At the International School of Lausanne, maintaining professional boundaries between students and teachers is a top priority, both during school years and after graduation. In fact, recent policy changes now enforce a three-year post-graduation period in which the same student-teacher relationship rules remain in place. ISL’s decision to set the limit at three years was seen as a balanced approach that still ensures student protection. The reasoning behind these rules is clear: as students mature, the nature of conversations and interactions can shift quickly, and without clear boundaries, the power dynamic between teacher and student can become problematic. As cases from other institutions have shown that without such safeguarding rules, students may be quite vulnerable to manipulation, despite whether or not the age gap is minimal, due to the unequal relationship and strong power imbalance.
Casual teacher-student meetups outside of school are strictly prohibited; even at organized events like Year 13 graduation celebrations. Teachers can only attend events that include students in pairs or groups, one example being at restaurants.. Alumni are welcome to visit ISL, but they must obtain an official visitor pass to maintain transparency and safety. Despite these rules, ISL ensures that students and teachers can remain connected in a professional capacity. The school maintains an extensive alumni database, coordinated by the marketing team, which enables alumni to stay in touch through school emails and organized events. Teachers may meet past students at official school functions or international alumni gatherings, such as those hosted in the Netherlands – but nothing extends beyond that.
ISL has quite a proactive stance on safeguarding. From the outset, the school establishes an environment that discourages any inappropriate relationships. Every concern, no matter how minor or unbelievable, is taken seriously, reinforcing a culture where student safety is paramount. By maintaining strict policies and clear boundaries, ISL ensures a safe and professional academic environment for both students and staff instead of blurred lines.
