Four Forest Bilingual International School Zug vs Lakeside School - Horgen
Four Forest Bilingual International School Zug and Lakeside School - Horgen are both in Zug, about 12 km apart. Both schools offer Swiss programmes, and Four Forest Bilingual International School Zug also offers British. Published annual fees are CHF 12,924 - 30,035 at Four Forest Bilingual International School Zug and CHF 24,600 - 27,720 at Lakeside School - Horgen, which puts Lakeside School - Horgen roughly 22% higher. Four Forest Bilingual International School Zug takes pupils from 3 to 15, and Lakeside School - Horgen from 3 to 12.
Zug campus: Chollerstrasse 23, CH-6312 Zug-Steinhausen; Luzern campus: Maihofstrasse 95a, CH-6006 Luzern. The Zug campus is centrally located between Zug, Steinhausen, Cham and Hünenberg, with views of the central Swiss Alps.
Location
Lakeside School Horgen is located in the center of Horgen at Alte Landstrasse 33-35, CH-8810 Horgen. Getting to school is easy by public transport: a 2-minute walk from Horgen train station, a 10-minute walk from Horgen Oberdorf train station, and a 10-minute walk from the Meilen-Horgen ferry.
Early Years (Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten); Primary School (Grade 1 to 6); Bilingual Matura (upper school through Swiss Matura).
School type
School type
Private day school; bilingual international school delivering a bidirectional German–English education; Swiss cantonal curricula with the British National Curriculum applied to English.
School type
Day School on one campus.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
Small class sizes with targeted progression; additional support and support teaching when required; progress discussed with students and parents.
Additional learning support
Student support rooms for individual language and learning support in small groups.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
Affiliated with Cognita (Cognita family of Schools).
Country affiliation
Switzerland
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
Morning supervision starts at 7:30am; lessons run during the day; after-school care available until 6:00pm; after-school club and Homework Club from Grade 1.
School day structure
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Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
School Bus (Küsnacht) with door-to-door and shuttle services
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Overview — School Year 2026/27
This summary lists the school fees and related payment terms for Four Forest Bilingual International School for the School Year 2026/27. All amounts are shown in CHF and are presented as annual and per-term values (fees are billed in four equal instalments per academic year).
Application / one-time enrolment fee
- Enrolment fee (one-time, payable on confirmation of enrolment): CHF 2,500.
Tuition fees — Four Forest Luzern (School Year 2026/27)
- 1st Kindergarten (options): - 3 half days (mornings only): CHF 13,776 per year (CHF 3,444 per term). - 4 half days: CHF 14,796 per year (CHF 3,699 per term). - 5 half days: CHF 15,804 per year (CHF 3,951 per term). - 6 half days: CHF 17,376 per year (CHF 4,344 per term). - 7 half days: CHF 18,960 per year (CHF 4,740 per term). - 8 half days / Full-time: CHF 20,544 per year (CHF 5,136 per term). - Minimum programme: 3 mornings for 3-year-olds; 5 mornings for 4-year-olds.
- 2nd Kindergarten: CHF 21,828 per year (CHF 5,457 per term).
- Primary - Grades 1–4: CHF 23,088 per year (CHF 5,772 per term). - Grades 5–6: CHF 24,048 per year (CHF 6,012 per term).
Tuition fees — Four Forest Zug (School Year 2026/27) — Canton resident / non-resident
- Second child: 10% reduction on school fees (private payers). - Third child: 25% reduction on school fees (private payers).
Billing schedule and payment terms
- Tuition fees are invoiced in four equal instalments per academic year and are payable in advance on the following dates: 1 August, 1 November, 1 February and 1 May. Fees for an entry during the school year are invoiced from the first day of the month of entry. Late payment may incur interest, reminder and collection charges.
- A place is only guaranteed once the Schulgeld (tuition) for the first quarter has been paid. If a reserved place is not taken or a registration is withdrawn prior to the contractual start, the school fee for the first quarter remains payable and is due within 10 days.
- Annual “Schulgeldpauschale” (a general tuition package) is included in the tuition and covers many routine school costs (examples listed include excursions, camps, dental hygiene checks, theatre and museum visits). Optional or extra services such as the school club, language exams, individual music lessons and after‑school paid courses are charged separately and are payable in advance. Lunch catering is an additional cost when chosen and is invoiced together with the school fee invoices.
Boarding
- Four Forest operates as a day school; boarding is not provided.
Other costs and typical additional fees
- After-school clubs, extra-curricular activities and individual music lessons: charged separately; separate price lists apply. - Catered lunch (optional): charged in addition to tuition and invoiced with tuition invoices if used. Water is provided at school; sweetened drinks are not permitted. - One-off enrolment / material fee on first enrolment (amount covered above as the CHF 2,500 enrolment fee). - Incidental costs not covered by the tuition package (e.g., optional courses, private exams, certain external activities) are billed separately and must be paid in advance.
Refunds and cancellation terms
- Cancellation and notice: the school contract requires written notice and a four-month notice period that takes effect to the end of a semester (semester end dates: 31 January or 31 July). The date of receipt of the written notice determines the end of the payment obligation; outstanding fees and other obligations remain payable through the end of the notice period and are due within 10 working days after final billing.
- Refunds: the first-quarter tuition payment is required to secure a place and remains due if a registration is withdrawn before the contractual start; other refunds are governed by the contract and the final settlement will follow the contract's closing invoice. Late-payment charges and collection fees may apply where payments are overdue.
Fee payment instructions and methods
- Tuition and additional charges are invoiced according to the billing schedule above and must be paid in advance. Invoices include payment terms and will state the required payment arrangements; late payment may incur interest and collection fees.
Notes on adjustments
- Tuition fees are set on an annual basis and the school reserves the right to amend the fees for new school years. Sibling discounts apply only to private payers as indicated.
Fee details
Application & entrance fees - Registration (application) fee: CHF 500 (non‑refundable). - Deposit (payable on signing the contract): CHF 2,000 for the first child, CHF 1,000 for the second child, CHF 500 for each additional child. The deposit is held against outstanding amounts and is refunded on exit according to the school's deposit policy.
Tuition fees (monthly and annual) — Pre‑Kindergarten, Kindergarten, Primary (Grade 1–6) - Pre‑Kindergarten (full programme — Wednesdays half day): CHF 2,050 per month / CHF 26,400 per year. - Pre‑Kindergarten (5 mornings per week): CHF 1,310 per month / CHF 15,720 per year. - Pre‑Kindergarten additional morning (per morning): CHF 260 per month / CHF 3,120 per year. - Pre‑Kindergarten additional afternoon (per afternoon): CHF 210 per month / CHF 2,520 per year. - Kindergarten (full programme — Wednesday afternoon free): CHF 2,310 per month / CHF 27,720 per year. - Kindergarten option with an additional free afternoon (Tue or Thu) or other half‑day patterns: examples listed at CHF 2,150 per month (CHF 25,800 per year) and CHF 2,200 per month (CHF 26,400 per year) depending on the chosen pattern. - Primary School (Grades 1–6): CHF 2,310 per month / CHF 27,720 per year. Sibling discount: 5% on tuition for the second child and 10% for each subsequent child.
Day Care, After‑school and optional services (examples) - Day Care (examples of monthly / yearly pricing and time slots): - Morning care (typical early slot): CHF 245 per month / CHF 2,940 per year (example option). - Afternoon Day Care (5 days per week, shorter slot): CHF 490 per month / CHF 5,880 per year (example option). - Full after‑school extended care (5 days to 18:30): CHF 735 per month / CHF 8,820 per year (example option). - Single morning/afternoon session and Wednesday‑afternoon rates are available at specific per‑session prices. - Spontaneous/occasional Day Care: charged hourly (example CHF 20 per hour for spontaneous bookings) and invoiced separately.
Hot lunch and school bus - Hot lunch (monthly examples): CHF 200 per month (4 days/week, excl. Wed) or CHF 250 per month (5 days/week, incl. Wed); annual equivalents CHF 2,400 / CHF 3,000 respectively. - School bus (where available and charged): typical example CHF 300 per month / CHF 3,600 per year (train‑station shuttle integrated in tuition at some locations; paid bus routes noted as an additional cost).
Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition and recurring charges are stated as monthly amounts and are payable in advance at the beginning of each month. The school issues invoices and applies its stated monthly billing schedule. Prices are subject to change per the school's published fee schedule.
Boarding - Boarding is not offered at this campus; the school operates as a day school with Day Care and after‑school options.
Other costs and charges - School fund (one‑off or standing contribution): CHF 1,000 (listed as Schulfond on early years pages). - Extra‑curricular / leisure courses and certain activities (e.g., external providers for After‑School Clubs, holiday care, class trips) are charged separately when applicable. - Occasional charges for spontaneous Day Care or special services are invoiced separately (example: CHF 20 per hour for spontaneous Day Care bookings).
Refund and cancellation rules (fees) - The registration (application) fee of CHF 500 is non‑refundable. - The deposit is retained as security against outstanding amounts and is refunded on exit subject to the school's deposit policy and any minimum attendance period conditions specified in the contract. Specific deposit refund conditions (timing and forfeiture in case of late cancellation) are set out in the school's admissions/contract terms.
Fee payment options - Invoices and the school's fee portal are used to manage billing and payments; recurring tuition is invoiced monthly in advance. Payment instructions (IBAN/QR reference or e‑billing and the parent fee portal) are provided on the school's invoicing/parent portal. Parents may follow the school's invoice instructions when making payments.
If you need specific monthly versus annual amounts for any single program option or confirmation for a particular academic year, use the published fee schedule entries above for the current programme options and fee levels.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Swiss Curriculum 21 forms the basis for all subjects, with English instruction aligned to the British National Curriculum. The school immerses students in one language at a time, spending one week in English and the next in German. Preschool and 2nd Kindergarten introduce language through bilingual play, while Primary School (Grades 1-6) builds knowledge in Swiss Curriculum 21 with English taught under the British framework, alternating languages weekly. Secondary School (Grades 7-9) continues bilingual delivery, with each subject taught in its designated language. Graduation pathways include Swiss Gymnasium (grade-dependent), Swiss Secondary School, or an International Pathway from Grade 7.
Curriculum details
Lakeside School Horgen offers a bilingual curriculum from Pre-Kindergarten through Primary School and into the bilingual Swiss Matura path in partnership with Freies Gymnasium Zürich. In Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten, each class has English-speaking and German-speaking teachers, exposing children to both languages. In Primary School, instruction is delivered in English and German, with one native English-speaking and one native German-speaking teacher sharing responsibilities; there is an English week when all subjects are taught in English and a German week when they are taught in German; specialist subjects are taught in either language. The program follows Lehrplan 21, the Swiss national curriculum, and is enriched by international curricula. The bilingual Matura path offers continued study at the bilingual Gymnasium or ProGymnasium through the FGZ partnership, with an almost exam-free admission to the bilingual Gymnasium via Vorbereitungsklasse 6 (V6) after Grade 6, subject to passing the V6 entrance exam. Many Lakeside School students complete the Swiss Matura to gain access to world-class universities in Switzerland and abroad.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Small class sizes.
Student teacher ratio
Small class sizes.
Exam results
Exam results
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Exam results
Across its Swiss Matura pathway, Lakeside School Horgen reports that about 60% of students enter a Gymnasium after Grade 6, with many going to bilingual Freies Gymnasium Zürich or monolingual public Gymnasien; Perspectiva Nova provides on-campus exam preparation, contributing to strong higher-education progression.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Graduates move on to Swiss Gymnasium (grade-dependent) or Swiss Secondary School; some follow an International Pathway from Grade 7.
Higher education progression
Many Lakeside School students complete the Swiss Matura to gain access to world-class universities in Switzerland and abroad. The school bases its program on Lehrplan 21, the Swiss national curriculum, and integrates international curricula to support academic pathways. The FGZ partnership and V6 entrance exam structure facilitate transitions to Gymnasium-level education, and Perspectiva Nova provides on-campus exam preparation for Gymnasium entrances.
Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
Talentia enrichment programme takes place on Thursday mornings at the Zug campus for highly gifted Primary students.
Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
1. Application for the appropriate programme: The application form lists programmes as 1st Kindergarten, 2nd Kindergarten, 1st Grade Primary, 2nd Grade Primary, 3rd Grade Primary, 4th Grade Primary, 5th Grade Primary, 6th Grade Primary, 1st Grade Secondary, 2nd Grade Secondary, and 3rd Grade Secondary. 2. Admission interview and class visit: Admission includes an interview; the School Management may contact the child's previous schools for academic details and behaviour. A visit to an existing class may be recommended to gauge the classroom environment. 3. Availability and trial days: Admission is subject to availability and possible trial days. 4. Written decision: The decision will be confirmed in writing. 5. Enrolment contract: By signing the School Contract, a binding enrolment is concluded; the completed application must be returned to School Management; this is a binding reservation of a place and the decision regarding admission and place remains reserved. 6. Enrolment fee and first trimester fees: If admitted, a one‑time enrolment fee is due and the school fees for the first trimester are payable within 10 days. 7. Fees and payment schedule: School fees are payable in three equal installments (in advance) on August 1, December 1, and April 1; the current price list is published before the end of March each year; if a child enters mid‑year, the school fee is invoiced for the entire month of entry. 8. Withdrawals/late entry: If enrolment is withdrawn or a child does not start, the enrolment fee and the first trimester fee are due as described. 9. Year‑round applications: Applications are accepted throughout the school year. 10.
Admissions
1. Registration is completed online for Lakeside School Horgen. You initiate the process via the Lakeside School registration portal. The Horgen campus address is Alte Landstrasse 33-35, CH-8810 Horgen.
2. Fees and the admissions procedure are described on the Fees & Registration page. This page provides information on tuition fees and the admissions procedure. Reviewing this page is recommended as part of planning your child's enrollment.
3. You can contact the Horgen campus by email or phone for admissions inquiries. The Escola app provides the primary channel for school communications with parents, and direct emails are available to teachers, management, and the office. Parent conferences are held once a year at the start of the school year.