Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz

The international section teaches in English. Grades 7 and 8 follow a Pre-IGCSE programme, grades 9 and 10 take the Cambridge IGCSE, and grades 11 and 12 complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, with an academic tutor for each IB student and the CAS programme. In parallel, the Swiss Matura is offered in German, with bilingual German/English and Italian/German variants that give access to Swiss universities. A one-year German Intensive Year helps non-German speakers reach the level needed for the Matura.

Lyceum Alpinum covers secondary education only, from grade 7 (age 12) to grade 12 (ages 18 to 19). In the international section, grades 7 and 8 follow the Pre-IGCSE programme, grades 9 and 10 the Cambridge IGCSE and grades 11 and 12 the IB Diploma. In the Swiss section, students follow the cantonal Matura curriculum in German or in a bilingual format. Students are normally admitted to grades 7 to 11, and exceptionally to grade 12, after an interview and entrance test.

The school's philosophy, the 'Spirit of Zuoz', combines respect for tradition with openness to innovation and is inspired by the ideal of a healthy mind in a healthy body. Its stated core values are integrity, excellence, engagement, fair play and positivity. Lyceum Alpinum aims to provide a holistic education that balances intellectual, physical, social and character development, encouraging students to take responsibility, respect other cultures and grow into ethical, confident leaders.

The campus covers about 130,000 square metres in the upper part of Zuoz and includes some 12 buildings: five boarding houses, a dining hall and student cafe, a media library, art rooms with views of the Alps, two large music rooms with practice rooms and the 100-seat Zuoz Globe theatre. Sports facilities include a triple gym, two natural ice rinks, six tennis courts, seven Eton Fives courts, three grass football pitches, basketball and beach volleyball courts, a cricket training area, athletics facilities and three fitness rooms. All outdoor fields are floodlit, and ski slopes and an 18-hole golf course are within walking distance.

Tuition includes care through the school Health Centre, the extracurricular activity programme and college counselling. A team of school psychologists offers confidential coaching and can carry out assessments for dyslexia, dyscalculia and ADHD, leading to tailored exam arrangements. Learning support coaching is available in three tiers at extra cost, and weekly homework help covers the main subjects. Meals are served in the dining hall and student cafe. Airport transfers can be arranged through a partner transport company, and the school also organises summer camps for ages 6 to 17.

About 220 students board in five houses: Spencer House for younger boys (grades 7 to 9), Kleinhaus for boys in grade 10, Grosshaus for senior boys (grades 11 and 12), Chesa Arpiglia for girls in grades 7 to 10 and Chesa Urezza for senior girls. Younger students share double rooms, single rooms may be available from grade 9 and all grade 12 students have their own room. The evening includes supervised study time, and community weekends and guided holiday tours complement the programme. Each house has staff trained in mental health first aid, supported by the Health Centre and school psychologists.

Sport is central: students have two PE lessons a week and boarders take part in compulsory afternoon Games. The seasonal programme includes skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey and trampoline in winter; volleyball, basketball, floorball, climbing, badminton, yoga and Fives in spring and autumn; and cricket, football, tennis, rugby, golf, baseball, mountain biking and beach volleyball in summer. Teams compete in Swiss and international tournaments. Students can also join the choir, orchestra or school band, take instrument lessons, act with two theatre companies, join art and photography societies or take part in service-learning trips.