I was struck once again yesterday by the wonderful energy of our community, gathered on the roof of 206 for the first Apéro of the year. It was pretty warm up there, but we had a lovely time, with the added bonus of no sudden downpour putting an end to the party. The evening was all the more welcome because my first few weeks (and Sophie’s) have been and will continue to be largely dedicated to something else entirely: the renewal of the school’s accreditation. For those who don’t know, The École is accredited by the French Ministry of Education, which means we are accountable to the French authorities, which is only fair, given the numerous benefits the accreditation brings, from allowing us to recruit certified teachers and access professional development opportunities, to belonging to an international network of French schools. Every five years, therefore, we have to renew our accreditation, which entails an administrative process that is a tad painful, especially for someone like me who has a hard time with paperwork.
First, it involves compiling a substantial amount of documents, ranging from proof that The École is recognized by local authorities to analyses of our students’ assessment results. To keep us on our toes, the required supporting material varies from year to year, so it’s tricky to plan or prepare in advance. On top of that, the accreditation platform opens on September 5, smack bang in the middle of back-to-school season, and of course, all the documents have to be submitted in French.
The second part of the job consists of answering a lengthy questionnaire in order to demonstrate that The École is run in keeping with the principles of public schools in France. For example, we have to show that we follow the French curriculum and adhere to its principles and values; that the French language holds a prominent place in our school, and that structures are in place that support our students; that children with special needs are included; and that class schedules are more or less aligned with those in France (thankfully, there is room for manoeuvre here—otherwise we’d have to close on Wednesday afternoons!)
Finally, the third and last part will be a school visit by two inspectors from the French Ministry of Education—one for Elementary and one for Middle School. They will visit every classroom to see our students and teachers in action, review the documents we submitted, and then write a report for the Ministry of Education. A commission will meet to deliberate, and we’ll simply have to wait—most likely until the beginning of the summer—for the decision. To be honest, there isn’t a huge amount of suspense. Although the platform opened only a few weeks ago, we work all year, every year to ensure we meet accreditation requirements, so we are approaching this milestone with peace of mind.
Yesterday, during the Apéro, I found the answer to one of the questions (question 1.2.2: What is the place of parents within the school community?) Their place—among others—is on the rooftop of 206, with a spritz or a glass of rosé and a cheese board at arm’s reach. It doesn’t check any of the accreditation boxes, but it speaks volumes about The École, where we are dab hands at celebrating joy, friendship, and spending time together.
P.S. Following up on last week’s letter, I’d like to congratulate our four new House Captains: Aneilia, Kyla, Layla, and Sofia, and also congratulate our seven other candidates for their outstanding campaigns. Well done!