About La Garenne | La Garenne Международная школа

Welcome to La Garenne

I am delighted to welcome you to the International Boarding School La Garenne. Our outstanding alpine location in Villars-sur-Ollon in Switzerland has been welcoming generations of boarding students, day students, and their parents since 1947.

Our mission is to guide young people in becoming independent, internationally-minded individuals. We strive to nurture each learner's unique talents, meet their individual needs and aspirations, and support them in becoming the best possible versions of themselves. Our top priority is for every student, at every step of their educational journey from age 4 to 18, to be happy, safe, healthy, valued, and cherished. Our motto, ‘Be happy and Never, never, never give up,’ reflects Swiss values of open-mindedness, responsibility, innovation, empathy, and respect.

Our Pathway to Individual Success

La Garenne offers different academic programmes such as the IB Programme and High School Programme, together with life experiences to build resilience. These education tracks are developed to prepare our students for successful and balanced lives. Our global school trips and sports programmes provide your child with challenges to develop personal confidence. With over 40 nationalities represented at school, our students are immersed in the richness of cultural diversity and internationalism.

We highly value both academic excellence and healthy personal development. Our internationally experienced and passionate teachers focus on inquiry-based learning using state-of-the-art technology. La Garenne students learn English and French side by side. Our small class sizes allow your child to blossom in an optimal, flexible, creative, and stimulating environment.

Grégory MéanGeneral Director

Our Leadership Team

Grégory Méan

General Director

Grégory Méan is the fourth child of the Méan family and grew up with school as his home. Grégory graduated from the Hotel Management School in Lausanne in 2003 (EHL). Having gained experience in hotels around the globe, he returned home to Villars to become Assistant Director of a hotel. In 2008, he was thrilled to take over La Garenne to make it one of the leading schools in the world, at the forefront of educational and pastoral development. His wife, Mme Céline Méan, is a former student of La Garenne and works in the school’s HR department.

Grégory Méan

General Director

Alexey Filatov

CFO

Before joining the Board of La Garenne School, Alexey spent twelve years working on the accounts of the largest multinationals in the advertising, media consulting, and audit sectors. He has a Master of Science from Moscow State University and received his business education at the Stockholm School of Economics and INSEAD. In 2015 Alexey completed an Executive MBA at IMD Business School. In his current role, Alexey creates financial and practical solutions for La Garenne’s ongoing expansion and development.

Alexey Filatov

CFO

Gavin Williams

Principal

Gavin Williams has worked within education for over 15 years, with 10 years in Senior Leadership positions. He has worked extensively with MYP, IGCSE and IB Diploma students, most recently as the Head of an IB Continuum school in Italy, catering for students from 2-19 years of age. He holds a BSc in Biochemistry, a master’s in teaching and learning and is currently finishing his Doctorate in Education with the University of Bath. Gavin is excited to have the opportunity to lead the learning at La Garenne and to share his passion for high-quality teaching and learning and pastoral care with the community in the years ahead.

Gavin Williams

Principal

Adam Jozef

Head of Secondary School

Our IB Diploma Programme Coordinator Adam came to La Garenne with a wide range of teaching experience including over ten years. He has taught in the Middle East, the UK, and Germany and has worked in various senior leadership roles. He holds a headship qualification from Harvard University as well as a UK Department of Education’s National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH). He is also a School Visit Team Member and Workshop Leader on behalf of the International Baccalaureate organisation. Adam relishes being in the classroom where he teaches History, Politics, and Theory of Knowledge.

Adam Jozef

Head of Secondary School

Danielle Allard

Head of Primary School

Danielle has been in charge of developing and implementing the Primary Curriculum and Assessment structure at La Garenne since 2018. She has also introduced Cambridge English qualifications. Danielle previously taught in England and often travels abroad to visit schools and attend leadership workshops. Danielle plays an active role in classroom teaching and works closely with her primary school colleagues to give each child the confidence to reach their full potential. A rewarding feature of her role is getting to know the families and working with them to support their children’s learning and development.

Danielle Allard

Head of Primary School

Mark Silverstein

Director of Advancement and Admissions

Mark Silverstein, born in New York City in 1968, holds both Swiss and American nationalities. Graduate of NYU and Hofstra University, he grew up in Switzerland and has lived in several countries including Belgium, Spain, and the USA. His professional career includes executive positions in the American Red Cross, Mount Sinai Hospital, and several international schools in Switzerland, such as Aiglon College, Institut Florimont in Geneva, and College and Lycee Saint-Charles in Porrentruy. He has served on several boards such as Counterpart International, the Human and Civil Rights Organizations of America, and the End Hunger Project (Switzerland Chapter). He is also a municipal councillor in Bourg-en-Lavaux. When Mark is not travelling the world to represent the school, he can be found guiding visitors, parents, and agents around the school grounds, introducing them to the campus and its community.

Mark Silverstein

Director of Advancement and Admissions

Our History

2025
2023
2022
2019
2017
2015
2014
2012
2010
2008
2004
1980
1966
1947
1820

2025

Launch of new Sports Centre

We are delighted to announce that as of today, our plans are on track to start building our new sports centre in Spring 2025. It will be just a few steps from the Le Roc campus. The building should be ready in time to celebrate the School's 80th birthday in June 2027

2023

Opening of new Chalet Millenium Early Years

2022

La Garenne marks its 75th Anniversary

La Garenne marks its 75th Anniversary, celebrating a history of education in a warm, family atmosphere where each child is prepared for the challenges ahead.

2019

Senior School Le Roc and IB Programmes

La Garenne Senior School is a fully accredited International Baccalaureate® World School providing outstanding education for students aged from 14 to 18. We offer the IB Middle Years Programme, the IB Diploma Programme, and the La Garenne High School Diploma Programme. Small class sizes favour a personalised approach based on inquiry and investigative learning. Teaching and learning for senior students takes place at Le Roc, a newly-renovated building just a few steps from the original La Garenne campus. Le Roc has state-of-the-art classrooms, a design studio, and a fitness centre. It also hosts a large dining hall, several libraries, a multi-use Community Floor, and modern en-suite accommodation for boarding students. Our Senior School embodies all the values that have served La Garenne’s students so well for generations. Le Roc is designed to nurture the talents of each student and meet their individual needs. The boarding environment creates the stability and structure for each student to thrive and develop socially and academically.

2017

La Garenne marks its 70th Anniversary

La Garenne marks its 70th Anniversary, celebrating a history of education in a warm, family atmosphere where each child is prepared for the challenges ahead.

2015

Chalet Beau Site Building

In 2015, La Garenne begins construction of the new ‘Beau Site’ building to provide junior students with en-suite bedrooms, common rooms and relaxation areas, as well as a multi-function room for theatre, exams and celebrations.

2014

Renovation of La Garenne Boarding House

The bedrooms, dining room and administrative offices within La Garenne main building are sensitively modernised, retaining the charming chalet style but upgrading functionality. Cosy bedrooms, modern bathrooms, spacious dining room with mountain views, and upgraded offices serve the school community well, whilst retaining a ‘home away from home’ feel.

2012

Chalet Académia

Chalet Académia, with classrooms for Primary and MYP, opens its doors. With its charming chalet-style facade and modern comforts, combined with the latest technology, Académia is truly a state-of-the-art learning environment with a stylish and cosy mountain atmosphere.

2010

Two plots of land are purchased

Two new plots of land are purchased and work on the new academic building ‘Académia’ begins. With nine fully equipped classrooms, a laboratory, a student lounge, and a library, separate locker rooms, offices and facilities for the disabled, ‘Academia’ is designed to exceed the highest academic standards.

2008

Grégory and Céline Méan

Grégory Méan with his wife Céline, a former student of La Garenne, succeed Christophe and Clare. Their main goal is to perpetuate the traditional values and educational philosophy of the family.

2004

Christophe Méan

Christophe Méan (second son of the Méan family) takes over the direction of the school.

1980

Mr. and Mrs. Méan make their dream become reality by taking over the ownership and management of the school.

They continue to modernise and enlarge the building, increase the number of students enrolled and achieve real progress in the development of the English section.

1966

Monsieur & Madame de Lattre take over the direction of the school. This dynamic couple decides to enlarge the existing building and create an English section, which will lead to a great success. The afternoon naps (siestas) are replaced with various sports activities for the children to enjoy and benefit from.