Transition to Secondary Level 1

The grades 7 to 10 form the so-called Secondary Level 1. This is divided into the three performance levels Realschule, Sekundarschule and Untergymnasium.

Realschule (Grade 7 to 9)

The Swiss Realschule is equivalent to the Hauptschule in the German school system and ends with grade 9 with a qualification called Hauptschulabschluss. It prepares the students for technical and vocational or non-Secondary Level 2 training programs. Swiss School Bangkok is not suitable for the care of students requiring special education.

The Realschule is suitable for students with practical abilities and preferences. Knowledge from Primary Level is consolidated and broadened by concentrating on the experiences of the students. Whenever theoretical or scientific topics are dealt with, the Realschule chooses an approach which works in close connection with the everyday life experiences of the students. The successful graduation from Realschule is a foundation for an apprenticeship and enables young people to master the challenges of working life.

Sekundarschule (Grade 7 to 10)

The Swiss Sekundarschule is equivalent to the Realschule in the German school system. The Sekundarschule takes four years and is completed with a qualification called Realschulabschluss.

After graduation from grade 7, 8 and 9, successful students of Sekundarschule can convert to the Untergymnasium or Gymnasium, if they have reached a certain grade point average. (For more information please see the regulations for the Gymnasium admission in the appendix of the regulations for the conversion Untergymnasium-Gymnasium.)

The Sekundarschule is designed to confront students with practical abilities and competences like the abilities to think abstractly, communicate and motivate themselves for studying. The Sekundarschule offers an education in languages, mathematics and science, that leads to demanding occupations and training programs.

At Swiss School Bangkok the classes in Realschule and Sekundarschule are mostly small, so that students are often instructed in the same class. The assessment and grading are differentiated. This happens by educational aims suited to the level, suitable examinations and different criteria of assessment.

Untergymnasium (Grade 7 to 8 )

The Untergymnasium is a grammar school like form of Secondary Level 1. If the size of the learning groups allows it, students of the Untergymnasium are instructed separately from students of Sekundarschule and Realschule from grade 7. To support the coherency between the forms of secondary education, the subjects specified on these forms, Latin and deeper Mathematics,  start only in grade 9.

The Untergymnasium takes two years and prepares the students for the Gymnasium.

Untergymnasium and Gymnasium are suitable for students with a high motivation to learn, high independency as well as high intellectual potential. The students enter the Untergymnasium and Gymnasium with the aim to complete with the Matura.

School Extern Working Experience

In grade 9 a school extern working experience lasting two weeks is carried out for the Secondary Level students. The students apply for their internships at companies, which are fundamentally based in Thailand. During their internship they should experience the professional life and orientate themselves with regard to their future career choices. The homeroom teacher is responsible for the preparation and takes care of the students during the internship.

Besides this the grades 9 and 10 annually participate at the economy week organized by the Schmidheiny-Stiftung foundation, which takes place at Swiss School Bangkok. 

Secondary Level 2

Gymnasium (Grade 9 to 12)

The Swiss School Bangkok has an Gymnasium (Secondary Level 2, High School) accredited by  Switzerland, which leads to the Swiss Matura after 12 years.

At the end of grade 10 all students need to take the examinations for entry to the qualification phase of upper school (qualifying for the Matura examinations). These examinations are supervised by the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of Germany and need to be taken to achieve the qualification for transition to upper school and accordingly reach grade 11. (For more information please see the regulations for the conversion Untergymnasium-Gymnasim.)

This examination is recognized as being equal to the Thai secondary school (Mathayom 3) by the Thai school system.

The curriculum of the Gymnasium (Secondary Level 2) is defined by the Regulations of Matura Recognition. It puts a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary studying and student centered learning.

From grade 9 certain subjects are instructed bilingually in German and English, to obtain the bilingual Matura.

The Matura diploma offers direct access to all universities worldwide following Swiss Law. Alumni Swiss School Bangkok students currently attend renowned universities and technical institutions in Switzerland, Germany as well as in the USA, England and Australia.

Qualfications after Secondary Level 1

Since 1994 annual final exams for the Secondary Level 1 are applied for and carried out under the supervision of Germany’s Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs.  Hence the following qualifications can be achieved at Swiss School Bangkok.

• German Hauptschulabschluss (grade 9)
• German Realschulabschluss (grade 10)
• Qualification for transition to Secondary Level 2 (following grade 9 and 10 at Gymnasium)
• Qualification for conversion to RIS High School, achievement of High School Diploma or International Baccalaureate Diploma

Supportive Measures