Understanding the Three Senior Academic Pathways at Saint-Charles
At Saint-Charles, students entering the final two years of school (ages 16–19) can follow one of three internationally recognised academic pathways: the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), the IB Diploma Programme Courses (IB Courses), or the Saint-Charles High School Diploma (HSD). Each pathway offers a different balance of academic challenge, flexibility and university preparation while reflecting the school's commitment to developing internationally minded, bilingual and well-rounded young people.
Although the three pathways share many of the same teachers, subjects and educational philosophy, they are designed to meet different student aspirations and learning profiles.
This year, our students successfully completed the Adventurous Journey element of the Award, beginning with a practice expedition in the beautiful countryside around Saint-Ursanne. Carrying everything they needed for their journey, students worked together to navigate their route, organise themselves as a team and respond to the challenges of travelling independently through the Jura landscape.
The practice journey provided invaluable preparation for their assessed expedition on the Chasseral. Set against one of the most spectacular landscapes in the region, the final journey required students to put everything they had learned into practice. Navigation, communication, organisation and perseverance were all essential as the groups worked together to complete their routes successfully.
The experience was about much more than reaching the destination. Students learned to support one another, make decisions when tired, solve problems and take responsibility for themselves and their team. These are precisely the qualities that the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award seeks to develop.
We are extremely proud of the determination and positive spirit demonstrated by our students throughout both expeditions. Their successful completion of the assessed Adventurous Journey represents an important milestone in their Award journey.
At Saint-Charles, programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award are an important part of our commitment to developing confident, responsible and internationally minded young people, ready to embrace challenges both at school and beyond.
OUITSTANDING EDUCATION