Aiglon College Association

Aiglon College is an independent boarding school for children from primary through to high school, focused on the holistic development of mind, body and spirit.

Aiglon was founded in 1949 by John Corlette, a visionary educator who had previously taught at Gordonstoun under Kurt Hahn. Aiglon College was established on a radical pedagogical premise. Corlette believed that education should not merely be an academic pursuit but a "preparation for life." He sought to create a school that challenged the whole person—mind, body, and spirit.

Corlette utilised our alpine setting and the challenging mountain terrain as a fundamental tool for character development. The school’s early years were defined by a "pioneer spirit," where students and staff lived simply and engaged deeply with the environment. This foundational belief in "discovery through challenge" remains the cornerstone of the Aiglon experience today. Over seven decades, Aiglon has evolved from a small boys' school into a premier co-educational international institution, yet it has never wavered from its original non-profit status and community-governed structure. Although we are one of the most expensive schools in the world, our students have a reputation for having their feet on the ground and being responsible and respectful global citizens.

Aiglon’s mission is to develop within its students the "quiet inner confidence" required to contribute meaningfully to the world. This is achieved through the five pillars of:

1. Challenge - pushing students beyond their perceived limits.
2. Respect - for oneself, others, and the environment.
3. Responsibility - cultivating a sense of duty toward the community.
4. Diversity - embracing a global perspective with over 60 nationalities represented.
5. Service - instilling the importance of giving back.

The school operates on the holistic principle of "Mind, Body, and Spirit." While academic excellence is non-negotiable, it is balanced by physical fitness (through the mountain program) and spiritual growth (through daily morning meditations and emphasis on service).

Unlike many international schools owned by private equity firms, Aiglon is owned by the Aiglon College Association (ACA), a non-profit Swiss association made up of volunteers. This structure is vital to the school’s integrity; it ensures that every franc of surplus is reinvested back into the school’s facilities, its staff, and its Scholarship Programme. The ACA Board acts as the ultimate steward of the school's mission, ensuring that the endowment and operations remain aligned with John Corlette’s founding values.

Today, Aiglon serves approximately 480 students. Life on the mountain is characterised by a unique blend of tradition and innovation: Aiglon offers a world-class curriculum, focused on experiential learning and culminating in the IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The school consistently achieves results that place it among the top international boarding schools globally.

Our expedition programme is the most distinct feature of an Aiglon education. Every student participates in weekend expeditions, which include mountain hiking, rock climbing, ski touring, and camping in the wilderness. These activities are designed to build "frangibility"—the ability to fail, learn, and persist.

The Aiglon campus is a diverse global village. With a strict quota system that prevents any single nationality from dominating, Aiglon is a true microcosm of the world. This diversity is celebrated through cultural events, international service projects, and the "Round Square" network of schools.

Our fundraising priorities are focused on three strategic fronts: scholarship funding, physical infrastructure and financial sustainability.

Scholarship - One of the school’s most inspirational current priorities is the Aiglon Scholarship Programme. We believe that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Since our scholarship programme was formalised in 1993, Aiglon has welcomed over 140 scholars. In the 2026/27 academic year, we will have 22 fully funded scholars in the school. The selection process is holistic, and while the students must be able to access the curriculum and succeed, they are 100% need based offers and support students from developing countries who have no financial means. We currently have scholars from Sudan, Palestine, Somaliland, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kenya and the Navajo Nation. Today, the scholarship programme is funded 50% through philanthropy and 50% through reinvesting operational surplus. Our aim is to increase philanthropic support to cover the entire programme.

The Campus Masterplan - To maintain its status as a world leader in education, Aiglon is undergoing a multi-year transformation of its mountain campus. Aiglon's Campus Masterplan lays the foundation for campus improvements and redevelopment. The last few years have seen upgrades to our boarding facilities, a new school restaurant and auditorium, the "Moghadam Campus Hub", a new Welcome Centre "Chalet Barbey", and a new robotics and innovation lab, all funded through philanthropy. As we look ahead, we will be building a new academic building to house our outstanding music programme and allow us to redevelop the John Corlette Building to offer improved STEM provisions.

Endowment Growth - The newly formalised Endowment Fund is currently at CHF 22,000,000 and we aim to increase this to CHF 75 million over the next ten years to provide a stable source of financial support for the school.