La Bressola

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La Bressola (Catalan pronunciation: [lə βɾəˈsɔlə]) is a cultural association founded in Perpignan, France in 1976 to promote a network of community-run schools engaged in Catalan language immersion programs in France, particularly in the comarques of North Catalonia. The first center was opened in Sant Galdric (Perpignan) in September 1976. Subsequently, other centers have been opened in Pessillà, El Vernet, Pontellà, Prades, El Soler, Canet and Sant Esteve del Monestir.

Since 1983, the schools of La Bressola have hosted students from two to eleven years. In 2005, they maintained eight educational centers for nursery and primary school children, one of them (El Soler) being, since 2003, the first to impart secondary education in Catalan in France. With seven primary schools and two high school, some 1100 students are currently being taught.^[1]

Together with the Calandretas, the Diwan schools, the Seaska (the Ikastolas of the French Basque country) and the association ABCM-Zweisprachigkeit (French-Alsatian^[2] bilingual schools), form a confederation of immersive schools in France.