European School, Brussels III

European School of Brussels III
Location
Boulevard du Triomphe 135, 1050 Ixelles Belgium
Coordinates	50°49′17″N 4°24′02″E / 50.8213°N 4.4005°E
Information
Type	European School
Established	2000
Website	École européenne de Bruxelles III

The European School of Brussels III is one of the 15 European Schools and one of the 4 located in Brussels. It is located in the Belgian municipality of Ixelles (Elsene). It has around 2.900 pupils spread over seven language sections (English, French, German, Spanish, Dutch, Greek and Czech). It has nursery, primary and secondary school.

Background

The school was founded in 2000 primarily for children of European Union personnel, but also welcomes students of other backgrounds. The school is free for the former category, the latter pays fees of up to €10,135.48 (as of 2012) for the first child.

In recent years student numbers have risen steadily, which has led to the creation of the European School Brussels IV in Laeken.

All European Schools abide by the aims set by Jean Monnet:

“Educated side by side, untroubled from infancy by divisive prejudices, acquainted with all that is great on the edge of it and good in 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.”

Education

Primary School

In the primary school, pupils study their native language, mathematics,science, art, music, religion or ethics, and sports. All are taught in their mother tongue. From the first year, they learn one foreign language. The pupils can choose between English, French or German for their second language. The choice will become the pupil's working language, starting in the third year of secondary school for history, geography, and other subjects. During "European hours", children of different backgrounds and nationalities join in activities. For European Hours, the pupils will change teachers and hence classes every month. However, the pupils can choose to do choir or orchestra instead of European Hours.

Secondary School

Years 1, 2, 3

During the first three years of secondary school, students take the following courses: Language 1 (mother tongue), Language 2 (working language), Language 3 from first year, Latin (optional) from second year onwards, Mathematics, Combined Sciences, Human Sciences (In second language from 3rd year onwards), ICT (Informatics), Art, Music, Sport, Religion (Protestant, Catholic, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism) or Ethics and Complementary Activities (only available for third years).

Years 4 and 5

In the following two years, students have a number of compulsory courses and a few optional ones. Compulsory Courses: Language 1, Language 2, Language 3 (Has to be an EU language), Religion/Ethics, Sport, History, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics (4 periods a week or 6). Optional Courses: Language 4, Latin, Economics (In second language), ICT (Informatics), Art, Music. In year four, students will receive continuous tests, which are more important in student evaluation. These tests are called B-tests. Students will also have to sit 2 exams for their first Language. In year 5, they will have 2 exams for each subject.

Years 6 and 7

Students get more freedom in their choices and choose the subjects that they will take for their European Baccalaureate. Compulsory Courses: Language 1, Language 2, Philosophy, Mathematics, Combined Sciences, History (2 hours), Geography (2 hours), Sport, Religion/Ethics

Optional Courses: Latin, Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Language 3, Language 4, Philosophy, History (4 hours), Geography (4 hours), Art, Music Additional Subjects: Art, Music, Information Sciences, Language 5, Laboratory Studies, Introduction to Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Advanced Mathematics.

At the end of the seventh year students must take the European Baccalaureate examinations.

Events

The main event of the school, that most pupils enjoy the most, is Springfest. Springfest is a day in spring, when the normal school day is replaced with a day of fun activities. It takes place in both the primary and secondary. It gives an opportunity for students to showcase their talents, especially during the opening ceremony, and their creativity in the fashion show. On the day, students and their parents can buy food from all over Europe using tickets, play games, and buy second hand books. The list is endless.

References