The Primary School is comprised of grades 2 to 6. It is designed as two branches, the German speaking branch (Branch D) and the English speaking branch (Branch E), of which both are instructed by the according native speaking teachers.

Children, who to not enter from the Basic Level of Swiss School Bangkok, must show sufficient language skills for their elected branch at enrollment. The parents are, if needed, through private effort, responsible for providing their children with the required German language support.

The Primary School broadens the student’s potential through supporting his or her individual social and academic competences. Therefore Swiss School Bangkok contributes to the overall personal development. The Primary School lays the foundation for life-long learning and for a respectful attitude towards oneself, others, as well as for the environment. Gender equality and tolerance of religious and cultural differences are supported. The student learns to solve conflicts in a non-violent way. The partnership with families, parents and parental guardians hold an importance for the Primary School to share the duty of education.

Strong emphasis is placed on having perfect language abilities in the first and second language (German/English).  In all grades of Branch D remedial teaching in German and in Branch E remedial teaching in English for students of multi-lingual families as well as special support lessons are offered.

In Primary School students learn fundamental cultural achievements and techniques such as speaking, reading, writing, mathematics, perception, learning and reflection. In this way they become able to master challenges of further educational levels or during apprenticeship. In all subjects and grades the newest information technologies are used.

Besides factual knowledge, development in the areas of music and design is supported.

School outings and field trip weeks are designed to convey lasting impressions and experiences as well as to strengthen the contact with Thailand’s culture.

The lessons are based on the Swiss School Bangkok curriculum, which follows the guidelines of Canton Luzern, Switzerland. However, especially in subjects such as Biology, regional circumstances are taken into consideration.

The curriculum offers an extensive education by taking into consideration the academic and social needs of every single student. The homeroom teacher holds a primary responsibility because he/she understands the child comprehensively. For this most subjects are taught by them. These include the branches’ first language, Mathematic, General Life Lessons, Music, Gymnastics, Handicraft, Textile Design as well as homework and learning lessons.  The second language, Thai and French, are taught by subject teachers.

Daily Routine

In Primary School lessons are taught between 7:30 a.m. to 4:05 p.m. depending on the grade and day of the week. The individual classes’ timetable embraces a broad range of subjects. After 1:35 p.m. students have the option to voluntarily take part in extracurricular activities.

Special Assistance

For students with limited German language knowledge, the subject “German as Foreign Language” is available. It is expected that parents support their children as much as possible when learning German. Children needing special assistance are supported by individual special educational measures. Additionally, Swiss School Bangkok offers supervised home work lessons.

Transport

Students are escorted to and from school and supervised during travel on the Montri school bus service.

Lunch

Lunch is eaten at the canteen.

ECA/Sports Program

The extracurricular activities allow the children to discover and develop more talents. The participation in extracurricular activities, after school courses and sport trainings is actively supported. It is not included in the school fees.

Schedule Primary Level

Branch D

Class                                 BL.1       BL.2      G 2        G 3         G4         G 5          G 6

German                                6            6            5            5            5            5              5

English*                                2            2          2/2         2/2         2/2         4/3          4/3

French                                   -             -             -             -             -             -              4

Mathematics                        5            5            5            5            5            5              5

Biology (Man and Environment)       -             -             -             -             -              2         2

Information Technology       -             -             -             -             1             -               -

History                                   -             -             -             -             -             2              2

Geografy(incl. Regional Studies)     -             -             -             -             -              1         1

General Studies                  3            3            4            4            4             -               -

Handicraft/Textile Design   -             -            2            2            2            2              2

Visual Arts                            2            2            2            2            2            2              2

Music                                    2            2            2            2            2            2              1

Sport                                     3            3            3            3            3            3              3

Thai Culutrue/Language      -             1            1            1            1            1              1

Ethic and Religion               1            1            1            1            1            1              1

Total                                     24          25          27          27          28       30/29      33/32

Additional courses:

Group Study Support          5            4

Homework Sessions                                       2            2            2            2              2

Study Assistance Math       1            1            1            1            1            1              1

Study Assistance German 1            1            1            1            1            1              1

Individual German

as 2nd Language Assistance          4            4            4            4            2              2         2

Thai Language (obligatory for

Thai nationals)                     3            3            3            3            3            3              3

English: * English: All students up to grade 4 have English lessons that put emphasis on speaking. On this level comments rather than grades are given on the report card. Starting from grade 2 students are grouped as regular or advanced speakers to ensure an optimal support for all children. From grade 5, regular speakers have 4 lessons and advanced speakers have 3 lessons per week. Beginning In grades 5  tests are written and grades are given on the report card. The English lessons are instructed by mainly native speakers.

Transistion to Secondary Level 1

Primary School is followed by a transition into Secondary Level 1. The Secondary Level is divided into three performance levels: the Realschule, the Sekundarschule and the Untergymnasium. Classification is based on thorough observation by teachers of grade 5 and 6, as well as discussions with student and parents.

The recommendation, which is given by all teachers of grade 6, is based on a comprehensive judging of every single student. For the decision process the teachers take the student’s entire development process and situation into consideration. In addition to study results, the grade point average,  working speed, resilience, perseverance and concentration as well as working technique, motivation, social aspects and self-assessment play an important role.

The classification is decided upon early in the second semester of grade 6. Accordingly, parents have the possibility to discuss the classification and their children’s further development process with the referring homeroom and subject teachers.

In special cases the transition and classification to one type of Secondary Level takes place in combination with an observation phase during the first quarter of Sekundarschule.

More information can be taken from the information sheet for parental guardians and students regarding the conversion from Primary School to Secondary Level 1.

Stundenplan Primarschule

Profil D

Deutsch                                   6             6            5             5             5             5              5

Englisch*                                 2             2           2/2          2/2          2/2          4/3           4/3

Französisch                             -             -             -             -             -             -               4

Mathematik                              5             5            5             5             5             5              5

Biologie (Mensch und Umwelt)   -             -             -             -             -             2              2

Informatik                                 -             -             -             -             1             -               -

Geschichte                              -             -             -             -             -             2                   2

Geografie (inkl. Landeskunde)    -             -             -             -             -             1                   1

Sachkunde                              3             3            4             4             4             -               -

Werken/Textiles Gestalten        -             -             2             2             2             2              2

Bildnerisches Gestalten            2             2            2             2             2             2              2

Musik                                      2             2            2             2             2             2              1

Sport                                       3             3            3             3             3             3              3

Thailändische Kultur/Sprache     -             1            1             1             1             1              1

Ethik und Religionen                 1             1            1             1             1             1              1

Zusätzliche Kurse:

Gemeinschaftsförderung            5             4

Hausaufgabenbetreuung                                        2             2             2             2              2

Lernberatung Mathematik          1             1            1             1             1             1              1

Lernberatung Deutsch               1             1            1             1             1             1              1

Individuelle DaF-Förderung         4             4            4             4             2             2              2

Thai Sprachkurs, obligatorisch   3             3            3             3             3             3              3

für thailändische Staatsangehörige

*Englisch: Bis Klasse 4 liegt der Schwerpunkt im mündlichen Bereich. Auf dieser Stufe werden keine Noten erteilt. Ab der Basisstufe wird zwischen Neulernern und Fortgeschrittenen unterschieden, damit alle Kinder optimal gefördert werden. Ab Klasse 5 haben die Neulerner 4 Wochenlektionen, die Fortgeschrittenen 3. In den Klassen 5 und 6 werden Tests geschrieben und Noten im Fach Englisch erteilt. Der Englischunterricht wird vorwiegend durch native speaker erteilt.

Übertritt in die Sekundarstufe I

Am Ende der Primarschulzeit erfolgt der Übertritt in die Sekundarstufe I. Die Sekundarstufe I wird in drei Typen gegliedert: in die Realschule, in die Sekundarschule und in das Untergymnasium. Die Einstufung in einen der drei Typen erfolgt auf Basis eingehender Beobachtungen der in den Klassen 5 und 6 unterrichtenden Lehrpersonen und im Austausch mit Schülern und Eltern.

Die Empfehlung, die von sämtlichen Lehrkräften der 6. Klasse abgegeben wird, basiert auf einer umfassenden Einschätzung jedes einzelnen Schülers. Die Lehrerinnen und Lehrer tragen allen Aspekten der Entwicklung des Schülers/der Schülerin Rechnung. Neben den Noten spielen hierbei auch Gesichtspunkte wie das Lern- und Arbeitstempo, die Belastbarkeit, die Ausdauer und die Konzentrationsfähigkeit sowie Arbeitstechnik, Motivation, zwischenmenschliche Aspekte und Selbsteinschätzung eine wesentliche Rolle.

Die Einstufung wird frühzeitig im zweiten Halbjahr der 6. Klasse vorgenommen, so dass die Eltern Gelegenheit haben, mit dem Klassenlehrer und den Fachlehrern den Einstufungsentscheid und den weiteren Entwicklungsverlauf der Kinder zu erörtern.

In besonderen Fällen erfolgt der Übertritt und die Einstufung in einen der Sekundarschultypen in Verbindung mit einer Beobachtungszeit im ersten Quartal der Sekundarschule.

Weitere Informationen finden Sie in der Informationsschrift für Erziehungsberechtigte und Schülerinnen und Schüler betreffend dem Übertrittsverfahren von der Primarschule an die Sekundarstufe I.