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French Officials Authorize Catholic Boarding School Backed by Stérin

It faces administrative, pedagogical inspections early in the 2025-26 school year to address concerns about ideological influence.

L’Académie Saint-Louis de Chalès pourra ouvrir à la rentrée 2025.

Overview

  • The rectorat of the Académie d’Orléans-Tours cleared the project on July 18 after finding no legal basis under Article L. 441-1 of the Education Code to block the out-of-contract institution.
  • Académie Saint-Louis de Chalès will open in fall 2025 as the first in billionaire Pierre-Édouard Stérin’s planned network of private non-mixed Catholic boarding schools and will operate without public subsidies.
  • The school’s curriculum is built on an 'éducation intégrale' philosophy aimed at nurturing the whole person—body, mind, and soul.
  • A coalition of 160 political, union, and academic figures, including former education minister Benoît Hamon and CGT leader Sophie Binet, oppose the project over fears of ideological indoctrination.
  • Supporters such as RN deputy Roger Chudeau and the mayor of Nouan-le-Fuzelier have defended the academy as a valid alternative that upholds freedom of teaching.