Finishing Schools

A finishing school is a type of private school for girls that emphasizes cultural studies and prepares students especially for social activities. The name reflects that it follows ordinary school and is intended to complete the educational experience. It may consist of an intensive course, or a one-year program.

A finishing school focuses on developing a range of academic and social skills. Programs typically include subjects such as languages and communication, interpersonal skills, etiquette, and social skills but also home management, cooking, floral art, table decoration and many others.

Switzerland is noted for its private finishing schools, such as Institut Villa Pierrefeu or Institut Videmanette (now closed), where Diana, Princess of Wales studied, and Mon Fertile, where Camilla Parker Bowles was partly educated. It also is known for traditional boarding schools such as Institut Le Rosey, whose alumni include the last Shah of Iran and Rainier III of Monaco.

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The following are examples of finishing schools for young women:

Institut Villa Pierrefeu (The Original Swiss Finishing School)

Surval Mont-Fleuri (Finishing programmes are provided by Institut Villa Pierrefeu)

GSFS (Good Shepherd Finishing School, Ooty, India)

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