St. George’s School

School St. George's is located in the small town of Clarence on the coast of Lake Geneva, halfway between Vevey and Montreux. The school was founded in 1927 by two young Oxford graduates.

It was the first British school to open in Switzerland. Therefore, they wear a uniform here, unlike most Swiss schools, where there is only a more or less strict dress code. The school took the best of the two systems – British and Swiss, for example, each child has his own tutor (teacher-mentor), and this is – legacy of the British system. British teachers also teach here, so people from this school speak English with a British accent.

Over the past 70 years, the school has gained a worldwide reputation as an international school. Children from abroad are accepted to the school from the age of seven, the number of students in the school today reaches 480 people, more than 40 nationalities study.

Director (2024)

Ruth Norris, education - Cambridge University, Master of History; Oxford University, PhD.

Key factors 

• High academic performance.
• The school's goal has always been the strong academic performance of students along with the development of the child's individual talents in the arts and sports.
• Classes are held in small classes (mostly 10 people), and the school program is designed taking into account the age, abilities and interests of the student.
• Receiving a diploma at St. George's School gives you the opportunity to enroll in any European university.
• The school gives children 15 francs a week in pocket money, believing that this is quite enough and that extravagance is not suitable for young people. This is also a legacy of the British system – teaching you to save and spend wisely. 

Equipment

The school is located in a huge park with an area of ​​45,000 sq.m. surrounded by mountains with a beautiful view of Lake Geneva, directly facing its windows. On the school grounds there is a library, modern scientific laboratories, an IT center, well-equipped rooms for music, dance and visual arts. School-wide events are held in a beautiful spacious hall.

The school's sports facilities include a large gym, 7 outdoor tennis courts, a basketball court and playing fields. Not far from the school there is a large swimming pool and a stadium where children can exercise. 

Program

The school year is divided into 3 terms. Younger schoolchildren study according to a compulsory traditional program; older students (starting from the age of 14) have the opportunity to independently form part of the program, choosing subjects in areas of interest to them.

The school pays special attention to language learning. Teaching is conducted in English, but students learn French from an early age. There is also the opportunity to study German, Spanish, Italian and Russian. For students with a weak level of English, special language training classes are offered. 

The school provides the opportunity to take the following exams:

International Baccalaureate (IB), GCSE, High School Diploma (American equivalent of GCSE).

The school is divided into a junior department - Junior school (for children 7-11 years old) and an older department - Senior School (11-18 years old).

1) Junior school

Children are taught in small classes, which ensures maximum attention to each student. The program is based on the British National Curriculum. A wide range of subjects are studied. Training is conducted in English and French.

2) Senior School

From 11 to 16 years old, children study at Lower Senior School, where the first three years are a compulsory general education program.

Each student is assigned a teacher who monitors his progress and advises if necessary, helps to adjust the program, and decide on the choice of profession and university.

In the final two years of Senior School (16-18 years old), students prepare to take the International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. To pass IB, students study 6 subjects, 3 of which are in-depth. 

Upon graduation, students can also receive a High School Diploma if they successfullyhand over the relevant items.

Accommodation

Children from 7 years old are accepted as a boarding house. They are accommodated in double and triple rooms located in the main building – in the same place where the training takes place. Single occupancy is possible for an additional fee. Rooms are cleaned every day, but residents are required to keep them tidy and receive weekly grades for doing so. There is a medical center at the school.

The school can offer varied and tasty food for children of different cultures and nationalities, and school cooks will take care of those who need a special diet. All tables in the school canteen have their own numbers, each student knows at which table he belongs. Usually there are representatives of different nationalities sitting at the table and one teacher who makes sure that the children speak English.

Sport

Sports, group and individual, develop children's initiative, responsibility for their actions, team spirit and self-confidence. You can practice team and individual sports: football, athletics, golf, dancing, swimming, badminton, running, skiing, rugby, tennis and gymnastics. At least once a week during the ski season, students go to the slopes to snowboard or ski. Many students represent the school at national and international competitions.

Additional activities

Training classes are combined with a wide sports and excursion program. On weekends, interesting events are held for students: barbecues on the shores of Lake Geneva, biathlon, bowling, hiking, trips to concerts, going to the movies, water sports, rock climbing. There are trips around Switzerland and Europe with visits to famous cities: Athens, Barcelona, ​​Berlin, Lausanne, Paris.

Music and theater classes play an equally important role.

Music classes are held for students of all ages. You can learn to play a musical instrument, sing in a choir, or play in an orchestra or band. School groups take part in concerts that take place throughout the year. Much attention is paid to practice and the development of students' musical talents. Music can be chosen as part of the curriculum and exams in the IGCSE and IB programs - the school's students show impressive results in terms of their level of preparation, and many students continue their studies in the future at the best music universities. 

Theater classes are very popular at the school. Younger students can attend drama clubs and take part in the annual production. Older students have drama classes once a week. In addition to acting, students take part in writing and developing scripts for productions. The main emphasis is on practice. Once a year, a theater competition is held among students, where they can demonstrate their talents. 

Cost, 2023-2024

CHF 90,620 - CHF 115,520 per year (depending on age).

Included in price

• Training
• Accommodation and meals

Additional charge

• Deposit - CHF 4,000
• Admission fee - CHF 8,500
• Insurance - CHF 2,700 per year
• Pocket expenses - CHF 1,050 - CHF 1,750
• School uniform - CHF 300 - CHF 545
• Air travel
• Transfers to/from/airport
• Visa
• Educational company services