In really any way you care to look at it, there is a lot going on at the Lycée Claudel. It was founded as the Cours Claudel in 1962 in order to provide a school for the children of Francophone diplomats wishing to have their children educated in French, and following the French national curriculum. When the first students graduated the program in 1974, the school became known as Lycée Claudel. The school continued to grow, and move, ultimately moving in 1988 into the buildings vacated by the University of Ottawa’s secondary school.
Lycée Claudel is an international school in two important ways, both of which are somewhat unique to the school. First, its student population includes students from nearly 50 different countries, which is surprising, at least initially, given that it’s a day school and doesn’t have a boarding program. Of course, the reason is because the school is in Ottawa, and therefore enrolls many children of diplomats. Second, the school continues to offer the French curriculum, as it has from day one. It’s also a member of AEFE, an accrediting body to assure that schools comply with the French curriculum, something of particular interest to French nationals living abroad who intend to return to France. There are only four schools that are fully accredited by the AEFE in Canada, and Lycée Claudel is one of just two that are located outside Quebec, and the only one in Ontario.
Many families choose the school because they are French nationals, while others choose it because the instructional language is French, rather than the model used in French immersion classrooms. Others choose the school because if the quality of instruction, and the international focus. Of course, the profile of the school is high, given the range of students that attend and the long list of notable alumni, which includes Justin Trudeau.
In all those ways, Lycée Claudel is remarkably unique. Again, there is a lot going on, and all of it impressive. The ideal student is one who thrives in a large, diverse, and challenging educational and social setting.
Lycée Claudel
My children have had a great experience at Lycée Claudel over the past two years. The bar is set consistently high, yet the teachers are patient and respectful of everyone's abilities and opinions. The assignments given in classes do not only encourage independent thought and mastery of the subject, but also tie as much as possible to the current events the children are going through. Children are busy and do not have time to engage in drama, therefore the inevitable episodes of friction betwee... View full review
Our three children are new to the school and all of them have really enjoyed the school. Our children love the outdoor spaces, the library, and the two gyms. The teachers were very welcoming and supportive, and we felt that the transition was very smooth. Given that our experiences were during COVID-19, we felt that the school did a great job keeping the kids safe while allowing them to enjoy their essential social interactions, physical exercise, and academic activities. Our kids are very much ... View full review
