Opened since the start of the September 2026 school year, the Jean-Jacques Sempé educational center was officially inaugurated in Bel Air Grand-Font this Saturday, October 10th. This new facility brings together four schools, dedicated early childhood spaces, and before and after-school care programs, with a shared ambition: to offer comprehensive support for children, from early childhood to the beginning of collège.
This project, the result of a reflection involving families, educational teams, and local institutional and associative partners, affirms the City of Angoulême's commitment to making education a priority. By bringing together the Pauline Kergomard, Jean Macé, George Sand, and Émile Roux schools, along with an early childhood space and the before and after-school care programs of the CSCS CAJ, the site fosters exchanges between professionals and better addresses the needs of each child.
Designed as an open and bright architecture spanning nearly 5,000 m², the educational center is organized around buildings with wooden structures forming small 'homes'. The courtyards, inspired by the local topography, create a garden atmosphere and landscape continuity. The project also pays particular attention to environmental issues and user comfort, with solutions aimed at limiting energy consumption and carbon footprint.
Located in Angoulême, the capital of image and comics, the educational center develops a pedagogical project that places particular emphasis on artistic and cultural education, specifically drawing, storytelling, and comics. Starting from the 2025-2026 school year, students have benefited from interventions by mediators and authors, with the support of the Cité internationale de la bande dessinée et de l’image. Two workshops dedicated to these activities are available, as well as France's first Class with Scheduled Hours (CHA) for Comics in elementary school.
The choice of the name Jean-Jacques Sempé, a renowned illustrator known for his work in humorous drawing and his connection to childhood through the illustrations of Le Petit Nicolas, echoes Angoulême's identity and the educational project. The City of Angoulême obtained the artist's rights holders' agreement to name the facility and use certain representations in its visual identity.
With the opening of this center, the Bel Air Grand-Font neighborhood now has a facility that brings together the different aspects of a child's life and the professionals who support them, thereby promoting children's success and development.
