NO German? No Problem: A New Path into the IBDP at SIS 

What happens when three schools work together to make an internationally recognised programme more accessible? At SIS Swiss International School, the answer is a new model for the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) that welcomes students without prior German skills and connects learners across campuses. Our IBDP coordinators Helena Klementz, Bret Simner and Shane Peter explain the impact of offering “German ab initio”. 

A student arrives in Switzerland with little or no German – until now, the IB Diploma Programme at SIS was often out of reach. What has changed?  

Bret: Until now, all SIS students needed to take either German Language and Literature or German B. Students previously had to study German either as a first language or at an intermediate foreign-language level. With the addition of the “German ab initio” course, students can now enrol in the IBDP at SIS without any prior knowledge of German.

Why is this development such good news for internationally mobile families?  

Helena: This development makes access to the IBDP at our SIS schools more flexible and inclusive. International families often relocate at short notice, and students may arrive in Switzerland without prior knowledge of German. By offering German ab initio, the school enables these students to begin learning the language from the start while still accessing the full IBDP. At the same time, it helps students integrate into their new environment by developing useful language skills for everyday life in Switzerland. Overall, the course strengthens the school’s ability to meet the needs of internationally mobile families. 

How do you open the door to students with no prior knowledge of German while staying true to SIS’s bilingual identity? 

Bret: In education, we often talk about the concept of a low floor and a high ceiling. This means providing a low threshold for participation while offering endless opportunities for growth and achievement. As a bilingual school, we have always strived to help our students become global citizens with a strong sense of their origins. By introducing German ab initio, we can now extend our bilingual programme to students who join our school later in their educational journey. This allows more students to benefit from our bilingual approach, and enables us to share our vision with a broader community.  

“Students can now enrol in the IBDP at SIS without any prior knowledge of German.” 

Three SIS campuses are joining forces more closely than ever before. What sparked this collaboration, and why is it happening now?  

Helena: The starting point for this collaboration was the certification of SIS Pfäffikon-Schwyz as an IB World School. As a new IB school, it sought guidance and support from the established IBDP programmes at SIS Basel and SIS Zürich. This led to a strong partnership between the three campuses, with the shared goal of making the IBDP at our SIS schools more attractive, adaptable, and sustainable for students and families.  

The timing is right because there is now sufficient demand throughout the SIS network. By pooling expertise, resources, and student numbers, the schools can offer courses that may not be possible at a single campus.  

The collaboration has already led to concrete successes, including the joint introduction of plagiarism-detection software and shared professional development during pedagogical days, demonstrating how cooperation can enhance quality, support teachers, and create more pathways for students. 

Why is this such a significant milestone for SIS, and how do you see it shaping the future of the SIS student community?  

Shane: What makes this particularly meaningful is how closely it aligns with the SIS concept of a shared network. Our campuses can now make better use of the expertise, resources, and subject specialisms within the SIS community, giving students access to high-quality courses that may not be available on their own campus.  

IBDP at SIS is a carefully structured hybrid approach combining live online lessons with meaningful in-person learning advantages. Students remain connected to their local school community while benefiting from teachers and courses across the SIS network. 

Looking ahead, I believe this will strengthen the SIS learning community even further. Students from SIS Zürich, SIS Basel and SIS Pfäffikon-Schwyz will learn together, creating a more diverse and connected IBDP experience. It will also open up exciting opportunities for collaboration, particularly through CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service), while allowing students to build relationships across schools without losing their close connection to their home campus. 

If you were speaking directly to parents exploring future pathways for their child, what would you want them to take away from this announcement?  

Shane: The key message is that the IBDP at SIS is becoming even more accessible and flexible while maintaining the same academic quality and internationally recognised qualification. Through the strength of the SIS network, students will have access to a broader range of IB courses, specialist teachers, and learning opportunities across three campuses. For parents, this is an exciting development that expands opportunities for students while preserving the personal support and high standards that are central to the IBDP. 

ABOUT SIS SWISS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 

SIS Swiss International School is a private day school offering bilingual education in German and English. With several locations across Switzerland, it supports children and young people from kindergarten through to Matura / IB Diploma, combining local educational content with international perspectives. Discover how bilingualism is brought to life at SIS – visit our website.