As the first school in Switzerland accredited by World Academy of Sport, Haut-Lac is an Athlete-Friendly Education Centre enabling elite athletes to earn a full IB Diploma over 3 years alongside intensive training and competition schedules.
Our students aged 3 to 18 learn to embrace an active lifestyle to help them thrive athletically, socially and personally.
Here’s how we make sport a core part of the learning journey:
Our Kindergarten, Primary and Secondary students benefit from specialised sports instruction twice a week.
These sessions are carefully crafted to:
E2-P5 students swap one of their two weekly sports classes for a swimming lesson during one of the three academic terms.
Guided by a specialist teacher, they dive into group games to boost water confidence and learn essential safety skills before discovering and mastering the various strokes.
The curriculum is designed to support children through the Swiss Swimming Programme, rewarding them with badges as they acquire new skills and level up.
Guided by official Swiss ski school instructors and Haut-Lac staff, P1 students ski for 6 half days, P2-P5 students ski 4 full days, and MYP1-IB1 students ski or snowboard for 3 or 4 full days in Portes-du-Soleil during term 2.
These regular curriculum outings:
P2 to IB2 students can also sign up for an extra challenge by training with the Haut-Lac Ski Team for the many inter-school slalom races taking place during the season.
The Ski Racing Team is for students aged 8-18 who want more. On top of their regular curriculum ski sessions, team athletes train twice a week with a clear focus:
Sport enables us to teach valuable life lessons and prepare students for the competitive world of higher education and professional life.
As a member of several international and private school associations, Haut-Lac gives P2-IB2 students the chance to regularly take part in competitions against other schools in Switzerland and abroad in the sports below:
Students who wish to compete in these inter-school tournaments either join relevant school training sessions or belong to an external sports club. They are then selected to represent Haut-Lac in away and home games according to their ability and their attitude in lessons.
Haut-Lac sport staff enable more than just our best athletes to compete though. They run exciting end-of-unit inter-house tournaments so all P1 to IB2 students can put their skills in the abovementioned curriculum sports into practice.
These events enable them to get a taste of competition, as they work as a team to try to earn as many points as possible for their House and secure the coveted Inter-House Trophy at the end of the school year.
As the first Swiss Athlete-Friendly Education Centre (AFEC) accredited by the World Academy of Sport (WAoS), Haut-Lac International Bilingual School enables high-performing athletes aged 11-18* to complete a rigorous IB education whilst maintaining intensive training schedules.
Here are some of our top-performing student-athletes
Whether you’re wondering how sport develops soft skills, or how to become a professional athlete with an IBDP diploma, you’ll find the answers here.
Haut-Lac’s sports curriculum includes weekly PE lessons for all students, swimming lessons for Pre-kindergarten to grade 5, and regular ski outings in the winter term for grade 1 to grade 11.
The curriculum approach ensures all students develop physical literacy, teamwork skills and healthy lifestyle habits regardless of their athletic ability.
Yes, Haut-Lac students regularly compete in inter-school competitions against other international and private schools in Switzerland.
The school is a member of several school associations, which enables teams to participate in tournaments and matches in sports like football, basketball, volleyball, golf, tennis, badminton and gymnastics.
These competitions provide opportunities for growth, self-reflection, good sportsmanship and valuable life lessons that prepare students for the competitive environments in higher education and professional life.
Haut-Lac students can join competitive teams in football, basketball, volleyball, netball, tennis, golf, badminton, gymnastics, athletics, swimming and skiing.
Yes, Haut-Lac runs recreational sports clubs alongside its team sports clubs.
Our 150+ after-school clubs include leisure options in sports like sailing, tennis and golf, as well as team activities. These clubs focus on skill development, enjoyment and physical well-being rather than competition.
Internal inter-house tournaments also provide opportunities for all students to experience team sports in a friendly, supportive environment without the intensity of inter-school competition.
Sport at Haut-Lac teaches valuable life skills including teamwork, perseverance, resilience, time management and good sportsmanship.
Through training, matches and competitions, students learn to handle both success and disappointment gracefully. They develop self-reflection skills, leadership abilities and the capacity to work collaboratively toward shared goals.
These transferable skills prepare students for the competitive world of higher education and professional life, where the ability to collaborate, persist through challenges and maintain composure under pressure proves invaluable.
Yes, skiing is an important part of the sports programme for all P1 to IB1 students (grade 1 to 11) during the winter term.
P1 students enjoy ski 6 half days, P2-5 students ski 4 full days, and MYP1-IB1 students ski or snowboard 3 or 4 days per season across the Swiss side of the Portes-du-Soleil ski domain.
The Haut-Lac ski programme operates on different schedules for each school section, with instruction provided by qualified Swiss ski school instructors and Haut-Lac staff.
Students are grouped by ability level to ensure appropriate instruction.
The Haut-Lac Ski Team is also open to serious ski racers in P2-IB1 (grade 2-11). They train every Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning for inter-school ski races during the academic year.
As the first Athlete-Friendly Education Centre accredited by the World Academy of Sport in Switzerland, Haut-Lac offers flexible IBMYP timetables and extended IBDP and IBCP programmes for high-level athletes.
This Sport & Study Programme is designed for young athletes training at regional, national or international level, who need flexible academic schedules to help them balance intensive training with their school studies.
Eligibility requirements:
The World Academy of Sport does not have an official list of recognised sports.
Its Athlete-Friendly Education Centres cater to a wide range of sports, from the more obvious like football, basketball, tennis and swimming to the more particular like chess, karting and golf.
Yes, Haut-Lac runs staff-parent-alumni football, basketball and badminton clubs once a week. We also have a golf simulator, which parents can book to use in the evenings and at weekends.
The Extra-Curricular Activities Coordinator can provide more details on these options.
