School
history
Welcome
As you are considering embarking on a new stage of your learning journey, a boarding school may look like a big step, a long way from your loved ones.

Brillantmont has been the home of our family for 140 years - we were born and grew up on the campus! It is very much a part of our identity and we are committed to making it a place which you too will call home, alongside the diverse friends you will make during your stay with us.

In addition to exciting learning experiences in the classroom, in sports, cultural and fun activities, you will also learn from your multi-cultural friends and they will learn from you, in a climate of mutual respect. At Brillantmont we want you to feel welcome and valued in an inclusive and caring environment. Thus, you can be yourself and discover or develop the key character traits, ethics, skills and passions which will shape your personality to succeed in the wider world awaiting you.

We look forward to meeting you.

Corinne, Eric and Anne Frei; Owners of Brillantmont, 5th Generation of the founding family

Did you know that Brillantmont is the only school in Switzerland which has been in the same family for five generations?
It celebrates its 140th anniversary in 2022-2023. Let’s look back on some remarkable times.

Key moments

1st generation

  • 1882 Brillantmont is founded.
  • 1896 The current property is purchased.

2nd generation

  • 1930 Opening of a secondary school section following the French curriculum.

3rd generation

  • 1948 English GCE and American High School sections are established.
  • 1968 The day school programme becomes co-educational.

4th generation

  • 1983 Brillantmont is accredited by the European Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
  • 1992 The boarding school programme becomes co-educational.
  • 2002 Brillantmont is awarded Fellowship Centre Status by Cambridge International Examinations for its commitment to and involvement with Cambridge International Examinations.
  • 2007 Brillantmont becomes a founding member of Swiss Learning

5th generation

  • 2012 Inauguration of the Françoise Frei-Huguenin Sports and Culture building
  • 2018 Brillantmont introduces Robotics and Coding (STEAM) as part of its compulsory curriculum
  • 2019 Anne Frei, 5th generation family member, becomes Head of School, active in daily life.
  • 2020 Brillantmont remains open for those students who were unable to travel home during the COVID pandemic
  • 2020 Brillantmont hosts its first (and hopefully last) online Graduation Ceremony for a unique graduating class.
  • 2022-2023 Brillantmont celebrates its 140th anniversary