A unique global education: inspiring outstanding academic performance

At Collège Champittet, we’re committed to excellence. And we have been for more than 120 years. 

 

Our goal remains the same today as it did the day our doors opened in 1903: to nurture generations of great thinkers, leaders, creators, and change-makers. But how do we inspire our brilliant students to achieve the highest levels of academic performance? And how can we prepare them for a bright, global future?

In this article, we discuss our educational philosophy, the practical elements that underpin it, and talk about the specific ways we seek to improve academic performance.

A unique global education

The education we offer at Collège Champittet is rooted in Swiss standards, traditions, and culture. These provide the academic foundations, principles, and values we live and learn by. We’re also a school that’s open to the world – and everything it has to offer. We’re committed to international innovation in the curriculum, beyond the classroom, and through our teaching methods. Together, these elements combine to create a unique philosophy, which informs the education we deliver in practice.

The tangible aspects of a Collège Champittet education, designed to inspire high levels of academic performance, include our globally respected curricula, outstanding learning experiences, and much more. 

 

 

The world’s finest curricula

At Collège Champittet, we focus on academic performance from an early age.Our bespoke pre-school and primary programmes are designed by Champittet teachers for Champittet students. They combine Swiss, French, and British curricula, with students learning in both French and English. This is the best possible way to prepare them for the challenges, opportunities, and experiences of secondary school.

At secondary, choice and personalisation are key to success. Our young people either study for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in English, the French Baccalaureate, or the bilingual Swiss Maturité. Each of these diplomas is challenging, packed with engaging experiences, and taught by our incredible teachers. They’re highly respected by the world’s top universities, too.

 

Global learning experiences

Outstanding global experiences inspire our students to ask questions, solve problems, and think critically. By developing these vital skills – and many more – they flourish as individuals and become high-performing learners.

• International, regional, and local trips expose our students to different cultures, people, and ideas. These enriching opportunities – which include the chance to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, as well as subject-specific trips across Europe – enable our students to grow as learners and people, as they spend time away from home and enjoy new experiences.

• Community service opportunities demonstrate the impact a person or people can have on others. From our collaboration with UNICEF to Collège Champittet Foundation projects in Madagascar, Thailand, and Lebanon, our social responsibility initiatives broaden our students’ horizons and enhance social-emotional learning.

World-class teachers

Our teachers are caring, compassionate, and committed to excellence. They bring impressive qualifications and extensive international experience, and their approach aligns with our dedication to outstanding academic performance. Our educators are also experts in their age group or subject specialism, and adept at personalising learning to individual strengths, needs, and preferences. 

 

Personalised learning

Every student shapes their own learning journey at Collège Champittet, creating a bespoke education that aligns with their interests, strengths, and ambitions. This includes a choice of diploma pathways at secondary, as well as the opportunity to study a higher-level maths programme, which is a requirement for selective Swiss and international universities. Students can also choose the language they study in and take specialist French and English courses.

Wellbeing support

We know that happy and healthy students perform best, and our students’ health and wellbeing is our number one priority. Our outstanding pastoral care team, which includes a psychologist, nurse, and safeguarding team, actively keep an eye on our day and boarding students’ wellbeing. Specialist coaches, tutors, mentors, mediators, boarding house parents, and a priest provide the additional guidance our students need to flourish.

How we improve academic performance

 

Our school is a place of continuous learning, and we’re always seeking ways to improve academic performance. 

• Professional development for teachers: regular training – including through Nord Anglia University – enhances our teaching strategies and cultivates innovative approaches. Enhancing our curriculum: we regularly refine and refresh our curricula to ensure it includes relevant, global content that inspires critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Using the latest technology: the ever-evolving use of educational technology facilitates increasingly interactive and engaging learning experiences.
• Creating a positive environment: we work hard to create a real sense of community spirit, for example organising class outings and residential trips at the start of each academic year.
• Setting and adapting goals: we support our students to set, track, and refine their academic performance goals, ensuring they have ownership over their learning.
• Working collaboratively: endless opportunities for group work and collaboration enhance learning through peer interaction.

An education that inspires outstanding academic performance – and more

 

Our students’ hard work, talent, and enthusiasm sees them earn consistently fantastic results. For example, our class of 2024 achieved a 100% pass rate in the Swiss Maturité —well above the national average of 60%— as well as in the International Baccalaureate. However, we believe that the proof of a great education is more than just outstanding academic performance.

Our combination of Swiss excellence and global innovation – delivered in an ambitious yet caring community – instils passion and purpose in everything our students do. This develops the skills and values our students need to succeed today, at the world’s best universities, and as the leaders of tomorrow.