Welcome
We are a non-profit, independent, English-language, International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. Since 1962, we’ve grown to almost 1,000 students, aged 3 to 18 years, who come from more than 60 nations. We believe in strong values, the courage to think independently, and cooperation across cultural boundaries–ideas that form the heart of a progressive approach to learning.
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923
Students
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167
Faculty and Staff
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47
Languages spoken
Our vision and mission
Vision
ISL will be a world leader in international education. We will be acknowledged for our genuine care for the well-being of all members of our community, and for providing a challenging, innovative, holistic, values-based education that develops in young people the knowledge, skills and disposition to bring about positive change.
Mission
The International School of Lausanne is committed to excellence in education. We strive to recognise the unique potential of each student, and to equip them to play an active and responsible role in a complex, multicultural world.
Values
honesty
respect
self-control
equality
care
Find out more about our values and code of behaviour here.
One campus, four buildings
Our Director
Frazer Cairns joined ISL as its Director in 2017. With a background in management consultancy and journalism, he has worked as a science teacher and more recently as a school leader in the UK, Indonesia, Switzerland, and Singapore. Frazer holds masters and doctorate degrees in education, his research focusing on the place of bilingualism in international education. He is a strong advocate for the importance of student well-being and student voice. Frazer is a member of the Board of the Swiss Group of International Schools.
History
The English School of Lausanne opened with seven students in the rehearsal rooms of the Municipal Theatre in 1962. The following year the School was renamed The Commonwealth-American School. It grew within five years to over 100 students from nine different countries. The school was finally renamed the International School of Lausanne (ISL) in 1997. We now have close to 1000 students.
Jobs and careers
Sustainability at ISL
The ISL students and staff believe we should respond collectively, as a school, and individually, to the many environmental crises happening worldwide.
Find out about ISL’s goal to become plastic free, the eco society committee and, the implementation of sustainability into ISL’s curriculum. More information on ISL’s approach to sustainability can be found here.
Discover ISL’s annual report
Click on the link below to read ISL’s 2019-2020 annual report.
Accreditations
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Council of International Schools (CIS)
IB World School
Explore our approach to learning