Navigation and service

European Schools

School

European Schools teach the children of staff of the European Institutions. Interested teachers can be seconded to the various locations in Europe.

Opportunities

  • The European idea is strengthened through joint, multilingual European education, starting in the nursery cycle through completion of the secondary cycle, which is validated by the European Baccalaureate.
  • German teachers, through secondment to one of the 13 European Schools in Belgium, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands, can become actively involved in a European environment.
  • The experience which German teachers gain at the European Schools during their secondment is an enrichment for the German school system.
  • The three European Schools in Germany increase the attractiveness of the country as a place to establish new EU institutions.

The European Schools system

The European Schools were established in 1957 to teach the children of staff of the European Communities side by side. They represent a special type of school system which involves the cooperation of the member states. Yet, the schools retain full responsibility for the syllabus, design of the education system and the diversity of cultures and languages. The Board of Governors of the European Schools is the highest decision-making body. Its members represent all the member states as well as the European Commission. The Office of the Secretary-General of the European Schools, based in Brussels, represents the Board of Governors and is administrator of the schools.

European diversity

At present, there are 13 European Schools in the following locations

  • Belgium: Brussels, Mol
  • Germany: Frankfurt am Main, Karlsruhe, Munich
  • Italy: Varese
  • Luxembourg: Luxembourg (city)
  • The Netherlands: Bergen
  • Spain: Alicante

Some 29,000 pupils are enrolled at the European Schools.

The host countries of the European Schools conclude agreements with the Board of Governors of the European Schools in which they commit themselves to provide free suitable premises for operation of the schools pursuant to the Statute of the European Schools.

Teacher secondment

The member states send teachers to the European Schools. As most of the European Schools have a German section, German teachers are in high demand. In Germany, the Länder are responsible for teacher secondment.

Accredited European Schools

The European Schools system is successful and its multilingual environment makes it attractive. As a result, public and private schools modelled after the system have been established in many countries. There are two accredited schools in Germany based on the model (in Saarland and Hesse).

What is special about the European Schools?

The European Schools were opened specifically to teach the children of the staff of EU institutions. The European syllabus is developed by the national inspectors of the EU member states. The main focus is on language instruction.

What is the European Schools leaving certificate?

After five years of a primary cycle followed by seven years of secondary cycle instruction, school education concludes with the European Baccalaureate. This leaving certificate fulfils the entrance requirements of all universities in the EU.

How can I become a teacher at a European School?

The German inspectors can provide information: https://www.eursc.eu/en/European-Schools/recruitment/teaching-staff-seconded/DE

Can I enrol my children at a European School?

The children of EU staff have priority in enrolment at the European Schools. If there is free capacity, other children can also be enrolled on a tuition basis.

Why were the European Schools established in Germany?

The European School in Karlsruhe was founded in 1962 because a European research institution was established there; the School in Munich was founded in 1977 when the European Patent Office was established there. The European School in Frankfurt was opened in 2002 in connection with the establishment of the European Central Bank.

Editorial deadline for this text: 01.11.2024

Further information