wenden Sie sich an unser Sekretariat (sekretariat@fgz.ch / Tel. 043 456 77 77).

Kurzgymnasium als Ziel?

Higher education qualifications as goal
The Gymnasium follows on after the 6th class of the primary school or our preparatory classes.

The goal of the Gymnasium is to «provide students with the skills and knowledge to promote lifelong learning, as well as their intellectual open mindedness and ability to judge independently» (MAR Art. 5) and in this way to allow access to all forms of higher education.

Admission to the lower school of our Gymnasium from other schools
Applicants are eligible to take the entrance examination if they have a minimum average of 5.0 in German and Mathematics in the February report. There are oral and written examinations in German and Mathematics. Parents and prospective pupils take part in an admission interview with school management as part of the admission process.

Internal transfer to the lower school of our Gymnasium
Transfer to the 1st class of the lower school of our Gymnasium depends on the level of performance in the preparatory classes. Students do not need to take an entrance examination.

Subjects taught
In the lower school of the Gymnasium (1st and 2nd class) the students learn Latin as a basis to their understanding of the beginnings of Western culture. In addition they have lessons in German, French, English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography, Visual Arts, Music, Religion, keyboard skills/text processing and Sport.

In line with the long-standing Christian tradition of our school, all students have lessons in Religion and Philosophy right up to the Matura.

Choice of four Matura study profiles
At the end of the lower school, our students choose their Matura study profile. They also select a core subject.

At Freies Gymnasium Zürich students can choose from the following profiles:

  • Classics with Latin as core subject, combined with English or Greek
  • Modern Languages with Italian as core subject
  • Economics and Law with «Economics and Law» as core subject
  • Mathematics - Natural Sciences with «Biology and Chemistry», or «Applied Mathematics and Physics» as core subjects

Conditions for admission and transfer

Four years to the Matura
The monolingual upper school of the Gymnasium takes four years and follows on after the first two years of the lower school of the Gymnasium or after the 2nd or 3rd class of the secondary level (grade 8 or 9).
The goal of the Gymnasium is to «provide students with the skills and knowledge to promote lifelong learning, as well as their intellectual open mindedness and ability to judge independently» (MAR Art. 5) and in this way to allow access to all forms of higher education.

Choice of four Matura study profiles
Our students choose their Matura study profile. They also select a core subject.

At Freies Gymnasium Zürich students can choose from the following profiles:

  • Classics with Latin as core subject, combined with English or Greek (for the students of the lower school of the Gymnasium only)
  • Modern Languages with Italian as core subject
  • Economics and Law with «Economics and Law» as core subject
  • Mathematics - Natural Sciences with «Biology and Chemistry», or «Applied Mathematics and Physics» as core subjects

Basic, core and supplementary subjects
The Matura subjects are made up of ten basic subjects, the core subject and a supplementary subject.
The study profile is essentially decided by the core subject. Lessons in the basic subjects are more or less the same for all students, irrespective of study profile. This is intended to be the basis for a general education.

All profiles include an introduction to Economics and Law (two lessons a week). In addition, there are also optional subjects.

Matura paper
Working alone or in a team, students write a Matura paper on a subject of their own choice. The Matura paper must be approved for the student to be admitted to the Matura examinations.

Admission to the upper school of our Gymnasium from other schools
Applicants are eligible to take the entrance examination if they have a minimum average of 5.0 in German, Mathematics and French in the February report. There are oral and written examinations in these three subjects. Parents and prospective pupils take part in an admission interview with school management as part of the admission process.

Internal transfer to the Lower School of our Gymnasium
Students from the lower school of our Gymnasium transfer to the upper school of our Gymnasium without needing to take an entrance examination. Students from our Progymnasium can qualify for transfer based on their performance without needing to take an entrance examination (see Progymnasium section).

Conditions for admission and transfer
 

CONTACT US FOR A PERSONAL APPOINTMENT


Preparatory classes 5 & 6 Upper School of the Gymnasium

The Head of Department, Principal
Dr. Christoph Wittmer

Phone administration office:
Telephone: +41 43 456 77 77
E-mail: sekretariat@fgz.ch
 

 

Monolingual progymnasium & lower school of the Gymnasium

The Head of Department,
Vice Principal
Christine Aerne Corcoran

Phone administration office:
Telephone: +41 43 456 77 77
E-mail: sekretariat@fgz.ch

Upper school of the Gymnasium Bilingual progymnasium & lower school of the Gymnasium

The Head of Department,
Vice Principal
Doron Toggenburger

Phone administration office.
Telephone: +41 43 456 77 77
E-Mail: sekretariat@fgz.ch