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Studying at Surval, 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 a High School programme for Grades 8-12, alongside a French Language and Culture programme for 15-18 year olds, Winter Camp experiences and a Summer Camp from June to August. Students come to Surval for their High School studies and graduate from Surval; others come for a semester abroad or a French language, arts and adventure summer camp experience.

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.

65 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

Grade 8

Springboard to High School

English, Maths, French, Science, Global Perspectives

Grade 9

High School I

English, Maths, French, Science, History

Grade 10

High School II

English, Maths, French, Science, History

Grade 11 and Grade 12

High School III & IV with Advanced Placements

English, Maths, French, Science, Business, History

AP options: English, History, Art History, French, Maths

French Language and Culture

French Language and Culture (DELF), Etiquette, Culinary Arts

Across all Grades

The Surval COL Electives programme

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

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.