FAQ

Talent classes are special classes for the promotion of talented children in accordance with §18 of the public school law (“Volksschulgesetz”).

The two district schools Sek eins Höfe and Sek 1 March jointly run talent ausserschwyz on the basis of a cooperation agreement.

The program was launched in August 2017 at the Riedmatt school in Wollerau. The Lachen site was added in August 2018. In principle, any other school location within the Höfe and March districts is possible in a later phase or if there is more than one class per year group.

No, talent ausserschwyz has been an official service of the public school (“Volksschule”) of the canton of Schwyz since 2017.

Yes, talent ausserschwyz is an official Swiss Olympic Partner School.

talent ausserschwyz helps young people who are particularly gifted in sport, music or art to cope with the challenges of talent and school.

talent ausserschwyz is aimed at particularly talented young people of middle school age (grade 7 to 9) in the fields of art, music and sport, primarily from the Ausserschwyz region.

No, admission is primarily based on the admission criteria of the talent area. A high degree of independence, commitment and motivation is required at school. Pupils from all levels (A, B and C) are admitted.

The following application documents must be submitted to the talent ausserschwyz administration:

• Application for admission to talent ausserschwyz
• Recommendation for admission to talent ausserschwyz
• Handwritten letter of motivation incl. passport photo of the student
• Copy of the last two school reports
• Talent card, performance certificates such as competition results, diplomas, examinations etc.
• Exercise, training or competition plans
• Cost approval (if not resident in the Höfe or March district)

• Proven, high level of performance and great recognizable development potential in the talent area (talent card, IR squad, selection etc.)
• High level of motivation and willingness to perform
• Good work ethic and social behavior
• Recognized talent partner
• Sufficient extracurricular commitment in the talent area (10-12 hours of proven, qualified training per week)
• Admission interview
• Cost approval (if not resident in the Höfe or March district)

The admissions committee decides on admission. There is no legal entitlement or right of appeal. An expert from the talent area is normally part of the admissions committee.

No, the same curricula apply for talent ausserschwyz pupils as for students of all secondary level I schools in the canton of Schwyz. The school curriculum objectives are set and must be achievable. The transition to a challenging apprenticeship or to the Ausserschwyz cantonal school (“Kantonsschule Ausserschwyz”) after compulsory schooling is guaranteed.

The number of lessons per week will be reduced in the subjects of history/geography and sport. The areas of life skills, visual arts, technical design and home economics will be greatly reduced and minimally covered by project days or project weeks. The learning objectives will be adapted in the reduced areas. The reductions will create space for the needs-based, individual promotion of talents.

Pupils often work with individual work plans and subject dossiers. This allows them to make up for absences independently.

Basically, lessons are organized in the same way as in a normal secondary level I class. Learning studios (“Lernateliers”) increase the time flexibility in achieving the learning objectives.

Pupils attend at least four of the seven learning studios per week. These lessons include two German lessons and two math lessons. During this time, the pupils work on the planned material independently. These lessons are held simultaneously in all three classes so that the German and math teachers are available as learning coaches in all classes at the same time. The talent students receive individual support and coaching from class and subject teachers. In the event of longer absences due to training camps etc., teachers can request attendance of further learning studios (“Lernatliers”). One lesson of the learning studio is used on Monday morning as a class teacher lesson (KLS) for planning the week. In this lesson, the students organize their week and arrange their attendance with the teachers.

No, the reports comply with the cantonal requirements.

Basically, talent ausserschwyz is organized in the same way as the district schools Sek eins Höfe and Sek 1 March.

The additional bodies - talent committee, admissions committee and coordinators - are described in detail in the concept.

Attending talent ausserschwyz as a service of the public school (“Volksschule”) of the canton of Schwyz is generally free of charge (School Act §8); talent ausserschwyz is free of charge for talented adolescents of secondary school level I (middle school) age (grade 8 to 10) from the districts of Höfe and March. Adolescents from other districts of the Canton of Schwyz require a cost approval from their district of residence. The costs are based on the provisions of the regional school fees agreement RSG of 1.8.2012. Adolescents from outside the canton require a cost approval from the respective education department of the canton of residence and/or the municipality of residence.

The costs for lunch will be charged to the parents/guardians. Expenses for the talent area are not covered by talent ausserschwyz.

For pupils from the districts of March and Höfe, the costs of travel by public transport are covered by the school authority of the municipality of residence in accordance with the current regulations on school travel compensation.

Talent status ceases to apply if

• the conditions of the talent partner for the art, music or sport area are no longer fulfilled.
• the annual cost approval is missing.
• the talent violates the standards of conduct.

Yes, if a talent student no longer meets the requirements, he or she will usually be transferred back to the regular class at the school in his or her place of residence.

The cooperation between parents, school and talent partners is based on an education agreement. This is reviewed annually and amended if necessary.

The talent partner bears the main responsibility for the talents’ promotion of the art, music or sport area. The promotion is based on the principles of SwissOlympic. In the field of music, the music school is considered as the talent partner, and in the field of art, the Academy and Art School “Akademie und Kunstschule Kunst 7”.

In the case of longer absences, the learning material is made up before or after the absence. In addition, location-independent learning platforms are used to be able to work for the school during absences.