Boarding School for Boys in France

Chavagnes International College:
Chavagnes International College in the Vendee in western France is a private Catholic boarding school for boys, teaching through English and committed to delivering a balanced education to its students.

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First founded in 1802 by the Venerable Louis-Marie Baudouin, Chavagnes entered a new chapter of its history in September 2002, when it re-opened as an International College, teaching through English. In a beautiful building, steeped in history, our College offers boys a chance to grow in knowledge and faith, in a spirit of adventure, prayer and respect for tradition.

With a strong record of university entrance (UK universities, including Oxford; plus French, Spanish and American universities) and a flourishing programme of sport, drama and choral music, Chavagnes places itself in the British public school tradition. We are a Christian community of teachers and scholars, with the worship of God at the heart of our life as a College.

British GCSE and A-level Qualifications for full time male pupils from 11-18 years; 1 and 2-year 'Year Abroad' Programmes (with organised pan-European excursions during the holidays) for US students; Volunteer Programmes for College graduates.

Outside lessons, pupils need the chance to unwind, but leisure should not be about simply about doing nothing. As the philosopher Josef Pieper has taught us, leisure – in the sense of a space for contemplation – is the very basis of culture. In the Book of Genesis we learn of God’s rest on the seventh day. It is from this that we take our philosophy of leisure. The Creator looked at what He had made and saw that it was good. In the same way our leisure time will not be a question of a total break with the rest of the life of the school; it will enable to us to enjoy other areas of the timetable more, by giving us time to reflect and take a look at the bigger picture, without having to worry about exams or deadlines.

The Vendee has the advantage of being very easy to get to, yet far enough south to enjoy a warmer climate, making it an ideal choice for families with children.

The department of the Vendee is situated in Western France on the Atlantic with vast fields of sunflowers coast with the Charente-Maritime to the south and Brittany to the north, the area has diverse countryside. In the far south of the Vendee the land is a huge agriculture area with a wide variety of crops and with far reaching views, the most spectacular being sunflowers and they never fail to bring a smile to your face when you see them!

The Vendee and Charente are one of the popular holiday spots and have long been a favourite with the French. This coastline is particularly suitable for families with young children, with more than 100 miles of golden beaches edged with dunes and pine forests.