The school · Montpellier since 1996
Thirty years of putting each child first.
Eridan was born in 1996 out of a conviction: to offer families in Montpellier a bilingual, international education from the earliest age, in a family atmosphere. Thirty years later, the school welcomes children from Nursery (age 2) to 3e (UK Year 10), with fresh momentum.
1996
founded
A non-profit association under the French law of 1901.
25+
nationalities
Pupils and staff together on one campus.
3
languages
French, English and Spanish, from Nursery to middle school.
Gold
Eco-School label
Certified since 2021, Gold level achieved in 2024.
Our story
From five pupils to a whole campus.
First based in Pérols, the school later moved to Montpellier, avenue de Maurin, to grow in green surroundings and suitable premises. It has remained a non-profit association.
1996
One class, five pupils
Sylvie Gillet, a teacher and psychologist, founded the school with teachers and parents, as a non-profit association. It all began with one bilingual primary class of 5 pupils.
Then
An English-speaking pre-school
An English-speaking pre-school class opened in turn: English now started from the very first years.
2005
The international middle school
The middle school opened to continue the adventure up to 3e and the brevet.
2021
Eco-School
The school earned the Eco-School label.
2024
Gold level
For the first time, Eridan reached the Gold level of the label, thanks to pupils, eco-delegates, teachers and all the staff.
2025
Cambridge English
The school announced its recognition as a Cambridge English Preparation Centre of Excellence.
2026
30 years, and fresh momentum
Thirty years after its founding, the school opens a new chapter, from Nursery to middle school, on one campus. To mark the occasion, it published a “30 years” quiz in September.
The name
Why “Eridan”?
Eridanus, Eridan in French, is a constellation, one of the largest in the sky: as many stars as those shining in children's eyes when they discover the world.
It is also the name of the “king of rivers” of Italy. A nod to water, which has a special place at the school: discovering one's body in and through water starts at age 2, at the pool.
Teaching
Teaching centred on each pupil.
Our mission: to give every child the core knowledge they need to adapt to the demands of their future life, and to become a responsible, balanced adult in charge of their own life. The school follows the French national curriculum, so every pupil can continue their education with peace of mind, in France or abroad.
Trust
To build self-confidence, you need to be able to trust others: between children, between adults, and from professionals towards each child.
Respect
An atmosphere of curiosity, enjoyment, kindness and courtesy. We take care of ourselves, of others and of the environment.
The right to make mistakes
Mistakes are part of learning: they drive progress.
Learning to learn, to organise, to analyse
Because every personality is different, the school combines several approaches, all interactive and creative:
- Project-based learning, inspired by Freinet
- Cooperative learning, which fosters social skills
- Individual work, inspired by Montessori
- Anglo-Saxon positive education
- And, when needed, more traditional methods such as learning by heart
Each year, a shared theme runs through the year and guides pupils' curiosity.
A calm start to the year
- On the first day, children arrive with their parents, over a snack offered by the parents' association.
- At the end of the year, a special day lets every child discover their future classroom and teachers.
- During the year, every new pupil is guided by a classmate, their first point of reference in the class.
The team
A quality team, in a human-sized school.
A quality teaching team, involved on every front: teaching, supporting each pupil and keeping in touch with families. All in a small school with a family feel.
The teaching team brings together teachers who are specialists in their subjects, some of them with doctorates, and who have gained teaching experience around the world. It also includes every member of staff, who all take part in school life.
From Nursery, children are welcomed in English by an English teacher. Spanish is taught by a Colombian teacher and a Spanish teacher, who also share their cultures, from Latin America and Europe.
Its role
- Guiding each child towards the land called “When I grow up”, where anything is possible.
- Supporting each family in its role as educator.
- Upholding the school's educational project.
Tailored support
- FLE (French as a foreign language), for pupils arriving from other countries
- Extra English
- French and/or maths support
- Follow-up of support plans, such as PAPs (personalised support plans) and PAIs (individual care plans for health needs)
The campus
A green campus, in a quiet neighbourhood.
Eridan sits on the edge of Montpellier, in a quiet neighbourhood. The team makes a point of bringing nature into its teaching.
Everything on one site
Classes, the canteen, before- and after-school care, homework study and clubs share the same site, from Nursery to 3e. The sports ground and the pools are off campus: the ground 400 m away and the primary pool 500 m away, both reached on foot along safe routes, and the pre-school pool in Pérols.
Vegetable garden and farmyard
A teaching project built around the vegetable garden and the farmyard, with ponies at school celebrations: a way to discover the cycles of nature and the living world.
A gym on site
For PE and sport, without leaving the school.
A sports ground 400 m away
Reached on foot along a safe pavement route.
Swimming from age 2
A pool suited to little ones in Pérols for pre-school, and a pool 500 m from the school for primary, reached on foot along a safe route.
Green spaces
Lawns and tall trees: natural surroundings, ideal for calm and outdoor play.
An open-air stage
For drama and shows, so that everyone can develop their artistic talents.
On site
- Classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards and computers
- A laboratory for science and technology
- A mostly English-language library, for reading on site or borrowing
- A multi-purpose hall for sport, Assembly, exhibitions and shows
- An art room
- A canteen
International
Over 25 nationalities, one school.
Counting pupils and staff, more than 25 nationalities share life at Eridan. To help them settle in, every child can talk in their own language with a tutor child and, if needed, with an adult.
- English from Nursery, then half of the time in primary
- Spanish from age 2, and visual arts in Spanish in middle school
- A mostly English-language library
- Trips to London, New York, Athens or Perth
Labels and distinctions
Recognised commitments.
Since 2021 · Gold in 2024
Eco-School, Gold level
Certified Eco-School since 2021, the school reached the Gold level for the first time in 2024. A team effort by pupils, class and eco-delegates, teachers and all the staff.
Announced in November 2025
Cambridge English Preparation Centre of Excellence
Cambridge English recognised Eridan as a Preparation Centre of Excellence. The previous year, more than 30 pupils were registered for Cambridge exams, from primary to secondary.
Partners
A school open to its city.
The school works with associations and players in education and research in Montpellier. Among them:
MUC
Montpellier's multi-sport association, over a hundred years old.
L'Atelier du Déclic
Participatory workshops raising awareness of the ecological and social transition.
Master EIFFALE
At Montpellier's Faculty of Education, training for language teachers and trainers.
1000 et 1 enfants du monde
A solidarity association supporting children in Haiti and Benin.
Genopolys
The “Apprentis chercheurs” programme introduces middle school pupils to research, alongside professionals.
Parents
Parents, an essential link.
- Every morning, you are welcomed at the gate with your child.
- You can ask for a meeting with a teacher or the head of school at any time.
- You follow class life through blogs, mainly in pre-school and primary, and through the EcoleDirecte platform.
- On the first day of school, you stay in the classroom with your child for a while, especially with the youngest, to help them settle in.
The parents' association, “Les enfants d'Eridan”
Run by parents at the school, it works alongside the team for the well-being of children and families. It offers the back-to-school snack, organises the end-of-year party meal and lends a hand at the big events: Halloween, the book fair, the football tournament.
Come and discover the campus.
Nothing beats a visit to get a feel for a school: come and meet the team.