Aiglon College
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Aiglon College is a private English-style boarding school in Switzerland, registered as a not-for-profit charitable institution, with an international student intake. The school gathers funds from full fee-paying students, from donations and via registered charitable trusts in different countries. Parents desirous of sending a child to Aiglon, but who have insufficient funds to do so, may apply for their child to be granted a scholarships at Aiglon, funded through these trusts.
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[edit] Background
Since its foundation in 1949 by John C. Corlette, Aiglon College has grown from relatively humble beginnings to become one of the most expensive - and hence exclusive - boarding schools in Switzerland, if not the world. The school does offer scholarships and financial support to deserving children - e.g., those with exceptional academic standing - and also regularly enrolls a certain number of "legacies" - that is, children of alumni. There is a large international Aiglon alumni network, with regular reunions held in cities around the world including, for example, London, Boston, New York, Bombay, and Sydney.
Aiglon College is located at an elevation of approx. 1,300 metres (approx. 4,300 feet) above sea level, in the alpine village of Chesières-Villars, near the ski resorts Villars and Villars-sur-Ollon, in the canton of Vaud. The closest larger town is Aigle, and the nearest major cities are Montreux and Lausanne.
Over the years, the economic effect of the school on the locality has been significant and beneficial - e.g., providing employment, and helping to smooth out the otherwise often largely seasonal commercial fluctuations experienced by a ski resort.
[edit] Foundation
The school was founded in 1949 by John C. Corlette, who had previously taught at Gordonstoun, a private school in Scotland.
[edit] Philosophy
The school's philosophy is based around the spiritual and physical health and development of the child, as well as education. This manifests - for example - as meditation (along the lines of Indian/Eastern philosophy), multi-denominational religious attendance, a good range of sports activities, and "outward bound" type expeditions of a challenging nature. The relatively high altitude and clean air provide health benefits, especially for asthmatics.
Originally a boy's-only school run along Gordonstoun lines, the school went co-educational in 1968.
Though the language of instruction is English, French is taught and encouraged with "French days", because the school is in a French-speaking part of Switzerland.
Physical punishment (e.g., "beating" or caning) of the children - previously common practice in many English boarding schools - has always been forbidden at Aiglon, punishment being "earned" by a system of accumulation of "black marks" and meted out variously as loss of privileges, arduous physical exercise or arduous community service, according to the quantity of black marks earned.
The school operates a ranking system similar to Gordonstoun and encourages the development of personal responsibility of the children, as members of the closed community within which they live.
For "outward bound" type activities, students are required to:
- go on at least two overnight hiking expeditions in the Autumn term (in small parties);
- ski at least twice a week during the Winter term;
- go on ski touring expeditions.
- take part in different activities including mountain biking, canoeing, rock climbing and Via Ferrata (or "iron road"), during the Autumn and Summer terms.
[edit] Notable Alumni
Abhishek Bachchan
