We are a truly unique school. Indeed, many have described their time with us as the highlight of their educational career.
Since 1990 the Château, which is based in the south of France near Toulouse, has been welcoming children from all over the world to spend a term immersed in French language and culture. Many children develop a passion for French and learning languages, and past Sauveterrians have often gone on to study languages at University.
However, Sauveterre is about so much more than learning French. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the growth in confidence, resilience and independence of the boys and girls we have in our care.
The environment for learning here is of an exceptional nature. The school is set in beautiful forested grounds, from where you can see the snow-peaked mountains of the Pyrenees. The buildings themselves retain their original charm from their time as a noble private home, especially as the Château was acquired with all of its original furnishings and paintings.
Progress in French is achieved through subject-specific classes taught by a team of experienced and dedicated native teachers, and all delivered in the target language, apart from Maths. Regular visits and excursions to nearby villages, markets, and many, many other places of interest allow for authentic interactions with the local population, as well as a genuine opportunity for the children to immerse themselves in the French culture.
We run an extensive exchange programme with regular visits to local schools, as well as a weekend at an activity centre with French children of the same age. We are also very mindful of the demands of pre-testing and senior school entrance exams and we accommodate preparation for these into the busy daily schedule.
Although we are located in France, as part of the Cothill Trust we are proud to provide the same level of academic and pastoral support that one would expect from a top UK boarding environment. This includes music lessons given by expert musicians, opportunities for professional sports coaching, and catering for all kinds of additional learning needs. We make the most of the climate here to be outdoors as much as possible, whether it is hiking, learning one of Sauveterre’s unique games, or swimming in the school’s pool.
