600

50

Swiss

62% local v 38% international

Yes

Yes

French, German, Spanish

18

15

Yes

E3 to MYP4 (5 to 14) use iPads & MYP5 to DP2 (15-18) bring laptop;
interactive whiteboards in every classroom

Yes, we used Zoom, online resources and Managebac to keep in contact with students and hold lessons as normally as possible during lockdown in March 2020. We currently offer remote learning to our student-athletes, when they are away training or competing in their sports.

No

IB MYP E-Assessment, IB Diploma exams, IB Career-
Related Programme exams

The class of 2020 achieved a 100% pass rate with an average of 34
points in the IBDP (versus world average of 29).

Yes

The amount of homework is different for every age group.

100%

Yes

English as an Additional Language lessons
French as a Foreign Language lessons
In-class support
One-to-one and group support sessions
Drop-in maths and science clinics

Teachers use differentiated teaching methods to ensure all their students are motivated and eager to learn.

A school counsellor is available to talk to secondary students if necessary.

No, we just ask for school reports from the last three years.

Yes, depending on the year group.

Enrolments accepted throughout the year.

Yes

8:20

15:30 or 16:20 depending on the age group

Breakfast club from 7:15 in the morning
After-school clubs from 15:45 to 16:45 / 17:30
Out-of-hours supervision from 17:00 to 18:00

Yes

Yes

Yes, vegetarian, no pork, gluten-free and/or lactose-free options are available, as well as no pork.

Yes

Badminton, Basketball, Horse-Riding, Sailing, Football, Swimming, Table-Tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Art, Band, Chess, Debating, Drama, Caring for the Environment, Global Issues, Photography, Spanish, Guitar, German, Taekwondo, Choir, Gymnastics, MUN

Normal gym lessons (all sections), swimming lessons (primary), winter ski outings (from 6 y.o.)

Yes. We are part of several swiss and international school competition associations. As of September 2021, we will also run a Ski Racing
Academy in collaboration with Ski Zenit, a cutting-edge ski racing centre in Saas-Fee and Zinal, to get young ski racers to the highest level in their sport and at school.

Two libraries, a fully-equipped stage, 4 fully-equipped science labs, 2 design technology labs, 2 art rooms, 2 music rooms, 1 dance studio, 1 green screen, 1 golf simulator

1 large fully-equipped sports hall which may be split into three smaller halls.
1 outside multisports court on both campuses.
Use of the town football fields opposite the school.
1 climbing wall
1 fitness gym (older students)

Haut-Lac International Bilingual School, an independent day & boarding school, opened its doors in 1993 with thirteen students and continues to grow and develop. It's location and highly diverse, international student body give students a wealth of opportunities to examine their own and other cultures in a global context. Small class sizes enable the teaching staff to follow the progress of individual children closely. The students are actively encouraged to adopt a positive, responsible and caring attitude within the classroom as well as towards the wider school community and beyond. A good relationship between the school and the parents, a rich choice of extra-curricular activities and the many opportunities to become involved and act cooperatively with others provide a stimulating and caring environment in which they are able to develop their potential to the full.

The bilingual programme (French/English) in the Infant/Primary sections is offered on a one day-one day schedule, alternating the language of instruction from one school day to the next and delivered by native French- and English-speaking teachers. The children thus spend an equal amount of time in each language environment, so that by the time they move up to secondary level, they are comfortable in both of the working languages of the school and can continue to benefit from a bilingual curriculum based on the guidelines of the IB MYP and Diploma Programme.

The IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) provides an in-depth study of the conventional subject areas within a challenging framework which emphasises the teaching of life skills for students aged 11 to 16. It is a five-year programme that allows schools the liberty to be creative in the development of their curriculum, but closely disciplines them through a rigorous assessment system. Fundamentally, the IB MYP aims to show how school subjects are inter-related and teaches students that consideration of issues and problems in their widest scope will enhance their critical thinking. Their ability to find acceptable solutions to a range of problems and adapt them to a variety of situations is developed through five cross-curricular perspectives, termed ‘areas of interaction’. This holistic approach to education combined with the fostering of inter-cultural awareness and communication promotes in students the values of understanding, tolerance and respect. In consequence, adolescents are helped to grow into responsible members of a world community.

The IB Diploma Programme (DP) continues the philosophy of encouraging students to follow a broad-based educational programme. They study six subjects selected from the following subject groups: Language A, Language B, Individuals and Societies, Experimental Sciences, Mathematics and the Arts. At Haut-Lac students are able to benefit from the possibility of taking the IB Diploma in French, in English or bilingually (i.e. some subjects in each of the school’s two languages). In order to meet all the requirements, students must also complete three compulsory elements that are central to the IB Diploma Programme philosophy: writing an extended essay (EE), participating in a theory of knowledge (TOK) course and demonstrating creativity, action and service (CAS). In this way the aim of offering students a holistic education that provides them with the skills and knowledge to cope with the challenges of further education and life beyond is fulfilled. The IB Diploma is widely recognised by the world’s leading universities.
Students who are interested in keeping their options open, undecided between going straight into work or onto university also have a third option: the IB Career-Related Programme (IBCP). At Haut-Lac, we offer the chance to undertake the IBCP with one of four different focuses: Hospitality Management, Sustainable Business Management (in collaboration with SUMAS University) , Art & Design (in collaboration with the Savannah College of Art and Design), or International Sports Management (in collaboration with Federation University.)
In addition, running parallel throughout the Infant/Primary school, there is also a programme of studies conducted mostly through English which caters for children of families on short-term contracts to Switzerland. At the IB level it is possible to choose subject options in such a way as to follow a predominantly English or French programme depending on the individual student’s needs.
The programmes of study, based on interdisciplinary linked learning in the primary school and theme-centred at the MYP level, demand teacher and subject co-ordination and integration, including emphasis on the appreciation of self and others, which we consider as part of the necessary framework for a successful and happy school.