ESC: Europe through educative innovation

Orbec is a small town of about 2,000 inhabitants located in the South-East of the Calvados area in Normandy. Tokens of medieval history, such as mansions and timber-framed houses, can be admired in the village. Orbec is 50km away from the coast of the English Channel and 75km away from Caen, well-known for its Second World War history and for being close to the Landing Beaches. The school was created in 1965. It hosts about 310 students from 11 to 15 years old, and about 28 teachers. Since the village is quite isolated, most children take the bus to come to our school. For many years, Lottin de Laval College has aimed to open up its projects to the international stage, particularly in the European environment. Traditionally organizing mobility programs towards Spain and England and establishing a Europe club, the college team wanted to anchor their international opening actions more significantly by joining the ERASMUS+ program. A self-evaluation period of the school in Spring 2021 allowed for the identification of weaknesses, strengths, and priority areas for work. With these findings and in collaboration with academic authorities, we have developed a school project that responds to three priority areas: using the strengths of the college to serve the success of all students, opening up students' horizons by supporting their paths and fostering ambition, and incorporating and promoting the college and its partnerships within the territory.