European School
Encyclopedia
The European Schools are co-educational schools providing nursery
, primary and secondary. They are established to provide free education for children of personnel of the European Institutions
and leading to the European Baccalaureate. Other children may be admitted subject to the availability of places. All full-time teachers are appointed by their national governments, after completing a selection procedure.
in 1953:
, with the support of the Community's institutions and the Luxembourg Government. The first European school was established in a suburb of Luxembourg
in that year, for the children of the officials of the European Coal and Steel Community.
It was an experiment to standardize teaching standards amongst countries. Different governments and Ministries of Education co-operated in matters of curricula
, appointment of teachers, inspection and recognition of levels attained. The success of this educational experiment encouraged the European Economic Community
and Euratom to press for the establishment of other European Schools at their various centres.
In April 1957 the future of this and later European schools was secured by the Statute of the European School, a treaty
signed by the Member States of the Community. The signing of Protocol made the Luxembourg School the first official European School. The first European Baccalaureate
was held there in July 1959 and the qualification was recognised as fulfilling basic entrance requirements by all universities of the member states. The United Kingdom acceded to that Statute in 1972. The present Convention defining the Statute of the European Schools dates from 1994. The schools are thus established by intergovernmental decree.
Children may choose to do two of the following in year 3: Latin, Music or Art
where the lessons are taught in the language being learned. These foreign languages lessons are shared with pupils from other language streams. The idea is to encourage the pupils to use the language they are learning as a means of crossing the communication barrier between themselves and pupils from other language streams (although in practice, the pupils often communicate using the national language
of the host country of the European School or some other widely-spread language such as English). In later years of the secondary school, History and Geography are also taught in the first foreign language.
Many of the pupils find themselves in a foreign country, so are surrounded by a foreign language. Some pick it up through language immersion
, hence, some lessons are taught in the national language of the host country.
is taken at the end of the seventh year of secondary education. It is awarded only by the currently thirteen European Schools and should be distinguished from the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the baccalaureate of various national systems. Details of this examination are set out in the Annex of the Statute of the European School and in the Regulations for the European Baccalaureate, available from the schools.
The European Baccalaureate requires students to take 11 subjects, with differing weighting according to the course choices made when commencing the Baccaluareate (The final mark is calculated as a percentage, where 60% is a pass).
The European Baccalaureate is administered and directly supervised by an external examining board appointed annually by the Board of Governors. The examining board consists of up to three representatives of each member state, who must satisfy the conditions governing the appointment of equivalent examining boards in their respective countries. It is presided over by a senior university educator appointed by each member state in turn, assisted by a member of the Board of Inspectors of the schools.
Article 5 (2) of the Statute provides that holders of the Baccalaureate shall:
The Baccalaureate is a two year course and assesses the performance of students in the subjects taught in secondary Years 6–7.
The first awards of the European Baccalaureate were made in 1959.
.
An non-profit organisation, democratically elected, independent and recognized by the school community and the different official bodies of the European Schools.
A president is elected by the secondary pupils who will represent the pupil interests troughout the year and a committee is formed with a vice-president, a treasurer and a secretaire.
Parents’ Associations also operates three services on behalf of the School Community : Transports (School bus), Cantine (School restaurant) and After-School Activities (Sports and cultural activities).
CoSup became officially recognised by the European Schools Board of Governors on the 31 January 2006. CoSup members were anticipating this moment for at least two years. In fact, the whole project has been created and adopted during the 2004–2005 school year during a special meeting with all the presidents of all the Pupils Committee. After its recognition all directors have been given guidelines on how Pupils Representatives should be elected, giving the Pupils a unique way to exercice voting rights. The only other similar European School political simulation is the Model European Council, although CoSup involves real decision making and their decisions may even affect actual proposals.
CoSup at the moment has 27 members including the presidency. All members are elected by class representatives at each of the twelve schools. CoSup members are under the obligation to report back to their PCs on the progress of all matters and subjects, thus being a real simulation of politics and committees, providing a unique experience to its members and participants.
There are now 15 European Schools. There are already five European Schools in Belgium (4 in Brussels
and one in Mol.) and they are discussing building a fifth school in Brussels in an undetermined future.
As of 1 October 2007, the student population of the European Schools stood at 21 021 – of which 1 944 were in the nursery schools, 7 837 in the primary schools and 11 240 in the secondary schools.
system, regular events are held open to students from all of the schools in the system. These include the biennial Eurosport event and a Model European Parliament, and the annual European Schools Science Symposium (the winners of which represent the Europeans Schools at the EUCYS).
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
, primary and secondary. They are established to provide free education for children of personnel of the European Institutions
Institutions of the European Union
The European Union is governed by seven institutions. Article 13 of Treaty on European Union lists them in the following order: the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European...
and leading to the European Baccalaureate. Other children may be admitted subject to the availability of places. All full-time teachers are appointed by their national governments, after completing a selection procedure.
The aim
The aims of the schools were expressed in the words of Jean MonnetJean Monnet
Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet was a French political economist and diplomat. He is regarded by many as a chief architect of European Unity and is regarded as one of its founding fathers...
in 1953:
- "Educated side by side, untroubled from infancy by divisive prejudices, acquainted with all that is great and good in the different cultures, it will be borne in upon them as they mature that they belong together. Without ceasing to look to their own lands with love and pride, they will become in mind Europeans, schooled and ready to complete and consolidate the work of their fathers before them, to bring into being a united and thriving Europe."
History
The European Schools project began in October 1953 in Luxembourg, on the initiative of officials of the European Coal and Steel CommunityEuropean Coal and Steel Community
The European Coal and Steel Community was a six-nation international organisation serving to unify Western Europe during the Cold War and create the foundation for the modern-day developments of the European Union...
, with the support of the Community's institutions and the Luxembourg Government. The first European school was established in a suburb of Luxembourg
Luxembourg (city)
The city of Luxembourg , also known as Luxembourg City , is a commune with city status, and the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is located at the confluence of the Alzette and Pétrusse Rivers in southern Luxembourg...
in that year, for the children of the officials of the European Coal and Steel Community.
It was an experiment to standardize teaching standards amongst countries. Different governments and Ministries of Education co-operated in matters of curricula
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
, appointment of teachers, inspection and recognition of levels attained. The success of this educational experiment encouraged the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
and Euratom to press for the establishment of other European Schools at their various centres.
In April 1957 the future of this and later European schools was secured by the Statute of the European School, a treaty
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
signed by the Member States of the Community. The signing of Protocol made the Luxembourg School the first official European School. The first European Baccalaureate
European Baccalaureate
The European Baccalaureate is awarded to students who successfully managed to complete the final year exam at a European School. These are mainly attended by students whose parents work for a European Institution. There are currently 14 European Schools.This diploma should not be confused with...
was held there in July 1959 and the qualification was recognised as fulfilling basic entrance requirements by all universities of the member states. The United Kingdom acceded to that Statute in 1972. The present Convention defining the Statute of the European Schools dates from 1994. The schools are thus established by intergovernmental decree.
Curriculum
The curriculum is common to all fourteen schools and is centrally controlled by the Board of Inspectors and the Board of Governors. There is a strong common core throughout the secondary school.- The following subjects are compulsory for Years 1–7 of the secondary school (equivalent to Years 7–13 in EnglandEducation in EnglandEducation in England is overseen by the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Local authorities take responsibility for implementing policy for public education and state schools at a regional level....
):- First language (mother tongue)
- First foreign language (one of English, Spanish, French or German), with some schools providing additional languages such as Italian, Danish and Dutch too.
- Note: The Irish language (Gaelic) is encouraged for children of Irish parentage. While Irish law dictates that children holding Irish passports must learn Irish, there is little or no recourse for the Irish Government to make this compulsory within the European school system, being based as it is, outside the jurisdiction of the Irish legal system.
- Mathematics
- Science: Physics, Chemistry or Biology
- History
- Geography
- Ethics/religion
- Physical education
- Art and music are compulsory in Years 1–2, as is the study of a second foreign language in Years 2–5 and philosophy in Years 6–7.
Children may choose to do two of the following in year 3: Latin, Music or Art
- There is a small range of options for Years 4–5 including economics and a third or fourth foreign language, and a greater range of choices in Years 6–7.
- Science is taught as an integrated course in Years 1–3 and as three separate subjects (physics, chemistry, biology) in Years 4–5.
- History and Geography are studied in the student's first foreign language from Year 3 onwards.
- A science subject (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) is compulsory in years 6 and 7.
- In years 6–7 a student may choose not to follow Physics and/or Chemistry provided he follows a two or four hour biology course.
Foreign language education
All modern foreign languages are taught using the direct methodDirect method (education)
The direct method of teaching foreign languages, sometimes called the natural method, refrains from using the learners' native language and uses only the target language. It was established in Germany and France around 1900...
where the lessons are taught in the language being learned. These foreign languages lessons are shared with pupils from other language streams. The idea is to encourage the pupils to use the language they are learning as a means of crossing the communication barrier between themselves and pupils from other language streams (although in practice, the pupils often communicate using the national language
National language
A national language is a language which has some connection—de facto or de jure—with a people and perhaps by extension the territory they occupy. The term is used variously. A national language may for instance represent the national identity of a nation or country...
of the host country of the European School or some other widely-spread language such as English). In later years of the secondary school, History and Geography are also taught in the first foreign language.
Many of the pupils find themselves in a foreign country, so are surrounded by a foreign language. Some pick it up through language immersion
Language immersion
Language immersion is a method of teaching a second language in which the target language is used as the means of instruction. Unlike more traditional language courses, where the target language is simply the subject material, language immersion uses the target language as a teaching tool,...
, hence, some lessons are taught in the national language of the host country.
The European Baccalaureate
The European BaccalaureateEuropean Baccalaureate
The European Baccalaureate is awarded to students who successfully managed to complete the final year exam at a European School. These are mainly attended by students whose parents work for a European Institution. There are currently 14 European Schools.This diploma should not be confused with...
is taken at the end of the seventh year of secondary education. It is awarded only by the currently thirteen European Schools and should be distinguished from the International Baccalaureate (IB) and the baccalaureate of various national systems. Details of this examination are set out in the Annex of the Statute of the European School and in the Regulations for the European Baccalaureate, available from the schools.
The European Baccalaureate requires students to take 11 subjects, with differing weighting according to the course choices made when commencing the Baccaluareate (The final mark is calculated as a percentage, where 60% is a pass).
The European Baccalaureate is administered and directly supervised by an external examining board appointed annually by the Board of Governors. The examining board consists of up to three representatives of each member state, who must satisfy the conditions governing the appointment of equivalent examining boards in their respective countries. It is presided over by a senior university educator appointed by each member state in turn, assisted by a member of the Board of Inspectors of the schools.
Article 5 (2) of the Statute provides that holders of the Baccalaureate shall:
- enjoy, in the Member State of which they are nationals, all the benefits attaching to the possession of the diploma or certificate awarded at the end of secondary school education in that country; and
- be entitled to seek admission to any university in the territory of any Member State on the same terms as nationals of that Member State with equivalent qualifications.
The Baccalaureate is a two year course and assesses the performance of students in the subjects taught in secondary Years 6–7.
The first awards of the European Baccalaureate were made in 1959.
The Pupils' Committee
The Pupils' Committee seeks to represent the interests of the students of their European School whilst operating in accordance with the aims of the European Schools as expressed in the words of Jean MonnetJean Monnet
Jean Omer Marie Gabriel Monnet was a French political economist and diplomat. He is regarded by many as a chief architect of European Unity and is regarded as one of its founding fathers...
.
An non-profit organisation, democratically elected, independent and recognized by the school community and the different official bodies of the European Schools.
A president is elected by the secondary pupils who will represent the pupil interests troughout the year and a committee is formed with a vice-president, a treasurer and a secretaire.
Parents' Associations
Parents' Associations play a specific role in the institutional arrangements. They are defending and promoting the interests of Parents and pupils in the Board of each School. Through an association which federates all Associations, INTERPARENTS, they participate to the Board of Governors, the supreme body of the Institution. They are also part of the GUDEE Groupe Unitaire pour la Défense des Ecoles Européennes, which groups Parents’ Associations, Trade-Unions and other groups having an interest in the system.Parents’ Associations also operates three services on behalf of the School Community : Transports (School bus), Cantine (School restaurant) and After-School Activities (Sports and cultural activities).
Students' CoSup
CoSup stands for "Conseil Supérieur des Elèves" and represents all the Pupils Committees (PCs) of the European Schools. Each Pupils Committee has at least one member representing its ideas in the CoSup meetings, and thus CoSup is the sole representing body of the pupils in all global committees of the European School system (even if the Pupils Committees themselves are not directly elected by the pupils). CoSup represents the common aims, policies and visions of the Pupils Committees. These common interests are mainly concerned with decisions taken by the Board of Governors, which influence the school life. The CoSup supports the PCs in every possible way including co-operation and integration between the various Pupils Committees and acts as a link to the Teaching Committee, where it can voice the opinions and ideas on behalf of the PCs. The CoSup also aims to unify the European Schools by creating activities for all the schools; most famously, the annual Europarty, which is held each year in a different European city and can be attended by any European School student over the age of 16. The financial section of the CoSup, FoCom (Fonds Common) can furthermore aid the PCs financially if such a need is required.CoSup became officially recognised by the European Schools Board of Governors on the 31 January 2006. CoSup members were anticipating this moment for at least two years. In fact, the whole project has been created and adopted during the 2004–2005 school year during a special meeting with all the presidents of all the Pupils Committee. After its recognition all directors have been given guidelines on how Pupils Representatives should be elected, giving the Pupils a unique way to exercice voting rights. The only other similar European School political simulation is the Model European Council, although CoSup involves real decision making and their decisions may even affect actual proposals.
CoSup at the moment has 27 members including the presidency. All members are elected by class representatives at each of the twelve schools. CoSup members are under the obligation to report back to their PCs on the progress of all matters and subjects, thus being a real simulation of politics and committees, providing a unique experience to its members and participants.
Schools
European Schools are usually built in close proximity to a European Institution.There are now 15 European Schools. There are already five European Schools in Belgium (4 in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
and one in Mol.) and they are discussing building a fifth school in Brussels in an undetermined future.
| School | Country | Founded/Opened in |
|---|---|---|
| European School, Luxembourg I European School, Luxembourg I The European School of Luxembourg was the first of the European Schools. It was founded in October 1953 on the initiative of officials of the European Coal and Steel Community, with the support of the Community's institutions and the government of Luxembourg. In April 1957, it formally became the... (Kirchberg) |
Luxembourg | 1953 |
| European School of Brussels I European School of Brussels I The European School of Brussels I is located in Uccle, Brussels, Belgium. Founded in 1958, it was the second European School in Europe. .... (Uccle) |
Belgium | 1958 |
| European School, Mol European School, Mol The European School of Mol is third of the European Schools. It is in Mol, a municipality in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The school was established in 1960 for children of the Central Bureau for Nuclear Measurements , Euratom, Eurochemic, and the SCK•CEN personnel... |
Belgium | 1960 |
| European School, Varese European School, Varese The European School, Varese , in Varese, Italy, is a European School, one of a small number of schools founded by the European Union for the benefit of its staff in member states... |
Italy | 1960 |
| European School, Karlsruhe European School, Karlsruhe The European School in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, is one of three official European Schools in Germany. It was the fifth of fourteen such schools to be established in Europe since 1953. The school currently has around one thousand students on role across the Kindergarten, Primary School and... |
Germany | 1962 |
| European School, Bergen European School, Bergen The European School, Bergen is one of the fourteen European Schools. It is located in the town of Bergen in the Dutch province of North Holland.-History:... |
Netherlands | 1963 |
| European School of Brussels II (Woluwe) | Belgium | 1974 |
| European School, Munich European School, Munich The European School Munich is one of 14 European Schools and was established in 1977. There are currently 1457 students enrolled at the school... |
Germany | 1977 |
| European School, Culham European School, Culham The European School in Culham, Oxfordshire, is one of 14 European Schools around Europe and the only one in United Kingdom and currently has around 800 Nursery/Primary and secondary students.... |
United Kingdom | 1978 |
| European School, Brussels Brussels Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union... III |
Belgium | 2000 |
| European School, Frankfurt am Main | Germany | 2002 |
| European School, Alicante | Spain | 2002 |
| European School, Luxembourg II European School, Luxembourg II The second European School in Luxembourg was formally opened in 2004. New buildings are currently under construction on the border of the neighbouring communes of Bertrange and Mamer. Opening of the new site is scheduled for school year 2012/2013. Until the opening of the new buildings, the... (Bertrange/Mamer) |
Luxembourg | 2012 |
| European School Brussels IV (Laeken, temporarily situated in Berkendael) | Belgium | 2006 |
| European School, Strasbourg | France | 2008 |
As of 1 October 2007, the student population of the European Schools stood at 21 021 – of which 1 944 were in the nursery schools, 7 837 in the primary schools and 11 240 in the secondary schools.
European School Activities
To encourage a feeling if community within the European SchoolEuropean School
The European Schools are co-educational schools providing nursery, primary and secondary. They are established to provide free education for children of personnel of the European Institutions and leading to the European Baccalaureate. Other children may be admitted subject to the availability of...
system, regular events are held open to students from all of the schools in the system. These include the biennial Eurosport event and a Model European Parliament, and the annual European Schools Science Symposium (the winners of which represent the Europeans Schools at the EUCYS).
External links
- Official site of the European Schools
- Alumni Europae - Alumni Association for former students of the European Schools
- The Site of the Former Pupils of the European Schools
- Language sections in the European Schools – Lists which language sections exist in the different schools.
- Department for Education and skills
- Pupils Committee of the European School of Luxembourg I – The Pupils Committee Forum *NEW*
- European School Culham by 2005 Baccalaureate Students
- GUDEE Groupe Unitaire pour le Développement des Ecoles Européennes
- INTERPARENTS
- Official website of the European School, Mol
- Official website of the European School, Munich
- Parents Association at the European School, Mol (B)
- Parents Association at the European School, Frankfurt (GE)
- Parents Association at the European School, Alicante (ES)
- Official Website of the European School, Uccle (BE)
Source
- Department for Education and Skills
- Minutes of the ES Board of Governors
- Secretary General of the ES Website