Aiglon College

Aiglon College is a private co-educational boarding school in Switzerland broadly modelled on British boarding school lines. It has a diverse international student population. It is an independent, non-profit school located high in the Swiss Alps.^[1]

Aiglon College Junior School caters for boys and girls in years 5 to 8 (US grades 4–7). The Senior School caters for students in years 9 to 13 (US Grades 8–12). Students are prepared for GCSE and IGCSE examinations at the end of year 11 (Grade 10) and for the International Baccalaureate in the final two years. Throughout the school, the curriculum is taught in English, with the exception of languages and literature.^[2]

History

Aiglon College is located at an elevation of 1,250 metres above sea level, in the alpine village of Chesières, near the ski resort of Villars, in the canton of Vaud.

The school was founded in 1949 by John C. Corlette, who was a teacher at Gordonstoun, where he was influenced by the notable founder of that school Kurt Hahn. Hahn believed in the importance of a balanced holistic education. Corlette established principles and practices that were aligned with Hahn's emphasis on the place of adventure and service in education. Aiglon College, alongside Gordonstoun, Schule Schloss Salem, Abbotsholme, Box Hill School and Anavryta, was a founding member of the Round Square, established to promote Hahnian values and links between schools that embraced his educational principles. The school, began with six students in 1949, was initially for boys only and became co-educational in 1968^[3]

The The Good Schools Guide International called the school "strong educationally, strong emotionally, tough physically."^[4]

Guiding Principles

The guiding principles of Aiglon College are centred around the balanced development of mind, body, and spirit through the pathways of challenge, respect, responsibility, diversity, and service.^[5] Aiglon has traditionally laid great emphasis on mountain expedition in all seasons. All students are required to take part in expeditions every term. These include hiking, camping, mountain biking, kayaking, rock-climbing, ski mountaineering, and other outdoor challenges.^[6][7]

Accreditations and Memberships

The school has been accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) since 2000. It is an authorised International Baccalaureate World School.

Aiglon College is a member of the Council of British International Schools (COBIS). The Head Master is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC). The Head of the Junior School is a member of the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS).

The school is a founding member of Round Square.^[8]

Scholarships

As a charitable trust, the school does not cater to any particular group, but offers scholarships and financial support to children who are deemed to be deserving in some way (academically or otherwise). "Aiglon awards scholarships to students who show outstanding potential, integrity, self-motivation, and an international outlook. We look for candidates who will not only benefit from attending the school, but who will also make a positive contribution to life at Aiglon and to the student body".^[9]

Notable alumni

• Sheherazade Goldsmith – British author, environmentalist and socialite.
• François Grosjean, psycholinguist and researcher on bilingualism
• Leka, Crown Prince of Albania – (born 1939) exiled from Albania and then invited back.
• Alan Merrill – American composer and recording artist.
• Roger C. Field – inventor and musician.
• Abhishek Bachchan – an Indian actor and the son of Indian actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. He is married to actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai.
• Rohan Sippy- Indian film producer and director
• Elisabeth Jensen- American education advocate
• Edoardo Ponti-Director/Writer and the son of actress Sophia Loren and producer Carlo Ponti
• Cecilia Peck- Film producer, director, and actress
• Masaru Tamamoto-World Policy Institute Senior Fellow,^[10] University of Cambridge Research Associate, The International New York Times part-time editorial board writer
• Hélène de Beir – Médecins Sans Frontières Humanitarian worker
• Alfonso de Orléans-Borbón, Duke of Galliera – Professional racing driver, Founder of Racing Engineering
• Shaygan Kheradpir – Business and technology executive, CEO of Juniper Networks^[11]
• Pietro Dova – Former CFO of Google
• Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark
• Michael Jewison – Film producer, director
• Marta Ortega Pérez – Heiress of Zara (retailer)
• Michel Gill – Actor, best known for playing President Garrett Walker in the Netflix series House of Cards

There is a large international Aiglon alumni network, with reunions held in cities around the world including London, Boston, New York, Sydney and Chicago.

References

External links

• Aiglon College
• Good Schools Guide International