Swiss Program

The Ecole d’Humanité offers three academic paths within the Swiss school system: Secondary Level I (grades 7–9), the 10th School Year, and the Matura Program (grades 10–13). All programs are based on a progressive educational concept that promotes discovery-based, hands-on, and holistic learning.

Secondary Level I (Grades 7–9)

In Secondary Level I, students follow the Canton of Bern’s Lehrplan 21 curriculum. Teaching is designed to be hands-on and discovery-based, drawing on the progressive educational ideas of Paul Geheeb and Martin Wagenschein. The goal is for students to truly understand content rather than simply memorize it.

In addition to morning classes, students choose at least eight afternoon courses per week—for example, skiing, climbing, theater, pottery, silversmithing, or music production. These courses are mainly in the areas of sports, music, and the arts. Students also acquire practical skills in community life at the Ecole, such as cooking, home economics, or participating in the school assembly.

Subjects (Selection)

Special Features:

  • No exam pressure – learning is the priority

  • Learning through practical activities (cooking, crafts, everyday tasks)

  • Personal guidance in small groups

  • Many afternoon course options

  • Part of an age-mixed school community

    • German

    • Mathematics

    • French

    • English

    • Nature and Technology

    • Space, Time, Societies

    • Media and Computer Science

    • Career Orientation

    • Ethics, Religion, Community

    • Economics, Work, Home Economics

    • Arts and Crafts

    • Music

    • Sports

Target Group:

Students who have completed primary school. In individual cases, entry is also possible from grade 6.

Feedback & Completion

In Secondary Level I, there are no final exams. Instead, regular learning assessments are carried out, and students receive both oral and written feedback in all courses. Completion is achieved through the successful participation in courses from grades 7 to 9.

Recognition

The Ecole’s Secondary Level I is officially recognized by the Department of Education of the Canton of Bern. The curriculum fully follows Lehrplan 21.

10th School Year

The 10th School Year is designed for individual orientation. The course plan is tailored to each student, depending on whether they are aiming for an apprenticeship, the Matura, or an artistic focus. It is also possible to combine Matura courses, career counseling, and courses that prepare for vocational training.

Teaching follows progressive educational principles: students learn through discovery and hands-on experiences so that they truly understand content instead of simply memorizing it. In addition to academic learning, they also experience education in the practical everyday life of the Ecole community: cooking, home economics, or contributing to the school assembly.

In the afternoons, students are free to choose from the entire range of courses—for example, pottery, silversmithing, dance, music production, various painting courses, Mexican cooking, climbing, or skiing.

Target Group:

Young people who are still exploring their academic or career paths, or who already have a goal they want to pursue in depth.

Special Features:

  • Individually defined goals (orientation, career exploration, in-depth study)

  • Combination of Matura courses, career counseling, and practical learning

  • Free choice of courses in the afternoon as well

  • Flexibility to switch to other Ecole programs (including the US system)

  • Space for creative, craft, and athletic interests

  • Students actively help shape the program

Feedback & Completion

At the end of the 10th School Year, students receive an Ecole diploma that reflects their personal and academic development, including reports from all the courses they have taken. There is no final exam. Instead, students receive regular oral and written feedback on their individual progress in each course.

Matura Program (Grades 10–13)

The Ecole prepares students for the Swiss Matura exam over 3.5 years. Teaching is based on the progressive educational ideas of Paul Geheeb and Martin Wagenschein: students learn through discovery and hands-on methods to truly understand content rather than simply memorize it.

Despite the intensive Matura preparation, there is still space for a rich afternoon program and personal development within the Ecole community life.

Program Structure

  • Matura 10 (September–February): Classes in all subjects, bringing everyone to the same level

  • Matura 11 (March–February): Classes in all subjects

  • Matura 12 (March–February): Focus on subjects for the first part of the final exam

  • Matura 13 (March–February): Focus on subjects for the second part of the final exam

Subjects Taught

    • Biology

    • Chemistry

    • Physics

    • History

    • Geography

    • Music or Art

    • Mathematics

    • German

    • English

    • French or Italian

    • Specialization Subject

    • Supplementary Subject

    • Matura Thesis

    • PAM (Physics and Applications of Mathematics)

    • Biology and Chemistry

    • Art

    • Music

    • Language (e.g., Italian, Spanish, Latin) *

    • Economics and Law *

    • PPP (Philosophy, Pedagogy, Psychology) *

    • In these subjects, preparation is done through self-study if no teacher is available.

    • Biology

    • Chemistry

    • Physics

    • Geography

    • History

    • Mathematics

    • Philosophy

Special Features

  • Small classes with 3 to 8 students

  • Individual preparation for the Matura exams – without performance pressure

  • No entrance exam, admission based on application dossier

  • Option for a bilingual Matura (3–4 exams in English, French, or Italian)

  • Even during the intensive exam period, there is time for skiing, theater, hiking, and other creative afternoon courses

  • Living and learning in Ecole families fosters social connections and supports the learning process

  • All students in the past 15 years who took both parts of the final exam have passed the Matura

Exam Process

The Matura exams are organized by the Swiss Maturity Commission. The content is nationally standardized and meets the requirements of all Swiss cantons.

Exam Process:

  • First Part of the Exam (at the end of Matura 12): Written only, in six subjects (all equally weighted).

  • Second Part of the Exam (at the end of Matura 13): Written and oral, in seven subjects. Weighting of the exams:

    • Mathematics: double

    • German: triple

    • French: double

    • English: double

    • Specialization Subject: triple

    • Supplementary Subject: single

    • Matura Thesis: single

Passing Rules:

  • A maximum of four subjects may be failed (score below 4).

  • A maximum of seven minus points is allowed (depending on subject weighting).

  • At least 84 total points required (equivalent to a score of 4 in all subjects).

Retake Option:
Anyone who does not pass the Matura exam can retake only the failed subjects. Only as many subjects as needed to meet the three passing rules must be passed.

Target Group:
Students who, after 9th or 10th grade, want to work toward the Swiss Matura—with individual support, without performance pressure, while still having space for personal interests and creativity.

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