Beauxbatons!

[Milo Forents]

BEAUXBATONS!

Beauxbatons is one of the oldest and finest schools of magic. It is a proud and noble institute, rife with traditions and values. Beauxbatons students are typically French, but it is not unheard of for Swiss and Belgians to attend the academy. The school is the second largest in Europe, right after Hogwarts and is well known for its rather gentle attitude and focus on the arts. The teaching methods of Beauxbatons differ greatly from those employed in Hogwarts and Durmstrang. The staff places great emphasis on teaching interpersonal skills and encourages their students to learn as much about other cultures and viewpoints as possible. Beauxbatons is currently lead by its famous headmistress Olympe Maxime.

Despite students coming from different countries, the official language in Beauxbatons is French. It is spoken inside and outside class. The Beauxbatons staff is very strict about everyone speaking French at all times. It is perceived as rude to communicate in a language that isn't understood by everybody in the school. Beauxbatons proudly follows French customs and traditions and students attending the school will often feel a strong bond to the French culture and language regardless of where they are from. The study of foreign languages is often perceived as unecessary as obviously the French language and culture is superior.

Like the other two great European schools Beauxbatons is split into different houses. There are three different houses in Beauxbatons called Papillonlisse, Bellefeuille and Ombrelune. Each house has roughly an equal number of students. Similar as in Hogwarts the students of each house compete for the House Cup every year. Points are awarded to every house based on their participation in class and in extra curricular activites. The house with the most points awarded wins the house cup.

Unlike Hogwarts, Beauxbatons students take their O.W.L. exams at the end of their sixth year, only one year before they take their N.E.W.T.s.