We are a community of learners determined to make the world – or our corner of it – a
better, kinder place. We reflect our values in everything we do so that we make the most
of opportunities and challenges in a spirit of enthusiastic inquiry.
We help every student turn their learning into action, creating the opportunity to stretch
themselves further and achieve more than they believe possible.
Founded in 1961, the International School of Zug and Luzern (ISZL) is a leading International
Baccalaureate (IB) World School for students ages 3 to 18. A warm and welcoming school located
on two campuses, it is a world-class learning community that combines strong pedagogical beliefs,
centred on the child, with the anchoring of its Mission and Vision.
As an IB World School, ISZL offers four IB Programmes and the American Board-approved Advanced
Placement exams. Examination results sit well above international school averages. The School is
distinct for its pastoral care of students, strong outdoor education programmes, commitment to inquiry-
based learning, and a strong international community that connects students with the greater world
around them.
ISZL is seeking a new High School Principal effective from August 2022. Reporting to the School
Director, the next Principal will work with a strong Leadership Team and a dedicated group of nurturing,
hard-working, and talented teachers who serve as learning leaders for students in the classroom and
beyond. ISZL has a very high retention rate among teachers and administrators. This reflects the
School’s ethos of community and collaboration, and the high level of professional growth opportunities.
This is an exciting time for an accomplished individual to take the reins of a highly respected school in
the incomparably beautiful setting of central Switzerland. The successful candidate will be a talented
leader, a dynamic, forward-thinking presence at ISZL, and a truly student-focused educator prepared to
lead with ISZL’s Mission and Vision at the forefront.
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Founded in 1961
Coeducational, not-for-profit day school with an open admissions policy
1,200 students from 60+ nationalities; 7% from local population
439 High School students
Over 200 faculty from over 30 countries
Staff turnover of 7%
IB World School offering PYP, MYP, CP, and DP; plus College Board APs
Accredited by CIS and NEASC
ISZL is the result of a merger between two international schools in 2008. The oldest of these, The
International School of Zug, was founded in 1961. It opened a campus in Luzern in 2006 in response
to growing demand from the expatriate community in that area. The Riverside School was founded in
1990 as a High School, offering the American College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) programme
and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP). In 2001, it became the first
school in Switzerland authorised to offer the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP).
Joining these schools together resulted in a seamless programme, from Early Years through to Grade
12. From the first cohort of just 14 students in 1961, the International School of Zug and Luzern now
educates around 1,200 students from over 60 different nationalities. ISZL has become a vibrant
community with an innovative vision that celebrates its past, focuses on its present, and prepares for
its future.
ISZL is an outward-looking school, constantly striving to reflect and improve upon best practices.
Its current Strategic Plan outlines several goals, based on the central idea that as a world leader in
international education, its motivated students will have the skills, empathy, resilience, and ambition to
embrace the challenges and opportunities of a changing world.
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As more than just an IB World School, ISZL is authorised to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP),
Middle Years Programme (MYP), Career-related Programme (IB CP), and Diploma Programme (IB
DP), as well as Advanced Placement (AP), BTEC, and its own ISZL innovation courses. Differentiated
instruction and well-resourced student support services help teachers meet the individual learning
needs of all students at the School. The academic programme is intentionally designed to be a continual
journey of self-discovery and development from the Early Years through Grade 12. Small class sizes in
a supportive, encouraging, and challenging learning environment facilitate a student-centred approach
to education.
The School recognises that its most important asset is its faculty and staff. ISZL is a community where
positive relationships are central to the mission of the School. Practices that establish and nurture
relationships between staff, students, and parents are embedded in school life. There is a culture
of mutual respect that supports ISZL’s global community, to learn and live together in harmony. With
employees from more than 30 countries, ISZL is international in every sense and has a vast array of
world experiences to share.
ISZL is a non-profit institution accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New
England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). ISZL is supervised by the Educational
Authorities of the Cantons of Zug and Luzern and operates with their approval. The School is a member
of the Swiss Group of International Schools and the Educational Collaborative for International Schools,
and the Association for the Advancement of International Education.
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ISZL’s High School provides an academically challenging and balanced programme that prepares
students for success at university and in life beyond ISZL.
Grades 9 and 10 study the final years of the MYP. Students study at least two languages as part of their
programme. They complete the programme in Grade 10 with the Personal Project, the second of two
major capstone projects, the first completed as they leave Middle School.
In Grades 11 and 12, students can select between the IB DP and CP, or the ISZL High School Diploma
(HSP). Students who choose the HSP have access to AP college-level classes in over 20 subjects. The
HSP also allows students to take a BTEC Diploma in Creative Media as part of its commitment to career-
related learning experiences as well as any of the ISZL Innovations courses in English, humanities,
science, and music.
In the younger years at ISZL, there is a commitment to the inquiry-based approach of the PYP, which
reflects the philosophy of Reggio Emilia. Student learning through the Primary Years is characterised
by an inquiry-based and trans-disciplinary approach and reflects the standards and practices of the
PYP. One in four ISZL students stay at the School from Kindergarten to graduation in Grade 12.
At all levels, students are exposed to a wide range of academic opportunities beyond the classroom,
including residential weeks, major stage productions, sporting and creative opportunities, and learning
retreats in the School’s mountain chalet.
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The class of 2020 matriculated to the following colleges and universities across the globe, among others:
Abertay University
Tilburg University
Cardiff University
University of Amsterdam
College of William and Mary
University of Bath
Coventry University
University of Cambridge
Detroit Institute of Music Education
University of Edinburgh
Durham University
University of Essex
Eindhoven University of Technology
University of Glasgow
Erasmus University Rotterdam
University of Leeds
ESADE Business School
University of Manchester
ETH Zurich
University of Melbourne
European Business School Geneva
University of Sheffield
Franklin University Switzerland University of Southern Denmark
Imperial College London
University of St. Andrews
Leiden University College The Hague
University of St. Gallen
Luleå University of Technology
University of Sussex
McGill University
University of Technology, Sydney
Mittweida University of Applied Sciences
University of Warwick
New York University
University of York
Regent’s University London
University of Zurich
Ringling College of Art and Design
Utrecht University
Rollins College
Vrije University Amsterdam
Royal Holloway, University of London Yale University
Stanford University
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ISZL’s Personal Development Programme (PDP) ensures that the School provides an atmosphere
conducive not only to academic excellence and success, but also to the development of social skills
and a well-rounded character. ISZL believes that compassion and a risk-taking approach to learning are
just as important as critical and creative thinking skills. The PDP promotes a climate of respect, in which
students are encouraged to develop self-confidence, positive relationships, and the motivation to learn.
By teaching essential skills in social and emotional areas such as identity, relationships, behaviour
and social norms, and healthy living, the Programme provides the support structure students need to
succeed in all areas of school life.
For a complete overview of current academic offerings, see this year’s ISZL Academic Course Guide.
ISZL is an inspiring learning environment. It aims to enthuse, engage, and inspire a generation of
critically aware, creative, and knowledgeable global citizens ready for the challenges and changes
that lie ahead. ISZL offers a programme already rich in the Arts and sports, complemented by many
student clubs, which make the most of its unique and stunning location in the forests and hills of Central
Switzerland. Students are encouraged to participate in visual and performing arts, which provide a
foundation for imagination, risk-taking, and creative expression.
ISZL’s various studios, music rooms, and theatres allow students to pursue their interests and passions
in state-of-the-art facilities. Students may also play on a variety of teams, including soccer, basketball,
tennis, rugby, volleyball, track, swimming, and skiing.
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A wide range of clubs and activities match the diverse personalities and interests of the student body
and encourage them to have fun together and make new friends. Many of the activities are offered to
a range of grade levels, and students can pursue leadership roles in the later grades. Clubs are varied
and exciting and include Model United Nations, Art, and Computer Coding, among others, at the High
School.
ISZL promotes participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, the world’s leading youth achievement
award, giving children the opportunity to grow as young adults and develop team-building skills. ISZL
students also host the annual Youth Forum Switzerland event, which was founded by ISZL students
and has grown into a multi-school event with delegates from other Swiss schools and as far afield as
the United States.
ISZL also believes that an understanding of communities, how we relate to them, and the effects we can
have upon them, are critical components of its education programme. The School actively embraces
every opportunity to connect students through the development of authentic, age-appropriate, and
sustainable partnerships with local communities. These partnerships are rich in their breadth and
diversity and include engagement through community service and action, cultural exchanges, sporting
engagement, trips and excursions, educational partnerships, and curriculum-led initiatives.
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The current facilities of ISZL are situated in three different locations and include a Chalet in Wengen,
a village in the Alps. The Zug Campus in Baar houses the Primary and Middle Schools. The main
building, the Wettinger House, was constructed in the late 17th century and is surrounded by modern
buildings. The Middle School building is a new, purpose-built facility comprising classrooms, offices, and
dedicated science laboratories. Adjacent is a theatre with a full-size stage and seating for 450 people,
enabling the School to hold assemblies and special events on site. There is a full-size gymnasium, a
half-size gymnasium that is used for Early Years, and a synthetic grass sports field.
The High School campus, located in Hünenberg, is home to over 439 High School students. This new
campus has three principal facilities: the main building, which comprises modern classrooms, state-
of-the- art science laboratories, a library and music rooms; a triple gymnasium built in 2013, which
includes a dance studio, techno gym fitness-centre, and climbing wall, and the art factory, a dedicated
modern space for visual arts.
In addition, ISZL owns and runs an outdoor education centre in Wengen, in the Swiss Alps. It has 86
beds in en-suite bedrooms as well as a kitchen and dining area. It is used for the academic programme,
the School sports programme, outdoor learning, and musical, leadership, and academic retreats.
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ISZL is fortunate to be situated in one of the most beautiful, culturally diverse, and safe countries in the
world. With four national languages and a history of attracting talent from around the world, it is a truly
global country. Switzerland ranks at or near the top of several international surveys relating to quality
of life.
The Cantons of Central Switzerland, including Zug, Luzern, and Zürich, are located in the very heart
of Switzerland and offer an exceptionally high quality of life. Surrounded by mountains and beautiful
alpine lakes, the region offers easy access to some of the world’s most glorious natural environments
and easy access to some of the best hiking and mountain sports in the world. German is the official
language of Central Switzerland, with English being widely spoken.
Zug is a beautiful lakeside town in Central Switzerland and derives its name from a fishing tradition;
in the Middle Ages, the word translated to the right to “pull up” fishing nets. Residents speak Swiss
German; however, over a quarter of the population is comprised of foreign nationals, making Zug a
truly international location, with around 126,000 people residing in the Canton. Central Switzerland’s
geography is diverse, including an impressive moraine landscape resulting from the Reuss glacier.
Some of the best hiking and mountain sports globally are on ISZL’s doorstep, with many ski resorts
under an hour’s drive away.
Zug is 40 minutes from Zürich International Airport and 20 minutes from the cosmopolitan city of Zürich.
Its location in the centre of Europe allows for easy opportunities to explore some of the most loved
cultural sites in the world. Zug provides an exceptional quality of life in the haven of Switzerland. It is
a paragon of efficiency, cleanliness, and security, and remains a short journey from major European
cities.
The next High School Principal is expected to:
Guided by ISZL’s Mission, Vision, and Values, the High School Principal:
To support ISZL’s community of learners in making the world – or ISZL’s corner of it – a better, kinder
place, a successful candidate will be:
Astrong pedagogical leader who will:
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultants in confidence. Candidates will
ultimately need to submit the following materials as one PDF document:
Art Charles
Managing Associate, International Schools Practice
art.charles@carneysandoe.com
John Chandler
Senior Consultant
john.chandler@carneysandoe.com
Deborah Welch
Senior Consultant
deb.welch@carneysandoe.com
ISZL supports, respects, and seeks inclusion for all community members, including but not limited
to: Age, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Health Needs, Languages
Spoken, Marital Status, Mental Health, National Origin, Political Affiliation, Race, Religion, Sex, and
Sexual Orientation.
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