Pré Fleuri International Alpine School vs Saint Dominic Savio School

	P Pré Fleuri International Alpine School Lausanne, Switzerland	S Saint Dominic Savio School Lausanne, Switzerland
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year CHF 12,500 - 70,000	Fees / year CHF 18,000 - 20,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 13 years	Age range 2 - 8 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum French Curriculum, British Curriculum	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, French Curriculum, Singapore Curriculum, Swiss Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 65	Pupils 45
Typical class size	Typical class size 10	Typical class size 11
Instruction language	Instruction language English, French	Instruction language French
Opened	Opened 1948	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland (Chemin de Curnaux 32, 1885 Villars, Switzerland)	Location Saint Dominique Savio School is located in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is an international Catholic institution offering French education.
Stages	Stages Ages 3 to 13	Stages Kindergarten - Early Years (from 30 months to 4 years). Kindergarten - The Middle Section (1P Harmos) (from 4 to 5). Kindergarten - Higher Section (2P) (from 5 to 6). 1st Elementary (3P) from 6 to 7.
School type	School type Private international junior boarding school offering boarding and day pupil options	School type Private international Catholic school in Lausanne offering French education.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix Pupils from more than twenty nationalities	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Pastoral care is provided to support students' well-being and development	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Switzerland	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation Catholic
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details Bus shuttle service is available with morning and afternoon stops at Villars Train Station and Grand Pont; schedules are provided in admission materials	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & registration fees - Day-student registration (pre‑payment): CHF 500 (non‑refundable). - Boarding pre‑payment / deposit to complete registration: CHF 1,500 (non‑refundable). - Additional first‑year Registration Fee (labelled AVDEP in school documents): CHF 2,000 – CHF 5,000 (listed as applicable only for the first year; stated in school materials as a compulsory item). Day‑school tuition — annual and per‑term (current school year schedules published by the school) - JE1 (Nursery, bilingual) - Annual: CHF 12,500. - Per term: Autumn CHF 4,500; Winter CHF 4,000; Spring CHF 4,000. - JE2 (Reception, bilingual) - Registration: CHF 500. - Annual: CHF 15,500. - Per term: Autumn CHF 5,500; Winter CHF 5,000; Spring CHF 5,000. - Primary (French or English / British section) - Registration: CHF 500. - Annual: CHF 17,850. - Per term: Autumn CHF 6,250; Winter CHF 5,800; Spring CHF 5,800. Boarding tuition and components (annual / typical totals) - Core boarding tuition (school fees component): - Boarding (5 days): School fees CHF 52,500. - Boarding (7 days / full boarding): School fees CHF 62,000. - Compulsory additional annual items shown separately (examples and typical amounts): - Administration: CHF 500. - Schooling equipment: CHF 1,000. - Health insurance (required): CHF 2,000. - Extra‑curricular activities: CHF 1,000 (5‑day) or CHF 1,500 (7‑day). - Uniforms: CHF 1,500. - Winter ski fees (suit, equipment rental, ski pass, locker): CHF 1,500. - Typical annual grand totals shown in school materials: approximately CHF 60,000 (5‑day) to CHF 70,000 (7‑day). - Academic immersion (one trimester) — boarding per‑trimester pricing (examples): - Boarding school fee per trimester: CHF 18,000 (5‑day) or CHF 21,000 (7‑day). - Trimester totals including administration, equipment, insurance and extras: Winter totals shown CHF 21,700–24,900; Spring totals shown CHF 20,200–23,400. Billing schedule and payment terms - Day pupils: - Registration pre‑payment CHF 500 (non‑refundable). - Term payment deadlines (published schedule): 1st term due September 1; 2nd term due January 1; 3rd term due April 1. - For arrivals during the school year, fees are pro‑rata (calculated on a 10‑month basis). - Boarding pupils: - Registration pre‑payment CHF 1,500 (non‑refundable) to complete registration. - School payment structure described as two‑thirds of the fee in August and one‑third in January; term deadlines in the boarding documents are specified as 1st and 2nd term due August 15 and 3rd term due January 15. - Cancellation and absence policy: no reduction for late arrival, absence or early departure. Cancellation must be given one term in advance; failure to give the required notice results in liability for the outstanding term. Specific deadline examples in school documents: cancellation before October 5 for the 2nd term, before January 5 for the 3rd term and before May 5 for the September term. Other costs and regular extras - Administration / material and term charges for day pupils: - Administration fee (not included in annual tuition): CHF 150 per year. - Educational material (kindergarten): CHF 150 per term. - Educational material (primary): CHF 200 per term. - Daily extras and activities (examples): - Lunch: CHF 12 per meal. - Afternoon care: CHF 45 per session. - Extra school hours (before 8:30 or after 16:00): CHF 12 per hour. - Supervised homework sessions with staff: CHF 25 per hour. - Private lessons, intensive courses and clubs are priced separately and published per term or on request. - Boarding extras and travel: - Airport group transfer from Geneva: CHF 250 per trip (scheduled slots). - Individual transfer from Geneva Airport: CHF 600 per trip. - Zurich transfers: on request (priced individually). - Deposit for additional expenses (pocket money, personal expenditure) is required; the balance is reconciled at year end. - Winter ski equipment and pass are charged as the Winter Ski Fees item (CHF 1,500 shown). - Uniforms: - Uniform cost examples are listed as part of the school's extras; boarding uniform pack examples are given and uniform charges for boarders are included in the amounts noted above (uniform totals shown CHF 1,500 in boarding documents). The day‑school materials refer to an order form for the uniform (costs quoted on the uniform order). Refunds and cancellation rules (financial consequences) - Registration pre‑payments are listed as non‑refundable in school materials (day and boarding pre‑payments shown as non‑refundable). - Cancellation must be given one term in advance; failing to provide the required notice results in responsibility for the outstanding term payment. There are no fee reductions for late arrival, absence or early departure. - The school's published materials also show a separate Registration Fee item (AVDEP) presented in the boarding documentation as CHF 2,000–5,000 and described in that document as applicable for the first year (the document presents that item together with notes on reimbursement in the school form). Sibling discounts - Sibling reductions on school fees (boarding / immersion) are published as: 2nd child 5% / 3rd child 10% / 4th child 15% (applied to school fees only and as shown in boarding/immersion materials). Fee payment options and bank details - Bank transfer (wire) is the payment method documented in the school admission and fees materials. Bank details published in the admission/registration forms are: - Bank: Credit Suisse SA – Lausanne - IBAN: CH78 0483 5162 3420 7100 0 - Account number: 1623420‑71 - BIC/SWIFT: CRESCHZZ10A - Clearing: 4835. Notes on academic‑holiday and short‑stay pricing - The school publishes separate pricing for short immersive trimesters, winter or summer camp sessions and holiday programmes (examples and per‑session charges are published in the relevant camp/immersion documents). These items are charged in addition to or separately from the standard day/boarding school annual charges when applicable.	Fee details Application / enrolment fees - Enrolment or re‑enrolment fees are waived for families who complete registration before 1 March 2025. - No fixed public amount for an application/enrolment fee is published; families receive an enrolment charge (if any) as part of the personalised rate provided by the school. Contact the school to obtain the exact enrolment fee for your situation. Tuition fees by year group (per term / per year) - The school operates early-years and primary sections (TPS / PS / MS / GS / CP / 1st Elementary) for children from 30 months to 7 years. Specific tuition amounts per term or per academic year for each year group are not published publicly. Families are provided with an individualised fee schedule when enquiring about admission. Billing schedule and payment terms - Annual payment option: a 3% discount is applied to school fees when annual payment is made before 1 September. - Sibling discount: a 20% discount applies to school and canteen fees from the second child onwards. - Financial aid: a means‑tested Savio grant is available; families must apply to be considered. - The school provides rates adapted to each family's situation; detailed billing cycles (monthly, per term, or other) and the exact payment schedule are supplied with the personalised fee offer. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable. The school is an early‑years / primary day school for children aged approximately 30 months to 7 years. No boarding fees apply. Other costs and typical additional fees - Canteen / meal costs: canteen fees exist (subject to the sibling discount noted above); specific meal prices are not published in the public fee information. - Extracurricular / holiday camps: camps and short programmes are charged separately; recent published camp prices include examples such as CHF 420, CHF 450, and CHF 520 for specific weeks (prices vary by programme and week). These camp fees are in addition to regular school fees. - Uniforms, school supplies, excursions and special activities may incur additional charges; no comprehensive public price list for these items is published. Refund information - No public, detailed refund policy for tuition, enrolment fees, or extra activities is published. Refunds and cancellation terms (if any) are handled according to the school's individual billing and admissions terms and should be confirmed directly with the school. Fee payment options - Specific permitted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, direct debit, etc.) are not published in the publicly available fee information. Payment methods and invoicing details are provided with the personalised fee offer and invoice. Parents should contact the school to confirm accepted payment methods. Brief summary of findings - The school publishes its educational sections, age range, discounts (20% sibling discount; 3% early annual payment discount), availability of means‑tested grants, and separate charges for holiday camps, but does not publish a public, line‑by‑line fee schedule showing tuition amounts per term or per academic year for each year group. For an exact per‑term or per‑year tuition figure, the school issues a personalised rate and billing schedule on request.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements A Junior Boarding School for ages 3 to 13. Boarders live in chalet-style accommodation in small groups with dedicated house parents. Préfleuri offers full boarding and flexi-boarding (one night, weekends, or longer) as part of the boarder community. The environment is family-style and bilingual, with a 1:3 teacher-to-student ratio mentioned and a diverse community of about 20 nationalities.	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options Mealtimes feature balanced and varied menus with traditional, European, and home cooking. Students taste Swiss specialties such as fondue and raclette, complemented by themed buffet feasts.	Food options —
House system	House system Boarders live in small groups in warm, cosy chalets with house parents ensuring security, belonging, and personal space for each child (rooms accommodate up to four children). After school, boarders are encouraged to speak French in daily life as part of a language-friendly environment.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership Préfleuri was founded in 1948 by Willam and Lucienne Bonzon, originally creating a children's home; it has since evolved into a family-style bilingual boarding school.	Governance and ownership The school is managed and run by a team of passionate and professional educators. Savio Education branding is used on the site, indicating an association with Savio Education.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Préfleuri International Alpine School offers a bilingual English–French curriculum for children aged 3 to 13. The Early Years programme (3–5) follows UK Curricula from Nursery to Reception and French Curricula from Petite Section to Grande Section. The British Section (5–13) follows the official UK programme from KS1/KS2 to Year 7. The French Section (5–13) follows the official French teaching programme from CP to 5ème. The solid academic education is based on the French and British national curricula with small class sizes and a focus on individual attention. The teaching programme is structured to guarantee entrance to top secondary schools worldwide.	Curriculum details The school follows an integral education project that builds the foundations for lifelong learning through reading, writing, and counting in French. Reading and writing are developed from kindergarten with focus on French language acquisition; pupils are addressed as "vous" to promote oral language. Foreign language instruction plays a prominent role: 6 hours per week are dedicated to English from kindergarten, representing about 30% of the weekly teaching time (23.5 hours total). Mandarin classes are offered weekly to all pupils from nursery level upwards. The school fosters a Salesian Christian educational approach, emphasizing affection, trust, and formation of character, and organizes school life to provide safe, sensory, motor, relational, and cognitive experiences.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes. Individual attention is prioritized.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression The teaching programme guarantees entrance to top secondary schools worldwide.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning The school fosters a warm international community and positive habits essential to student success. It guides, challenges and inspires students to flourish into confident, happy, compassionate, and motivated individuals. The school serves ages 3 to 13 with bilingualism and a 1:3 teacher–student ratio. A warm international community emphasizes internationalism and diversity, helping students become responsible global citizens. Self-esteem and autonomy are developed through small classes, daily conversations, and homework support, with students guided to become independent and self-motivated learners. A virtue programme teaches life skills and promotes a growth mindset, including weekly assemblies that recognize the virtue of the week.	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language The school provides bilingual English–French instruction; learning English and French is assured; the bilingual program follows official British and French curricula.	English as an additional language The school teaches English as a foreign language, with six hours per week starting in kindergarten, representing 30% of the total weekly teaching time (23.5 hours). Weekly Mandarin classes are offered to all pupils from nursery level upwards.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing Wellbeing is promoted through healthy habits from an early age.	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview Préfleuri sits on two hectares of rural land in the Swiss Alps, at 1,200 metres altitude, surrounded by forests and meadows for a secure environment. The Swiss Chalet houses classrooms, entertainment and study spaces, with bedrooms for two to four children. The grounds include a swimming pool, a tennis court, a golf course, a football field, a basketball court, a volleyball area and a table tennis facility. Information Technology is updated regularly with wireless laptops and interactive whiteboards in the classrooms. The surroundings feature a shelter used as a base camp for ecological activities, renovated with locally sourced materials and solar power. Préfleuri welcomes boarders, flex-boarders and day pupils aged 3 to 13.	Facilities overview Located in the Montchoisi district of Lausanne, the school sits on green space spanning over 1 hectare. It features numerous, spacious, bright classrooms that support a holistic school life. The campus emphasizes outdoor activities and play as part of daily life. Digital technology is used by teaching staff to enhance learning while maintaining children's attention and concentration. Childcare is available all week on demand.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The grounds comprise a range of games areas including a swimming pool, tennis court, golf course, football field, basketball court, volleyball area and table tennis.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities The Swiss Chalet includes several classrooms, entertainment areas, study spaces and a large hall. IT is supported by wireless laptop computers and interactive whiteboards in the classrooms.	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities Summer Camps run from Saturday, June 27th to Saturday, August 8th, 2026; Winter Camps run from Sunday, January 11th to Friday, March 20th, 2026; Ski Race Academy runs from Sunday, January 11th to Friday, March 20th, 2026.	Extra curricular facilities Festive events include school fetes, open days, and celebrations; rituals and practices of benevolence and fraternal charity (‘guardian angels') are part of school life; conferences and discussions on educational topics are held.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Préfleuri began in 1948 when Willam and Lucienne Bonzon founded a children's home on a small alpine farm, naming it Préfleuri. Madeleine Bonzon, with her husband Vladimir Sékaly, joined in 1969 and expanded capacity to about fifty children. In 1991 Préfleuri was recognized by the Swiss Federation of Private Schools as a language and sports school, with Sylvie Launay joining the team. In 1996 Sylvie Launay-Ducas developed the bilingual academic program. In 2022 a new building with seven state-of-the-art classrooms was completed, and today Préfleuri describes itself as a warm, international family.	History Saint Dominique Savio is an inclusive International Catholic School that opened its doors in September 2023. It is located in the Montchoisi district in the heart of Lausanne, on a green site of over 1 hectare with spacious, bright classrooms, enabling a holistic school life. The school is managed and run by a team of passionate and professional educators chosen for their recognised skills with French, Swiss and international families. The Christian educational project aims at the complete formation of the child, with the spiritual and moral values of the Gospel encouraged through daily prayer times, important liturgical feasts, and by following the life of Dominic Savio, the patron saint. Childcare is available all week on demand.
Community	Community Préfleuri has a warm international community with more than twenty nationalities and a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:3. Bilingualism in English and French is assured. The school runs a weekly virtues assembly and a virtue program to foster personal and social development. Wellbeing and life skills are emphasized through a caring, close-knit environment.	Community There is a relationship of trust with families, with reassurance that children flourish and integrate into a welcoming group of friends, and with alignment of educational principles and accessible teachers. There is well-established communication between the school and families. Conviviality within the school community includes festive events such as fetes, open days and celebrations, rituals and practices of benevolence and fraternal charity ('guardian angels'), and conferences on educational topics. Starting an international curriculum at an early age, bilingual teaching from the age of 2 and a half with 30% of the French curriculum taught in English (6 hours per week).
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school offers a bilingual English–French teaching program that strictly follows the British and French national curricula. It is designed to guarantee entrance to top secondary schools worldwide. Small class sizes and individualized attention tailor learning to each child's strengths and ambitions. Education extends into the outdoors, integrating nature into the learning experience.	Academic & intellectual The school teaches a French education with 30% of instruction in English in kindergarten and first grade. The fundamental knowledge essential for intellectual development is taught in French, focusing on reading, writing and counting. English instruction totals six hours per week from kindergarten, and Mandarin classes are offered weekly from nursery level. The program emphasizes multilingualism and supports language development through rich oral language and exposure to native languages.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative After-school clubs cover a broad range of artistic activities, including painting, dance, drama, sewing, pottery, animation, and more; additional options include horse riding, drone, gardening, and model building. Préfleuri's Forest School weaves outdoor learning into daily life, building resilience and teamwork. Creative expression is encouraged in a supportive, family-style environment.	Arts & creative Weekly creative arts and crafts workshops develop fine motor skills and imagination. Guided play-based activities and nature outings complement the learning experience.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language English and French are languages of instruction. The Early Years bilingual program follows the official UK and French curricula. The British Section uses the UK program from KS1/KS2 to Year 7, while the French Section follows the French national curriculum from CP to 6e, with daily bilingual lessons and merging of classes. German is introduced from CM1 to meet Swiss program requirements.	Cultural & language English is taught for six hours per week from kindergarten, representing 30% of the weekly teaching time. Mandarin classes are offered weekly from nursery level. The school values multilingualism and supports language development through exposure to English, Mandarin and native languages.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies Clubs take place after lessons and include artistic activities and sports such as painting, dance, football, horse riding, badminton, sewing, and drone. Wednesday afternoons are dedicated to sports, recreation, and cultural activities. Weekends feature Swiss exploration with mountain refuges, trekking, theatre, cinema, and visits to attractions, plus time to read and play with friends.	Social & hobbies There are weekly creative workshops and a variety of activities that foster social learning. An annual school fête brings together families and staff, and Christian celebrations are observed. A week of Club Savio activities during holidays combines creativity, games and mutual aid.
Community & service	Community & service A Big Family welcomes girls and boys from ages 3 to 13 and includes 20 nationalities, with a 1:3 teacher-to-student ratio. An A Warm International Community fosters internationalism, diversity, and responsibility to build considerate global citizens. The virtue and wellbeing focus includes life skills development and whole‑school virtues assemblies throughout the week.	Community & service Life at the school includes community events and family involvement, reinforcing belonging. There are festive and faith-based activities that involve the whole school community and strengthen ties among pupils, families and staff.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional The Board of Préfleuri comprises seven dedicated members led by Headmistress Sylvie Ducas. Public speaking is encouraged across year groups, with opportunities to present in class, assemblies, and theatre performances. The board and leadership structure guide school development and student development initiatives.	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing Meal times are prepared on-site by a personal chef, with seasonal, nutritious, locally sourced menus and mid‑morning and afternoon snacks. The campus sits at about 1,200 meters in the Swiss Alps near Villars-sur-Ollon and includes extensive outdoor spaces and facilities, such as a swimming pool, tennis court, golf course, football field, basketball, volleyball, and table tennis. Pastoral care emphasizes wellbeing, autonomy, and a 1:3 teacher-to-student ratio, with life-skills training and a virtue program to support healthy development.	Lifestyle & wellbeing Movement and wellbeing are central to learning: psychomotor sessions are led by a specialist. Movement is seen as essential to forming neural connections and to literacy and speech development. The school organizes daily rhythms that include reception, recess, rest and hygiene to provide secure reference points.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision Languages taught include French and English across the two sections. The French Section follows the French National Curriculum from CP to 6th Grade and teaches all subjects in French, with three hours per week of English as a second language; German is introduced from CM1. The British Section uses the UK National Curriculum from Nursery to Prep; the Early Years is bilingual following both the UK and French curricula. Cambridge English Qualifications are offered for non-native English speakers.	Language provision The school provides French-language education and welcomes children from 30 months to 7 years old. Reading and writing are taught in French, with emphasis on language development and literacy. English is taught as a foreign language, with six hours per week starting in kindergarten, representing about 30% of total weekly teaching time (23.5 hours). Mandarin is offered weekly to all pupils from nursery level upwards.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching Pré fleuri offers a bilingual French-English education. All subjects are taught in French; English is taught as a second language for three hours per week by English-speaking teachers. An afternoon bilingual programme merges French and English classes, with Geography, History and Moral & Civic Education taught in French by French teachers, and Science and Computing taught in English by English teachers. From CM1, German is introduced to meet the Swiss program.	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs Immersion in both languages is a core aspect of Préfleuri. The English and French sections provide frequent opportunities to be immersed in each language throughout the day. In the British Section, the English programme follows the UK National Curriculum and aims to prepare pupils to graduate into top secondary schools. Daily program includes mornings with three hours of structured English as a second language and afternoons with a bilingual French/English programme where Geography and History are taught in French and Science and Computing are taught in English, with classes merged by age.	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Préfleuri welcomes boys and girls aged 3 to 13 from all over the world as boarders or day pupils for the academic year or for sports and study holidays. The school is located in Switzerland on a sunny alpine plateau, 2 km from the ski resort of Villars-sur-Ollon and near Lake Geneva. An online application is available, and paper application forms can be downloaded as well. Start the process online or by downloading the paper application. Complete the form. Documents to provide include a valid passport for at least 2 years; photocopies of the parents' passports; school reports from the two previous years; a letter of reference from a teacher or principal of the current school; and two coloured passport-sized photographs. Interview with the headmistress. A personal interview with the headmistress at Préfleuri will be conducted before every definitive admission. This interview assesses the fit for the school and the family. Confirmation of admission. After the personal interview you will receive the acceptance of admission. Registration fees. The registration will become complete upon receipt of a non-refundable pre-payment of 500 CHF for day students or 1,500 CHF for boarding students. Welcome to the Family! Get ready for the first day of school.	Admissions Admission process: Fill in the information request form online; phone or video call; school visit; submission of forms; admission guaranteed upon payment of the admission fee.
Scholarships	Scholarships —	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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