Director

Founded in 1961, the International School of Berne was established to serve the city and canton’s diplomatic community. Since then, the school has grown from just 40 students to nearly 300, reflecting the expansion of international business in the region. Today, it also welcomes local families seeking an international education. While English is the school’s official language, it is not the mother tongue of more than 60% of students. This rich linguistic diversity contributes to a vibrant community representing 45 nationalities and provides students with a genuinely global educational experience.

ISBerne’s dedication to international education has been part of the school’s drive to develop as an International Baccalaureate World School. After establishing the IB Diploma programme in 1995, the school was authorised to offer the IB Primary and Middle Years Programmes in 2007. In addition to the IB, the school is accredited by CIS and NEASC.

From 2026, ISBerne will be offering an additional Lehr Plan 21 pathway from grade 1 primarily taught in German. This is an exciting new opportunity for the school to welcome more Swiss families and builds on the dual language approach already offered in Kindergarten.

In April 2017, the school relocated to a purpose-built campus in Gümligen, a village on the outskirts of Bern where it had been based for the previous 55 years. The move was warmly welcomed by the local community. The campus architecture reflects the school’s commitment to community, with shared, connected learning spaces that honour both diversity and common values.

ISBerne continues to serve a largely transitory expatriate population, with families residing in Switzerland for an average of three and a half years. This regular transition of families strengthens the school’s close-knit atmosphere, enabling it to become a genuine home away from home for students and parents alike during their time in Switzerland.

International School of Berne is owned by Pansophic Learning, an education company that strives to provide students and educators exceptional learning solutions that enable them to maximise their success academically and in life, regardless of geographic, financial, or demographic circumstance. The organisation believes that every child should be able to be whatever they want to be in life regardless of where they were born. Pansophic Learning has its headquarters in Virginia, USA, and has operations globally, including schools in the Middle East, UK and Europe.

The Board of Directors are seeking to appoint a Director to lead the school from January or August 2027. The successful candidate will have demonstrable success in international school leadership, a true passion for holistic education and the ability to inspire and unite the school community. They should be well qualified and have up-to-date knowledge and experience of the IB programme. Fluency in English and German will be required. Inter-cultural sensitivity, strong moral character, and a commitment to maintaining and developing a culture of trust will all be important.