​​​​Aims of the European Schools

The words which express the essential aims of the European Schools have been sealed, in parchment, into the foundation stones of all the schools:
“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.”

(Marcel Decombis, Head of European School, Luxembourg between 1953 and 1960)

 

Mission

The European Schools’ system provides high-quality, multilingual, multicultural, and inclusive education for its pupils from nursery until the end of secondary cycle. 

Rooted in European and democratic values, the system fosters citizenship, intercultural understanding and cooperation, equipping pupils with the competencies necessary to thrive academically, socially and personally in a diverse and a rapidly changing globalised world.

Values

• European identity

1. We integrate the European dimension in our pedagogy.

2. We provide high-quality education and uphold European values that include human dignity, freedom, democracy, and equality, rule of law, respect for human rights, as well as inclusiveness, equity and sustainability.

• Multilingualism and Multiculturalism

1. We provide education in all official languages of the EU, from nursery to upper-secondary, culminating in the European Baccalaureate.

2. We are committed to upholding and preserving our national languages and cultures.

3. We provide a multicultural education through the curriculum.

• Collaboration

1. Pupils from different language sections study some subjects in mixed language groups.

2. Teachers across EU Member States collaborate in teaching, sharing and exchanging best practice.

3. Inspectors from all EU Member States collaborate and provide professional advice on pedagogical developments and collaborate in decision-making processes.

4. We promote the active participation of all stakeholders, including pupils, parents, educators and administrative staff in decision-making processes.

• Inclusion

1. We provide learning opportunities to enable all pupils to reach their full potential, regardless of their background, identity or ability.

2. We support the wellbeing of pupils and staff in our schools.

Vision

The European Schools will empower its pupils throughout the provision of high-quality education that nurtures curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, adaptability, and a lifelong passion for learning.

By embracing shared European values, innovation, inclusion, and evidence-informed practices, pupils will be equipped with resilience and confidence to navigate in a rapidly evolving world and bridge cultures across Europe and beyond.

The European Schools will be a model of excellence, contributing to dialogue and cooperation with educational actors and policymakers. Through a steadfast commitment to quality and continuous enhancement, the European Schools will not only meet future challenges but will shape a brighter and more interconnected future.

Pillars of development

• Educating for tomorrow

We aim to:

1. empower pupils to be adaptive, innovative, responsible and independent learners by equipping them with the key competencies for lifelong learning;

2. enable pupils to develop essential core skills as well as transformative competencies, including soft skills, digital literacy, creativity, critical thinking and sustainability awareness;

3. implement pupil-focused, evidence-informed innovative teaching methods;

4. develop a flexible and evolving curriculum with interdisciplinary pathways;

5. ensure a robust quality assurance model to support continuous improvement.

• Our role and ambition in education in Europe

We aim to:

1. actively contribute to the development of European education across the EU;

2. foster cooperation with local, national and international educational organisations;

3. increase the visibility of the European Schools in EU Member States;

4. provide high-quality professional development training and career opportunities to support our educators in the European Schools.

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