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A Time Without School: Growing Up Together on the Margins
Camille Nivollet
Series description

This documentary series follows a group of young people who grew up outside the French school system, and the relationships they formed through associative gatherings known as rencontres. The photographer followed several individuals, over a few years: Lisa, Ilan, Loren, Eve, Pauline and her daughter Elyna, Isaure, Hermione, Matilda, Lutèce, and Oriane French law states that education is compulsory for children aged three to 16, but it does not specify that this education has to take place in a classroom; what these families have in common is that they do not replicate the school model at home. The series explores the plurality of their family, friendship, romantic and associative bonds, bearing witness to young people living on the margins of the formal education system, and their transition into adulthood.

A Time Without School: Growing Up Together on the Margins

Émilie (15), Lisa (16) and twin sisters Isaure and Hermione (16) at the Corancy rencontre in the Morvan Mountains of France. The rencontres take place every two months, except during the winter period, and are organised by LED'A (Les Enfants d’Abord), which was established in 1988 to create connections between home-educated children.

© Camille Nivollet, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Perspectives, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
A Time Without School: Growing Up Together on the Margins

Lisa (17), Émilie (16), and Isaure (17) dancing at a party at a rencontre in Saint-Julien-de-la-Nef, Cévennes. The gatherings move to a different location each year and never take place in the same region or city twice.

© Camille Nivollet, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Perspectives, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
A Time Without School: Growing Up Together on the Margins
Oriane celebrates her 18th birthday at home in Centre-Val de Loire. Oriane has never attended school, but takes part in the rencontres, which is where she met her best friend, Pauline.
© Camille Nivollet, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Perspectives, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
A Time Without School: Growing Up Together on the Margins
Pauline (21) and her brother Ashe (24). Following several years of bullying at school, Ashe started being homeschooled. A few weeks later, when Pauline was in sixth grade, she asked to leave school as well. She returned to school at the age of 16 and has now completed a vocational CAP in aesthetics.
© Camille Nivollet, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Perspectives, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
A Time Without School: Growing Up Together on the Margins
Many young people who have been out of school or never enrolled choose to join this experimental high school in Saint-Nazaire. The school operates on a system of self-management, with students and teachers running the institution together, from classes and administration to the cafeteria; there are no administrative staff and no principal.
© Camille Nivollet, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Perspectives, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
A Time Without School: Growing Up Together on the Margins
Lisa (17) and Aurore (18) met at a rencontre while they were being homeschooled. Lisa has never attended school, but Aurore has started high school and is preparing for the baccalaureate. Here, Lisa is spending the summer at Aurore’s because they both found summer jobs working for a farmer, harvesting corn.
© Camille Nivollet, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Perspectives, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards
A Time Without School: Growing Up Together on the Margins
Lisa (15) and Émilie (14) have known each other for seven years, since they met at a rencontre. Lisa has never attended school, but Émilie chose to start school in the fifth grade. Since starting school, Émilie continues to attend the rencontres to see her friends.
© Camille Nivollet, France, Shortlist, Professional Competition, Perspectives, 2026 Sony World Photography Awards