Lycée Jean-Zay

Lycée Jean-Zay (trans. Jean Zay High School) is a public high school located in Thiers, Puy-de-Dôme, France, founded in 1933. It is a general and technical school, specialising in industrial and technical training and offering Brevet de téchnicien supérieur (BTS) qualifications and preparatory classes for the grandes écoles (prépa) in addition to the standard baccalauréat. Initially named the National School of Knifecraft (École nationale de la coutellerie), then the National Professional School (École nationale professionelle, ENP), the school is sometimes known to locals as la Nat. It was in 1993 that it was renamed after Jean Zay by the Regional Council. The school welcomed its first cohort in late 1933. It official inauguration took place in July 1934, and was attended by President Albert Lebrun and Colonial Minister Pierre Laval, the latter of which was from the area and pushed for the creation of the school. The authorities were keen to be seen as promoting local industry, and the creation of the school fit neatly into the working tradition of Thiers. It was the first National Professional School in Auvergne. The walls of the new school were soon imbued with history. After the declaration of the Second World War, the ENPs of Metz, Nancy and Épinal, situated in the occupied sone, were closed, and their students relocated to Jean Zay. Michel Bloch, a history teacher at the school who was dismissed in the wake of the Vichy regime's anti-Jewish laws in October 1940, went on to join the resistance. His replacement Charles Hainchelin directed local units of the communist resistance movement and was mortally wounded during the battle to liberate the town on 25 August 1944. On 16 January 1947, a plaque was attached to the school commemorating the ten students and four members of staff who were sent to their deaths or killed in action. In 1946, a metals testing laboratory was installed. In 1965, the ENP became the State Technical High School (Lycée technique d'état, LTE), with classes ranging from technical qualifications to preparatory classes for the grandes écoles.