01
First conversation without the child
One hour with the parents. No child present. We listen: Why SOLA? What concerns you about your child? What have other schools not delivered? No evaluation, only understanding.
60 minutes
Admission
No test, no ranking. A fit conversation.
At SOLA we do not decide whether a child is “good enough”. Together with you we assess whether we are the right place for your child — and you assess whether we are right for you.
01 — Stance
Why we do not run a classical entrance exam.
Standardised entrance tests measure one thing especially well: how well a child performs on a given day in a given format. For gifted children this is often not only unfair — it is misleading. Especially for 2E children.
Instead we look at what we actually need to know. How does the child think? How do they work when something captures them? What do parents tell us about daily life? Is there a diagnostic report — and if so, what do we read from it?
Our process therefore takes slightly longer than usual. It costs time — yours and ours. But it leads to reliable decisions. And it prevents admitting a child whom SOLA would ultimately fail.
«We are not looking to select; we are looking for a fit. That is not the same thing.»
02 — The process
Four steps to a decision.
The order is fixed, the pace flexible. Typically six to eight weeks pass between first contact and decision.
02
Trial days with the child
Two full school days in the school. Your child meets peers, teachers and spaces. We observe — we do not test. The child senses whether this place fits. That feedback weighs heavily.
2 days
03
Diagnostic conversation (optional)
Where available, we review existing psychological reports and speak with your treating specialists. If no diagnostics exist, we can offer an in-house assessment on request.
As needed
04
Final conversation & decision
All three parties talk: parents, head of school, pedagogical lead. The decision is formulated jointly, not dropped onto you. On acceptance, the enrolment contract follows, plus invitation to a summer orientation day.
90 minutes
03 — Dates
Key dates for school year 2026/27.
We open in August 2026 with years 1 to 6. Middle school (7 – 9) follows rolling from 2027. Applications are accepted continuously; in case of oversubscription, date of entry applies.
- Opening of admissions November 2025
- First information evenings January 2026
- First trial days February – March 2026
- First-round decisions April 2026
- School start — Primary 18 August 2026
- Middle school start August 2027 (planned)
04 — Scholarships
Education must not depend on income.
SOLA is a non-profit foundation. We offer scholarships of up to 100 % of school fees to families who could otherwise not afford gifted education. Our target is that, at full capacity, around a third of our children hold scholarships.
The scholarship process is separate from admissions. Pedagogical fit is decided without knowledge of financial circumstances. Only after acceptance do we review the family’s financial situation — in a second, confidential process.
For questions on scholarships, please contact our office directly. All evaluation is confidential, including internally.
05 — Frequent questions
What parents often ask us.
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Does my child need a giftedness diagnosis?
+No. A report helps us understand the child faster. If none exists, we decide without. If needed, we can offer in-house diagnostics (at cost; included in scholarship).
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We do not live in Pfäffikon. Is that a problem?
+No. Many children commute from Zurich, Zug, Schwyz, Einsiedeln, Lucerne or Rapperswil. Pfäffikon is 25 minutes by train from Zurich HB. We are happy to help with car-pooling.
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From what age do you accept children?
+From year 1 (typically six years old, in individual cases five). We do not plan a kindergarten.
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Can we switch mid-year?
+In principle yes. With available places, transfers at quarter boundaries are possible. We recommend summer as main entry point.
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Are there sibling places?
+There is no fixed sibling privilege. Where fit and space permit, siblings have preferential access, since we factor in family situations.
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What happens if we are rejected?
+We talk openly about the reasons and, where possible, suggest other suitable schools or settings. No form letters.
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How much is tuition?
+Indicative fees for 2026/27 are CHF 28,800 per year (primary) and CHF 32,400 (middle school). Below Zurich rates for comparable schools. Scholarships available.
Ready for the first step?
The first step is a conversation without your child. One hour of your time — and you will know whether it is worth going further.