ECOLE DES COLIBRIS

What ECOLE DES COLIBRIS does

École des Colibris is a private, nonprofit alternative primary school operating under French association law (loi 1901) from a single site at 64 rue Gabriel Lecombre in Angers, France. Founded in September 2018 by Yolande Peigné — a Doctor of Education Sciences and former teacher since 1988 — with a first cohort of 18 students, the school enrolls children from maternelle (petite section) through CM2 and serves families seeking an alternative to conventional French state schooling. The school is not under contract with the French Éducation nationale, granting it full pedagogical autonomy, and positions itself as the first institution in France to deliver a blended Maria Montessori and Père Faure (s.j.) pedagogy centered on child autonomy, multi-level peer classes, and chronobiology-informed scheduling.

The core product is a multi-level academic offering delivered by a small in-house pedagogical team (founder, director, teachers, ASEMs, animators, art-therapy specialist, communication apprentice, and a Service Civique volunteer) operating out of partially parent-renovated historic premises that include a medieval-style building, a garden, dry toilets, and a separate pavilion ('L'Escapade') for dining, rest, and workshops. Add-on offerings include structured Périscolaire after-school workshops (cooking, gardening, art, theater) and 'Le Chant des Colibris,' a podcast distributed on Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Deezer that serves as a top-of-funnel community-building channel. The school's competitive differentiation rests on its proprietary blended pedagogy, community-driven associative governance, and a unique solidarity pricing model that indexes tuition to family quotient, supported by donations (66% tax-deductible), sponsorships, and event-based fundraising (wine tastings, Christmas market, spring fair).

Name

ECOLE DES COLIBRIS

Legal name

Association École des Colibris

Website

https://ecoledescolibris.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

École des Colibris is a nonprofit alternative primary school in Angers, France, offering a Montessori–Père Faure blended pedagogy for children from maternelle through CM2, funded through sliding-scale tuition, donations, and community events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Primary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Montessori K–12 Schools (EDAJABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Project-Based/Inquiry-Based Learning (School-Delivered) (EDAJAFAN)

Keywords

• Alternative primary education
• Montessori pedagogy
• Multi-level classes
• After-school workshops
• Community-based school

Headquarters

HQ city

Angers

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition fees based on family quotient: Fees calculated as: Quotient familial × 0.24 × number of children, with floor of €150/month/child and ceiling of €500/month/child. 10% discount for 3rd child and beyond. Payment over 12 months. This is the primary revenue source.
2. Donations and sponsorships: The school relies on donations to bridge the gap between what lower-income families pay and actual operating costs (€65,000 for 2023/2024). Monthly patronage program available. Donations are 66% tax-deductible in France. Sponsors support events such as concerts and theatrical evenings.
3. Boutique and product sales: Sale of school boutique products including honey, apple juice, and other goods to supplement operating costs.
4. Periscolaire (after-school workshops): After-school activities on Mondays and Fridays from 15h10 to 17h30. Priced at €40/month/child for under-6s and €20/month/child for 6+ per day per week, over 10 months.
5. Midday meals supervision: Optional midday supervision from 12h00 to 13h30, priced at €5 × number of days per week per child per month over 10 months.
6. Event-based fundraising: Seasonal events (Christmas market, spring fair, wine tastings) generate revenue and donations. Monthly wine tasting events at €25/person organized with Bruno Ciofi of Coulée de Serrant.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

École des Colibris is a private alternative primary school in Angers, France, offering education from maternelle (PS) through élémentaire (CM2) using a blended Montessori and Père Faure-inspired pedagogy delivered in multi-level classes. The school supplements its core educational program with optional after-school workshops (Périscolaire/Ateliers) covering arts, cooking, gardening, and cooperative projects, plus a community podcast (Le Chant des Colibris) sharing pedagogical testimonials. The school operates outside the French state education contract, providing pedagogical freedom while preparing students in line with national competencies.

Product overview

École des Colibris is a single-product private alternative school offering Montessori and P. Faure-inspired education. The core offering is the main school with multi-level classes (maternelle PS-MS-GS through élémentaire CP-CM2). The school supplements its educational program with two add-on offerings: Périscolaire (Ateliers) — optional after-school workshops providing educational activities in arts, cooking, gardening, and cooperative projects; and Le Chant des Colibris — a podcast sharing community testimonials about the school's pedagogical approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• École des Colibris (Main School) Private alternative primary school in Angers, France, delivering Montessori and Père Faure-inspired pedagogy for children from maternelle (PS) to élémentaire (CM2) in multi-level classes that promote autonomy, cooperation, and respect for each child's biological rhythm.
• Périscolaire (Ateliers) Optional after-school workshops (Monday and Friday, 15h10–17h30) offering educational activities in animation, discovery, and leisure, including cooking, gardening, nature exploration, body expression (theater, mime, dance), collective games, graphic and plastic arts, and cooperative projects.
• Le Chant des Colibris (Podcast) Community podcast featuring testimonials from parents and the pedagogical team, sharing insights into the school's alternative educational approach and community life. Distributed via Acast, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Deezer.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18 students enrolled at founding in September 2018
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Bruno Ciofi (Vigneron, Coulée de Serrant)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2023Bruno Ciofi, a winemaker at Coulée de Serrant, organizes monthly wine tasting events to financially support the school. Each session features a different theme and costs €25/person, with all proceeds going to the school. First event held December 15, 2023.
• Université Catholique de l'Ouest (UCO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UCO students in Sciences de l'Éducation for scientific workshops. Students from L2 and L3 designed and delivered 6 science animations for the school's elementary class in May 2023. Also partnered with Terre des Sciences center.
• Connaître et Protéger la NatureminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation that organized a Land Art competition in autumn. The school's students won the 1st prize in the school category with their brown chestnut bear, man, and tree artwork.
• Ville d'Angers / Terre des SciencesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Angers and Terre des Sciences association organize the 'Jardins d'expression' project, a multi-year pedagogical initiative on biodiversity. The school participates by creating and maintaining 'Hozho Naasha' garden. Annual 'Belle journée au jardin' event open to the public.
• Instruire Déduquer Éduquer AutrementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation organizing cine-debate evenings on alternative education. School team members and families participate in these events to connect with other alternative schools and share experiences.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Écoles Steiner-Waldorf en France: The Steiner-Waldorf federation operates a national network of established alternative schools in France (Strasbourg, Paris, Lyon, etc.). Comparable as a broader incumbent offering an alternative pedagogy option, though following Anthroposophy rather than Montessori/Faure.
• La Main à la Pâte: Foundation promoting inquiry-based science teaching in French schools, partnering with Académie de sciences and Éducation nationale. Comparable as a wider player in alternative/inquiry-based pedagogy, though operating via teacher training rather than running standalone schools.
• Association Montessori Internationale (AMI): International governing body for authentic Montessori pedagogy, accrediting teacher training and schools worldwide. Comparable as the umbrella organization whose standards shape French Montessori school offerings, though not itself a school.

Direct peers

• École Montessori Internationale de Paris: Long-established private Montessori school in Paris offering maternelle and élémentaire programs. Directly comparable as a French private K-12 alternative school using Montessori pedagogy, though without the Père Faure blend.
• Le Petit Cézanne: Independent alternative école in Angers region using Montessori-inspired pedagogy with multi-level classes. Closest geographic and methodological peer to École des Colibris, competing for the same pool of regional families.
• Les Chemins d'Enfance: Federation of alternative and free schools in France advocating child-led, cooperative pedagogy. Comparable as a peer network of independent alternative schools addressing similar families dissatisfied with conventional education.
• École Montessori de Lyon: Private Montessori school in Lyon serving children from toddler through elementary ages. Comparable operating model (private, multi-level, parent-engaged) and similar positioning in the regional French alternative-education market.

Emerging players

• École de la Nature (various): Network of outdoor and nature-based alternative schools emerging in France, often employing Montessori- or Freinet-inspired methods. Comparable as an emerging alternative-pedagogy peer, especially given École des Colibris' emphasis on outdoor activities and chronobiology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecole-des-colibris

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ECOLE DES COLIBRIS