Our Identity and Vision

The School of European Education Heraklion (SEEH) was founded in 2005 (Law 3376/2005, A' 191) primarily to meet the educational needs of the children of the staff of the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), researchers at the Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), and other international organisations based in the region.

It is an Accredited European School (AES), the only one of its kind in Greece to date. Set within a dynamic, multicultural environment, our vision is the cultivation of a European identity, multilingualism, and mutual respect.

Institutional Framework, Pedagogical Guidance, and Accreditation

As a primary and secondary education school unit of the Greek State, the school is administratively supervised by the Regional Directorate of Primary and Secondary Education of Crete. At the same time, as a Greek public school, it is obliged to fully apply Greek legislation regarding student attendance and the organisation of school life.

Pedagogical guidance and quality assurance of the educational work are provided by two National Inspectors of the European Schools, one exclusively responsible for the Primary cycle and the other for the Secondary cycle.

The accreditation of the SEEH as a School of European Education is ensured by:

• Strict adherence to the European curriculum (Syllabuses).

• Faithful implementation of the European language policy and the General Rules of the European Schools.

• It operates as an accredited examination centre for the official conduct of the European Baccalaureate exams.

Structure of Studies

The SEEH operates with two language sections: a Greek-speaking one and an English-speaking one.

• Primary Cycle: Includes 2 years of Nursery school and 5 years of Primary school. Lessons are taught in the section's first language (L1), while the learning of a first foreign language begins as early as the P1 class. During the European Hours, students from all sections collaborate and learn together.

• Secondary Cycle: Consists of 7 years (S1-S7) and is structured into three sub-cycles: Observation cycle (S1-S3), Pre-Orientation cycle (S4-S5), and Orientation cycle (S6-S7).

Degrees and Academic Recognition

It is important to note that the SEE of Heraklion awards one and only degree: the European Baccalaureate, which is obtained after the successful completion of the S7 class.

• No Intermediate Degrees: The school does not award a Primary School or Gymnasium (Lower Secondary) graduation certificate. Attendance is a continuous path with the ultimate goal of obtaining the European Baccalaureate.

• Academic Recognition: The European Baccalaureate is an internationally recognised diploma. In the Greek educational framework, to date, it guarantees admission to Greek private educational institutions; however, admission to Greek public higher education institutions is not guaranteed.

Admission Requirements

The school accepts students based on specific priority criteria. Available places are allocated into Categories (Category I for children of EU/International Organisation employees, and Categories II & III for the general public, provided there are vacancies).

School Life and European Mobility

At the SEEH, learning extends beyond the classroom. Our students enjoy a rich school life that promotes critical thinking, collaboration, and a European orientation:

• European Mobility: Students have the opportunity to participate in student mobility programs with other European Schools, allowing them to experience European multiculturalism in practice.

• Collective Bodies (CoSEEA): Active participation in student representation bodies is encouraged, such as CoSEEA (Co-ordinating Committee of the Students' Councils of the European Schools).