When transferring to secondary school, the six-year elementary school is completed and the three-year secondary school (four years in Ticino) begins. Around 80% of pupils make this transition. The young people deepen and expand the skills they have acquired at elementary school. During this time, they lay the foundations for vocational training or attending a secondary school. In secondary school, pupils usually belong to section A or B. These are run as A classes, combined A/B classes or B classes. In section A (secondary school A), pupils are expected to have more demanding skills and in section B (secondary school B), basic skills are promoted and required. If there is also a secondary school C, then advanced requirements are expected in secondary school B and basic requirements in level C.

In addition to elementary school, some alternatives include public art and sports schools, private schools or international schools. Home schooling would also be an alternative. Private secondary schools require a license to operate and are listed in a public register. State supervision ensures that the schools fulfill the same tasks as public schools. Teachers at private schools also need a license. There can be many reasons for private secondary schools:

• Child does not feel comfortable at public schools
• Bullying
• Underchallenge
• Lack of bilingual teaching
• Better development opportunities
• Range of sporting or artistic leisure activities
• Individual support
• Developing talents
• Targeted work on weaknesses
• Train social skills
• Looking for the best support
• Pedagogically valuable everyday school life
• Free learning and open lessons
• Paving the way to grammar school retrospectively

For some courses, there are a large number of providers throughout Switzerland, but also in individual cities, such as Zurich. It is therefore possible that you will find a considerable number of schools for courses in Zurich, especially in highly sought-after sectors, and you will have to choose between them. This is not always easy, as you often know little or nothing about the schools in question. It makes sense to contact the relevant training providers directly using our contact form and have them send you training and course documents. Read these thoroughly and identify some important selection criteria such as course details, experience and references, training managers, infrastructure, recognition and much more. Our guide "How to choose the right training provider" (see navigation bar "Education help" above) can also be helpful in your search for the right training provider.

The difference between secondary level 1 and secondary level 2 are two educational levels in the Swiss education system that build on each other:

• At secondary level I, pupils are taught in performance groups in all or some of the subjects.
• Secondary level II follows on from primary school, which usually lasts nine years (together with kindergarten, this forms the primary level). Around two thirds of young people switch to an apprenticeship after compulsory schooling, which combines school and practical experience in the form of a dual vocational apprenticeship. A vocational apprenticeship leads to a vocational certificate and can also be completed with a vocational baccalaureate. Around a third of young people complete a school-based course of study, such as a technical secondary school or a grammar school, which prepares them to study at a university.