Blog

Last week was our 13th Reading Week at Brillantmont International School. This has become an annual tradition at our Swiss boarding school and the focus this year was on the works of William Shakespeare. 

Our special guest was Tom Davey from Bright Torches who unfortunately couldn't be here in person, but conducted several successful workshops via Zoom. Tom is an actor and has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the Globe Theatre in London and this was his second time at Brillantmont. His opening history of the Globe Theatre in London had us all gripped and transported back into the intoxicating and subversive world of Elizabethan England.

The art programme at Brillantmont International School offers something for everyone, from those who want to explore a future in artistic careers to those who enjoy the process of studying and making art pieces.

Under the direction of art teacher Angela McFall, we provide a fun, exciting art curriculum that takes students from 8th Grade right up to AS/A Level, helping them prepare for their application for universities around the world - all while discovering skills and processes to develop and hone their artistic talents.

Keeping fit and active is important not just for our physical health, but also our mental well-being. Sports are a compulsory part of all students’ programmes but they also have the chance to join our numerous school teams – volleyball, basketball, football, swimming and many more. Our dedicated sports teachers motivate even the most reluctant student and serve as fantastic role-models.

In this post, we talk in depth with our Sports Coordinator, Mr Tim Rouge, whose achievements are an inspiration to us all. He was recently in Cascais in Portugal, but there was no relaxing on the beach for him as he was there to participate in an Ironman competition.

BM: What is an Ironman?
TR: It’s a long-distance triathlon in which you swim 4km, cycle 180km and finish with a marathon of 42km.

Last year saw the birth of the Engineering Club, a group of students with a common interest in all things mechanical, who came together with Mr Dix, our Head of Boarding to build a ride-on steam locomotive in 7 ¼ inch gauge.

The students started the year learning about engineering principles, use of hand tools, safety by design and mass manufacture principles, equipping them with the knowledge to build, with support, a significantly sized, fully functioning steam engine weighing in at 300Kg!

In expert hands

Brillantmont is the oldest school in Switzerland to deliver A Levels, since they have been taught here for 80 of our 140 years.

That means that you can be sure that a Brillantmont A Level experience puts your child in the hands of the experts. Our teachers know exactly what is required at A Level and can guide each student to fulfil his / her potential.

What are A Levels?

British A Levels are highly regarded, long established qualifications usually taken in Grades 11 and 12. They are the national qualification of England and are taken in thousands of international schools across the world.

How do A Levels work?

With A Levels, students get to choose three, four or even five subjects, which they can study in depth. They focus on subjects they like and enjoy and are not pulled down by having to study subjects they don't want to study.  For example, a student who wishes to be a doctor would focus on Maths and Sciences, whereas another wishing to be a lawyer may opt for Languages and Humanities. A Levels are composed of two parts, AS and A2, which together, make a complete A Level. The AS exams are usually taken at the end of 11th Grade and the A2 at the end of 12th Grade, however, they may sometimes be taken together.

Enjoy this film by Swiss Learning in which Mr McClean, our Head of Academics, explains why we believe that A Levels are a fantastic key to opening many doors.

When alumni return to school, it is always a very moving occasion and stirs lots of memories. Since Brillantmont International School is 140 years old soon, there are many people across the world whose lives were touched by a stay in our walls. Let’s take a quick look back at some of the defining moments in the BM story.

In 1882 Brillantmont was founded by Paul and Berthe Heubi, the great grandparents of the Frei family, the current owners of the school.

We are proud to announce that our student Sky has qualified for the second round of the prestigious Physics Olympiad qualifiers, with a chance to join the Swiss national team! Sky has been invited to take part in special training, and will demonstrate his hard work and skills in January when the second round commences.

Brillantmont welcomes students from 8th Grade onwards. For many, it is their first time away from home, living far from their families, so coming into a small, very supportive and caring community like Brillantmont, helps make that transition smooth. Our whole team strive to create a healthy, happy, home from home, in which every child can thrive.

Switzerland is well-known for many things – mountains, skiing, amazing scenery, watches and of course chocolate! Yet, there is one domain, known to an exclusive elite - boarding schools.

Founded decades ago, they are considered among the best in the world and offer an internationally recognised education, which opens doors worldwide. Switzerland has a long history of hosting students from all over the world in its exceptional private boarding schools. The multicultural landscape, with four official languages - French, German, Italian and Romansch – is conducive to an international community, in which students can live and breathe intercultural understanding on a daily basis. The safety and security, the discretion and the very exclusiveness are all factors which appeal to those families who seek something unique for their child. Switzerland is an amazing place to live and learn.

We’ve already been back at school for a month and so much has happened in our busy BM lives.

Joining a new school can be a scary experience. When the school is small however, like a big family, things are easier and here at Brillantmont, our students have already got to know each other and formed strong friendships.