John F. Kennedy International School

JFK is a unique small school with a steady cohort of approximately 110 students. During the Winter Term we offer a ski programme and student enrolment rises to 130. JFK works closely in partnership with parents and the local community. The school opened in 1971 and offers a private education to students from around the world. Students at JFK range in age from 2.5 – 14 (playschool to Year 9) and are taught in small class groups (maximum 16 students). Staff at the school know all students and vice versa.

JFK is a private, non-profit international school for day and boarding students.  Our campus is located in Saanen, surrounded by over 180km of well-groomed ski pistes in the Bernese Oberland peaks and pastures.  

We are a small but welcoming campus. This consists of 4 buildings and sections – Playschool and Early Years, Primary School, Middle School and Student Support Services.  Boarding students reside in Swiss Chalet style residences equipped with modern facilities and ensuite bathrooms in the senior boarding house.  We have dedicated facilities for Performing and Visual Arts, Design and Technology, and Science. The school provides a safe well-equipped playground and a large playing field with spectacular views of the mountains. The school has access to the local school gym, climbing wall and the local swimming pool. All students in the Middle School have their own Apple computer and these are used extensively in class with online safety at the heart of our teaching and promoting technology in the classroom. Primary students make regular use of laptops and iPads.

Students from around the world attend JFK and the school utilizes the International Early Years Curriculum, International Primary Curriculum, and International Middle Years Curriculum, ensuring a seamless progression throughout the school and an ability that our students can move on after Year 9 to any curriculum internationally.

At JFK we encourage students to develop and realize their full potential, both in and out of the classroom. JFK students have access to learning beyond the classroom walls, we encourage our students to be inquiry-based thinkers and as such we are involved in local and global projects related to sustainability and ecology. We want our students to be happy and safe at school and develop as independent, resourceful, and resilient individuals. Students should leave JFK with a love of learning and equipped with the skills needed to succeed at their next school and beyond. 

We provide a curriculum that is stretching, relevant and exciting, offer excellent teaching, high expectations and the best standards of behaviour.  We expect staff to be positive role models for students and we have high expectations of all who work with us. We are an inclusive school focusing on the well-being and progress of every individual child, including those with additional needs.

If you believe that an all-round education is ideal, that all students can achieve and have a passion for delivering an outstanding education, we would love to hear from you.