by GstaadLife

As the next stage in its development, Gstaad International School will be reborn as Surval Gstaad. As the only all-boys school in Switzerland (the last in operation closed in 1971), Surval Gstaad will provide a curriculum and activities tailored to the needs of young males. 

“The outdoor environment and excellent facilities in the Gstaad-Saanenland region provide the setting for a tremendously exciting all-boys education,” says future Headmaster Tim McConnell-Wood. “I very much look forward to welcoming our first students in September 2015.”

Last year, Gstaad International School announced plans for a luxurious new campus within Hotel Alpine Lodge. From 2015 onward, the campus will provide the home for Surval Gstaad. Located between Saanen and Gstaad, it will be comprised of two chalets, indoor and outdoor pools and a modern fitness centre, as well as bright, spacious classrooms and common rooms. 

While Alpine Lodge will continue to operate as a hotel, attracting guests to its rooms and restaurant throughout the year, it will also host the student population in its entirety. 

A sister school, Surval Montreux, has thrived since 1961. One of only two all-girls schools in Switzerland, the student body has grown in recent years, highlighting the revival of single-sex education. 

“A single-sex environment allows boys to soften their competitive edge, develop more collaborative skills and be themselves without the distraction of girls,” insists McConnell-Wood. 

The two schools, Surval Gstaad and Surval Montreux, plan to schedule joint activities several times a year, for both social and educational purposes.