Despite the 2,800 students expected, the start of the school year at Jean-Moulin high school in Béziers is looking promising

Jean-Moulin High School will welcome more than 2,800 students during this school year.

Among the largest high schools in the Hérault department, Jean-Moulin is only waiting for students to return to school on Monday, September 2. The teaching and management teams are ready.

“There are back-to-school periods when you think it's going to be tough, but honestly, that's not the case”,rejoices Pierre Fournier, the headmaster of the Jean-Moulin high school in Béziers. The establishment, which will welcome more than 2,800 students during the coming school year, is nevertheless the largest in Béziers, and one of the most important in Hérault. And it continues to grow, with a constant increase in the number of students, already a hundred more than last year at the same time.

A very varied training program

A comprehensive high school, Jean-Moulin therefore hosts technological training, but also professional training, a preparatory class for the grandes écoles, BTS and a Greta (continuing education for adults). “We have the particularity of hosting an ATS class (Adaptation technicien supérieur, explains the headmaster. It is reserved for students who have a BTS and who wish to prepare for the competitive examinations for the grandes écoles."

For the 2024-2025 year, the management team remains unchanged alongside Pierre Fournier, except for the arrival of a new general secretary, from New Caledonia, as well as a new CPE. As well as the teaching team: "Unlike last year, it is quite stable, he says. There are only about ten departures, very few out of 300 teachers, and about twenty new ones. There are no unfilled positions, except for that of cooking teacher, for the CAP."

Highly anticipated work

This summer, the establishment underwent a light renovation, which will continue throughout the year. De rigueur for Pierre Fournier: “We have been given twelve new rooms in building 3, and there will be work on the most dilapidated parts of buildings 1 and 2. The work has begun and will last five years. We were eagerly awaiting them. When school starts again, we're also going to have two new industrial dishwashers in the cafeteria. It may not seem like much, but it's very good news for the staff, it's going to change their lives.”

The school is now only waiting for the students who, after the teachers' pre-back-to-school period on Friday, August 30, will return to school on Monday, September 2. With the exception of the second year students, who will not arrive until the next day. The timetables will therefore start on Wednesday, September 4.

“Welcoming students according to their particularity”

A few days before this massive arrival of students, the objectives of the Jean-Moulin high school have not changed. "We want to welcome students according to their particularities, explains the principal. But also take into account those who are most demanding, so we have created a center of excellence to prepare for the medical school, Sciences Po and the grandes écoles."

The establishment also wants to maintain its "international openness" and "will do everything"to be able to welcome new Ukrainian students. The Erasmus center is also retained to offer mobility to high school students.

The sports-study label, a major new feature

While it already hosted sports sections of a good level, the Jean-Moulin high school has acquired the sports-study label for the coming year. “We have become a center of excellence again, the only one in Hérault with the Jean-Mermoz high school in Montpellier, Pierre Fournier is satisfied. We have developed a number of new partnerships in addition to the traditional ones that can be rugby, football and volleyball."

"The objective is to better take into account the sporting aspect of each student in the school framework, he continues. By making sure to organize schooling and timetables if necessary, part of their teaching, if possible, and by setting up specific assistance."

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