«Nothing else comes into question for me»
Linus Lambert, 11, from Zurich is studying for the entrance exam to a long-term grammar school. So far, his parents Katja, 44, and Georg, 48, who are biologists and he works as a chemist, say it has been stress-free.
Linus: «I've always wanted to go to grammar school. I'm not worried about other options, nothing else really comes into question for me.»
Georg: «Nobody in our family knows anything about alternatives. They all went to university.»
Linus: «I don't have any specific career aspirations. For now, I'm going to take the Gymi exam in March . I started practising last year.»
Linus should do it voluntarily, not for us. He can drop it at any time.
Georg, father
Georg: «The maths problems are tricky, so it's good to familiarise yourself with them early on.»
Linus: «I solve one short task a day or work on a longer one for ten minutes.»
Georg: «That's the deal - but also: Linus should do it voluntarily, not for us. He can drop it at any time.»
Katja: «It's been stress-free so far. It's enough if we nudge him from time to time.»
Linus: «That doesn't mean I miss out on my hobbies: I ride my mountain bike, play the guitar and go to Scouts. I hardly studied before, but I'm already doing more for the Gymi exam.»
Only boy in the class
Georg: «We had enquired about preparatory courses with a private provider - but there were no more places available. Linus is now attending the school's free programme. The course is run by his class teacher, who we are very impressed with.»
Linus: «Twice a week there's an extra lesson in maths and German. There are eight children in my class, and I'm the only boy.»
Katja: «I don't think it's a bad thing if the children have to work hard for this test. That way, they can cope better with the wealth of material that awaits them at grammar school later on.»
Georg: «At the same time, there is a risk of too much pressure. That's why I don't want to keep asking how things are going.»
Katja: «If the entrance exam doesn't work out, it's no big deal. Then he'll just try it later. In Switzerland, the standard option isn't grammar school anyway, but a vocational apprenticeship.»
