Bréquigny High School in Rennes will remain closed from Monday, November 16th to Friday, November 20th following significant damage that occurred on Thursday at the school. Individuals, including students, destroyed doors, windows, and furniture using fire extinguishers. Given the seriousness of the incident, the administration has decided to switch to remote learning for the 3,000 students enrolled at this high school, the largest in Brittany.
Bréquigny High School will be closed for a week. Located in Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine , this school, which serves nearly 3 students, will not hold any in-person classes from November 16th to 20th. The decision was announced on Friday, November 13th, by its headmaster, Marc Duran, following the violence and vandalism that occurred the previous day on the school grounds. Classes are scheduled to resume as normal on Monday, November 23rd, at 8:000 a.m.
The events occurred on Thursday, November 12, around 10:00 a.m., while students were in class. A group of people, including high school students, entered the buildings and caused significant damage. Classroom doors, glass partitions, and a student services office were damaged with fire extinguishers. Given the severity of the incident, the administration decided to evacuate all students and staff with the support of law enforcement. No injuries were reported.
A traumatic day for students and teachers
In a message to families posted on Pronote, headmaster Marc Duran described a particularly trying day for the school community. The temporary closure was decided in consultation with the academic authorities to prevent further incidents and allow staff and students to return to a safe environment. Classes will be held remotely for five days, an exceptional measure for a school of this size.
The head of the Rennes education authority , Nathalie Albert-Moretti, strongly condemned the violence that occurred at the high school. She reiterated that students' demands must be expressed without endangering individuals or damaging public property. The education authority reported the incident to the public prosecutor under Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Disciplinary proceedings have also been initiated, and formal complaints are being considered.
An establishment that has been regularly disrupted since September
These disturbances are occurring within a context of student mobilization affecting several French schools since the start of the academic year. In Rennes, the Bréquigny high school has experienced repeated blockades since the end of September. These disruptions have severely hampered classes and generated growing concern among staff, students, and their families.
The situation is of particular concern to the school administration, which fears the impact of these disruptions on students' education. In his message to families, the headmaster states that the school year has not yet been able to begin under normal conditions. A request to exceptionally organize the year into semesters will be considered in order to address the difficulties encountered in keeping up with classes and assessments.
The Brittany region condemns the vandalism.
The president of the Brittany region, Loïg Chesnais-Girard, visited the school on Thursday to offer his support to the educational community. While acknowledging the need to listen to the students' demands regarding the resources allocated to education, he strongly condemned the vandalism committed at the school. According to the regional leader, demands for improved teaching conditions cannot justify the damage to school facilities.
This latest closure also comes as school leaders express growing concern about violence linked to student protests. On Friday, November 13, principals and administrative staff gathered in several French cities, including Rennes, to denounce the attacks, break-ins, and vandalism targeting some schools. They are demanding measures to guarantee the safety of students and staff.
Classes are scheduled to resume on November 23rd.
In Rennes, the disruptions are not limited to the Bréquigny high school. Rennes 2 University has also been experiencing significant difficulties for several weeks. One of its main campuses, closed since October 5th following occupations and vandalism, is expected to remain inaccessible until at least November 27th. This situation reflects the tensions currently affecting several educational institutions in the Breton metropolis.
For the 3 students of Bréquigny High School, the priority is now to continue learning despite the school closures. Teachers will have to adapt their lessons to remote learning for a week, while the administrative staff prepares for the return to in-person classes. Unless a new decision is made, the school will reopen on Monday, November 23, at 8:000 a.m.
Beyond the physical repairs, this reopening must restore a climate of trust within the school. Between student demands, family concerns, and staff safety requirements, the administration must find the conditions for a lasting return to normal operations.
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