Junior School
How important are one's Junior School years? For reinforcing good habits and self-discipline, they are often critical; for meeting and coming to terms with the problems of community life for the first time, they are very significant; for growing up confidently, openly and optimistically, they are crucial. If a Junior School's family atmosphere of encouragement, sympathy and insistence on good standards is well-blended, young boys and girls will cheerfully learn and happily understand the importance of all of these things.
At Aiglon, we have more than 40 years' experience of Junior School children. The Aiglon Junior School comprises three traditional Swiss chalets and their grounds on the brow of Alpina Hill, set within the school campus, and provides a home away from home for our youngest international pupils. Junior school pupils have many lessons within their own space, but also benefit from lessons in specialist areas in the senior school. This helps smooth the transition when children move from second to third form and into senior Houses.
The striking Chalet La Baita is at the heart of the Junior School. Characteristically Swiss in profile and make-up, La Baita is a purpose-built chalet, run by Houseparents George and Carol Logie,. It is here that the school's light and spacious classrooms and music practice rooms are to be found. In La Baita, Junior School boys and girls can enjoy the benefits of a modern Dining Room, the comforts of a large Common Room and the space and privacy of an indoor Playroom.
La Casa, a distinctive wooden chalet a short distance from La Baita, is home to the Junior girls and their Houseparents, Cai and Andrew Cheadle. A third chalet, La Dacha, is the residence of the Junior School Headmaster, Didier Boutroux, and includes a splendid dance studio and in its grounds is the versatile all-weather sports pitch.
The wide range of facilities and the small student roll have allowed us to emphasise the security and warmth of an extended family: an intimate environment in which junior children can grow, learn and share together, away from the pressures of older Aiglonians. The family atmosphere is reinforced by the intimacy of the Junior School's tutorial system. Each member of the school's staff, resident and non-resident, acts as an academic and pastoral adviser to a group of pupils, giving individual attention, care and advice on matters relating to work, life, organisation and their contribution to everything the school has to offer.
While encouragement, empathy and understanding are the watchwords of the school, good habits and self-discipline are important too. The children's rooms are designed to be spacious, light and welcoming, and proper care of them is a basic requirement, as is a sensitivity to the needs of room-mates. Personal smartness is important, too. The Juniors are required to wear a simple, standard dress in class (the school's "No. 2" uniform) and a more formal outfit (the "No. 1" uniform - a school blazer with grey trousers or skirt) in church and at other school functions.
Intimate and caring, encouraging self-expression, yet insisting on self-discipline, the Aiglon Junior School remains committed to developing well-rounded, responsible and successful young boys and girls, ready for the next stage of their 'Aiglon journey'.
