About

T

honon International School is the first international school to be established on the Eastern side of Lake Geneva, France. It is also the first school in this region of France to offer a truly bilingual programme (see Academics) from the end of Kindergarten, Grande Section/Year 1, until the end of the Primary age phase, CM2/Year 6. TIS is an accredited international school by the Academy of Grenoble.

TIS was created to meet a growing need in the large cosmopolitan community in Thonon-les-Bains for an international education with a true dual-language programme. It was also felt that the large and well established private schools in Geneva and Lausanne were beyond the reach of most families in Thonon-les-Bains, both geographically and financially.

The future is bilingual and a bilingual education should be accessible to everyone.

TIS is open to all members of the community and is actively non-discriminatory. This means that it is actively seeking representation in its student body from as many different countries and backgrounds as possible. TIS is a private, "laïque" school that welcomes students regardless of faith backgrounds and encourages representation.

Children leaving TIS have gone on to study at the reputable establishments Saint Bruno, in Evian and Le Sacré Coeur, in Thonon-les-Bains.

TIS is not an association (not-for-profit) but has an ethical charter of re-investment that respects the following:

- reduce the cost of schooling with the objective of being reasonable and affordable in comparison to private schools offering bilingual education in the region

- provide salaries for teachers above that which is governed by the Convention Collective for private schools in France and guarantee an annual pay rise above inflation

- re-invest in the interests of meeting a growing demand for places, retaining teachers and improving school facilities

- make donations to local-based charities to combat homelessness and help people in need in Thonon-les-Bains