It is one of France's six military high schools under custody of the French ministry of Defence.

[1] The lycée naval is divided in two parts separated for the teaching: The École de maistrance (school of mastery) is the training school for future non-commissioned officers in the French Navy.

It was set up in 1933 under this name, it is now part of the Brest Naval Training Centre and within the remit of the Direction du personnel militaire de la marine (DPPM).

The École des Mousses (Seaman's school) has a co-educational role of 240 each year.

The school trains future sailors of the Marine nationale, the French navy.