Meet the Director General at Geneva English School – Christina Matillon

Since 1961, Geneva English School (GES) has been offering a high-quality British education to families in Geneva. Founded by parents in one room with one teacher, it has grown into a thriving school across two campuses, welcoming students aged 3 to 18.

Today, GES reflects the diversity of its community, with more than 60 nationalities represented – including many Swiss families – within a warm, inclusive environment.

We recently sat down with Christina Matillon, Director General of GES, to talk about her background, experience, and vision for the school’s future.

You have had a very interesting professional journey. Not only do you have extensive school leadership experience, but you have also held roles in the telecommunications and banking sectors. How have these experiences impacted your approach as Director General?

After completing my first degree in Economics and then earning an MBA, I gained experience across several industries in Canada, the UK, and Switzerland. Each role reinforced the same essential skills— communication, collaboration, adaptability, and empathy.

What has always stood out to me, though, is the importance of customer service. In my view, education is the most important service industry of all. Children only get one chance at their school journey, and it’s our duty to make it excellent – helping them thrive and reach their full potential.

For most families, choosing a private school is one of the biggest financial decisions they’ll ever make, second only to buying a home. It’s natural for parents to expect exceptional service in return— whether in the classroom or in every interaction with the school. Their trust and investment, both personal and financial, must always be respected.

My business background has given me a strong foundation in management. While I am actively involved in pedagogical matters as Director General, my approach is to empower our educational leaders to take the lead in that domain. I focus on relieving them of as much of the operational and administrative burden as possible. This
allows them to dedicate their time and expertise to what matters most: world-class teaching, learning, and pastoral care.

How do you approach curriculum development at GES and what role do teachers and the wider school community play in this?

Curiosity is the gateway to learning, so we design our curriculum to spark students’ natural curiosity. Subject experts shape knowledge-rich journeys that help students make sense of the world, while teachers guide them through carefully sequenced lessons that build depth, challenge, and critical thinking.

Our curriculum runs from the Early Years through to GCSE and A Level, giving every student the opportunity to grow, flourish, and reach their potential. Adaptive teaching ensures all learners can access it, with support tailored to individual needs.

Although the English National Curriculum provides the foundation, we adapt it to reflect our location in Geneva and the diversity of our student body. Geography draws on the stunning local landscape, History highlights interconnected global perspectives, and in English and the arts, students engage with a wide range of voices and traditions from around the world.

We view curriculum development as an ongoing dialogue between teachers, students, and the wider community. It evolves with new ideas and discoveries, always aiming to prepare students for a complex, diverse, and international world.

What does professional development look like for GES teachers and staff?

At GES, professional development is a key priority – but first and foremost, we place great emphasis on recruiting individuals who already bring the qualifications, experience, and mindset needed to succeed. We also look for educators who are passionate, driven, and committed to lifelong learning. Once on board, we focus on supporting and growing our team, particularly those in key leadership roles, so they can lead by example in raising standards across the school.

We offer school-wide and subject-specific training, as well as essential certifications such as Child Safeguarding. However, the most impactful professional development is personalised. Each team member works with us to identify opportunities that best support their growth.

For example, our Director of Inclusion and SEN Coordinator recently completed a Master’s in Special Educational Needs; our Head of Pastoral Care has pursued advanced safeguarding certifications; and our Head of Chemistry is studying for a Master’s in Educational Leadership. This tailored approach ensures our staff continue to evolve and lead with expertise, passion, and purpose.

How do you oversee both the primary and secondary divisions at GES to ensure continuity in student experience from early years to A-Level?

One of the benefits of being a small school is the strong relationships we build—with students, families, and colleagues. Even though GES operates across two campuses, we see ourselves as one school, one community, one family.

I divide my time equally between both sites to stay connected and to foster meaningful links. We are very intentional about easing transitions, especially from Primary to Secondary. Our House system provides continuity across year groups, and older Primary students regularly visit the Secondary campus for activities like Science Club. In Year 6, they attend a dedicated transition day and their teachers meet with Year 7 staff to ensure a smooth handover.

Older students often return to the Primary campus to mentor younger pupils or support events, reinforcing that sense of belonging. Academically, our curriculum is carefully sequenced so students progress smoothly through each stage, building confidence as they go.

As students move further into Secondary, we guide them through subject choices at GCSE and A Level with a personalised approach, using our knowledge of their strengths and interests to shape their path. This all-through model creates consistency, stability, and the confidence students need to achieve their best.

How does GES celebrate cultural diversity and how does this influence student learning and school life? And, how do you promote inclusivity and a sense of community among students and families?

As a Swiss school following an English curriculum, GES is proudly international home to more than 60 nationalities and a culture of genuine respect for each other’s differences. Community is one of our core values, and we celebrate the unique contributions of every student and family.

We service many local and long-term expatriate families, and one of our key goals is to ensure that students develop a deep appreciation for Swiss culture alongside a strong command of the local language. Although we are deliberately not a bilingual school – believing that the benefits of a focused approach to learning in one principal language outweigh those of a bilingual approach – we offer a robust language programme. All students learn French from Early Years, with tailored instruction to match their proficiency levels. Beginning in Year 5, students also study German and Spanish, giving them a significant linguistic advantage as they progress into Secondary.

Beyond language, students have numerous opportunities to immerse themselves in Swiss and Genevan culture, whether through visits to local museums, CERN, or the United Nations; participation in important local traditions like the Course de l’Escalade; outdoor activities in the mountains and on the lake which is right on our doorstep; or by engaging with guest speakers from the wider community.

One of the highlights of our school year is the International Carnival, a vibrant celebration where families share their cultural heritage through traditional foods, national costumes, and festive activities, creating a true gastronomic world tour. We also observe a variety of cultural festivals throughout the year, helping students gain insight into diverse traditions, beliefs, and customs from around the globe.

Equally, we celebrate non-visible differences such as neurodiversity. With small class sizes, we can provide personalised support, ensuring all students are fully integrated and valued for the perspectives they bring.

Together, these experiences create the warmth and sense of belonging that define GES—captured in our vision: Excellence with a heart.

GES has an extensive extracurricular offering. How are these activities important to student development?

A key strength of the UK educational approach – and something we fully embrace at GES – is nurturing the whole child alongside academic excellence. Our goal is to help students grow into well-rounded, confident individuals ready for life beyond the classroom.

Through sport, music, drama, STEM, art, outdoor learning such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, and enrichment activities linked to the curriculum, students can explore new interests, discover talents, and develop lifelong passions.

These experiences build vital skills like teamwork, resilience, leadership, and adaptability. They also strengthen friendships across year groups and deepen relationships with teachers in new contexts, giving us a fuller understanding of each child.

Sport plays a particularly important role, offering balance to academic life, supporting mental wellbeing, and boosting cognitive development. Importantly, our co-curricular programme also supports students’ ambitions beyond GES. Our graduates go on to top universities in the UK, Europe, and North America, where the skills and achievements gained through extracurricular involvement often help them stand out through the highly competitive application process.

Your 2024 and 2025 academic results were excellent across GCSE and A-Levels, how do you keep GES’ diverse student body motivated and engaged to achieve at this level?

Achievement and Excellence are two of our five core values, and strong academic outcomes have always been part of GES’ DNA. Our 2025 results were our best yet, with a 99% A Level pass rate and A*-A grades nearly two and a half times the UK average. At GCSE, the pass rate reached 98%, with top grades awarded at six times the UK average.

Families often choose GES because of this track record, and their own high aspirations create a strong home–school partnership that supports student success. Our dedicated teachers are central to this, going above and beyond to provide guidance, encouragement, and engaging learning experiences with the help of modern resources and facilities.

Equally important is the motivation our students develop when they engage with subjects they genuinely enjoy and in which their natural abilities lie. Our A Level programme enables them to pursue their individual strengths and passions, creating a tailored academic path that aligns with their personal aspirations and supports their progression to university and future careers.