Lycée International de Saint Germain-en-Laye
Encyclopedia
The Lycée International of Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a French public school located in Saint-Germain-en-Laye
, on the western outskirts of Paris
. It is one of the most prestigious schools in France, historically achieving 99% to 100% success rate on the French baccalauréat
. Perhaps the Lycée's most unique characteristic is that it affords students the chance to operate in a truly multilingual and multicultural environment.
Students are required to speak French
and at least one other language from one of thirteen national sections: American, British, Danish, Dutch, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian (opened in 2010) and Swedish. The academic curriculum at the Lycée International supplements the French national curriculum in its entirety with the curriculum of one of the thirteen national sections.
The campus contains a preschool (maternelle), a primary school (école élémentaire), a middle school (collège), and a high school (lycée). Due to a large number of students, they may be placed on different campuses in St Germain-en-Laye. Those campuses are public French schools that have an agreement with the Lycée International to have those sections. However, in high school every student goes back to the main campus.
Since the French curriculum requires learning at least one foreign language, many students who graduate from the Lycée International are fluent in three languages.
Students who do not speak French are placed in a French immersion program called Français Spécial. After one year, they are expected to be fluent in French and are required to follow the standard French curriculum along with the rest of the student population.
Most students opt to take the international variation on the baccalauréat, called the OIB (Option Internationale du baccalauréat), in order to take advantage of their language skills. Students who sit for the baccalauréat
choose one of three streams (termed séries) in their last two lycée years. Each stream results in a specialization and carries different weights (coefficients) associated with each subject.
Baccalaureat results at the Lycée International de Saint Germain-en-Laye have traditionally fluctuated between 99% and 100%.
(SHAPE) with the aim of ensuring peace and security in the North Atlantic region, and promising European members the support of the United States in the event of any future aggression.
SHAPE was installed at Rocquencourt
, and Saint Germain-en-Laye was chosen as the place of residence for the serving officers and their families. The SHAPE Village Project was built in the grounds of the Chateau d’Hennemont to accommodate 1,500 officers and soldiers from 13 nationalities, and their families.
In January 1952, the SHAPE village school was set up in the chateau under the direction of René Tallard. By the end of the school year, 400 children were on the register, including 200 French
children, half of them inhabitants of the town. Two years later, in 1954, the school was officially renamed the NATO International School (l’Ecole Internationale de l’OTAN).
Funding from SHAPE provided the school with equipment and accommodation, including a new flagship building completed in 1960. From 1961, senior students prepared for the Diplôme des Ecoles Internationales and the following year, the school was renamed the NATO International Lycée (Lycée International de l’OTAN). The founding proviseur, René Tallard, retired in 1965.
, and the Lycée International de l’OTAN lost two thirds of its pupils at a stroke. It was an immediate challenge for the new proviseur, Edgar Scherer. His was the delicate task of working with the remaining two sections – the German and the Dutch – to persuade the educational authorities, both in France and overseas, to rebuild the life of the school which, would from now on need to count on the support of "economic expatriates" to replace those of the original military community.
By 1968, under Scherer’s leadership and direction, the school was building up strength with six sections – German, Dutch, British, American, Danish and Italian. The visionary Proviseur Scherer continued to build, experiment and develop, with the co-operation of all the active partners in the school, to create a solid base for the future of the Lycée International - until his retirement in 1989.
Thanks to state funding, the result was a new campus, including a fine new primary building. Under Maillard, other projects advanced too: the development of the network of partner schools, the drafting of a "projet d’établissement", the creation of the Japanese section in 1993; the embracing of the Option International du Baccalaureate as the final exam for senior Lycée students, and the renovation of the chateau.
In 1997, Maillard handed the baton on to Patrick Charpeil, who focused attention on the administrative complexities of the school, clarifying the legal basis of the Lycée and its component parts. Charpeil continued to oversee the restoration of the chateau and successfully liaised and lobbied with the supervising educational authorities to advance important projects concerning security, major improvements and maintenance.
Yves Lemaire, the current proviseur, took over the helm in September 2001. The challenges are as stimulating as ever: the final stages of renovation and the future use of the chateau; the pressure for increasing the number of classes at Lycée level; nation-wide administration of the OIB; the creation of the Polish section at college and Lycée level (in 2002/3) and the consolidation of the legal status of the school via a new decree.
One last important point concerns the school's academic results. It is listed as the 4th best school in the country according to L'Etudiant.
Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the centre.Inhabitants are called Saint-Germanois...
, on the western outskirts of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. It is one of the most prestigious schools in France, historically achieving 99% to 100% success rate on the French baccalauréat
Baccalauréat
The baccalauréat , often known in France colloquially as le bac, is an academic qualification which French and international students take at the end of the lycée . It was introduced by Napoleon I in 1808. It is the main diploma required to pursue university studies...
. Perhaps the Lycée's most unique characteristic is that it affords students the chance to operate in a truly multilingual and multicultural environment.
Students are required to speak French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
and at least one other language from one of thirteen national sections: American, British, Danish, Dutch, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian (opened in 2010) and Swedish. The academic curriculum at the Lycée International supplements the French national curriculum in its entirety with the curriculum of one of the thirteen national sections.
The campus contains a preschool (maternelle), a primary school (école élémentaire), a middle school (collège), and a high school (lycée). Due to a large number of students, they may be placed on different campuses in St Germain-en-Laye. Those campuses are public French schools that have an agreement with the Lycée International to have those sections. However, in high school every student goes back to the main campus.
Academics
The curriculum at the Lycée International combines the French national curriculum with the curriculum of one of the national sections. French staff teach subjects to French national standards and foreign teachers – employed in one of the system’s thirteen national sections – are given the freedom and responsibility to teach literature, language and history to their own national standards. These additional classes in the national sections provide (on a weekly basis):- Six hours of language class in the primary school
- Four hours of literature/language and two hours of history in the middle school
- Six hours of literature/language and two hours of history in the high school
Since the French curriculum requires learning at least one foreign language, many students who graduate from the Lycée International are fluent in three languages.
Students who do not speak French are placed in a French immersion program called Français Spécial. After one year, they are expected to be fluent in French and are required to follow the standard French curriculum along with the rest of the student population.
Most students opt to take the international variation on the baccalauréat, called the OIB (Option Internationale du baccalauréat), in order to take advantage of their language skills. Students who sit for the baccalauréat
Baccalauréat
The baccalauréat , often known in France colloquially as le bac, is an academic qualification which French and international students take at the end of the lycée . It was introduced by Napoleon I in 1808. It is the main diploma required to pursue university studies...
choose one of three streams (termed séries) in their last two lycée years. Each stream results in a specialization and carries different weights (coefficients) associated with each subject.
| S scientifique (sciences) |
ES sciences économiques et sociales (economics and social sciences) |
L littéraire (literature) |
|---|---|---|
| The natural sciences stream requires a high level in mathematics Mathematics Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity... , physics Physics Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic... & chemistry Chemistry Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds.... , and biology Biology Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines... or, if available, engineering sciences. |
The bac ES is balanced between literary and economic and social courses of studies, and students must take an economics Economics Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"... and social sciences Social sciences Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences... exam. |
The bac L weighs French literature French literature French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens... , philosophy Philosophy Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational... , history History History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians... & geography Geography Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes... , and foreign languages Language Language may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication... heavily. |
Baccalaureat results at the Lycée International de Saint Germain-en-Laye have traditionally fluctuated between 99% and 100%.
| Year | Total | Serie L | Serie ES | Serie S | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # Students | Results | # Students | Results | # Students | Results | # Students | Results | |
| 2011 | 281 | 99,6% | 25 | 100% | 120 | 99% | 136 | 99% |
| 2010 | 286 | 100% | 19 | 100% | 100 | 100% | 167 | 99% |
| 2009 | 291 | 99% | 29 | 100% | 118 | 99% | 144 | 99% |
| 2008 | 283 | 99% | 34 | 100% | 125 | 99% | 124 | 99% |
| 2007 | 316 | 100% | 34 | 97% | 133 | 100% | 149 | 100% |
| 2006 | 261 | 100% | 28 | 100% | 118 | 99% | 115 | 100% |
| 2004 | 281 | 99% | 33 | 100% | 129 | 99% | 119 | 99% |
| 2003 | 260 | 100% | 28 | 100% | 123 | 100% | 109 | 100% |
Sections
The school has thirteen national sections which are, essentially, schools within a school. Students are taught the relevant national curriculum alongside the standard French curriculum. Foreign teachers in each of the national sections give the students lessons in literature, geography and history (generally from six to eight hours a week according to the grade) in their native tongue. However, all other disciplines of the official program are taught in French.- American Section http://www.americansection.org/
- The American Section Program starts in Pre-KindergartenKindergartenA 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...
and goes through 12th grade, enrolling approximately 690 students. About 60 percent of its students are U.S. citizens; of these many hold both French and American citizenship. Most of the remaining 40 percent are French citizens who have spent considerable time in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
or have had American schooling. The American Section provides an international education within the context of the Lycee International. Students from nurseryNursery schoolA nursery school is a school for children between the ages of one and five years, staffed by suitably qualified and other professionals who encourage and supervise educational play rather than simply providing childcare...
to college preparatory level experience a hybrid of American and French curricula with an emphasis on languageLanguageLanguage may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
, math, and scienceScienceScience is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
skills. The American Section provides an American educational and cultural experience, allowing students to maintain strong links with their American culture while developing a consciousness as global citizens.
- The American Section pursues its mission through an American curriculum which culminates in the French Baccalaureate with International Option, as well as through a broad and enriching co-curricular program including such activities as drama, music, community service, sports and student publications.
- The Ecole Schnapper and the Collège Marcel Roby, also located in St. Germain en Laye, are American Section partner schools. Approximately 65 students in grades K-5 (CP-CM2) attend the Ecole Schnapper, and 160 students in grades 6-9 (6è-3è) the Collège Marcel Roby. Students enrolled in these two schools receive the same American Section education as their peers on the Lycée International campus.
- British Section http://www.lycee-international.net/
- Danish Section http://www.sectiondanoise.dk/
- Dutch Section http://www.sectionnl.fr
- German Section http://www.section-allemande.de/
- Italian Section http://www.sectionitalienne.org/
- Japanese Section http://www.lycee-international-jp.com/
- Norwegian Section http://www.norlangue.com/
- Polish Section http://www.section-polonaise.fr/
- Portuguese Section http://web.crdp.ac-versailles.fr/etabliss/lyt/portugal/index.html
- Russian Section http://www.section-russe.com/index.html
- Spanish Section http://www.mepsyd.es/exterior/centros/stgermain/es/home/index.shtml
- Swedish Section http://www.sectionsuedoise.com/
1951–1965
In 1951, the then-recently established NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), a grouping of 15 countries, created Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers EuropeSupreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
(SHAPE) with the aim of ensuring peace and security in the North Atlantic region, and promising European members the support of the United States in the event of any future aggression.
SHAPE was installed at Rocquencourt
Rocquencourt
Rocquencourt is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France.It is mostly known for:* hosting a research unit of INRIA ;...
, and Saint Germain-en-Laye was chosen as the place of residence for the serving officers and their families. The SHAPE Village Project was built in the grounds of the Chateau d’Hennemont to accommodate 1,500 officers and soldiers from 13 nationalities, and their families.
In January 1952, the SHAPE village school was set up in the chateau under the direction of René Tallard. By the end of the school year, 400 children were on the register, including 200 French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
children, half of them inhabitants of the town. Two years later, in 1954, the school was officially renamed the NATO International School (l’Ecole Internationale de l’OTAN).
Funding from SHAPE provided the school with equipment and accommodation, including a new flagship building completed in 1960. From 1961, senior students prepared for the Diplôme des Ecoles Internationales and the following year, the school was renamed the NATO International Lycée (Lycée International de l’OTAN). The founding proviseur, René Tallard, retired in 1965.
1965–1989
Not only did 1965 mark the retirement of the much respected M Tallard, it was also the year in which President de Gaulle decided to pull France out of NATO’s military operations. NATO, and SHAPE, were forced to find a new European base, in BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and the Lycée International de l’OTAN lost two thirds of its pupils at a stroke. It was an immediate challenge for the new proviseur, Edgar Scherer. His was the delicate task of working with the remaining two sections – the German and the Dutch – to persuade the educational authorities, both in France and overseas, to rebuild the life of the school which, would from now on need to count on the support of "economic expatriates" to replace those of the original military community.
By 1968, under Scherer’s leadership and direction, the school was building up strength with six sections – German, Dutch, British, American, Danish and Italian. The visionary Proviseur Scherer continued to build, experiment and develop, with the co-operation of all the active partners in the school, to create a solid base for the future of the Lycée International - until his retirement in 1989.
1989–present
Scherer’s successor, Jean Pierre Maillard, had a different challenge: modernising the infrastructure of a school, which had been expanding again over more than twenty years. Replacing pre-fabricated buildings with more lasting structures was now a priority. The building project took three years, with all the associated judicial, financial and technical implications to manage – and school life, of course, had to continue uninterrupted.Thanks to state funding, the result was a new campus, including a fine new primary building. Under Maillard, other projects advanced too: the development of the network of partner schools, the drafting of a "projet d’établissement", the creation of the Japanese section in 1993; the embracing of the Option International du Baccalaureate as the final exam for senior Lycée students, and the renovation of the chateau.
In 1997, Maillard handed the baton on to Patrick Charpeil, who focused attention on the administrative complexities of the school, clarifying the legal basis of the Lycée and its component parts. Charpeil continued to oversee the restoration of the chateau and successfully liaised and lobbied with the supervising educational authorities to advance important projects concerning security, major improvements and maintenance.
Yves Lemaire, the current proviseur, took over the helm in September 2001. The challenges are as stimulating as ever: the final stages of renovation and the future use of the chateau; the pressure for increasing the number of classes at Lycée level; nation-wide administration of the OIB; the creation of the Polish section at college and Lycée level (in 2002/3) and the consolidation of the legal status of the school via a new decree.
One last important point concerns the school's academic results. It is listed as the 4th best school in the country according to L'Etudiant.