International Schools Directory

Institut Le Rosey, established in 1880, is the oldest private boarding school in Switzerland and one of the most exclusive educational institutions in the world. More commonly known as Le Rosey, the school was founded by Paul Emile Carnal on the site of the 14th-century "Château Le Rosey" near the town of Rolle in the Canton of Vaud. The school also owns a campus in the exclusive ski resort town of Gstaad in the Bernese Oberland's Canton of Berne, where the student body, faculty, and staff move to during the Winter months of January through March. Institut Le Rosey is currently owned by its fourth generation of Directors, Philippe and Anne Gudin, who assumed ownership of Le Rosey in 1980. Mr. Michael Gray is the current Headmaster of the school. During most of the 20th century, Le Rosey was referred to by the media as the "School of Kings", as heir apparents and European royals have frequently attended the school. While more recently, the school has been reported to be the educational choice of the international jet set. Le Rosey's philosophy is inspired by what Harvard educationalist Howard Gardner has called "multiple intelligences": "its aim is to develop all Roseans’ talents through academic, sporting and artistic programmes." The school offers a demanding bilingual and bicultural education with the language of instruction being French or English depending on the student's academic program, however, students may take up to four language classes while at Le Rosey. Students may sit either the International Baccalaureate or the Francophone-oriented French Baccalaureate. The student body, ages 7 through 18, is composed of pupils from approximately 52 different countries. The majority of students are between the ages of 14 and 18. The Student-teacher ratio is 5:1 with the average class size being less than 10 students, and the average teacher's length of stay at Le Rosey is over ten years. Students at Le Rosey are nicknamed "Roséens" (in French) or "Roseans" (in English), and former students are labeled "Les Anciens Roséens". The Le Rosey campus at Rolle is, in terms of area, the largest boarding school in Switzerland, with 28 hectares (approximately 70 acres) of landscaped grounds. The school's sailing center, the "Fleur d’Eau", is situated along 100 meters of shoreline on Lake Geneva. Le Rosey is reportedly the only boarding school in the world to change campuses seasonally. In spring and autumn, classes are held at the Château du Rosey campus in the village of Rolle in the Canton of Vaud, located between Geneva and Lausanne in southwestern Switzerland. For the winter months of January through March, the entire student body moves to a group of chalets in the ski resort town of Gstaad in the Canton of Berne. Le Rosey offers a wide range of sports, including: Football (Soccer), Basketball, Volleyball, Badminton, Equestrianism, Rugby, cross-country running, Tennis, Beach Volleyball, Golf, Sailing, Rowing, Competitive swimming, and Water skiing during the spring and autumn terms. During the winter term, sports options are Skiing, Snowboarding, Ice-hockey, Curling, Snowshoeing, and Sledging.