College du Leman

A Philosophy Rooted in 1960

Collège du Léman was founded by Francis and Inge Clivaz with a single, enduring ambition: "to educate and teach in a spirit of openness and tolerance so that students become citizens and leaders of a world respectful of differences." More than six decades later, that founding motto remains the philosophical cornerstone of the school.

The RISE Framework

Today, CDL operationalises its philosophy through four core values known as RISE:

• Respect — for individuals, cultures and perspectives
• Internationalism — celebrating a student body spanning 120 nationalities
• Spirit — fostering resilience, wellbeing and a positive community culture
• Excellence — pursuing the highest academic and personal standards

These values are not merely aspirational slogans. They shape daily school life, from how teachers design lessons to how boarding house parents run pastoral assemblies.

Personalised and Internationally Minded Learning

CDL explicitly rejects a one-size-fits-all approach. With students arriving from 120 countries and speaking dozens of first languages, personalisation is a practical necessity as much as a philosophical choice. The school's bilingual English-French structure, alongside multiple diploma pathways (IB DP, IB CP, French Bac, Swiss Matura), reflects a commitment to meeting each learner where they are.

EAL (English as an Additional Language) support is built into the admissions process: prospective students may sit an online English placement test, and those who need additional language support are guided into dedicated EAL programmes rather than being turned away.

Global Partnerships as Philosophy in Action

In 2015, CDL joined Nord Anglia Education and quickly leveraged the group's global partnerships to embody its philosophy at scale:

• Juilliard School (New York) — performing arts curriculum enrichment, bringing world-class arts pedagogy into CDL classrooms
• MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) — STEM and design-thinking integration
• UNICEF — global citizenship and humanitarian awareness programmes

These partnerships signal that CDL's commitment to producing "citizens and leaders of a world respectful of differences" is pursued through concrete, curriculum-embedded experiences rather than rhetoric alone.

Why This Matters for Prospective Families

For families relocating to the Geneva region—whether diplomats, international executives or globally mobile professionals—CDL's philosophy translates into a school culture that is genuinely inclusive, multilingual and outward-looking. Students are not expected to assimilate into a single national education tradition; instead, the school is designed to amplify diversity as a learning resource.

The Clivaz Foundation (1960)

Collège du Léman opened in 1960, founded by Swiss educators Francis and Inge Clivaz. Their vision was straightforward but ambitious: to provide an outstanding international education grounded in the values of openness and tolerance. From its earliest days, CDL welcomed students from multiple nationalities, positioning itself as a school for the world rather than for any single country.

The founders' ambition manifested in an educational culture that prioritised student experience—the school motto references taking students to "amazing places," both figuratively and literally.

Growth and Expansion (1960s–2014)

Over the following five decades, CDL grew steadily to become one of the largest international schools in the Geneva region. The school's proximity to Geneva—home to the United Nations, Red Cross, WHO, WTO and dozens of multinational corporations—ensured a consistent stream of internationally mobile families seeking quality education.

Key academic milestones during this period include:

• Establishment of robust bilingual English-French programme tracks
• Introduction of the IB Diploma Programme in 2005, aligning the school with global university preparation standards
• Introduction of the IB Career-related Programme (CP) in 2016, expanding pathways for students with vocational and professional interests

Joining Nord Anglia Education (2015)

In 2015, CDL became part of Nord Anglia Education (NAE), one of the world's leading premium international school groups with over 80 schools globally. This transition brought significant advantages:

• Access to NAE's global academic partnerships with Juilliard, MIT and UNICEF
• Shared curriculum resources and professional development across the Nord Anglia network
• Enhanced financial investment in campus facilities and technology

The transition preserved CDL's institutional identity while equipping it with the resources of a global education group.

Present Day

Today, CDL is home to approximately 1,800 students from 120 countries, making it one of the most diverse international schools in Switzerland. The school achieved a 100% IB pass rate in 2025 with a mean score of 35 (against a global average of 30.5), underscoring its academic credentials. The campus in Versoix offers boarding for approximately 300 students and day places for the remainder, serving learners from age 2 through 18.

A Boarding Community of 300

Collège du Léman offers boarding for approximately 300 students aged 10 to 18, making it one of the larger boarding communities among international schools in Switzerland. The boarding population lives in modern villa-style residential buildings on the Versoix campus, a short walk from academic facilities.

House Parents and Pastoral Assemblies

At the heart of CDL's boarding culture is the House Parents system. Each boarding house is staffed by experienced House Parents who live on-site and are responsible for the day-to-day pastoral welfare of their students. Regular Pastoral Assemblies bring boarding communities together to build cohesion, address wellbeing themes and celebrate achievements.

This structure mirrors the traditional British boarding school house system but is adapted for a highly international, multilingual community where students may be far from family for the first time.

Dedicated Wellbeing Support

CDL's wellbeing provision for boarders includes:

• Boarding Counsellor — a dedicated professional available to boarders requiring emotional or psychological support
• Health Centre — staffed by three registered nurses, open five days a week; the nearest hospital and medical offices are within five minutes of campus
• Wellbeing activities — mindfulness, yoga and structured recreational activities are embedded in the weekly boarding schedule

RISE Values in the Boarding House

The school's RISE values (Respect, Internationalism, Spirit, Excellence) are especially visible in boarding life, where students from dozens of countries share living spaces. The pastoral programme is designed to help students navigate cultural differences, build genuine friendships across nationalities and develop the independence and resilience needed for adult life.

Access and Location

The campus in Versoix sits between the Jura Mountains and Lake Geneva, approximately 20 minutes by car from Geneva International Airport. At the start and end of each term, boarding students are supported with airport transfers. The scenic setting also provides a natural backdrop for outdoor activities including sailing on the lake and skiing in the nearby Alps during winter terms.

Multiple Diploma Pathways

CDL is unusual among international schools in offering four major diploma pathways side by side, catering to students with different academic profiles and post-secondary goals:

• IB Diploma Programme (DP) — introduced 2005; the primary pathway for most senior students
• IB Career-related Programme (CP) — introduced 2016; combines IB academic subjects with vocational learning through partner organisation SUMAS; tracks include Sustainable Hospitality, Nature Conservation and Sustainable Fashion
• French Baccalaureate — for students following the French national curriculum stream
• Swiss Matura — Switzerland's own national qualification

This diversity means that a student who arrives at CDL following an American, French, British or Asian curriculum can find an appropriate academic home without needing to start over.

IB Academic Results (2025)

CDL's IB results are notably strong:

• 100% pass rate for both DP and CP candidates in 2025
• Mean score of 35 against a global IB average of approximately 30.5
• The school has maintained a track record of high IB outcomes since 2005

These results are the product of small class sizes (average 18 students) and a favourable student-teacher ratio of 9:1, enabling more personalised instruction and targeted support.

The IB DP Subject Menu

CDL's IB DP subject offerings span all six IB groups, with notable breadth in the arts:

• Group 1 (Language & Literature): English A, French A
• Group 2 (Language Acquisition): French B, Spanish B, English B
• Group 3 (Individuals & Societies): History, Geography, Economics, Business Management, Psychology
• Group 4 (Sciences): Biology, Chemistry, Physics
• Group 5 (Mathematics): Analysis & Approaches SL/HL; Applications & Interpretations SL
• Group 6 (Arts): Music HL, Visual Arts SL/HL, Theatre SL
• Core: Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, CAS

Learning Support and EAL

CDL's academic culture is explicitly inclusive. The school provides:

• EAL (English as an Additional Language) support for students whose first language is not English, identified through an online placement test at entry
• Learning Support programmes for students with additional educational needs including learning differences and ADHD

This reflects the school's non-selective admissions philosophy: academically, CDL aims to meet students where they are and build them up, rather than selecting only those who already perform at the highest level.

The Versoix Campus Setting

Collège du Léman occupies a spacious campus in Versoix, a leafy lakeside municipality between Geneva city and the French border. The location combines natural beauty—views of Lake Geneva and the Jura Mountains—with excellent connectivity to Geneva International Airport (approximately 20 minutes by car) and Geneva city centre (approximately 30 minutes by train).

Sports Facilities

Sport is a cornerstone of CDL campus life. The flagship facility is the Olympus Gymnasium, a 5,000m² indoor sports complex capable of hosting basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, indoor athletics and large-scale school events. Surrounding it are:

• AstroTurf pitch — full-size artificial turf field for football and field sports
• Beach volleyball court — outdoor sand court
• Tennis and multi-purpose courts — multiple outdoor hard courts

In winter, students can access nearby Alpine ski resorts as part of the school's seasonal sports programme, and sailing on Lake Geneva features among the unique outdoor activities available.

Performing Arts

The campus houses dedicated drama rooms and music studios equipped for individual practice, ensemble work and productions. CDL's partnership with the Juilliard School brings world-class performing arts content into these spaces, with Juilliard-trained educators and curriculum frameworks enriching music and theatre programmes from early years through to IB.

Science and Technology

Modern science laboratories and IT labs equipped with EdTech support CDL's STEM ambitions, including the school's collaboration with MIT on design-thinking and technology-integrated learning.

Green Spaces and Community Areas

The Concha Garden, a beautifully landscaped outdoor space, provides students with a tranquil environment for reflection, social connection and outdoor learning. Early years students enjoy dedicated playgrounds and bright, purpose-designed classroom spaces.

Transport and Logistics

A fleet of school buses serves multiple routes across the greater Geneva region, with a standard departure at 16:00 and an additional service at 17:40 for students staying for extracurricular activities. Buses are equipped with Wi-Fi and GPS. Public transport options (bus routes 50, 54, 55 and seasonal Lake Geneva ferry service) also connect the campus to the broader region.