Beau Soleil

About us

At Beau Soleil Collège Alpin International it is not what you hear, not what you see, but what you do that counts. Inside the classroom and outside it.

Welcome to Beau Soleil

And when you are focused on doing, things can go wrong. Sometimes you fail. But here, we make sure that there is room to make mistakes and space to put them right.

The consequence is a self-confidence based on achievement, sometimes in unconventional circumstances. And this, more than anything, allows each pupil to go out into the world with wind in their sails and hope in their hearts.

Founded in 1910 Beau Soleil is one of the oldest private boarding schools in Switzerland. It provides a full boarding education for students from over 40 different nationalities aged 11-18 years old.

Given our spectacular location in the Swiss Alps we aim to provide an education which encourages full participation from our students both inside and outside the classroom. We provide a stimulating academic curriculum in both English and French which is balanced with an extensive outdoor expedition and service programme.

Through this combination of activities on the ski slopes, the mountain side and in the class room our students develop important skills in team work, collaboration and resilience.

As a boarding school with a capacity of 240 pupils, we form an international community which relishes its diversity. Life as a boarder is the ideal means through which students learn about each other and develop, through shared experiences, friendships which last a life time.

Owned by the de Meyer family until 2010 the school then passed into the Nord Anglia Education family of schools. Through this association, Beau Soleil is able to retain its small family atmosphere and yet benefit from the aspirations and opportunities available within a global network of schools.

Diploma

IGCSE, IB and French Baccalaureate

Academic calendar

Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil is located at an elevation of 1,350 metres above sea level on the Swiss Alps of Villars-sur-Ollon, in the canton of Vaud, in the western part of Switzerland. Route du Village 1 1884 Villars-sur-Ollon Switzerland

Meet Us Around the World

Beau Soleil arranges a number of meetings around the world with those interested in learning more about the school. If you would like to meet us in your country, please send us the contact form below.

Careers Guidance/universities

With students now facing an increasingly competitive world for both university applications and careers, we recognize that the quality of advice for the next stage after school must be of a very high standard. Our Head of University and Careers Guidance, Miss Charlotte Vale, is responsible for overseeing the effective delivery within the school of top quality advice to pupils and parents regarding decisions concerning subject options, university destinations and career choices.

The students attending Beau Soleil come from approximately 45 different countries and have high aspirations regarding their university choices.

Successful university applications for the 2015 graduating class!

20% of our students received an offer from a top 30 university

25% from a top 50 university

This year, our students were offered a place in the following instituitions:

About us

At Beau Soleil we believe passionately in top quality teaching and learning. Our inspirational teachers have high expectations of every child and provide the support for each child to make excellent academic progress.

Teachers are encouraged to share best practice both with colleagues within the school and through workshops and online courses which unite the 31 Nord Anglia Education schools. Small classes ensure all students are involved in their learning; in regular meetings with both their teacher and their tutor students are set personal targets to aim towards and given clear feedback on how successful they are in meeting their goals.

Great teachers, committed students and an emphasis on hard work have delivered world class results in both our French and International Sections. Our programme of studies offers academic subjects up to university level, coupled with a holistic framework providing art, music, drama, sports and expeditions encouraging all round personal development.

French Section

The French section is proud of its rigorous yet supportive academic environment whereby it offers a full French language curriculum for 11 to 18 year olds taught by teachers trained in France.

The classes in the French Section extend from 6ème to Terminale, and prepare students for the official French government examinations, the Diplôme National du Brevet at the end of 3ème and the French Baccalaureate (series L, ES and S) at the end of Terminale. The subjects taught in the French Section conform to the requirements of the French Ministry of Education.

Our teachers are provided with ongoing training in their teaching through workshops and exchanges both at Beau Soleil and Champittet, or through courses available in Switzerland or France.

International Section

The International Section offers an excellent standard of education in the English language for 11 through to 18 year olds. Our inspirational teachers encourage students to be actively and passionately involved in all their learning and are committed to developing every child to achieve his or her best.

The classes in the International Section extend from 6th Grade to 12th Grade, and prepare students for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) at the end of 10th Grade and the International Baccalaureate (IB) at the end of 12th Grade.

Our teachers are supported in their ongoing professional development either through workshops led at the school itself, online courses provided by the Nord Anglia University, or through external IB diploma courses.

Accreditation

Beau Soleil is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and has been designated an IB World School by the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). It is a member of the Swiss Group of Schools (SGIS), Round Square and the Swiss Learning Group.

In addition, Beau Soleil is also a member of GESBF (Groupement des Ecoles Suisses qui préparent au Baccalauréat Français) and authorised by the Academy of Grenoble to offer the French Baccalaureate.

A modern yet traditional Swiss Boarding school, Beau Soleil has around 240 students. Its size is small enough for everyone to know one another yet at the same time allows the chance for our students to learn to become more independent and to grow in confidence in a family environment.

The provision at Beau Soleil is full boarding, meaning that students can be at the school throughout the school term, except during half term breaks. During these breaks pupils either return to their homes or explore the world on school trips.

The students are housed in either the modern boarding rooms within the main school building or within smaller chalets located near the school site and are grouped according to age and gender.

The younger students are looked after in separate boarding house, La Renardière, which has a distinctive character suitable for this age group.

Each boarding house is run by a house parent who has responsibility for the wellbeing of the students in their care and is a contact point for parents.

The houses become the ‘home away from home’, the houseparent is in daily contact with each child, and the lessons learnt in living together are of value throughout life.

Description of Charges

Boarding & schooling fees: 97’000.-

Electronic tagging of clothes: 350.-

Wireless Internet access (WiFi): 330.-

Official examination (Baccalauréat Français): 3’900.-

Official examination (International Baccalaureate): 8’900.-

Official examination (Brevet des collèges 3): 700.-

IELTS (per subject): 700.-

SAT, TOEFL, IGCSE (per subject): 300.-

Additinal group lessons (per term): 1’500.-

Non-official language group lessons:

per term, 4 periods a week: 5’200.-

per term, 6 periods a week: 7’500.-

Private (language) lessons (per lesson): 100.-

Pocket money: amount according to scale

Illness and accident insurance: 2’000.-

Infirmary expenses: 1’200.-

Electronic clothes tagging (annual): 350.-

This a unique summer camp experience at a traditional yet modern Swiss boarding school. The Beau Soleil Summer Camp is more than a holiday, it allows personal development through experiencing new challenges and opportunities and offers the chance to grow self-confidence.

Children from all over the world come together at Beau Soleil, creating a truly international experience. Against the inspiring backdrop of the Swiss Alps, our summer campers have the chance to experience a wide range of activities, have an immense amount of fun and form friendships to last a lifetime.

Stay Length

From 2 Weeks Up to 4 Weeks

Ages 7-10

• Arts & Crafts, Mountain Hut Experience, Farm Visit, Team Building Games, Slackline, Climbing Wall, Mountain Discovery, Hiking, Nature Educative Hike, New Games, Judo, Ropes Course, Nature Games, Water Games, Sports Tournament, Archery, Uni Hockey.
• Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Zumba Dancing, Singing, Music, Table Tennis, Tennis, Swimming, Ice Skating, Cooking, Fitness Circuit Outdoor, Theatre, Wii Tournament.

Ages 11-13

• Dj-Mixing, Slackline, Orienteering, Climbing Wall, Mountain Hut Trip, Team Building Games, Challenging Hiking, Mountain Contest, Mountain Challenge, MTB Classes, Sports Tournament, Uni Hockey.
• Fitness Training with Fitness Instructor, Cooking, Tennis, Table Tennis, Mini Golf, Ice Skating, Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Zumba Dancing, Music, Bowling, Singing, Swimming, Theatre, Wii Tournament and Free Time.

Ages 14-16

• Paintball, Pendule Jumping, Orienteering, Paddling, Climbing Wall, Leadership Skills Technique, Team Building Games, Lifesaving Methods, Ropes Course, Mountain Hut or Camping Leadership Programme, Challenges, Acting as an Instructor, Prepare Your Own Session (yoga, art, etc.) Water Sports, Beach Volley, Ultimate Frisbee.
• Fitness Training with Fitness Instructor, Cooking, Tennis, Table Tennis, Mini Golf, Ice Skating, Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Zumba Dance, Music, Bowling, Singing, Swimming, Theatre, Wii Tournament and Free Time.

Typical Day

Each day brings with it new sensations, new liveliness and new activities for our campers to enjoy.

• 7:30 Wake up
• 8:00 Breakfast 7-9/10-11 years old
• 8:15 Breakfast 12-14/15-16 years old
• 8:20 Meeting Group Leader 7-9/10-11
• 8:30-11:30 Languages 7-9/10-11 (French or English)
• 8:45 Meeting Group Leader (GL) 12-14/15-16
• 9:00-12:00 Languages 12-14/15-16 (French or English)
• 11:45 Lunch time 7-9/10-11
• 12:15 Lunch time 12-14/15-16
• 13:00-16:00 Afternoon time 7-9/10-11 exciting themed activities or activities block
• 13:30-16:30 Afternoon time 12-14/15-16 exciting themed activities or activities block
• 16:15-17:00 Light Afternoon Tea, children will select their activity by sign up, Free Time judiciously explained & used.
• 17:00 Beginning of After Tea Activities after sign up 18:15 Meeting GL 7-9/10-11
• 18:30 Dinner 7-9/10-11
• 18:40 Meeting GL 12-14/15-16
• 19:00 Dinner 12-14/15-16
• 19:15-20:30 Evening activities (age-specific groups or together, babysitting; appropriate supervision of young children and storytelling)
• 20:00-21:30 Entertainment evening (age-specific groups or together) 21:00 Bed time 7-9/10-11
• 22:00 Bed time 12-14/15-16

Dates and Fees

An additional CHF 1000.- admission fee applies to all camp sessions.

• STAY 1: From July 1 till July 30 (1 month), CHF 10’590.-
• STAY 2: From July 1 till July 22 (3 weeks), CHF 7’790.-
• STAY 3: From July 1 till July 15 (2 weeks), CHF 4’990.-
• STAY 4: From July 16 till July 30 (2 weeks), CHF 4’990.-
• Camp Fees Include;
• Accomodation
• All meals
• All activities and excursions
• All admission and cover charges
• Morning language lessons (French or English)
• Return transfer from Geneva airport
• Laundry
• Camp souvenir t-shirt
• Raincoat
• Camper insurance
• Souvenir photo