Zurich Approves New Arts and Sports Classes at Rychenberg (Switzerland, June 2026)
Zurich’s Government Council approved the introduction of additional arts and sports classes at Kantonsschule Rychenberg Winterthur from the 2029/30 school year. It also instructed the Education Directorate to prepare a school trial for a similar offer at the specialised middle school level.
Zurich’s Government Council approved the introduction of additional arts and sports classes at Kantonsschule Rychenberg Winterthur from the 2029/30 school year. It also instructed the Education Directorate to prepare a school trial for a similar offer at the specialised middle school level.
What Changed?
Rychenberg will be assigned one arts and sports class linked to entry after primary grade 6 and one class for sport and dance talents linked to entry after secondary grades 2 or 3. A yearly fee of CHF 1,400 will apply for extra costs beyond the pupil flat rate.
Old System vs New System
The canton’s upper-secondary arts and sports offer was concentrated at the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Gymnasium Rämibühl in Zurich, and the offer had not been expanded since 2012.
Winterthur will become an additional K+S gymnasium location from 2029/30. The canton will also prepare the legal changes needed for the gymnasium classes and develop a time-limited, evaluated school trial for a K+S class at the specialised middle school.
Who Is Affected?
Student Impact
More eligible young people will have access to a school pathway designed to combine demanding arts or sports training with upper-secondary education.
Parent / Family Impact
Parents of talented pupils will need to follow future admission rules, suitability checks, and location-specific options for Zurich and Winterthur.
School / Institution Impact
Rychenberg must prepare the new classes, admission coordination, staffing, and curriculum arrangements, while the Education Directorate prepares legal amendments and the school trial.
Teacher / Staff Impact
Teachers at the affected schools may need to work with extended study duration, flexible scheduling, and student support linked to arts or sports training.
Key Dates
- 2026-06-03: Government Council decision
- 2029/30: first planned K+S gymnasium cohorts at Rychenberg
- annual CHF 1
- 400 fee set for the extra K+S costs.
What To Do
- Families should wait for the amended admission rules and school information before applying. Rychenberg and the Education Directorate should prepare the required legal and operational steps.
What To Watch Next
The Education Directorate must submit the legal changes and define the start year and conditions for the specialised middle school trial.
Global Context
The decision expands a talent-compatible upper-secondary model within Switzerland’s cantonal education structure and links admissions to recognised arts and sports suitability checks.
Source Record
Source type: government decision
Source name: Canton of Zurich, Government Council