Lipschule vs SIS Swiss International School Zürich-Wollishofen

	L Lipschule Zug, Switzerland	S SIS Swiss International School Zürich-Wollishofen Zug, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 21,456 - 31,416	Fees / year CHF 25,860
Age range	Age range 3 - 16 years	Age range 4 - 12 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Montessori Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, British Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 120	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 25	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language German, English	Instruction language English, German
Opened	Opened 1998	Opened 2000
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Lip Private School Zurich is located at Seestrasse 561, 8038 Zürich. It lies on the left bank of Lake Zurich near the city border with Wollishofen. The school is accessible by public transport.	Location Located between the city and Lake Zürich, SIS Zürich-Wollishofen sits in a charming garden complex where two buildings are combined. The bilingual kindergarten is housed in the historic building, while the bilingual primary school, library and cafeteria are in the modern building. The school is easily accessible by public transport and offers a central, green location with views of Landiwiese park and Lake Zürich.
Stages	Stages Cycle 1: Montessori Kindergarten and Primary Level from 3 years; Cycle 2: Middle Level from 9 years; Cycle 3: Secondary Level from 11 years; Focus Year: 10th School Year from 15 years.	Stages Kindergarten; Primary School
School type	School type The school is a private Montessori-based school.	School type Private educational institution
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix 197 enrolled students; 40+ nationalities represented.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Switzerland	Country affiliation Switzerland
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details —	Bus service details A school bus is available.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / registration fees - No separate application or one‑off registration fee is published as part of the school's publicly‑listed fee schedule for the current academic year. Tuition fees by year group (annual and per term equivalent) - Kindergarten 1 (age 3): Annual CHF 27,120. Per term equivalent (annual ÷ 3): CHF 9,040. - Kindergarten 2 (age 4): Annual CHF 27,120. Per term equivalent: CHF 9,040. - Kindergarten 3 (age 5): Annual CHF 27,120. Per term equivalent: CHF 9,040. - Grade 1 (age 6): Annual CHF 27,840. Per term equivalent: CHF 9,280. - Grade 2 (age 7): Annual CHF 27,840. Per term equivalent: CHF 9,280. - Grade 3 (age 8): Annual CHF 27,840. Per term equivalent: CHF 9,280. - Grade 4 (age 9): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 5 (age 10): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 6 (age 11): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 7 (age 12): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 8 (age 13): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 9 (age 14): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. - Grade 10 (age 15): Annual CHF 30,480. Per term equivalent: CHF 10,160. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is presented and charged on an annual basis (the published fee figures are annual amounts). Per‑term figures above are simple thirds of the annual amount to show a per‑term equivalent. Boarding / accommodation - The school operates as a day school; boarding provision is not part of the school's offering. Sibling discount and family reductions - Sibling reductions apply: second child receives a 15% reduction; third child receives a 25% reduction on the published tuition. Other costs and typical extras - No separate, mandatory uniform fee is stated in the published fee overview. Additional costs for items such as learning materials, school trips, extracurricular activities, lunches or late‑care are not included in the headline tuition figures and may incur extra charges. Refunds and withdrawals - No public, itemised refund policy for partial terms, late starts, or early withdrawals is included in the school's published fee figures. Fee payment options - The published fee information does not itemise accepted payment methods (for example bank transfer, direct debit or credit card). Contact details are provided for direct enquiries about payment arrangements. Notes for record use - The amounts above are the school's published annual tuition rates for the current academic cycle and include the sibling discounts rule shown. Per‑term figures shown here are computed as one‑third of the annual fee to provide a term‑equivalent value for database display.	Fee details Registration / Application fee - One-time registration fee, non-refundable. Payment of this fee guarantees a school place. - First child: CHF 600. - Each additional child from the same family: CHF 500. Tuition fees (per semester) and annual equivalents - Billing schedule: school fees are billed in advance per semester. On request, arrangements can be made to pay the school fees in monthly instalments (see instalment line below). School fees for mid-term admissions are prorated. - Kindergarten 1 and 2: - Per semester (one payment at the beginning of the semester): CHF 12,930. - Instalment option: CHF 2,198 per month for 6 months (6 monthly instalments; 2% surcharge). - Per academic year (two semesters): CHF 25,860 if paid by semester; instalment total per semester is CHF 13,188 (CHF 2,198 × 6), equivalent to CHF 26,376 per academic year when using the instalment option. - Primary (Primary 1 to Primary 6): - Per semester (one payment at the beginning of the semester): CHF 12,930. - Instalment option: CHF 2,198 per month for 6 months (6 monthly instalments; 2% surcharge). - Per academic year (two semesters): CHF 25,860 if paid by semester; instalment total per semester is CHF 13,188 (CHF 2,198 × 6), equivalent to CHF 26,376 per academic year when using the instalment option. Sibling discount - A sibling discount of 10% on the school fees is applied for the second, third, etc. child from the same family while multiple children are enrolled. The reduction applies to the younger child(ren). Before- and after-school care (optional) - Morning care (7:00–7:30 a.m.): - Full week (5 days): CHF 700. - One day per week: CHF 140. - Single booking, per hour: CHF 18. - Afternoon care (4:00–6:00 p.m.): - Full week (5 days): CHF 2,400. - One day per week: CHF 480. - Single booking, per hour: CHF 18. School bus (optional) - School transport is offered on defined routes; places are limited and routes may change. - Zone fares (listed as one-way ride and round-trip): - Zone I (Zürich city limit to Kilchberg): CHF 9.50 one-way / CHF 19.00 round-trip. - Zone II (to Adliswil and Rüschlikon): CHF 11.50 one-way / CHF 23.00 round-trip. - Zone III (to Thalwil): CHF 13.50 one-way / CHF 27.00 round-trip. - Zone IV (to Horgen) — afternoon only: CHF 18.00 one-way / CHF 36.00 round-trip. Clubs and extracurricular costs - Clubs and extracurricular activities are offered; specific costs for clubs are available from the school office on request. Boarding / residential provision - The school operates as a day school and does not offer boarding accommodation. Refunds and prorating - The registration fee is explicitly non-refundable. - School fees for mid-term admissions are prorated to reflect the shortened period of attendance. Billing schedule and payment terms (summary) - Fees are invoiced in advance per semester. On request, a six-month monthly instalment plan is available for a 2% surcharge on the instalment total. Mid-term admissions are billed on a prorated basis. Fee payment options - Fees are issued by invoice according to the billing schedule above; the school provides instalment arrangements on request. Specific accepted payment methods are indicated on invoicing documentation.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements Day school
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options Tuition includes meals. A Wednesday afternoon care option (12:30–18:00) is available for 265 CHF per month (3,180 CHF per year). Nachschulbetreuung (after-school care) runs after the end of classes from 16:00 to 18:00 and can be added for 1–4 days per week: 90 CHF per month (1,080 CHF per year) for 1 day; 137 CHF per month (1,644 CHF per year) for 2 days; 184 CHF per month (2,208 CHF per year) for 3 days; 231 CHF per month (2,772 CHF per year) for 4 days. The tuition schedule also lists full-time options with and without Wednesday meals (e.g., Vollpensum) priced accordingly (e.g., 2,440 CHF per month with Wednesday meals; 2,618 CHF per month without Wednesday meals; amounts vary by cycle).	Food options Lunch is offered.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership Lip Privatschule Zürich operates Lip Schule as a private school. The operator's address is Seestrasse 561, 8038 Zürich, and the Handelsregisternummer is CH-020.4.018.819-2. Oliver Steinlin is listed as Co-Geschäftsleitung (Co-Managing Director). Lipschule AG is the corporate entity behind Lip Schule.	Governance and ownership The school is a private educational institution financed solely from school fees and does not receive subsidies from the Swiss national or cantonal governments.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Lip Private School Zurich is a Montessori private school offering Kindergarten and Primary (Cycle 1) from age 3, followed by Cycle 2 Middle Level from age 9, Cycle 3 Secondary Level from age 11, and a Focus Year (the 10th school year) from age 15. Cycle 2 features mixed‑age groups where students deepen their skills, explore interests, and learn to take responsibility, in an environment that strengthens personality and talents. The school is state‑recognized. Multilingual education is central: German and English are the everyday and teaching languages, and in Cycle 2 (grades 3–6 and the transitional year) lessons are conducted in German, English and French. New media are a fixed part of the curriculum, and every child has access to their own tablet. The Focus Year provides an individualized bridging year after secondary school for deepening, development and future planning, with personal guidance and flexible design.	Curriculum details Teaching follows the cantonal curriculum and is gradually supplemented with elements of the British curriculum and curricula developed by SIS. In the bilingual primary school, a German-speaking and an English-speaking teacher work with students, using their native languages to communicate. Language acquisition begins early and is guided by experts in a natural environment, leading to lifelong competence.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
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 Learning is personal. Reliable relationships between teachers and students address individual needs. The school emphasizes personal development and provides a learning environment that fosters self-esteem within a familial setting.	Social & emotional learning Bilingual experience is central to the school's approach. The school follows an independent and value-centered approach to learning. It functions as a day school community that supports social interaction and belonging. Diversity is valued, and the school maintains a strong network across SIS schools. Continuity from kindergarten to college and learning enhanced by technology support long-term development.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language The school uses bilingual German/English Montessori pedagogy and has multilingual teachers and staff.	English as an additional language The children are supervised by one German-speaking and one English-speaking teacher who use their native languages to communicate with the students. English and German play equal roles in school communication in the classroom and day-to-day life. Students spend about half of their time in German and half in English. There are opportunities for supervised after-school activities that further immerse students in language. Teachers are native speakers who use their mother tongue in class, in the lunchroom, and at events.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Wellbeing is fostered through a familial environment, personal development, and positive learning experiences that strengthen self-esteem.	Mental wellbeing Student life provides a welcoming environment where children can spend time together, make friends, and enjoy a pleasant atmosphere. The school offers lunch, homework supervision, before- and after-school care, flexible drop-off and pickup times, and a school bus to support families and safe routines. The campus is central and green, with gardens and parks nearby that provide space for outdoor activity and well-being.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding Schutzkonzept applies to SIS Zürich-Wollishofen as the cantonal protection concept for Volksschulen Zürich, covering Kindergarten and Primary School. The responsible person is the headteacher Ryan Howard. The document outlines general rules, distancing, hygiene, school events, special teaching forms/supervision, employer obligations, and isolation/quarantine measures. It notes that federal and cantonal guidelines apply, that the school does not order tests, and that it informs staff and parents about data usage and visitor access. It requires 1.5-meter distancing for adults; masks indoors for adults; external visitors must wear masks; and isolation/quarantine measures are to be followed as advised by medical authorities.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview Lip Montessori Private School Zürich sits in Zürich-Wollishofen near the lake. The building is designed for children's needs with bright, well-structured spaces that provide orientation and freedom of movement. Learning happens everywhere: in the learning landscape, on the break courtyard, and in the after-care area. The learning environment includes ateliers, learning niches, learning halls, and a school garden. The Kindergarten and early primary use a bilingual German-English Montessori approach, with German and English integrated into daily life.	Facilities overview Two school buildings are combined in a charming garden complex between the city and Lake Zürich. The bilingual kindergarten is housed in the historical building, while the bilingual primary school, library and cafeteria are in the modern school building. The school is surrounded by its own garden and a large nearby park area with views of the Landiwiese park and Lake Zürich. It has easy access to public transport and occupies a central, green location.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities On-site there is a large hall on the first floor used by the middle school, providing space for movement and sometimes serving as a theatre. The school operates an open learning space with personal workstations, group rooms, ateliers and a lakeside break area suitable for a variety of activities. There is no dedicated on-site gym; Lip Schule rents sports halls in Zürich and surrounding communities.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Lip Schule Zürich follows Montessori pedagogy in the Kindergarten and primary years, with a bilingual German-English environment. German and English are part of everyday life, supported by native-speaking teachers to encourage natural language acquisition; all other subjects are taught in German. The school emphasizes Montessori philosophy and a learning culture that fosters independence and curiosity. In the second cycle, digital competence and media literacy are integrated; students learn to research, evaluate sources, and use digital content responsibly, including use of iPads and other devices. In the third cycle, individual coaching focuses on expanding personal, social, and methodological competencies, with an emphasis on guiding the learning path toward future career choices. Examinations exist in various forms to demonstrate competencies, and a competence profile guides next steps toward future career choices.	Academic facilities The classrooms and special-purpose rooms are equipped with contemporary infrastructure and advanced teaching technology. The bilingual primary school teaching is based on the cantonal curriculum, supplemented with elements of the British curriculum as well as curricula developed by SIS. The children are supervised by one German- and one English-speaking teacher who use their native languages to communicate with their students. A library is part of the campus and the cafeteria is on site in the modern building. A school bus service provides safe, timely transport.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Exkursionen, camps and project days are integral to the program. From the primary to the secondary levels, students take part in field trips to nature, culture, and society, as well as theatre and museums. There are several project weeks and camps across three school years to explore different subject areas.	Extra curricular facilities Lunch is offered and homework supervision is provided. Before- and after-school care is available. Flexible drop-off and pickup times are offered. A school bus is provided for transportation. Exciting activities are offered, even during school holidays.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Lip Privatschule Zürich is a familial private school on Lake Zurich that offers children and adolescents an inspiring place for personal development. Since 1998 Lip has stood for an inspiring learning environment—before, during, and beyond compulsory schooling. As a Montessori private school, Lip operates with room within Lehrplan 21 for holistic, competence-oriented education.	History SIS Zürich-Wollishofen is a private bilingual day school in Zürich offering education from kindergarten to Year 6, with approximately 220 students and more than twenty nationalities. The bilingual educational concept has been implemented here since 2000. The school sits between the city and Lake Zürich, in a garden complex with two buildings; the bilingual kindergarten is housed in the historic building, while the bilingual primary school, library, and cafeteria are in the modern building. The address is Seestrasse 271, 8038 Zürich, Switzerland.
Community	Community Lip maintains a close, friendly network with partners, suppliers, alumni, and the parents of its students. This Lip network provides graduates with additional opportunities and perspectives for entering the job market. The school emphasizes three core values: Inspiring learning happens everywhere—at the Wollishofen site, in the mixed-age open spaces, in the diverse learning niches, in the workshop, outdoors by the lake, and during outings; Personal learning is supported by reliable relationships between teachers and students and among staff, enabling holistic, competence-oriented growth within Lehrplan 21; and a Family-like environment that strengthens self-worth through positive learning experiences and encourages students to deepen their interests and pursue their own path.	Community The school community is characterized by a vibrant and nurturing multicultural environment and represents more than twenty nationalities. The day school offers lunch, homework supervision, before- and after-school care, flexible drop-off and pickup times, a school bus, and activities even during school holidays. Classrooms and specialist rooms are equipped with contemporary infrastructure and advanced teaching technology. Upcoming events include an Open House on March 26, 2026, and stories document Swiss traditions such as Räbeliechtli-Umzug.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual Digital literacy is emphasized; students learn to use iPads, phones, and computers to research, evaluate, prepare, and present information. Responsible use of digital and social media is taught in class and daily life, with parental involvement. English and French are part of daily schooling; native-speaking teachers enable natural language learning while other subjects are taught in German. Excursions, camps, and project days bring world topics into the classroom and support cross-disciplinary learning.	Academic & intellectual Clubs provide activities that complement the regular academic programme and can be booked for one semester. Before- and after-school care includes homework supervision to support learning beyond classroom hours. The school offers a bus service to provide reliable transport to and from the campus. Lunch is available as a supervised communal meal in the cafeteria, helping to maintain daily routines.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative The Focus Year includes theater and music as modules. Project work and ateliers are integral to the curriculum. Rhythmized learning, stress management, and communication and teamwork are addressed. Garden projects, theater activities, and swimming courses are part of the experiential program.	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language English and French are part of daily life not only in language classes but also during breaks, supervision, and meals. Native-speaking teachers enable natural, playful language acquisition. All other subjects are taught in German. The school uses Zurich's cultural offerings for excursions and projects to broaden students' cultural experiences.	Cultural & language The bilingual primary school uses German- and English-speaking teachers to communicate with students in their native languages. Instruction is based on the cantonal curriculum and is complemented by elements of the British curriculum and curricula developed by SIS. The school participates in Swiss cultural traditions such as Räbeliechtli-Umzug, with Kindergarten through primary 2 students taking part. The school also engages in signature events that involve SIS schools around the world.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies Community is built by collaboratively developing rules and encouraging respectful cooperation. Students develop social and personal competencies through teamwork and shared meals, strengthening their sense of belonging within the school. Open spaces support movement, play, and social interaction across age groups.	Social & hobbies A range of clubs is offered for students of all ages, allowing them to develop skills that complement their school work. Clubs can be booked for a semester, and costs are not included in tuition. The school provides a holiday club during school breaks, offering week-long activities including sports and trips under supervision. Before- and after-school care provides space for recreation and social interaction after class.
Community & service	Community & service Garden projects near Grenzsteig involve caring for the community garden, chickens, planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting; harvested produce is used in the garden kitchen. Internships and service-learning opportunities occur with partner companies to connect learning with real-world contexts.	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional Career exploration is facilitated through modules on career choice, internships, and applications. There are internships and service-learning opportunities with partner businesses, plus development of communication, presentation, teamwork, and conflict-resolution skills. The Focus Year spaces resemble coworking environments to prepare students for the working world, supported by personal coaching.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Swimming courses and first-aid training are offered as part of the program. Rhythmed learning and stress management are included to support well-being. An in-house kitchen serves fresh meals daily and accommodates dietary needs, with opportunities for students to assist in meal preparation. The Focus Year provides open, calm coworking-style spaces to foster balance and focused work.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Lunch is offered as a supervised communal meal in the school cafeteria. A school bus service provides safe transport to and from school. Before- and after-school care is available, with activities after 4 p.m. A holiday club runs during school breaks with sports and trips under adult supervision.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision German, English and French are taught across Lip Schule Zurich. Cycle 1 uses German and English as everyday and teaching languages. Cycle 2 uses German, English and French. Cycle 3 provides English and French taught by a dedicated English teacher and a French specialist.	Language provision German and English are used in instruction. Language acquisition begins early, guided by experts, and occurs in a natural environment. In the bilingual primary school, teaching is based on the cantonal curriculum and is gradually supplemented with elements of the British curriculum and curricula developed by SIS.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching Cycle 1 is bilingual, with German and English as part of everyday life and teaching languages. Cycle 2 uses German, English and French as teaching languages. Cycle 3 includes English and French taught by a dedicated English teacher and a French specialist.	Bilingual teaching Bilingual kindergarten and bilingual primary school (German and English). The children are supervised by one German-speaking and one English-speaking teacher who use their native languages to communicate with students.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions —	Admissions 1. Getting in Touch: The first step is to get in touch via the contact form, by email, or by phone. You are welcome to visit an Open House to experience daily school life and meet the school leadership. Further information is provided, initial questions are answered, and the next suitable step for your child is discussed. 2. Consultation: A personal consultation is arranged to get to know each other. Questions are answered and the school and its educational concept are introduced, with a possible building tour to give a brief insight into classroom life. If an on-site visit is not possible, consultations can be conducted virtually, by phone, or via email. 3. Trial Days: If it feels right for both sides, one or more trial days are arranged. Trial days let your child experience everyday school life and determine comfort in the environment, and the process is non-binding. If trial days aren't possible, an alternative solution is explored. 4. Registration: You receive the registration form—digital or printed. If you decide in favour after consultations and trial days, complete the form in full and submit it to the SIS school of your choice. Support is available if you have questions. 5. School Contract: The school contract is prepared after registration, with information about the enrolment fee. After the contract is signed and the enrolment fee is received, the child is officially registered at SIS Switzerland and their place at the school is reserved.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist If a year group or class is full, SIS schools maintain waiting lists. To secure a place, inquire about capacity early, preferably in the spring.
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