Aiglon College

Aiglon College is a private English-style boarding school in Switzerland, registered as a not-for-profit charitable institution, with an international student intake. The school gathers funds from full fee-paying students, from donations and via registered charitable trusts in different countries. Parents desirous of sending a child to Aiglon, but who have insufficient funds to do so, may apply for their child to be granted a scholarships at Aiglon, funded through these trusts.

Background

Since its foundation in 1949 by John C. Corlette, Aiglon College has grown from relatively humble beginnings to become one of the most expensive (in 2008, about SF70,000 per term) - and hence exclusive - boarding schools in Switzerland, if not the world. As a charitable trust, the school does not cater to any particular elite group, but offers scholarships and financial support to children who are deemed to be deserving in some way (academically or otherwise), and also regularly enrolls a certain number of "legacies" - that is, children of alumni. There is a large international Aiglon alumni network, with regular reunions held in cities around the world including, for example, London, Boston, New York, Sydney and Mumbai.

Aiglon College is located at an elevation of approx. 1,300 metres (approx. 4,300 feet) above sea level, in the alpine village of Chesières-Villars, near the ski resorts Villars and Villars-sur-Ollon, in the canton of Vaud. The closest larger town is Aigle, and the nearest major cities are Montreux and Lausanne.

Over the years, the economic effect of the school on the locality has been significant and beneficial - e.g., providing employment, and helping to smooth out the otherwise often largely seasonal commercial fluctuations experienced by a ski resort.

Foundation

The school was founded in 1949 by John C. Corlette, who had previously taught at Gordonstoun, a private school in Scotland. It has had links with the Round Square schools organisation for most of its history.

Philosophy

The school's philosophy is based around the spiritual and physical health and development of the child, as well as education. This manifests - for example - as meditation (along the lines of Indian/Eastern philosophy), multi-denominational religious attendance, a good range of sports activities, and "outward bound" type expeditions of a challenging nature.

The health of the children is important - for example, adequate exercise, an adequate and nourishing diet, and there are potential benefits from the relatively high altitude and clean air - especially for asthmatics.

Originally a boy's-only school run along Gordonstoun lines, the school went co-educational in 1968.

Though the language of instruction is English, French is taught and encouraged with "French days", because the school is in a French-speaking part of Switzerland.

Physical punishment (e.g., "beating" or caning) of the children - previously common practice in many English boarding schools - has always been forbidden at Aiglon, punishment being "earned" by a system of accumulation of "black marks" and meted out variously as loss of privileges, arduous physical exercise or arduous community service, according to the quantity of black marks earned.

The school operates a ranking system similar to Gordonstoun and encourages the development of personal responsibility of the children, as members of the closed community within which they live.

For "outward bound" type activities, students are required to:
* go on at least two overnight hiking expeditions in the Autumn term (in small parties);
* ski at least twice a week during the Winter term;
* go on ski touring expeditions.
* take part in different activities including mountain biking, canoeing, rock climbing and Via Ferrata (or "iron road"), during the Autumn and Summer terms.

Notes:(a) "The Good Schools Guide International" called the school "strong educationally, strong emotionally, tough physically." [http://gsgi.co.uk/countries/switzerland/chesieres-villars/aiglon-college?form.submitted=1&country=switzerland&countryCity=&submit=Go&city=]

Facilities and Services

Aiglon has grown over the years from a relatively very small size, to the current stage where it has:
* 8 boarding houses - 2 of which are for juniors - and where children have their own rooms;
* about 7 classroom buildings - though some of the boarding houses have classrooms also;
* 2 football (soccer) pitches;
* 1 volleyball pitch;
* 1 rugby pitch;
* a gymnasium (includes basketball and weight-training facilities);
* a library;
* an Administration office;
* an Information Technology department;
* a tuck shop;
* a laundry;
* staff accommodation;
* a sports centre - which is under construction;
* kitchen facilities operated by about 10 chefs, and which cook delicious fare.

Notable Alumni

Whilst several alumni are the sons/daughters of notable people, these are some of the alumni who have made a name for themselves in public life:
*Abhishek Bachchan - Indian actor
*Sheherazade Goldsmith - British author, environmentalist and socialite
*Leka, Crown Prince of Albania - (born 1939) exiled from Albania and then invited back
*Laura Harring - American actress and former Miss USA
*Roger C. Field - inventor and musician

References

External links

* [http://www.aiglon.ch/ Aiglon College website]
* [http://aiglon5060.blogspot.com/ Aiglon 50s + 60s alumni (blog)]
* [http://knol.google.com/k/slartibartfarst-anon/aiglon-college/3twzpmiarr7la/4?locale=en# Google Knol partially mirroring the Wikipedia entry]
* [http://www.roundsquare.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=33/ Round Square website]
* [http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2319398268/ Aiglon College Alumni - Facebook Group site (need to be logged in to Facebook to access this)]
* [http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=119543&goback=.srp_1_1219452065679_in/ Aiglon College - LinkedIn Group]
* [http://gsgi.co.uk/countries/switzerland/chesieres-villars/aiglon-college?form.submitted=1&country=switzerland&countryCity=&submit=Go&city= Review from the Good Schools Guide International]