Ermitage, founded during wartime, is a proud Round Square member. It cultivates global citizens through immersive exchanges, adventures, and service, grounded in six core values fostering leadership, empathy, and engagement.
A Legacy of Purpose and Internationalism
Since its creation in 1941, Ermitage International School has always embraced courage and compassion. That legacy continues today through its Round Square affiliation, which provides students with transformative opportunities for growth, cultural exchange, and meaningful engagement.
Round Square brings together more than 270 schools across five continents, all committed to the six IDEALS: Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership, and Service. At Ermitage, these values are not abstract principles: they are lived experiences that begin in the early years and continue throughout the entire school journey.
Exchange: Exploring the World, Building Lifelong Lessons
Round Square was born from a partnership of eight pioneering schools committed to character education. It draws inspiration from the visionary principles of Kurt Hahn and diverse cultural influences around the globe. Here, at Ermitage, we take great inspiration from his words: “There is more to us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps for the rest of our lives we will be unwilling to settle for less.”
Beginning in 3ème/MYP4 and 2nde/MYP5, students embark on international exchanges with other schools on five continents. These are not just trips: they are immersive experiences that challenge students to adapt, communicate, and collaborate beyond their comfort zones.
Whether students are hosting a peer from Australia or travelling to South Africa, they return transformed: more open, more confident, and more aware. One student shared: “I learned more in four weeks in Peru than I ever imagined… understanding how people live, learn, and connect in a completely different context.”
These cross-cultural adventures deepen empathy, bolster language skills, and spark lifelong friendships – cornerstones of a truly international education.
Adventure: Learning Beyond the Classroom
Adventure is not optional: it is integral. Inspired by Round Square, and by Kurt Hahn’s educational philosophy, students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones physically, emotionally, and intellectually. These experiences develop key life skills. Students learn to navigate new environments, solve problems collaboratively, and reflect on their growth. Adventure at
Ermitage is not a break from learning, it is how learning lives.
This could mean skiing in the Alps, exploring historical London, or participating in virtual Round Square Postcards. These virtual meetups allow students to engage in global conversations on themes such as identity, sustainability, or peace. Connecting with peers from other Round Square schools, students share ideas, challenge assumptions, and grow in confidence.
Purpose: Serving with Heart
The Round Square pillars of Environment and Service mobilise our students to act with intention. Local and global service projects challenge them to act with empathy and responsibility. On campus, students lead forest clean-ups, fundraisers, and intergenerational outreach programmes. As an example, one meaningful initiative proposed by our students, involved crafting personalised Christmas cards for seniors in the local retirement homes. A simple act that sparked joy and human connection.
Beyond the local community, students participate in Round Square service projects across the globe. From building classrooms in Thailand to working with communities in Johannesburg, Ermitage students contribute with humility and curiosity. Rather than remaining passive observers, they become active contributors, developing cultural awareness, communication skills, and teamwork through meaningful partnerships. In doing so, they return not as visitors, but as thoughtful participants in a shared global journey.
Primary and middle school students are just as involved. Primary students organise fundraising events to support causes like education access and child welfare, while Collège students raise thousands each year for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque and ICU2 through the Sponsored Run. These early acts of service lay the foundation for a lifelong commitment to ethical action.
Leadership and Voice: Leading with Voice, Shaping the Future
Being a Round Square school means students do not just follow, they lead. Ermitage delegates participate in regional and international Round Square conferences to debate global issues, champion initiatives, and present solutions.
At the 56th Round Square International Conference in Bogotá, Colombia (September 2024), hosted by five local schools under the theme “Blooming from the Past”, students explored global challenges and immersed themselves in rich cultural exchange. They spoke with conviction, learned with humility, and acted with purpose, drawing on historical insight, civic values, environmental awareness, and cross-cultural understanding. They returned home more empowered, empathetic, and equipped to shape a globally connected future.
Closer to home, initiatives like the Collège’s Global Citizenship assemblies, held fortnightly in English and French, foster public speaking, critical thinking, and democratic dialogue. These sessions reflect Round Square’s core values of Democracy and Leadership.
And at Ermitage these values are not just ideals we teach, it is lived. Through Round Square Student Committees and Student Councils, students help shape school life, plan events, run service projects, represent their peers, and collaborate with staff.
By engaging in real dialogue and shared decision-making, they experience democratic leadership firsthand. They learn to listen, build consensus, and lead with integrity — gaining the tools for academic success, civic engagement, and ethical leadership far beyond the classroom.
Outcomes: Achieving Excellence, Developing Purpose
What does this all lead to? Ermitage International School graduates leave with more than academic accolades. They are bilingual, globally minded, and community-oriented individuals ready to succeed in a fast-changing world. With impressive IB and French Baccalaureate results, our students are admitted to top universities including Cambridge, Imperial College London, McGill, and MIT.
Success at Ermitage is not just about grades. It is about developing character, perspective, and purpose. It is about preparing young people to lead with empathy and act with intention.
Enriching Education, Lasting Impact
Exchange, adventure, and purpose are not extra-curricular at Ermitage. They are integral to the school’s mission. Through its historic commitment to global education and its unique position as a Round Square pioneer in France, Ermitage International School empowers students to grow into resilient, empathetic global citizens with voices that matter.
Whether your child is in Primary, Collège, Lycée, or the IB Programmes, Ermitage offers a unique environment to thrive academically, personally, and globally. Transformation is our most significant achievement in today’s interconnected world, and at Ermitage, we proudly prepare our students to succeed and make a real difference in the world.
We welcome you to contact our admissions team to learn more about how the curriculum at Ermitage International School can provide your child with a strong foundation for a successful and a fulfilling future.
About Tania Ambridge
Tania Ambridge is the Round Square & International Student Exchange Coordinator at Ermitage International School. With 23+ years of teaching experience, she connects students to the world through meaningful global experiences. A lover of travel, sports, and books, she brings energy and empathy to everything she does, at school and beyond.
Ermitage International School, located just 20 km from Paris, welcomes nearly 1,500 students from preschool through high school. Founded in 1941 in Maisons-Laffitte, the school offers a bilingual education with a French track from ages 3 to 18 and an international (IB) track from ages 8 to 18. Open to over 80 nationalities, Ermitage also offers boarding starting at age 11.
