European Schools facts for kids
The European Schools (also known as Schola Europaea) are a special group of international schools. They were created to teach the children of people who work for the European Union (EU). These schools are unique because they teach in many different languages, helping students learn together from various countries. They also offer a special diploma called the European Baccalaureate, which is recognized across Europe.
The idea for these schools started in 1953. People working for the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg wanted a good school for their children. Jean Monnet, a key figure in creating the EU, helped make this private school into an official, intergovernmental project in 1957. This meant that different countries worked together to run and fund the schools. Over time, more European Schools opened near other EU offices. In 2002, the organization officially became "European Schools" to reflect its growth.
Since 2005, the European Schools organization has also allowed other schools in EU countries to teach its special curriculum and offer the European Baccalaureate. This means more students can get a European-style education.
The main group that runs the European Schools is called the Board of Governors. It includes education ministers from EU countries, representatives from the European Commission, and even representatives from parents and students!
As of September 2017, there were 13 European Schools directly managed by the organization in six EU countries. By September 2021, 20 more schools in 13 EU countries were approved to teach the European Schools curriculum.
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Schola Europaea
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| Formation | April 12, 1957 |
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| Founders |
Inner Six states
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| Founded at | Luxembourg City, Luxembourg |
| Type | Intergovernmental organisation |
| Purpose | Education |
| Headquarters | Office of the Secretary-General of the European Schools rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium |
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Region
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European Union |
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Membership
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Secretary General
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Andreas Beckmann |
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Main organ
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Board of Governors |
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Formerly called
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European School |
Contents
How the European Schools Started
Early Days in Luxembourg
After the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up in Luxembourg in 1952, many officials moved there with their families. Soon, it became clear that their children needed schools that taught in their own languages. Without this, it was hard to get people from different countries to move and work for the ECSC.
In 1953, some ECSC employees started a small school in Luxembourg. It offered nursery and primary education for their children. The ECSC helped pay for it, and teachers were hired by the association.
However, this small school couldn't provide secondary education. So, in 1954, Jean Monnet, the head of the ECSC, invited education leaders from the six founding countries to Luxembourg. They decided to create a school with "intergovernmental" status. This meant the governments would officially support it. Teachers would be sent from their home countries, and their salaries would be paid by their governments. The first secondary classes started in October 1954.
Becoming Official
On April 12, 1957, the six ECSC countries signed a special agreement called the Statute of the European School. This agreement made the school an official public institution. It gave the school the power to manage itself and achieve its goals. The Statute also set up important groups to run the school, like the Board of Governors and Boards of Inspectors.
Growing Across Europe
New Schools Open
After the first school in Luxembourg, more European Schools were opened. This happened as new European organizations like the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) were formed. New schools opened in places like Brussels (Belgium), Mol (Belgium), Varese (Italy), Karlsruhe (Germany), Bergen (Netherlands), and Munich (Germany).
To help set up these new schools, the governments signed another agreement in 1962. This agreement linked the new schools to the original 1957 Statute.
More Countries Join
As the European Communities grew, more countries joined. In 1973, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Ireland became members and also joined the European Schools agreement. Later, Greece, Spain, and Portugal joined in the 1980s, and Finland joined in 1995. Each new country meant the schools had to teach students from even more different backgrounds.
Updating for a Bigger EU
By the 1990s, the European Communities became the European Union. With more countries joining, the rules for the European Schools needed an update. So, in 1994, a new agreement was signed. This new agreement replaced the old one from 1957. It officially started in 2002. Today, all 27 EU member states, plus the EU itself and Euratom, are part of this agreement.
What Happened with Brexit?
When the United Kingdom left the European Union (this was called Brexit), it also decided to leave the European Schools agreement. The UK officially left the European Schools system on August 31, 2021.
This change affected the Europa School UK in Oxfordshire. This school used to be an "Accredited European School." However, only schools in EU member states can have this status. So, the Europa School UK's special status ended on August 31, 2021, and it could no longer offer the European Baccalaureate.
Why European Schools Are Important
The first European School opened just eight years after World War II. Its founders had a big vision. They wanted children whose parents had fought on opposite sides of the war to learn together. Students would even learn history and geography in a foreign language, seeing things from different viewpoints.
As René Mayer, a leader of the ECSC, said in 1957, "May the Europe of the European schools definitively take the place of the Europe of the war cemeteries." This powerful idea is also written in Latin on a special parchment sealed in the foundation stone of every European School. It says:
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.
This means the schools aim to help students grow up without old prejudices. They learn about different cultures and realize they belong together as Europeans, while still loving their home countries. They are prepared to help build a strong and united Europe.
How European Schools Are Run
The Board of Governors
The Board of Governors is the main decision-making body for all European Schools. It makes choices about education, how the schools are managed, and their money. When the Board isn't meeting, its powers are handled by the Secretary-General.
Who is on the Board?
The Board includes education ministers (or their representatives) from each EU country. There are also representatives from the European Commission and the European Patent Office. Teachers, parents, and even students have representatives on the Board. Teachers and parents have some voting rights, while student representatives attend as observers.
Helping the Board Decide
Before the Board of Governors makes big decisions, ideas are discussed in special committees. The Joint Teaching Committee looks at proposals about how the schools are organized, what they teach, and other learning matters. The Budgetary Committee examines the money side of things, like how much new ideas will cost and the budgets for each school.
Boards of Inspectors
Two Boards of Inspectors check the quality of education. One board is for the primary and nursery sections, and the other is for the secondary section. Each of the 27 EU countries has one inspector on each board.
Administrative Boards for Each School
Each European School has its own Administrative Board. This board is in charge of the daily running of that specific school. The Secretary-General of the European Schools leads this board. Other members include the school's director, a representative from the European Commission, elected teachers, parents, and staff. Students also have elected representatives who observe most meetings.
Directors and Teachers
Each European School has a Director, who is like the head teacher. They are appointed for nine years. There are also usually two deputy directors. Some teachers are sent by their home countries for up to nine years. Other teachers are hired locally in the country where the school is located.
Staff Committees
Teachers at each European School elect representatives to a Staff Committee. These committees represent teachers' interests on the Board of Governors and other important groups.
Complaints Board
The Complaints Board is like an independent court for the European Schools system. It handles any official complaints because the schools have a unique legal status.
Parents' Associations
Every European School has a Parents' Association. These groups help with things like school transportation, canteen services, and after-school activities. Any parent with a child in the school can join. These associations also have a voice on the Administrative Board of their school. Through a larger group called InterParents, they can even participate in meetings of the Board of Governors, helping to shape the future of all European Schools.
Pupils' Committees and CoSup
Students at each European School have the right to organize themselves through a Pupils' Committee. These committees are led by a democratically elected president. They help represent student interests in how the school is run.
The Pupils' Committees from all European Schools are connected through an organization called CoSup. This stands for Conseil Supérieur des Elèves, which means "Higher Council of Students." Each Pupils' Committee sends two representatives to CoSup meetings. CoSup is officially recognized by the Board of Governors. It represents student interests in important discussions about teaching and at the Board of Governors meetings. CoSup also helps organize the annual Euronight, a big event for students over 16 from all European Schools.
See also
- Accredited European School
- European Baccalaureate
- European School
