Moving into Secondary School marks an important change for young people. Academic demands increase, students are expected to take greater responsibility for their learning and, increasingly, they begin to think about the educational and professional pathways that may lie ahead.

But for Amy Martin, Co-Principal of Four Forest Lucerne and Head of Four Forest LMS, which provides the Secondary offering, preparing students for the future requires much more than academic knowledge alone.

“With AI and technology developing at a pace we have never seen before, students need the confidence and self-awareness to understand who they are, what they value and how they can contribute to an ever-changing world.”

It is a philosophy shaped by more than 15 years working with young people in very different educational environments.

Relationships as the foundation for learning
Born in New Zealand and raised in Australia, Amy holds a dual degree in Arts, majoring in English and History, and Secondary Education.

Her career has included teaching within the Australian hospital system in Newcastle and Adelaide, where she worked with children in mental health and oncology units, as well as working as a Middle Years Mentor and senior teacher of English and Humanities.

Since moving to Switzerland with her family in 2020, she has taught across both Primary and Secondary education within the Four Forest Group.

Despite the differences between these environments, Amy says one lesson has remained remarkably consistent.

“Relationships matter. Whether supporting children facing significant challenges in a hospital setting or leading a team through change, positive relationships are often the key to success. When people feel valued, understood and supported, they are far more likely to thrive.”

That understanding is central to her approach to Secondary education today.

Helping students become independent – without expecting them to do it alone
Adolescence is a period in which students are expected to become progressively more independent. Amy believes schools need to help them develop that independence deliberately rather than simply expecting it to appear.

At Four Forest LMS, which provides the Secondary programme at Four Forest Lucerne, the starting point is making sure students feel secure, known and supported.

“I want every student to feel heard, supported and confident. Good mental health provides the foundation for success, so ensuring students feel welcome and part of a team is always our starting point.”

Students are then supported in building the organisational skills, study habits and independence needed to respond to increasing academic expectations.

The relatively personal school environment also means teachers can follow individual development closely.

“Our teaching team meets regularly to discuss student progress, celebrate successes and put support strategies in place whenever they are needed.”

For Amy, individual attention is one of the strongest advantages a smaller school environment can offer.

“We know our students exceptionally well and work hard to ensure they feel seen, understood and supported throughout their journey.”

Parents are still an important part of Secondary education
As young people become more independent, it can be tempting to assume that the relationship between parents and school becomes less important.

Amy takes a different view.

“Secondary students still need strong support at home, and we place great value on developing positive relationships with families.”

Communication between teachers, students and parents is consequently an important element of the Four Forest approach. The aim is for families and school to work together to support academic progress while also recognising the social and emotional changes taking place during adolescence.

Amy's experience teaching across Primary and Secondary, together with her current responsibility for Grades 5 and 6 as well as Four Forest LMS, has reinforced the importance she places on continuity across the transition into Secondary.

“Understanding the destination helps us better prepare students for the journey ahead, ensuring they develop the skills, confidence and independence they will need later.”

Preparing for different pathways
The Swiss education system offers young people a range of possibilities after compulsory education, from vocational training and apprenticeships to Fachmittelschule and Gymnasium. Four Forest LMS follows the official Swiss Lehrplan 21 and includes Secondary Grades 7–9 in Lucerne, together with an optional 10th School Year for students who would benefit from additional time and preparation before taking their next step.

But Amy sees pathway preparation as more than choosing where a student goes next.

The Secondary programme is continually reviewed to consider how academic learning can be combined with personal development, life skills and effective approaches to studying.

“By intentionally developing personal skills, life skills and study skills alongside academic success, we are preparing students to be adaptable, resilient and ready for whatever pathways lie ahead.”

The objective is not for every student to follow the same route. Rather, it is for students to understand their strengths and have the confidence and capability to pursue the route that is right for them.

Making learning relevant beyond the classroom
Amy also wants students to understand how their learning connects with the world outside school.

“The world does not operate in isolated subjects, and neither should learning.”

For her, interdisciplinary and authentic learning experiences can help students see why knowledge matters.

“When students can connect curriculum to real people, real challenges and real experiences, learning becomes both more powerful and more memorable.”

This becomes increasingly relevant as schools consider how to educate young people for a world in which technology is evolving rapidly and many future careers may look very different from those of today.

Academic foundations remain essential. But so too are the ability to adapt, collaborate, solve problems and understand oneself.

What success looks like
Ask Amy what she hopes students remember after completing their Secondary education and her answer brings those different strands together.

“I would like them to say, ‘I was encouraged every day to be the best version of myself. I was part of a team, I was challenged to achieve more than I thought possible, and I left with the confidence to pursue my goals and embrace new opportunities.’”

Academic achievement matters. But so do qualities that never appear as a grade on a report card.
“I hope our students develop kindness, empathy, resilience and integrity. I hope they learn how to build meaningful relationships, work effectively with others and contribute positively to their community.”

For families considering Secondary education in Lucerne, Amy believes the question is therefore not simply what a school teaches, but what kind of young person it is helping a student to become.