Ecole Nouvelle / International Boarding School of Lausanne - Senior School

The Senior School programme comprises two cycles: orientation (9th and 10th grades), during which students choose their diploma option for the examination preparation cycle (11th and 12th grades). The orientation cycle has a core curriculum of 13 disciplines, including three foreign languages (English, German, Italian, Spanish, Latin, ancient Greek). In the examination preparation, students may study for either the Swiss Maturity or the International Baccalaureate.

In both options multilingualism plays an important role. The second part of the Swiss Maturity exams covers all the languages studied (German, English, Italian, Spanish or another language, depending on the number of students enrolled). The IB exams can be taken in French or – in the bilingual option – in French and English. French, English, Italian, Spanish, and German courses are included in the tuition fees. Students also have opportunities to study their mother tongue (for example, Russian) as an option.

Students are evaluated by examination three times per year, which allows them to get used to exam conditions. Parents receive a detailed assessment in February and six further reports throughout the year. Special exam-preparation courses for IB students are organised at Easter. For those students preparing for the Swiss Maturity, preparation courses are held in August.

Students are admitted to the appropriate grade based on transcripts, tests to determine their level in French and Maths, and an interview with school administrators and teachers.

Objectives

To develop in each student a capacity for reflection and the acquisition of knowledge necessary for higher level studies.

Highlights

• orientation cycle and diploma cycle
• core curriculum of 13 disciplines in 9th and 10th grades
• choice of Swiss Maturity or International Baccalaureate
• multilingualism
• three evaluations by exams per year
• 6 reports and 1 detailed assessment per year
• exam preparation courses

International Diplomas

The School also prepares students for the following optional examinations:

• Cambridge English – First Certificate, Advance Certificate and Proficiency
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
•  SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test
• Goethe Institute – Zertifikat Deutsch (ZD) and Zentrale Mittelstufenprüfung (ZMP
• Alliance française
• presentation of a large bouquet of sports in order to help students to make their final choice

Diplomas for life

Swiss maturity (national diploma)

The Swiss Maturity is accepted by all Swiss centres of higher education (universities, polytechnics, and specialised institutions).

The diploma includes:

• seven fundamental disciplines
• a primary option
• a complementary option
• a 4000 word thesis

The exam takes place in two sessions, which take in September:

• the first after 11th grade
• the second after 12th grade

International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate is accepted by universities all over the world.

The programme includes:

• three disciplines prepared to a high level and three prepared to a standard level
• Theory of Knowledge course
• a 4000 word thesis
• 150 hours of creativity, action, and service activities