In 1953, when a European Union was not even dreamed of, a number of parents set themselves up to create educational establishments where children of different European backgrounds could be taught side by side in their respective mother tongues, learning from each other while broadening their horizons. This experiment was subsequently taken up by the European Commission and its institutions. There are now several schools across Europe based on this concept. Uniquely, European Schools offer a European Baccalaureate giving right of access to all higher education institutions across the European Union.
Our strategic outlook
We set ourselves up as a group of stakeholders in order to support and pursue those activities that the Parents Association (CESPA) was unable to follow through because of their constitution and their focus, which is predominantly on day to day matters related to the good running of the Culham European School.
Our initial aim is to support the establishment of schools in England and Wales offering multilingual European education, similar in concept to current fully accredited European Schools. Right now, there is only one school of this kind in England, in Culham (Oxfordshire) and its future has been in question for some time. ETEE was instrumental in drafting the initial development plan for a future school that led to the inception of a new charitable company, called CLASS headed by one of our Patrons, Lord Jay of Ewelme. This new charitable trust (independent from ETEE) attempted to create a "European Languages and Science Academy" by transforming the current school. However, the plans failed and the future of the Culham School remains uncertain.
We have since worked as advocates and facilitators in order to progress the setting up of a new Language and Science Free School in Culham and we shall continue to monitor progress doing our utmost to ensure that the original objectives are met.
Our role as facilitators and mediators encompasses all the recently formed type 2 and 3 European Schools (Associate European Schools) and we have been instrumental in the setting up of a recently formed network of these schools, as well as contributing to the mapping out of the new vision of European Schools.
Our triennial plan 2010-13
Establish a collaborative model with other Trusts
Organise a series of subject related conferences. The first of which to be on "The Language of History".
Continue to represent to government and other agencies the priorities of European education
Publish and disseminate good practices.
The Objects of the ETEE
Excerpt from the Trust's Deeds of Incorporation:
“The objects of the Trust are to advance education for the public benefit in multilingual education a) by supporting the establishment and development of schools and curricular programmes in England that will advance such education; b) by advancing the education of persons working in schools or any other institutions or services, or working otherwise in the field of education, to advance multilingual education; c) by promoting good practice in the training and education of teachers for multilingual education; d) by disseminating information and recommendations on good practice in the above field."
