Our Story
Sainte Victoire International School was established in September 2011 on the beautiful Château l'Arc estate, located just twenty minutes from Aix-en-Provence. The school was founded with the vision of combining academic excellence with care and support in a human-scale environment where every student can learn, progress, and thrive at their own pace.
A historic setting in the heart of Provence
Our campus enjoys a stunning location in Provence, with views of the majestic Sainte-Victoire mountain. Located on the historic Château l'Arc estate, the school overlooks panoramic landscapes of breathtaking beauty, surrounded by an environment deeply rooted in artistic and cultural tradition.
The château was once home to renowned painter Bernard Buffet, where he created some of his most celebrated works. Sainte-Victoire mountain also inspired Paul Cézanne, who captured it in many of his paintings.
The estate has been a backdrop for several films, including Uniformes et grandes manœuvres with Fernandel (1950) and the Yves Saint Laurent biopic, as the designer and Pierre Bergé were frequent guests.
It also features an 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones II, where students can enjoy lessons during the week or as an extracurricular activity.
A strong educational vision and student-centered approach
In 2011, Frédéric Fabre, founder and head of school, established Sainte Victoire International School to deliver a distinctive educational approach, one that is student-centered and fosters meaningful learning.
His vision was to provide a rigorous and high-quality international education, in which every child, regardless of background or learning profile, could progress and thrive in a nurturing and supportive environment.
We believe that a strong education balances academic achievement with student well-being. In primary school, middle school, and high school, our educational team and dedicated teachers support each student in developing their full potential, with confidence, active listening, and respect.
Beyond our inspiring natural campus environment that fosters creativity and innovation, students benefit from a wide range of sports, artistic, and cultural activities throughout the year.
Our bilingual curriculum prepares students for two internationally recognized qualifications: the IGCSE (Cambridge) and the International Baccalaureate (IB). These prestigious programs provide pathways to leading universities worldwide, opening doors to higher education opportunities across all academic disciplines.
We hope that every student who leaves Sainte Victoire International School remembers it as a place where they felt supported, encouraged, and inspired to grow. Our goal is to provide a meaningful educational experience that leaves a lasting positive impression.
The progressive development of Sainte Victoire International School
Since its founding, Sainte Victoire International School has grown steadily, continuously expanding its learning environment to meet the diverse needs of its students.
Major milestones in the school’s history
SVIS was established in 2011 with the launch of its bilingual middle school and high school, offering an innovative approach to international education in Provence.
From the beginning, the school introduced the Cambridge IGCSE (in Year 11/Grade 10) and the IB Diploma Programme (in final year), ensuring students received a world-class education that prepared them for top universities worldwide.
Boarding was introduced the same year, initially within the château itself. To meet growing demand from both local and international families, the school later expanded its boarding facilities to a dedicated building near the main entrance of the school, featuring fully equipped, welcoming apartments housing up to three students each.
In 2014, SVIS expanded its educational offerings with the opening of its first bilingual primary school classes, welcoming children from the age of 6. This expansion completed the school’s educational pathway, now structured around three levels: primary, middle, and high school.
In 2023, SVIS joined Ermitage Education Group, marking a new chapter in its development and international outreach.
Campus expansion in 2025 and beyond
In 2025, Sainte Victoire International School entered a new phase of development, with several renovations and projects aimed at improving the students' living environment and quality of life at school.
SVIS began full renovations of its two tennis courts and launched a tennis school, offering students structured training either during the school day or as an extracurricular option.
At the same time, SVIS founded a Golf Academy, making the most of its unique location on a golf course. These additions expand the school’s already diverse sports offering, which includes horse riding, fencing, rugby, basketball, baseball, ultimate frisbee, table tennis, football, and more.
To support its continued expansion, the school also acquired the adjacent château, where new, modern classrooms will soon welcome high school students in fully renovated classrooms.
Looking ahead, SVIS remains committed to ongoing investment in its campus, with a focus on comfort, student well-being, and academic success.
Part of the Ermitage Education Group
An established leader in International Education
In 2023, Sainte Victoire International School became part of the Ermitage Education Group. This network of high-quality international schools welcomes over 2,000 students aged 3 to 18 across France and Belgium.
Driven by a strong educational vision, the group places equal importance on student well-being and academic achievement. Its schools offer internationally recognised programmes such as the IB (International Baccalaureate), the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education), and the BFI (French International Baccalaureate), and share strong common values: excellence, care, and openness to the world.
We celebrate ambition and uniqueness.
In our schools everybody belongs, grows and thrives.
Be bold, be open-minded, be you
Jim Doherty, Ermitage Education Group President
The benefits of being part of a global network
Being part of the Ermitage Education Group gives SVIS access to shared resources and educational best practices, encourages collaboration through joint projects between schools, and fosters collective initiatives that support student development and university guidance.
It also enables regular exchanges between educational teams, which enrich teaching approaches in each institution. Finally, SVIS benefits from the group’s growing reputation, which helps strengthen the visibility and recognition of its academic programmes in France and internationally.
Contact Us
Would you like to offer your child a bilingual, caring and international environment? Contact us to visit our campus, meet our team and be inspired by our unique teaching methods!
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