Those who lived it are the ones best placed to talk about it! Discover the testimonials of parents and alumni, from nursery to A-levels, who chose our bilingual Montessori school.
Since 1991, we have welcomed several thousand pupils to our Athena International Montessori school and lycée in Bailly. Among our roughly 400 baccalaureate graduates, we are proud of the professional and personal success of a great many of them.
Most of our graduates are fluent in two foreign languages. They have developed solid qualities of self-confidence and independence during their schooling. They go on to a wide variety of careers that match their aspirations.
Today, we are proud that several of our former pupils, who have now become parents, are in turn enrolling their children in our classes at nursery school, of'elementary and of and Challenging Montessori Athena.
Our former students work in a wide variety of fields, in line with their aspirations.
After obtaining their A-levels at Montessori Athéna high school, our students continue their studies at ENA, the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Sciences Po, the University of St Andrews, the Sorbonne, Paris-Dauphine, Gobelins, in preparatory classes or in engineering schools.
They are working today as architects, lawyers, doctors, airline pilots, speech therapists, entrepreneurs, artists or business leaders, both in France and internationally.
Three elements recur in almost all the testimonials we receive: classes of fifteen pupils that make truly individualised support possible, the restoration of confidence in children who struggled in their previous school, and the consideration of atypical profiles, whether they be high-ability learners, school refusers or high-level athletes.
Our alumni get their general baccalaureate with distinction, pass their Cambridge exams and go on to preparatory classes, engineering schools or university. Several of them, who have now become parents, currently enrol their own children at Athéna.
My name is Ethan. I attended Lycée International Montessori for 8 years and completed my schooling, graduating with the French Baccalaureate. Not only was the school extremely beneficial from an educational standpoint, but it also helped me enormously in developing my self-confidence and preparing me for the next educational stages that I am currently in (studying film at Royal Holloway, University of London).
The heart and soul of the school is Sylvie d'Esclaibes, who co-founded the school intending to accept creative differences rather than stifle them. She has always encouraged my creative abilities (being a musician), and has always left her door open to any personal problems I had.
I discovered the Lycée International Montessori relatively late. In fact, I only arrived in Première. And yet, in just two years, this school made all the difference which, I'm convinced, played a major role in the success of my post-baccalaureate studies.
Sylvie was very interested in my background and what I aspired to. Together we set up a programme that would enable me to achieve my goals. I needed to acquire a very good level of English, so she gave me the opportunity to take more English courses.
At the end of my final year of secondary school, I was accepted into a preparatory class (Maths Sup/Maths Spé), then I entered an engineering school before finally passing the competitive examination to become an airline pilot, which was my main goal.
After a successful primary school, I arrived at the Lycée Hoche. From the time I entered 6° until Easter of my 5° year, my school results were on a downward slope. I didn't want to go to school any more, I didn't want to learn any more.
First meeting with Sylvie d'Esclaibes. After the silence of the first few minutes, as Sylvie introduced me to her school and its teaching methods, I began to open up to the possibility of changing schools.
Thanks to Sylvie, I obtained my first baccalauréat S with honours, even though all my teachers had rejected my request to transfer to Première S. Thanks to Sylvie, who gave me the tools I needed to succeed and grow, I obtained a second baccalauréat (ES), also with honours. But above all, thanks to Sylvie, I've grown up and regained confidence in myself and my abilities.
Hello, I'm Antoine Bizet and I'm 18 years old. I was at the Montessori Athena sixth-form college last year in Terminale S, and I almost certainly wouldn't have passed my science Baccalaureate if my grandmother hadn't recommended this school, which she'd read about in the newspaper. It feels more like a big house and a big family than a traditional school. In fact, the Montessori system helps avoid all the negative aspects of educational establishments, apart from the work of course. It suits pupils with particular profiles very well, and enables many struggling pupils to get back up to a decent standard thanks to the support the teachers give them, both emotionally and academically.
As for me, I have a passion (mountain biking) which takes up a lot of my time because of competitions, and I have a lot of animals in my room which prevented me from working properly when I was at my old lycée (Saint Jean Hulst in Versailles). When I was at the Lycée International, I knew I could go and work at the school at weekends or on Wednesday afternoons, and the students always helped each other, whereas at home I often got stuck on something during an exercise, which prevented me from finishing my work. I was also able to arrange with the teachers to postpone my mock exams on the weekends when I went to competitions, and these arrangements enabled me to do very well in my year, both academically and athletically!
That's why I'd like to thank Sylvie d'Esclaibes for having founded this school, and the whole Montessori teaching team for having followed me through the difficult times and enabled me to finish my schooling in the best possible conditions.
After my first baccalaureate, which was a failure at a lycée in St Germain, I arrived at the Lycée International Montessori Athena, but what I didn't know was that this encounter was going to change my life. More personally, when I arrived I was broken both academically and emotionally. This establishment helped me to get better by restoring my self-confidence, but above all without trying to change my personality. This method enabled me to pass my baccalaureate and start a preparatory course to enter physiotherapy school.
I've also become a better person who reaches out to others. And thanks to this school, I've made my dreams come true.
The Athena Montessori school is much more than a school for me: I passed my baccalaureate here and met my husband... today my two children are building their future here. Here, each pupil is recognised as a unique individual, supported with rigour and respect for their pace. The balance between excellence and personal development is not just a principle, it's a reality.
Thanks to the constant commitment and attention of its headmistress, Sylvie, every child progresses with confidence and security. Thank you for everything.
«Enrolling Alyssa in your Montessori school was one of the best decisions of my life. Over three years at collège and lycée, I have seen her blossom, gain self-confidence and develop a joy of learning that brightens up her everyday life. The caring support, the respect for her pace and the international outlook (she was able to pass her Cambridge with flying colours) created an environment where she felt understood and free to be herself. Today, she is doing brilliantly in terminale, with an academic level worthy of the best schools, but above all with profound human values: respect, autonomy and sharing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for offering Alyssa a harmonious and happy education, and thank you to all the teachers who share the same human values of respect and meaning that they pass on to the children.»
Our son was classed as a failure at school when he came to Athena International Montessori School at the end of his second year. After two and a half years at the Lycée International Montessori, he passed his baccalaureate with honours. He had found his place at this school and was able to grow and flourish in a flexible and positive environment.
Sylvie d'Esclaibes played a very important role in Victor's success and we could never thank her enough. She took the trouble to understand how he ticks, and in her approach with him she truly took his specific needs into account. Sylvie d'Esclaibes' philosophy makes room for individuality, differences in style and pace, and above all the strengths of each child. It is an approach that instils hope and self-confidence.
This year marks 10 years since my children have been at the Montessori school in Bailly. Ten years that have flown by in an environment of kindness, and above all, tolerance. The teaching team is always attentive and available under all circumstances.
Today, one of my sons is in higher education, my daughter is sitting her A-levels this year to go to law school, my third child is taking their French baccalaureate and my fourth is taking their GCSEs. They are all thriving and happy to go to lessons every day.
It was important for me to bring you this account, because beyond the fulfilment of my children, these ten years have also taught me a great deal in my role as a parent.
I am also taking this opportunity to express our satisfaction with the 3 years our son Arthur spent at your institution, which have just been crowned by him obtaining his Baccalaureate with an AB mention and a 19 in his main subject, SVT.
We particularly appreciated the fact that he was able to regain confidence in his abilities, surrounded by people who were both supportive and demanding. It was not easy for us to choose an independent school, but we were quickly convinced that it was the right choice, especially during these two unusual years, when the dedication and professionalism of the teachers proved decisive.
Today we have a son who is happy to have achieved his goal and to see his future as an adventure to be lived rather than a burden. Our warmest thanks go to the entire teaching team.
Listen to the detailed career paths of our former students in our podcast "Adults of Tomorrow"."
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