Bilingual Education as a Gateway to the World

A Team of Native Italian and British teachers

Our team includes native Italian and English teachers, selected for their teaching skills and intercultural sensitivity.
Students develop global skills while remaining firmly rooted in their heritage.

Italian National Programme

Our curriculum follows Italian national guidelines and is enriched with international standards and perspectives. Interdisciplinary projects, continuous assessment and co-teaching promote cross-curricular linguistic, digital, socio-emotional and civic skills. English is the everyday language of instruction, Italian is the cultural root: together they develop autonomy, critical thinking and global ethical openness, while respecting local identity.

Regular International Activities

We regularly organise shared international activities: eTwinning, projects with foreign classes, virtual exchanges and mobility. We promote an open, multicultural and stimulating learning environment, where differences become resources. Active lessons, workshops, cooperative learning and flexible spaces encourage curiosity, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.

Structured and Varied School Day

The school day is structured and varied: bilingual lessons, STEM workshops, art and music, physical activities, reading, assisted study and tutoring. A balanced schedule alternates between periods of concentration and regenerative breaks. Before- and after-school services support families, while cross-curricular projects connect different subjects, making learning meaningful and continuous.

Immersion-based Instruction

Scientific studies, along with our own experience at SIS, have consistently shown that immersion-based instruction, when sustained over several years, leads to near-native fluency in a second language. The most remarkable outcomes emerge when children are exposed to this immersive environment before formal schooling begins. The beauty of this approach is that it doesn’t hinder the development of their mother tongue—in fact, it enriches it.

Cognitive Growth, Nurturing Skills

But it’s not just about mastering another language. The immersion method also fosters cognitive growth, nurturing skills like linguistic awareness, creativity, and the ability to think beyond conventional boundaries. At SIS Swiss International School, children have the unique opportunity to learn both English and Italian through this immersive process, regardless of whether they are native speakers of either language.

Native Speakers Teachers

Our faculty members are not only experts in their fields—they are native speakers of the languages they teach. This immersion extends beyond the classroom, with teachers using their language during playtime, meals, and even while participating in events and excursions, ensuring that every moment is an opportunity for language and cultural enrichment.

Stimulating Day School Concept

For our students, school is a place to learn and thrive – an environment that is stable and nurturing while presenting them with appropriate challenges. By eating, playing and learning together, they learn to share with others, develop assertiveness and take pride in their achievements. Both Italian and English are used during extracurricular activities, too, providing a further opportunity for students to develop their language skills.