The European Schools are official educational institutions established in the 1950s and jointly supervised/run by the governments of the Member States of the European Union. They are state schools in their respective host countries. The European School Frankfurt (ESF) is one of 13 schools in six countries (Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Spain) and was opened in 2002.
The school offers quality education from nursery to the European Baccalaureate in a multicultural and multilingual environment.
“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.”
European School Frankfurt feels committed to these words by Marcel Decombis, which are sealed in the foundations of all European schools. The teaching of all those competences is a matter of importance to us as something our graduates need as mature, cosmopolitan and vigilant citizens in order to cope with present and future challenges.
General Information
The Primary cycle at the European School lasts five years.
The Primary School admits children from the age of six (children must reach their 6th birthday within the calendar year of their 1st scholastic year starting in September).
In the Primary School, the focus is on mother tongue, mathematics and the first foreign language, but art, music, physical education, discovery of the world and religion/ethics are important – as are “European Hours” where children of mixed mother tongues meet weekly for a variety of activities.
The language of instruction in the primary classes corresponds to each language section of the school. The SWALS (Students Without A Language Section) also follow courses in their mother tongue for 30 minutes per day in P1 and P2 class (150 minutes per week) and for 45 minutes per day in the P3 – P5 class (225 minutes per week).
General Information
Focus areas of the education at the European School are: detailed language study, the intercultural exchange between the students from many European countries and not least the development and encouragement of scientific work. Besides main tuition in the languages of the 4 sections – German, English, French and Italian – students can be taught in up to 4 foreign languages during the Secondary School cycle (see Subject Options).
Students are regularly engaged in numerous projects – art, music, theatre and sport – and are energetically supported by their teachers.
Students receive reports at the end of each semester: in January and at the end of the school year. In addition there are intermediate evaluations in November and in April.
In addition to the school education, starting from the 5th Secondary grade (S5), students develop skills needed to prepare for working life. Part of this consists of a work experience completed by students in S5 and an intensive discussion about study and job prospects (see “Careers guidance“).
In order to become certified for the European Baccalaurate examination, students must have attended the last two classes of the Secondary School (S6, S7) in a European School.
Beside the compulsory subjects (mother tongue, first foreign language, a scientific subject, Philosophy, Sport, History and Geography) the students have a broad spectrum of further options. They can choose two-hour, four-hour or advanced courses.
The European Baccalaurate certificate is recognized in all member states of the European Union as well as in many other countries. The holders of the European Baccalaurate certification have the same right to be admitted to universities in the member states of the European Union as citizens of the country concerned with comparable qualifications.
