Your questions, our answers

FAQs about the secondary school at formatio private school

Concept

As an all-day school, school also becomes a shared living space. What qualities characterize the communal nature of secondary schools?

We are a small school with a family atmosphere where everyone knows and appreciates each other. Our pedagogical understanding is based on the common motto of the formatio private school “Strengthening strengths”. A good relationship with the students is very important to us. As a common ritual, we start and end the school week with a school assembly.

How is it ensured that learners are individually supported and challenged?

Thanks to our manageable class sizes, we guarantee an optimal support ratio and thus the promotion of individual strengths. In addition, our main subjects are taught at two levels, which allows for additional differentiation. We also offer study groups every morning for the schoolwork subjects, where our teachers are available to answer questions and provide in-depth information.

What role does personal development play at the secondary school of the formatio private school?

We focus on personal education. This means that exploring one’s own personality, getting to know personal strengths and developing individual talents play a central role in our pedagogical understanding. In the subject of personal development, pupils are given the necessary space for this under expert guidance. We use various concepts and tools from positive psychology to specifically promote these skills, talents and potential in our pupils.

What does language-sensitive teaching mean? Why is language sensitivity so important in the school concept?

Language sensitivity means knowing the key role that language skills play in academic performance in all subjects. Language-sensitive teaching therefore means preparing learning material and tasks in all subjects in such a way that they are understandable and comprehensible for all pupils. All of our teachers are methodically and didactically well trained to design their lessons in a language-sensitive way.

The secondary school describes itself as a plurilingual school. What does that mean in concrete terms?

Multilingualism plays a central role in our school concept, as we want to prepare our pupils for an international, global world. We therefore offer bilingual teaching in some subjects. For example, the subjects of mathematics and the interlinked subjects “Science” and “Spaces, Times and Societies” are currently taught bilingually in German and English. In this way, foreign language skills are expanded and deepened.

In the subject Network Language, the links between the language and subject areas are deepened even further. This subject leaves room for students’ own language world, a playful approach to language, language comparisons, language learning strategies and current language-sensitive issues.

In addition, we prepare our students for internationally recognized language certificates in English (Cambridge). As a certified examination center, the Cambridge examinations can be taken at our school.

How are digital media integrated into everyday school life?

As a pioneer for digital education in Liechtenstein, we have been using iPads in our secondary school since 2016. Thanks to our many years of experience, we know when digital media can be used effectively in lessons to promote learning in the best possible way. Our classrooms are equipped for modern, contemporary teaching and enable the best possible digital and analog work. Many teaching materials are made available to pupils via learning apps. We also use digital media to communicate with parents and guardians and involve them transparently in their children’s learning process.

What does it mean to learn cooperatively?

In secondary school, the focus is on cooperative learning. Our students regularly work together in groups of four to five students. Through guided cooperation, students develop a keen sense of valuable collaboration and teamwork skills that prepare them for their future careers in the best possible way.

What educational concept is followed in the fourth year of secondary school?

Our individual and differentiated approach continues in the fourth year of secondary school. For this reason, we offer an optional transition class in year four, which is primarily of a repetitive and in-depth nature. This gives young people the opportunity to take their time to prepare for vocational training or entry to grammar school.

Lessons

When do lessons start and end?

Learning needs structure. That is why we provide our pupils with a daily structure of when teaching and learning takes place at the secondary school. Regular lessons usually start at 08:30 and end at 16:25. Lunch is served in the cafeteria from 12:00 to 13:00.

What is the significance of the daily entrance time in the morning?

Every day from 08:00 – 08:30, we offer an entrance time that allows students to prepare for their lessons in a supervised setting. Open learning groups in the main subjects also take place during this time, during which our teachers are available to answer questions or provide in-depth information.

What curriculum is taught at secondary school?

Our teaching content is based on the new Liechtenstein curriculum (LiLe).

What about homework?

We attach great importance to the fact that most learning takes place in the classroom. Homework is given by our teachers to review and consolidate the subject matter. Learners can complete the majority of their work at school in supervised study, and take some home with them. Ultimately, it also depends on the performance of the individual child as to which learning tasks still need to be completed at home.

What exactly is taught in Genius Time?

In “Genius Time”, which comprises two lessons a week, pupils have the opportunity to further develop their character strengths. The students work on individual projects of their interest and are accompanied by a teacher as a coach. The students document their findings and progress in their Genius Time Journal. Once a semester, the results are presented at the parents’ afternoon.

How important is networked learning in everyday teaching?

Learning material can be understood much better if it is presented in a networked way, i.e. from different perspectives, and stored in the brain. We therefore attach great importance to networked learning. In our cross-curricular projects, a learning area is taught by different teachers in different subjects at the same time. The theme days, which last several days, are dedicated to socially relevant, current issues.

How do you support the vocational orientation of students?

We attach particular importance to preparing our pupils for a targeted career choice. For this reason, we focus on vocational orientation in the third and fourth grade in the subject of personal development.

What is meant by the school subject “Personal Challenge”?

In the fourth year of secondary school, our students pursue a personal challenge in which they follow a project of their choice over the course of a semester. In doing so, they learn to carry out a project independently and on their own responsibility and also experience their self-efficacy

Structure

The secondary school of the formatio private school is a private school with public rights. What does that mean?

Following a thorough examination by the government of the Principality of Liechtenstein, we have been granted the right to issue legally valid certificates etc. – just like state schools. Our teachers are certified specialists recognized by the school authorities.

How long is my child at school each day?

Regular lessons usually begin at 08:30 and end at 16:25. Supervised reception time begins at 08:00, during which our pupils can prepare for lessons and learning groups take place. Your child can also be looked after until 16:45 by prior arrangement. Lunch break is from 12:00 to 13:00.

How do the pupils spend their lunch break?

We attach great importance to a sense of community in our school environment. That’s why we have a cafeteria with its own catering kitchen. We cook fresh, healthy and regional food every day.

Certificates and degree

What type of certificate do students receive?

At secondary school, pupils receive a report with grades in all subjects twice a year. In addition, all pupils also receive a written report on their social and work behavior twice a year. As a public school, our report cards have the same status as those of a public school.

What paths do students choose after secondary school?

Around half of our pupils decide to go on to secondary school (upper secondary level), while the other half choose a teaching profession. It goes without saying that we provide our students with extensive support in this important decision and involve parents and guardians in the process in a transparent and close manner.

Under what conditions is it generally possible to transfer to the upper secondary school of the formatio private school?

For particularly high-achieving pupils, it is possible to transfer to the upper secondary school of the formatio private school after the third year of secondary school. This recommendation is made by the teachers’ conference or school management on the basis of the student’s academic performance. After the fourth year of secondary school, this transfer is usually possible without any problems if the candidate has performed successfully at grammar school level in the main subjects.

What school-leaving certificate do secondary school pupils receive?

Graduates of our secondary school receive a secondary school leaving certificate after the fourth grade and thus have proof that they have completed compulsory schooling.

Admission

How does a transfer from another school to the formatio secondary school work?

The school management or its deputy conducts a personal interview with each candidate and the parents and checks the previous school reports. After at least one taster day and competence checks in English, German, French and mathematics, the school management decides to which school level and under which conditions a transfer is possible. We attach particular importance to the behavior and social interaction of our pupils. In order to provide our pupils with the best possible support, it is important to us that they are able to integrate well into the respective class community.

Could my child get to know the lessons and the secondary school without obligation?

Yes, interested children are welcome to join us for an uncomplicated, non-binding and free taster session. Please feel free to contact us at any time by phone (00423 392 20 88) or by e-mail at lernen@formatio.li. You are also welcome to use our contact form.

We are very interested in a lateral entry into the secondary school of the formatio private school. How good do our child’s English language skills need to be for this?

1. As a plurilingual school, (foreign) languages are our main focus. Your child should therefore have a basic interest in languages. In our many years of experience, previous knowledge of English itself plays a subordinate role in a successful lateral entry. It is much more important to support your child in starting school as a whole and to ensure that they settle well into the social environment. If a lack of language skills really is an obstacle, we offer a range of support services.

What are the costs associated with attending school?

As a private provider, we charge school fees for our extensive and outstanding educational services. We will be happy to send you our cost breakdown and other documents. You can find the education costs on our homepage.