Collège Champittet

About

Collège Champittet is a local Swiss School with a strong international outlook. Set amongst beautiful surroundings near the edge of Lake Geneva, school provides a safe and stimulating environment for students. Collège Champittet has enjoyed a reputation for providing a thorough, rigorous and well rounded education for the students for over a century, challenging each of them to reach their full potential.

The approach to learning inspires ambition and leads to personal achievement for each student. Champittet has been able to expand education programmes and now offers a bilingual French / English programmes and three highly regarded curriculum. This approach to education and choice of curriculum is unique in Lausanne and ensures that the students receive a personalized education that best suits their needs.

The Program

Preschool (ages 3 to 4)

Children in preschool take part in fun activities that develop their formative literacy, numeracy, and social skills, while hands-on learning sparks their curiosity and creativity

They have the opportunity to grow and flourish in a harmonious and fully bilingual framework that will open the doors to a rewarding and promising start into first grade.

Primary School (ages 4 to 12)

During their first years of schooling, children are encouraged to follow their natural curiosity in the context of a slightly more structured approach to learning.

They learn to read, write and count while having fun and are introduced to English and German. They can also take advantage of the Juilliard Performing Arts programme through several workshops.

Bilingual Programme

Since pre-school, all students follow a bilingual French-English programme. This means that some of their classes are taught in French and others are taught in English. This approach helps them to develop fluency and confidence in their language skills.

Students also have several periods of German per week, and from 7th grade can choose between two levels of German: standard or advanced. Students who are not fluent in French may follow our French as a Foreign Language programme (FLE) which will help them develop fluency and confidence.

Forest School

In 2020 Collège Champittet launched a complementary pedagogical approach known as “open-air school” for preschool and primary school children: a pedagogical vision according to which the child attends classes in nature for a few hours a week, in a new play and learning space.

This approach is based on the pedagogy of Outdoor Education, i.e. education outside the walls. In addition to learning in the classroom, children can explore nature, breathe clean air, become aware of the environment, learn and acquire new knowledge and skills.

Middle and Secondary School (ages 12 to 18)

During middle and high school, students start to make important choices about their future. Collège Champittet supports them every step of the way as they solidify the skills and knowledge they’ll need to achieve their goals.

Secondary School: An Overview

Secondary school is divided into two parts:

Grades 9 and 10 – with a core middle school curriculum common to all students
Grades 11 to 14 – focused on diploma preparation

The approach to teaching enables students both to learn, and to understand how they learn. It helps them develop into inquisitive and highly skilled lifelong learners. They develop the teamwork and leadership skills they’ll need to succeed in all their future endeavours. The French-English bilingual programme is also available in secondary school and becomes optional from the 9th grade. There are also two levels of German language teaching: standard and advanced.

Secondary School Curriculum

For the first two years of secondary school (grades 9 and 10), all students follow broadly the same curriculum, with some optional modules. These two middle school years prepare students for the diploma path that they will take from grade 11. During grade 10, students will make a choice about which of the three challenging diploma programmes they wish to follow in high school:

The Swiss Maturité
The French Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate

Whichever of these programmes students decide to follow, Collège Champittet high school experience is designed to prepare them to apply to some of the best universities in Switzerland and worldwide. From Grade 9 your child will also receive career counseling and guidance. This provides them with the support they need to prepare for university and the world of work.