This is the first time I write in this forum... but it is for a quite relevant issue for my family ;-) We are moving in January from Madrid to Lausanne due to my new job there, and we are currently looking for a school in the Lake Area (from Nyon to Montreux). We are thinking in an international school, since my children speak with English but almost no French, and since I have understood there are quite good schools there (even the State ones).
What I have to ask you is... what schools would you recommend to me in the area? And also if you can help me in understanding which kind of students my children could have in their classes (more Swiss or more expat profile... and this kind of things).
Depends on the age of the kids. Pre-teens most will pick up French/German pretty quickly and the schools here do a lot to help on the acquisition of languages too. Teenagers don’t seem to be so good at it, plus what they’re studying is more critical to their career choices so disrupting it for language lessons could be disastrous.
Thank you very much, Medea. They are 11 and 14 years old, that0s why I think that Int. Schools are the best option... If you know any school of this characteristics you can "recommend" let me know! ;-)
Sorry, I can’t help on that side (no kids of my own), but I’m sure someone else on the forum can help with recommendations. But have you considered the cost problem of international schools. If you have a look at some of the threads on the subject here on the forum you’re talking around CHF20,000 a year per child at least iirc. Can you afford that?
Just found this in one of the Education stickies on the Swiss school system:
There are a lot of private, international and bi-lingual schools in the greater Lausanne area. What is best for your family will depend on a lot of factors, e.g. language, curriculum, location, age, costs, etc...
Perhaps start by looking here, organisation of private schools in Vaud--
I have heard and researched about three different schools in the area: The International Cottage, St. George's and Haut-Lac International... any one of your kids is studying in any of those schools (or others that you may find similar)?
It's Lausanne, so find a place to live first. Keep in mind the school issue when looking, but then, commute will be the main question. If you set up your mind for international schooling, they all are equivalent, the teaching follows the same requirements and they usually don't really stream academically.
I would disagree on this point. While they may all end up doing the IBDP, there is a difference in their staff, their educational philosophy and their resources. Some are very well resourced, others are not.
The best thing to do - other than actually send your kids there and get a real view - is ask if your kids can join the school for a day and track a student. This is what my school does with all potential new students, and it gives them as good an idea as any.
My kids go to the local Swiss school. Once they are old enough they may attend my school, but it will be very much dependent on what is in their best interests and what they wish to do.
The three you mention are not at all in Lausanne, but around the lake in Vevey/Montreux area. There are many many schools in Lausanne and the surrounding region, have a look at the link I provided above.
Just thought I'd try and add my perspective to your original post as I am more or less going through the same issue.
The only point I'd make is that while its important to find a place to live, your choice of international school could be independent of that. What I mean is that school space appears quite limited and waiting lists are really quite normal. There's a lot of demand and not a lot of space. The schools know this and thus prices are generally chf 28k and up per child.
My advice: start speaking with ISL / HL / st George's ASAP and determine which you'd prefer. Then get your kids enrolled for the year ASAP .
My personal philosophy: I would gladly compromise on a place to live so long as my children's education in a comfortable environment is assured.
Hello. I am also relocating to Lausanne in late January - from the United States. I visited 3 international schools in the area - The Gems World Academy, Haut-lac and Lake Leman International. They are all fine schools; however, for the needs of my family I found Lake Leman International school to be the best. My children are 4 and 7. Only time will tell, but I am confident we made a good decision.