HOW THE WORLD SEES SWISS BOARDING SCHOOLS THROUGH THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS
Across continents and languages, international media continue to celebrate Swiss boarding schools as a model of excellence, stability, and quiet prestige. From the Financial Times in London to El País in Madrid and The Korea Herald in Seoul, journalists consistently portray Switzerland as the global reference for private education — where discipline meets empathy, and tradition meets innovation.
Swiss School Consulting analyses these perspectives and helps families find the right Swiss school for their child.
🇬🇧 Financial Times — Stability and global demand
“Switzerland remains the discreet global capital of elite boarding education, where families seek academic excellence with privacy and safety.”
— Financial Times, January 2025
Summary: The Financial Times notes that Switzerland’s boarding schools continue to attract international families seeking long-term educational stability and quality. The country’s safety, multilingualism, and academic structure remain unique advantages.
Swiss School Consulting comment: This reflects what we see daily: families are drawn to Switzerland for its consistent standards, personal attention, and discreet excellence.
🇬🇧 The Guardian — British families turning to Europe
“We’ve been inundated: European private schools report a surge in interest from wealthy British parents.”
— The Guardian, October 2025
Summary: According to The Guardian, British families increasingly look to continental Europe — including Switzerland — for education that combines structure, values, and global recognition.
Swiss School Consulting comment: For UK families, Switzerland offers a stable and value-driven alternative with excellent university pathways and a balanced international environment.
🇩🇪 Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung — Individual attention
“An exclusive Swiss boarding school promises individual development and optimal learning conditions.”
— FAZ, July 2025
Summary: Germany’s FAZ highlights the highly personalized approach of Swiss education — small classes, mentoring, and attention to personal growth as much as to academic results.
Swiss School Consulting comment: Individualized learning remains one of Switzerland’s greatest strengths. Academic excellence goes hand in hand with emotional intelligence and responsibility.
🇫🇷 AD Magazine France — Architecture and heritage
“Swiss international schools are often housed in historic buildings or designed by renowned architects, blending heritage with innovation.”
— AD Magazine, September 2024
Summary: The French design press highlights the harmony between heritage and innovation on Swiss campuses — a reflection of how the country values aesthetics, balance, and learning environments.
Swiss School Consulting comment: A well-designed campus is part of the educational philosophy. Switzerland believes that beauty, order, and learning reinforce one another.
🇨🇭 RSI (Svizzera italiana) — Excellence and enrichment
“In Switzerland there are some of the world’s finest private boarding colleges offering internationally recognised education and unique extracurricular activities ranging from sports to music and theatre.”
— RSI.ch, November 2024
Summary: The Swiss-Italian broadcaster emphasises that boarding schools in Switzerland combine academic rigour with exceptional cultural and artistic opportunities.
Swiss School Consulting comment: Parents value schools that develop creativity and emotional maturity alongside intellectual achievement — a hallmark of the Swiss model.
🇧🇷 Pais & Filhos (UOL) — Leadership and discipline
“Unlike in Brazil, Switzerland invests in a more assertive approach to education. From an early age, children are prepared to become great leaders.”
— Pais & Filhos, June 2018
Summary: The Brazilian press describes Swiss education as firm yet formative — a system designed to foster independence and leadership from childhood.
Swiss School Consulting comment: Leadership is learned early in Switzerland: through responsibility, teamwork, and the freedom to act within structure.
🇪🇸 El País — Discreet prestige and international appeal
“Swiss boarding schools embody the luxury of education without ostentation — a blend of tradition and global modernity.”
— El País, January 2020
Summary: Spain’s El País presents Switzerland as a country where prestige remains understated, and educational excellence blends seamlessly with global values.
Swiss School Consulting comment: True prestige in education lies in discretion, humility, and authenticity — principles long rooted in Swiss culture.
🇰🇷 The Korea Herald — A model of prestige and safety
“Students head to Switzerland for studies in magnificent buildings that were once hotels, combining world-class academics with safety and scenery.”
— The Korea Herald, April 2017
Summary: The Korean press sees Switzerland as a destination combining safety, beauty, and international excellence — an ideal balance for families in search of trust and reputation.
Swiss School Consulting comment: For Asian families, Switzerland represents both aspiration and reassurance — a place where academic success and personal well-being meet naturally.
🇨🇭 Blick — The price of excellence
“The five most expensive schools in the world are all located in Switzerland.”
— Blick, July 2024
Summary: The Swiss daily notes that tuition costs reflect the exceptional quality of facilities, care, and outcomes.
Swiss School Consulting comment: Quality education has its price, but also its return. Switzerland’s boarding schools invest in people — teachers, mentors, and students — more than in image.
Conclusion
From London to Seoul and São Paulo to Geneva, the world’s media describe Switzerland as an educational reference built on enduring values.
If we had to choose 10 words that capture the essence of Swiss education, they would be:
Excellence, Safety, Integrity, Balance, Leadership, Diversity, Tradition, Innovation, Discretion, and Trust.
SSC transforms these universal perceptions into personal guidance helping families connect with the true spirit of Swiss education