Le Rosey

About

As a boarding school with strong sports, arts and service programmes, Le Rosey’s approach to education is holistic, but academic expectations and success lie at the heart of what we do.

Le Rosey insists on high standards, backed up by up-to-date teaching methods and facilities underpinned by traditional rigour, and above all, bilingual and bicultural programmes. Rosey students are diverse both in what they know and how they have learnt.

The curriculum is international with the breadth and depth characteristic of the strongest national and international programmes and a strong emphasis on languages.

The Program

The Juniors (classes 9 to 6) Suisse Classes 6 to 8 • USA Grades 3-6 • UK Years 4-7

In the primary years, students undertake a bilingual academic programme with priority given to French in classes 8 and 9. In class 7, students may choose their first or main language. In class 6, the first year of secondary school, students take a customised bilingual programme by selecting the working language for each class. They must take at least one class in their second language. French and English classes are obligatory and are provided at the appropriate level for the student, from beginner to native-speaker level. Other classes are adapted to suit the linguistic level of the students who, where necessary, receive help in French and/or English. This bilingualism allows students to develop their abilities in both languages and to understand the different approaches taken by both cultures. Studying the student’s mother tongue (other than French or English) is strongly encouraged. The academic programme is based on the directives of French National Education for French classes and the English National Curriculum for English classes. This traditional teaching is supplemented by the IPC programme (International Primary Curriculum) which adds an international and multi-disciplinary dimension, especially during special activity days when multi-disciplinary themes for the term are launched and concluded. The teaching team monitors each child very closely on a daily basis, helping them fully realise their potential.

The “Cadets” (classes 5 and 4) Suisse Classes 1ère and 2ème C.O. • USA Grades 7-8 • UK Years 8-9

Students receive an in-depth academic education, but without excessive homework or teaching hours. Classes, which students choose to take in either French or English, form a well-balanced academic unit. Bilingualism is omnipresent: one class, at the very least, is taken in the student’s second language. Complete beginners in one of these languages take a “French & Humanities” or “English & Humanities” class. A third language – whether this is a mother tongue or foreign language – is obligatory, and students can choose to take a fourth language.

Teaching methods combine tradition and innovation, we aim to address the key contemporary issues by tackling a different theme each term, using the different lenses provided by each subject of the bilingual programme. The “Entry and Exit Points” are enlivened by special days with visits, presentations and events which involve all cadets and their teachers.

At the end of their time as Cadets, all students, using multimedia tools, present an interdisciplinary group project which they defend in front of their classmates, teachers and general management. The teachers supervising these projects ensure students acquire good working practices and gradual intellectual autonomy.

All Cadets must also deal with a subject of their choice in depth using differentiated homework assignments or projects demanding greater reflection, explanations and individual debates with the relevant teacher.

The doyen of the Cadets, in association with the boarding school director and a personal tutor, closely monitors the work and academic results of the student on a constant basis and encourages individual learning pathways.

The “Jeunes Seniors” (classes 3 and 2) Suisse Classes 3ème C.O. and 1ère année de gymnase • USA Grades 9-10 • UK Years 10-11

The Pre-Bac programme

prepares students for French bac and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses by offering them a wide range of subjects at an appropriate level
develops bilingualism and French-English biculturalism
prepares students for independence and helps them to make the best academic and personal choices
develops skills and methods which are useful for the baccalaureate programmes, especially those known as “21st century skills”: creativity, critical thinking, communication and collaboration
promotes and develops qualities defined in the Common Knowledge and Skills Base (established by French National Education) and the Learner Profile for the International Baccalaureate.

This is a two-year programme although each year is a standalone year and it is possible to join in the second year.

Le Rosey, a bilingual school, intends that its students master French and English. As soon as they are able, students must study at least one subject in their second language. Learning a third language – whether this is a native or foreign language – is obligatory, and students can choose to take a fourth language.

Subjects taught in French are based on the programmes of French National Education; those in English are based on the syllabuses of the University of Cambridge (IGCSE examinations).

In order to facilitate entry into the examination classes (1 and T), the academic curriculum is supplemented by:

Numerous information and orientation sessions, in collaboration with the academic advisers
Guidance on research methodology and techniques
Interdisciplinary tasks and cross-disciplinary topics.