A unique environment for High School education

Surval Montreux is a unique international girls’ boarding school in Switzerland which provides an exceptional all-round education for girls aged 12-18. The school offers an American High School programme for Grades 8-12, US Advanced Placement for Grades 11 and 12, alongside a Surval Swiss Gap Experience for 16-19 year olds, Winter Camp experiences and a Summer Camp from June to August. Students come to Surval for their High School studies and graduate onto leading universities; others come for a semester abroad or a gap experience to immerse themselves in languages, Arts, culture and Savoir-Vivre.

Why study at Surval?

Studying at Surval is a very different experience to many other schools due to our small size and highly personalised approach which lends itself to lessons being more tutorial style. Surval classes are small, ranging from 1 to 10 students. This means students benefit from a great deal of individual attention from subject teachers and can progress at their own pace.

60 Students maximum school capacity
10 Students maximum per grade
1:3 teacher to student ratio
6 Students average class size
60+ courses and elective options
40 curriculum, cultured and sports trips offered evert year

A tailored and personalised approach to learning

Our starting point is the girls. Where are they with their leaning when they arrive in our boarding school and how do we take their learning forward to ensure challenge and progression? What are their goals and aspirations and how do we tailor their Surval programme to help them achieve these goals? In establishing this, we build the curriculum around them to ensure they graduate from High School with strong academic fit for university admissions around the world. Our teachers are adept at tailoring individual pathways.

Surval Curriculums

Foundation year - Grade 8

Springboard to High School. Foundation Year can be a 1 or 2 year programme depending on the student's English level.

• English, French, Maths, Science, Global Perspectives

• Art, Cookery & Etiquette, additional language and Sports

Grade 9

High School I

• English, French, Maths, Science, Global Perspectives

• Art, Cookery & Etiquette, additional language and Sports

Grade 10

High School II

• English, French, Maths, Science, Global Perspectives

• Art, Cookery & Etiquette, additional language and Sports

Grade 11 and Grade 12

High School III & IV with Advanced Placements

• English, French, Maths, Science, Global Perspectives

• Art, Cookery & Etiquette, additional language and Sports

Electives:

Impressive range of timetabled electives:

Art, Culinary Arts & Etiquette
Language Enrichment
Sports and Wellbeing
The Surval Award
Additional tailored electives, including IELTS and SAT preparation

Advanced Placement Electives:

- Popular 1-year examination courses offered to girls in

- Opportunity for academic stretch and challenge

- Up to five APs over Grades 11 and 12 enabling girls to access most competitive Universities across the world

- APs offered currently in:

AP Calculus, AP Psychology, AP European History, AP English Literature & Composition, AP Modern World History, AP French Language and Culture, AP Chemistry

swiss gap

Arts, Communications, Events Management, Global Perspectives, Languages, Media Training, Savoir-Vivre, Social Enterprise, University Preparation

Across all Grades

Language Enrichment, The Arts, Sports, Global Etiquette & Communications, University & Careers Masterclass, Life Skills, Service

University Destinations

At Surval, we guide each girl on a purposeful journey toward her future.

Our bespoke academic and enrichment programme includes tailored support for university preparation and career exploration. Through individualised guidance and meaningful mentorship, every girl is empowered to discover her passions, shape her ambitions, and take confident steps toward the future she envisions.

The power of an all-girls education

Girls take centre stage and are on the front line of leading initiatives;
All opportunities are for girls - in the classroom, science laboratory or art studio, in sports and adventure activities, in assemblies, committees and masterclasses;
Girls are surrounded by strong female role models providing inspiration to be ambitious for their future;
Girls are surrounded by a supportive, collaborative environment which gives them space to grow and develop through their teenage years;
Girls are able to focus on their academic studies and make the most of opportunities free from any perceived barriers;
Girls are actively called on and encouraged to participate in class and to challenge assumptions and voice their opinions.

An intentionally small boarding school

At Surval Montreux we are small by design and explicitly create opportunities which maximise the benefits of our small size, rather than seeking simply to emulate what happens in a larger school. We are deliberate in our approach and do not try to be all things to all people.

In teaching and learning our highly personalised approach to curriculum design and student ownership and engagement in the classroom environment enables us to meet the needs of every student, ensure appropriate challenge, and tailor students’ pathways to universities and careers beyond school. There is no hiding in a Surval classroom: all students are called on to be active in their learning and engage in class discussions.