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Secondary School

From a gentle, supportive entry in Year 7 to GCSEs in Year 11, VIS Secondary students are grounded in a thorough preparation for success in exams, while also encouraging students to strive for excellence beyond the classroom.

The VIS Secondary School offers a balanced curriculum that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and open-mindedness to the cultures and beliefs of others. Student progress is carefully monitored and students are supported to achieve not only by their subject teachers, but also by their class teachers who act as the key link between school and parents, the active presence of our Headmaster in the day-to-day lives of our students, and key support staff.

There is flexibility in the timetable as we encourage each student to take appropriate challenges that meet their own goals. Core subjects include Maths, English, all Sciences, Digital Literacy, French, German, Spanish, History, Economics, Geography and Religious Studies.

Download VIS Secondary Curriculum Guides

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Lower Secondary Curriculum

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Upper Secondary Curriculum

The Secondary school

Education at VIS does not stop in the classroom. Our extensive after school activities and entertaining boarding weekend programme ensure students are challenged, supported and diverted.

We push VIS students to become independent, explore their own interests and passions. Options include, cooking, music production, woodworking, swimming, tennis, golf, climbing Students leave VIS with a keen understanding of the international world having had exposure to a broad range of different cultures, viewpoints and attitudes.

French Language Learning

Secondary School students at VIS follow an intensive French language program, and are assessed and placed in groups according to their appropriate ability upon arrival. Ranging from native French speakers to French beginners, VIS students are taught grammar, written communication, reading comprehension, and oral expression according to their exact level; VIS students also benefit from a French-speaking environment in which to practice their spoken language skills on a daily basis. In Years 10 and 11, VIS students are given the opportunity to sit the Cambridge IGCSEs in French First Language or French Foreign Language.

Verbier International School also welcomes students without maternal English or French language skills. Students with English as a second language receive an individually-adapted program of intensive English study in grammar, written communication, reading comprehension and oral expression, while also being integrated into our core subjects. English as a Second language at VIS leads to the Cambridge Key A2, Preliminary B1 and First B2 certificates, as well as the Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language Award.

secondary school

French Language Learning

Students at VIS follow an intensive French Language program and are assessed and placed according to their appropriate level upon arrival. Native French Speakers follow the Swiss PER (Plan d’études romand – niveau cycle). These studies help to prepare the pupils if they choose to write entrance exams to either a local Collège or an Ecole Professionnelle. French Language Learners are taught the foundations of grammar, written communication, reading and comprehension, and oral expression, while also benefiting from a French-speaking environment in which to practice their spoken French on a daily basis.

Verbier International School also welcomes students without maternal English or French language skills. Students with English as a second language receive an individually adapted program of intensive English study in grammar, written communication, reading comprehension and oral expression, while also being integrated in our core subjects. This programme leads to the Cambridge KET, PET and First certificate.

The IB Diploma Programme

Small class sizes and special attention to the particular needs of each individual develops the personality of each student and helps them to become principled, balanced and risk taking global citizens.

Cambridge International IGCSEs

As an accredited Cambridge Assessment International School, VIS offers the opportunity to prepare students for and to sit the Cambridge IGCSEs through Years 10 and 11, while Years 7-9 follow the English National Curriculum, which provides our KS3 pupils solid foundation for their future studies.

How to apply

We develop partnership and trust to prepare prospective families for life in Verbier for both day students and boarders.