Cover At French boarding schools like Notre-Dame International High School, students live the rhythms of French life while building an exceptional academic foundation. (Photo: Instagram / @ndihs.students)
At French boarding schools like Notre-Dame International High School, students live the rhythms of French life while building an exceptional academic foundation. (Photo: Instagram / @ndihs.students)
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These boarding schools in France combine academic excellence with unforgettable cultural experiences—perfect for international families seeking a world-class education
For international families across Asia, France’s elite boarding schools combine world-class academics with deep cultural immersion in spectacular settings. These boarding schools foster a truly global community, welcoming students from a broad range of nationalities, with some even offering Chinese and Japanese among their IB subjects to reflect their international outlook. Beyond the classroom, students enjoy exceptional experiences, from equestrian training near Paris to golf in Provence and ski-led programs in the Alps. Graduates leave with prestigious diplomas and a rich appreciation for the French art de vivre, gaining a cosmopolitan edge that lasts a lifetime.
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Ermitage International School: IB education near Paris with an equestrian programme
Located in Maisons-Laffitte, famously known as France’s “City of the Horse”, Ermitage offers passionate riders the ultimate boarding school experience. Students aged 11 to 18 can access professional-level equestrian facilities while pursuing either the International Baccalaureate or French Baccalauréat. Boarders live in beautiful, historic French homes that create an authentic and charming atmosphere, all just 20 minutes from the cultural heart of Paris for weekend adventures.
Sainte Victoire International School: academic excellence—and golf—in Provence
At this French boarding school, students learn against a backdrop of the iconic Sainte Victoire mountain, famously immortalised by Cézanne. This boutique school is uniquely situated at the heart of an 18-hole international golf course near Aix-en-Provence, offering a blend of academics and sport. In the sun-drenched South of France, boarders enjoy a peaceful, healthy lifestyle in modern duplex apartments. each with a private terrace overlooking the sweeping Provençal landscape.
SEK International School Les Alpes: ski and outdoor adventures in the French Alps
Perched at an altitude of 1,000 metres in a charming village near Megève resort, SEK International School unfolds against a backdrop where alpine peaks double as the classroom. During winter, students ski or snowboard three times weekly as part of their curriculum. Other seasons bring mountaineering, rafting and caving adventures. Housed in two traditional, cosy chalets, this community suits adventurous souls who thrive on physical challenges while mastering academics in one of Europe’s most spectacular settings.
Notre-Dame International High School: American diploma in the heart of France
At Notre-Dame International High School, students enjoy the charm of Verneuil-sur-Seine while earning a fully accredited American High School Diploma with Advanced Placement courses. Set on a 14-hectare wooded campus, the school is just a short train ride from central Paris, offering the best of both worlds: rigorous American academics and access to the City of Light. Full-time boarders are encouraged to spend weekends exploring world-famous museums, historic landmarks and the vibrant rhythm of Parisian life.
École des Roches: a historic Normandy boarding school
Founded in 1899, this prestigious institution embodies the tradition of French boarding schools on a spectacular 60-hectare estate in Normandy. Offering both the French Baccalaureate and the International Baccalaureate, the self-contained campus features picturesque buildings, sports facilities and unspoilt countryside that create an exceptional world of its own. Student life centres around six traditional boarding houses, which function as family-like units fostering a strong sense of community within this distinguished environment.
International Bilingual School of Provence: multicultural boarding school in southern France
At this French boarding school, students become part of a vibrant community of over 1,000 peers representing more than 75 nationalities, with no single culture dominating this dynamic mix. Located near the city of Aix-en-Provence, the state-of-the-art campus features a modern sports complex, multiple tennis courts and a 400-seat auditorium. Around 150 boarders live across six houses, creating a convivial and cosmopolitan atmosphere perfect for building lifelong international friendships.
Chavagnes International College: classical boys’s boarding school with historic roots
This unique boys’s school occupies a site steeped in history—a former 13th-century monastery and seminary dedicated to St Anthony of Egypt. Daily life deliberately echoes that of a late medieval college, where students and teachers share meals, work and prayer together. The classical education focus, combined with a renowned choral music programme and daily Mass in the historic chapel, creates an unparalleled environment for young scholars seeking depth and tradition.
After more than a decade in lifestyle media, Clifford has mastered the art of writing seriously about things that are fun—and writing fun things about people who take themselves very seriously. At Tatler Asia, he helped steer its flagship lists, Tatler’s Most Influential and Asia’s Most Stylish. And today, he leads T-Labs, Tatler Asia’s content innovation hub, where he continues the noble pursuit of lifestyle storytelling, spinning stories on wealth, entertainment, necessary style, Hallyu, Hollywood, beauty and more for audiences across Asia.
