ipso! International School vs Saint Charles International School

	I ipso! International School Basel, Switzerland	S Saint Charles International School Basel, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 21,520 - 27,720	Fees / year CHF 15,300 - 74,500
Age range	Age range 1 - 16 years	Age range 8 - 20 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), Swiss Curriculum	Curriculum Swiss Curriculum, IB (MYP), IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 140	Pupils 259
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 15
Instruction language	Instruction language German, English	Instruction language English, French, German
Opened	Opened 2014	Opened 1897
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The school is located in Rheinfelden, Switzerland, at Bahnhofstrasse 26, CH-4310 Rheinfelden, adjacent to the old town. It is within a few minutes' walk from the SBB train station or bus station, accessible via the quiet Schützenweg. It is in a convenient location with optimum connections to public transport services near the playground and sports field next to the Schützenmatt school building.	Location Saint-Charles International School is in Porrentruy, Jura, Switzerland at Rue du 24-Septembre 1, 2900 Porrentruy. The campus is less than two hours from Zürich and about one hour from Basel, and is easy to reach by car or train. From Zürich Airport, trains to Zürich Main Station and then to Porrentruy take about 2 to 2.5 hours; from Basel Airport, direct trains to Porrentruy take just over an hour. On arrival in Porrentruy, the campus is minutes away from the train station, with a six-minute walk for travelers without luggage.
Stages	Stages Early Childhood Center for ages 1.5–4; bilingual all-day school for ages 4–16, including Preschool, Primary School, and Secondary School. The school follows the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) at kindergarten and primary level; secondary level I offers bilingual tuition according to cantonal curriculum.	Stages Swiss Programme from primary through middle school and high school (Maturité), with instruction in French, English, and German.
School type	School type Bilingual ECCE and all-day school; IB World School.	School type The school is private and offers day schooling and boarding; boarding is available for students from age 10.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Switzerland	Country affiliation Recognised by the Swiss Confederation and authorised to prepare students for the Maturité exams.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation Christian; founded with Christian roots and supported by the Diocese of Basel.
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure The day includes standard classroom instruction with after-school Devoirs accompagnés (supervised study) available for students after class.
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / registration fee - Registration fee (non-recurring): CHF 600.00. The registration fee is due at the time of registration for all programmes. Tuition fees (by programme / year group) - Early Childhood Center (full-time place, ages 1.5–4 years): CHF 27,720.00 per year. - Two-instalment option (per term): CHF 13,880.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Twelve-instalment option (monthly): CHF 2,330.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Registration fee: CHF 600.00. Family discount: 10% on the lower invoice starting from enrolment of a second child. Annual fees are invoiced pro rata if a child starts during the year. - Early Childhood Center (part‑time places, ages 1.5–4 years): - Minimum occupancy options and annual fees: - Five mornings per week: CHF 18,900.00 per year. - Two full days + one morning per week: CHF 16,380.00 per year. - Registration fee is due at registration; annual fees invoiced pro rata for mid‑year starts. - Preschool (full‑time place, ages 4–6 years): CHF 21,520.00 per year. - Two-instalment option (per term): CHF 10,780.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Twelve-instalment option (monthly): CHF 1,813.35 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Registration fee: CHF 600.00. Family discount: 10% on the lower invoice from the second child. Limited reduced attendance reduces fees accordingly. - Primary School (Years 1–6): CHF 23,520.00 per year. - Two-instalment option (per term): CHF 11,780.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Twelve-instalment option (monthly): CHF 1,980.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Ancillary costs: registration fee CHF 600.00; after‑school activities, longer trips and external examination fees are invoiced separately. Family discount: 10% on the lower invoice from the enrolment of a second child. Annual fees invoiced pro rata if a student starts during the year. - Secondary School (Years 7–9 / Secondary Years SY1–SY3): CHF 24,520.00 per year. - Two-instalment option (per term): CHF 12,280.00 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Twelve-instalment option (monthly): CHF 2,063.35 (includes CHF 20.00 surcharge). - Ancillary costs: registration fee CHF 600.00; after‑school activities, trips and external examination fees are invoiced separately. - Optional programme add‑on: ipso! Booster (personal coaching) CHF 1,800.00 per school year (optional). - The programme requires students to provide their own laptop (BYOD). Family discount: 10% on the lower invoice from the enrolment of a second child. Annual fees invoiced pro rata if a student starts during the year. Billing schedule and payment terms - The registration fee is due at the time of registration. Annual tuition fees are invoiced and, if a student starts during the school year, will be invoiced pro rata. - Instalment options are published for each programme (commonly 2 instalments per school year or 12 instalments per school year) with a small surcharge (CHF 20.00) applied to instalment plans. Amounts for the instalment options are shown next to each programme above. - Additional services (early drop‑off, after‑school care, clubs, private lessons) are billed separately according to the registration/additional‑services form; many of these items are payable at the beginning of the school year or on receipt of invoice if joining later, and are stated as non‑refundable on the additional‑services registration form. Boarding fees - No boarding provision is listed for ipso! International School; the school operates as a full‑day/part‑time bilingual day school and early childhood centre, so boarding fees are not applicable. Other costs and typical ancillary fees - After‑School Care (ASC) options and example prices (from the additional‑services registration form): - ASC semester/year examples (1 hour/week): CHF 170.00 per semester / CHF 340.00 per year; 1 hour/day options and multi‑day options are listed with semester and annual rates; single bookings are charged per hour. Private lesson example rates: CHF 85.00 per 45‑minute lesson for one child, with scaled prices for multiple children. ipso! Booster (Secondary): CHF 1,800.00 per school year. Early drop‑off (½ hr) example: CHF 90.00 per semester / CHF 180.00 per year for one day per week; single bookings per ½ hour CHF 7.50. Many club and ASC items are billed semester or yearly and are non‑refundable when payable at the start of the year. - Lunch: a sample lunch booking charge is CHF 10.00 (bookable by quarter) for preschool; lunches are arranged via the school's catering provider and are billed separately. - Excursions and multi‑day camps: day excursions are included in tuition; camps and excursions lasting several days are invoiced separately. External examination fees are not included in the listed school fees and are charged separately. - Uniform: no compulsory uniform fee or uniform charge is listed among the ancillary costs on the programme fee pages; ancillary costs listed on the programme pages explicitly include registration, after‑school activities and external examination fees but do not list uniform charges. Refund information - Annual fees will be invoiced pro rata if a student starts during the school year. The registration fee is charged at registration; additional‑services amounts (for example ASC, clubs, private lessons) that are payable at the start of the school year or on receipt of invoice are stated as non‑refundable on the registration/additional‑services form. Cancellation of automatic re‑enrolment must be submitted in writing and registered by the school's stated deadline (cancellation by 30 April for the following school year is referenced on the enrolment form). Specific tuition‑refund schedules for mid‑year withdrawal are not listed on the programme fee pages; the enrolment/contract documentation describes automatic re‑enrolment and the April deadline. Fee payment options (invoicing, instalments and methods listed) - The school issues invoices and offers instalment schedules for the published annual fees (commonly 2 instalments or 12 instalments with a CHF 20.00 surcharge for instalment plans). Amounts and instalment figures are shown above for each programme. - The programme pages and registration forms show invoices and instalment plans but do not list explicit payment method types (for example “credit card” or “bank transfer”) on the public fee pages; invoices and the school's registration documentation indicate amounts are payable on receipt of invoice or at the start of the school year. Parents should expect to receive formal invoices that set the payment terms.	Fee details Admission & Application Fees: - Day students (day-school admission): CHF 500 (one-time, non-refundable). - Boarding students (boarding admission): CHF 3,000 (one-time, non-refundable). Tuition fees (annual and per-term / per-semester equivalents): Note: Tuition is quoted as an annual amount. Billing may be processed by semester on request; where a per-term amount is shown below it is the annual figure divided by two (per-semester). - Primary School (Swiss curriculum): - Annual: CHF 6'600 (families in the Canton of Jura) / CHF 14'400 (outside the canton). - Per semester (billing-by-semester equivalent): CHF 3'300 / CHF 7'200. - Middle School (Collège, Swiss curriculum): - Annual: CHF 7'200 (Jura) / CHF 18'000 (outside the canton). - Per semester: CHF 3'600 / CHF 9'000. - Swiss Lycée – Maturité (French): - Annual: CHF 9'600 (Jura) / CHF 20'400 (outside the canton). - Per semester: CHF 4'800 / CHF 10'200. - Bilingual Lycée (English–French) – Maturité: - Annual: CHF 12'000 (Jura) / CHF 24'000 (outside the canton). - Per semester: CHF 6'000 / CHF 12'000. - International Section (IB MYP and DP): - IB MYP 3: Annual CHF 20'000 (Jura) / CHF 23'000 (outside). Per semester: CHF 10'000 / CHF 11'500. - IB MYP 4: Annual CHF 22'000 (Jura) / CHF 33'000 (outside). Per semester: CHF 11'000 / CHF 16'500. - IB MYP 5: Annual CHF 22'000 (Jura) / CHF 33'000 (outside). Per semester: CHF 11'000 / CHF 16'500. - IB Diploma Programme (DP): Annual CHF 25'000 (Jura) / CHF 33'000 (outside). Per semester: CHF 12'500 / CHF 16'500. Boarding fees (packages, inclusions and exclusions): - 5-day boarding package (board and school week activities): CHF 32'700 per year. Included elements listed for the package: full board during the week, the boarding programme, supervised homework, on-site extracurricular activities, day trips, certain sports outfit items, and some cultural/outings; certain items are excluded (residence permit fees, books and school supplies in some circumstances, certain exam and activity costs, travel, pocket money, occasional laundry, airport transfers and some camps/trips). - 7-day boarding package (full weekly boarding including weekends): CHF 47'000 per year. The 7-day package includes weekend activities, laundry and additional weekend services; a number of items remain excluded (travel, some lessons/activities charged separately, pocket money, airport transfers, certain exam fees and specialist activities). - Day-board / lunch options (annual lunch plans): - 1 lunch per week: CHF 390 (annual). 2 lunches: CHF 780. 3 lunches: CHF 1'170. 4 lunches: CHF 1'560. 5 lunches: CHF 1'950. Other recurring fees and one-off academic/exam charges: - General / annual fees (covers textbooks, school supplies, school outings, ski/green camp, graduation trips and administrative costs): billed in two instalments (at the start of the school year and at the start of the second semester). Amounts vary by programme: - Primary: CHF 1'000 per year. - Middle School (Collège): CHF 1'500 per year. - Swiss Lycée / Bilingual Lycée: CHF 1'500 per year. - International Section MYP levels: CHF 1'500 per year. - IB DP (final years): CHF 2'500 per year. - Support / tutoring and extra academic services (examples): - Private 45-minute lessons: CHF 100 per lesson. - Semi-private (max 3 students) 45-minute: CHF 60 per lesson. - Group (4+ students) 45-minute: CHF 30 per lesson. - Language-exam preparation courses: approx. CHF 1'000 per semester (charged when organised). - Language examination fees: generally between CHF 400 and CHF 750. - IB DP examination fees: CHF 2'980. - Extras commonly excluded from package fees and billed separately: specialist lessons (horse riding, music, golf, aviation), certain travel and airport transfers, replacement of lost/damaged books or licences, some medical or insurance costs beyond those listed, pocket money and occasional laundry/dry-cleaning. Billing schedule and payment terms: - Invoices are issued in advance and are payable within the stated payment term; billing may be processed by semester on request. Payments are to be made in Swiss francs (CHF). Payments in cash are not accepted. Late payments incur interest at 1% per month; administrative reminder fees apply (typical reminder fees: CHF 20 / CHF 50 / CHF 100 for successive reminders). No place reservation is processed before payment of the registration/admission fee; students may not attend classes until invoices are paid. Cancellation, refunds and contractual penalties: - For new applicants: if registration is cancelled before 30 June, a cancellation fee equal to two months of tuition (and boarding, where applicable) is charged; if cancelled after 30 June a cancellation fee equal to three months of tuition (and boarding where applicable) is charged. - For current students: withdrawal before the end of the school year makes all expenses for the current trimester and the following one payable. Unless written notice is given by parents before the specified deadline for re-registration (28 February), students are automatically entered for the following school year; cancelling after that date creates a financial obligation (example: tuition for the first three months may be payable as compensation). Uniform / clothing and included clothing items: - No separate general uniform fee is listed. For boarding students a sports outfit (t-shirts, leggings or jogging pants) is listed among included items in the boarding packages; additional specialist sports or activity clothing or equipment may be charged separately. Fee payment options: - The school accepts international payments via Flywire (enables bank transfers and local payment methods in many currencies) and invoices are payable by bank transfer. Payments in cash are not accepted. Specific payment instructions and the school's Flywire payment portal are used for international transactions. Summary of the key amounts at a glance (examples): - Admission fee (day): CHF 500; Admission fee (boarding): CHF 3'000. - Typical annual tuition (examples, Jura / outside canton): Primary CHF 6'600 / 14'400; Middle CHF 7'200 / 18'000; Swiss Lycée CHF 9'600 / 20'400; Bilingual Lycée CHF 12'000 / 24'000; IB MYP/DP ranges CHF 20'000–25'000 (Jura) and up to CHF 33'000 (outside). Per-semester equivalents are half the annual amounts. (End of fees overview.)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details ipso! ISR is a bilingual ECC for children aged 1.5 to 4 years and a bilingual all-day school for children aged 4 to 16 years. The German-English early childhood support and education programme is unique in Switzerland and offers a combination of international and local curricula and a family atmosphere. It is state-approved and follows the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) at kindergarten and primary levels. In Secondary Level I, bilingual tuition is provided according to the cantonal curriculum. This arrangement allows a change to and from the state school system locally and internationally. The school is accredited as an IB World School and undergoes regular IB assessments.	Curriculum details Saint-Charles offers two curriculum pathways: the Swiss Programme and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. The Swiss Programme covers primary through maturité and uses instruction in French, English and German; Primary is taught in English and French, and the Middle School is multilingual in English, French and German. The Swiss Maturité is bilingual French-English and is recognised by the Swiss Confederation, with the school authorised to prepare students for maturité examinations. The IB Programme is taught in English, offering the Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme, with English as the language of instruction for all subjects and ESL support available. Immersion language teaching introduces English and German from early years through 'language islands' where other subjects are taught in additional languages, laying the foundation for bilingual Matura or the IB Diploma Programme.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results IB Diploma Programme class of 2025 results: 17% entering a top 25 institution; 1 in 3 graduates joined a top 100 university; 30% were recognised for excellence in their subject areas.
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression University preparation and guidance are core at Saint-Charles. A dedicated University Support Team helps identify universities and coordinate applications, with university talks and fairs accessible to students. From the Middle Years Programme, students take part in regular guidance lessons and receive tailored advice on IBDP subject selection in MYP5; in the Diploma Programme, guidance becomes more personalised with one-to-one meetings and university representation is facilitated by the school, supported by a University Library.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions Three steps are required for enrolment: schedule an appointment with the school headmistress; during an interview, all aspects of the curriculum and admissions are discussed, with the child present. The parents complete the enrolment application and send it to the secretariat and pay the enrolment fee, after which enrolment is confirmed. For primary school, motivation to learn in a multilingual environment is sought; for secondary school, candidates must pass entrance tests in French, Math, and German. Saint-Charles offers two high school streams, one in French and one bilingual French-English, both recognised by Swiss educational authorities. Appointments can be booked online or by contacting the school secretary. The admission process includes providing documents (school reports for the last two years, a letter of recommendation, and a color scan of the passport), an interview and admissions testing, and language assessments (IB Diploma: English Proficiency; Swiss Matura: English and French Proficiency) plus a Maths assessment. The Head of Admissions reviews applications and responds in roughly 10 days. Possible outcomes are admittance with a welcome package and visa procedures; provisional acceptance after a language-study period; waitlist; or non-acceptance.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships A scholarship fund for Jura-based students exists and allows residents of the canton to attend Saint-Charles. The school administration is available to answer questions in complete confidentiality.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Waitlist: if there is no space in the desired program, a place on the waitlist may be offered until space becomes available.
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