What parents hope for from a public school

A large secondary school, 24 teenagers in one class. For Colin, this was not a place where he could feel comfortable. So he stopped going to school, first for a few days, then he stayed in his room completely - and had to be treated in a clinic for his school anxiety. The 14-year-old now attends a public school. «There are smaller classes there. Colin feels more comfortable here, he has developed very well,» says his mother Diana Vonarburg, who lives with her family in the canton of Thurgau.

The Vonarburgs are not an isolated case. A better childcare situation, more needs-orientation, less pressure to perform, more individualised support, health reasons - all of these were also cited by parents in the large-scale study «Which school does Switzerland want?» as triggers for switching their child to a public school.

The survey was conducted in November 2022 by the Mercator Foundation Switzerland together with the Sotomo research institute. The response to the question: «Could you imagine sending your child to a public school?» was also striking. A majority of 60 per cent of the parents surveyed chose «Yes». Is the dissatisfaction among Swiss parents with public schools really so great and does this increase the number of transfers to public schools?

More children attend public schools in Zug and Zurich

At least not in terms of numbers - the proportion of children attending public school has remained stable at 4.6 per cent across Switzerland for years. In cantons where more children attend a public school, such as Zug or Zurich, this is mainly due to two reasons.

Dagmar Rösler, Central President of the Swiss Federation of Teachers (LCH), cites the following reasons: Firstly, the average income of parents is higher, as attending a public school costs around CHF 24,000 a year on average. Secondly, there are more expats living in these cantons, who often send their children to international public schools, either because of the language or because they are more compatible with the school system in their home country

Conscious commitment to the primary school

The Zurich parent participation organisation KEO also surveyed parents about the school situation in 2022. A good third of those surveyed are considering switching to a public school. «The reasons why this is not realised are often the financial situation or a longer journey to school,» says Parents' Association President Gabriela Kohler. However, there are also well-off parents who are consciously committed to primary school.

Even a public school is no guarantee that things will go better. You can also have bad luck there.

Maja Studer, owner of an agency for public schools

According to this survey, parents who are considering a change are usually looking for a school that caters more to their child's special needs, offers different childcare times or special educational concepts. However, the lack of teachers is also an issue in this context.

«If parents don't know before the summer holidays who will be in front of their child's class in the new school year, or the school has to rely on non-professionals without a teaching diploma, it can make you feel uneasy. After all, you are entrusting your child to the school for several hours a day,» says Gabriela Kohler. However, according to the LCH, there is no data to prove that public schools have a better supply of teachers.

Change only in case of individual problems

Maja Studer deals with parents on a daily basis, most of whom have already looked at several local public schools and are about to make the switch. Studer runs an agency for public schools, which advises parents on choosing a suitable school. She also does not perceive any fundamental increase in parents' resentment towards the public school system. «Most of them start there with their children and only switch to a public school when individual problems arise.»

As a rule, parents would not expect a public school to be able to solve all of these problems, such as learning difficulties, behavioural problems, bullying or a lack of individual support. «I experience a great deal of understanding for the fact that a teacher at a public school with 25 pupils cannot respond to the needs of each individual child as individually as at a public school, where there are 16 or even fewer pupils in a classroom.»

The focus is on better individual support

In addition, public schools are simply there for all children, whereas a public school can set priorities and also select the right pupils. Maja Studer believes that this naturally increases the chances of pupils, teachers, learning methods and content harmonising well. However, she points out: «Even a public school is no guarantee that things will really go better. You can also have bad luck with a teacher there - just as you can find a wonderful public school with great teachers.»

The parents know that we listen to them and don't sweep a problem under the carpet.

Rose-Anne Mettler-White, Head of Private School SIL

Rose-Anne Mettler-White runs the public school for individualised learning (SIL) in the canton of Zurich. Her school has in its name what the majority of parents surveyed in the Mercator study cited as the main reason for switching to a public school: better individualised support.

In everyday life at the SIL school, for example, this means that each child is picked up at their own level and learns to plan for themselves when and how they can complete which tasks in order to achieve their personal learning goals. «The teachers are always there when the pupils need individualised help,» says Rose-Anne Mettler-White.

Advantage of a public school: small classes

Similar concepts also exist at public schools. «However, we don't have more than 14 students in any class and up to two teachers in the room,» says Rose-Anne Mettler-White, explaining why the relationship with the children is very close. «Above all, however, we also maintain very close contact with all the parents.»

Because there are also problems at her school, and of course not all parents are always happy here either. «But they know that we listen to them and that we don't sweep a problem under the carpet, but also look for solutions.» In her day-to-day work, the headteacher has noticed that parents' need for dialogue has increased compared to the past. «They are more willing to talk about where the shoe pinches, but then also expect someone to take the time to do so and take action,» says Rose-Anne Mettler-White. She often hears that communication difficulties or a breach of trust were the reason why families switched from a public school to her school. «Many also miss more support with their children's career choices and, above all, with their homework.»