International School of Lausanne

Since 2017, Frazer Cairns BSc MA PhD MBA. Armed with a BSc in physics from the University of York, England, he began his working life as a journalist first in London and then in Tokyo before returning to the UK to retrain as a science teacher. After

Entry into the school is non-selective at all levels and on a rolling admissions basis. Waitlists frequently exist for certain year groups in middle and secondary schools.

The most popular destination for students going on to university is the UK (eg King’s College London, London School of Economics, Durham University, Loughborough University). This is followed by North America (eg McGill University, Tufts University

In 2022, the average score was 37 points (out of 45 total), and 33 per cent of the 93 IB students achieved more than 40 points. 31 per cent obtained the prestigious bilingual diploma.

ISL offers all three IB programmes - handy for globe-trotting parents looking to bring some consistency to their children’s education while resident in the Lausanne region. French-English bilingual classes on offer in the early childhood and primary

School makes every effort to ensure provision for a wide range of SEN. Learning support available for those with minor learning difficulties. Individual assessments are made; special classes as well as accommodations within the mainstream classroom

With 47 different languages spoken by students here, it is not surprising that the school provides tailored EAL support. Individual or small group instruction as well as in class support offered.

School believes that maintaining and developing

The performing arts programme takes advantage of a fantastic 400-seat auditorium with removable seats to create a very flexible performance (or other) area as well as a state-of-the-art recording studio. Theatre is offered within the IB and the

As one would expect from a purpose-built school in the suburbs, ISL provides fairly extensive (for a Swiss school) sports facilities including four tennis courts, an all-weather football pitch, one outdoor basketball court and three gyms including an

ISL has five values embedded into its code of behaviour - honesty, respect, self-control, equality and, last but not least, care and concern for others. No locks on lockers here - that is how far the trust between staff, students and every

Not surprisingly, given its location in Lausanne (home to the headquarters of a number of the world’s biggest consultancies and leading international companies eg Nestlé and Philip Morris), the student body is a mix of 65 nationalities. This is not a

The school is funded entirely by fees. Many ISL families have these paid for in entirety by the international organisations and companies that have brought them to Lausanne.

The governing board is made up of eight to 12 parents who, along with the

The school and staff come across as being highly efficient at what they do and committed to excellence in a very caring and student-centric environment. There was lots of laughter and smiles from both students and staff when we visited, which is