"Nestled in the hills above Lausanne, Ecole Nouvelle de La Suisse Romande — known widely as ENSR Chailly — offers families a distinctive educational experience that bridges the rich traditions of Swiss French schooling with the internationally recognised rigour of the International Baccalaureate."
For expatriate families and relocating professionals seeking a school that prepares children both for life in Switzerland and for pathways beyond its borders, ENSR Chailly presents a compelling and well-established option. Founded in 1971, the school has built more than five decades of experience educating students in the heart of the Francophone Swiss region. That longevity speaks to a sustained institutional commitment to academic excellence and to the evolving needs of internationally mobile families. Over the years, ENSR Chailly has developed a reputation as a school where cultural diversity and intellectual ambition are treated not as competing priorities but as mutually reinforcing strengths. The school follows both the French national curriculum and offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, making it an especially attractive choice for older students who are preparing for university entrance on a global stage. The IB Diploma Programme, available at the senior secondary level, is recognised by leading universities around the world and equips students with the critical thinking, research, and communication skills that higher education demands. For families who may move again before their children complete their schooling, the international portability of an IB qualification offers considerable peace of mind alongside the academic substance of the French curriculum pathway. Instruction at ENSR Chailly takes place in both English and French, reflecting the school's dual identity as a genuinely bilingual institution. This bilingual approach is more than a practical convenience for international families — it is central to the school's educational philosophy. Students who develop fluency and literacy in both languages leave the school with a cognitive and cultural flexibility that serves them well whatever direction their lives take. For children arriving with stronger English skills, immersion in French is supported throughout their education, while native French speakers benefit equally from deep engagement with English. The school's location in Chailly, an elevated residential district of Lausanne, places it within one of Switzerland's most beautiful and culturally vibrant cities. Lausanne sits on the northern shores of Lake Geneva, surrounded by vineyards and within easy reach of the Alps, and its international character — home to the International Olympic Committee and numerous global organisations — means that the community of families drawn to ENSR Chailly tends to be diverse, professionally accomplished, and globally minded. The campus setting reflects the character of its surroundings: orderly, purposeful, and rooted in a landscape of quiet distinction. What ultimately sets ENSR Chailly apart is the combination it offers: Swiss educational rigour, genuine bilingualism, IB academic credentials, and a community shaped by decades of welcoming families from around the world. For parents navigating the considerable task of finding the right school in a new country, it represents a thoughtful and trusted choice in the French-speaking heart of Switzerland.