Frequently Asked Questions
Are you considering enrolling your child in our school? Browse our frequently asked questions section for all the essential information.
My child is not Catholic, can he/she attend St Dominic Savio ?
Yes, you don't have to be Catholic to be a pupil at Saint Dominic Savio, which welcomes children of all faiths. On the other hand, the daily moments of recollection and the high points of the school community (masses on the major feasts of the liturgical calendar, morning recollections) that punctuate the school year are open to all pupils.
Which classes will open at the start of the 2025 school year, and what courses will they be part of?
The school welcomes children from nursery school (aged 2 and a half) to 1st Elementary (3P).
The curriculum is international in the sense that it welcomes pupils from different school systems who wish to benefit from high-quality French-language teaching that prepares them for both the requirements of the French Education Nationale and the Plan d'Etudes Romand (Canton de Vaud).
Can I enrol my child if he or she does not speak French?
Yes, because from nursery school (18 months) or kindergarten (30 months), bilingual teaching enables children to master the basics for a full education in the French system.
Every year, bi-national families, some of whom are non-French speakers, choose Saint Dominique Savio because their children are able to express themselves in French, both orally and in writing, after just a few months.
Why a Saint Dominic Savio school in Lausanne? What makes it special?
Saint Dominique Savio was founded in response to growing demand from families in Lausanne for a school on a human scale that combines educational excellence with family values.
Indeed, thanks to well-established communication between the school and families, a genuine co-education takes place on a daily basis, made possible in particular by :
- teachers who are available and easy to get to
- the alignment of educational principles
- the deliberate choice of a very limited number of pupils per class (between 10 and 12)
What financial advantages does the school offer?
In order to enable all families who share our values and our educational approach to enrol their child/children, the school has introduced certain advantages or reductions, such as :
- 20% discount on school and canteen fees from the 2nd child onwards;
- Free enrolment or re-enrolment fees before 1 March 2025;
- 3% discount on school fees for annual payments made before 1 September 2025;
- Savio grant: to benefit from this, apply directly HERE
In addition, for all pupils under the age of 4, childcare costs may be tax-exempt.
What is the relationship between the Les Petits Savio nursery and the school? What is the TPS section ?
The Les Petits Savio nursery operates independently of the school and welcomes children from the age of 18 months in dedicated areas within the school premises.
Children in the nursery benefit from a bilingual (French-English) environment.
The TPS is a class that allows families who so wish to make the transition from nursrey to school. Pupils are enrolled from the age of 2 and a half.
The two directors (Ms Grana for the crèche, Ms Mathieu for the school) can thus guarantee families a smooth transition from nursery to school, in line with the educational approach and values taught at school.
Every year, between 2 and 5 children apply from the nursery to join the GST.
You have small classes. How are things organised on a day-to-day basis?
Each class has an average of between 10 and 12 pupils, depending on the level:
- TPS / PS: 10 pupils
- MS/GS: between 12 and 14 pupils
- GS/CP: between 12 and 14 pupils
Given that these are double-level classes, and that teaching is divided into three areas:
- French and Maths: main teacher (class teacher)
- English: English-speaking teacher
- Motor skills: psychomotrician
In practice, there is a ratio of 1 teacher for every 5 pupils who carry out the activities at each level. For example: when 5 pupils in MS are in English, the 7 pupils in GS are in French.
