 |
 4th July 2009
|
Education in France I followed my French husband from the UK to France in 1977 and have been working in education ever since. After teaching both in collège and lycée for many years, I began training teachers all over the Académie de Poitou-Charentes (an académie is similar to a local education authority, but covering a much wider area). The last five years of my teaching career, I spent inspecting trainee teachers. This means I visited practically every type of school you can imagine: écoles primaires, collèges, lycées and lycées professionnels, both state-run and private schools. I met and talked with teachers and school heads alike and came across several schools with English pupils. Although now retired, I continue to teach a couple of courses for in-service secondary school teachers at Poitiers University, so I’m not out of touch. We also put our own child through the system, starting with the first level of nursery education (petite section). So I do have a parent’s point of view of the educational experience as well. If you have any questions about education in France, from French league tables to getting help for dyslexia in France, or you would like to make a contribution on the zone please contact me. Jacqueline Karp More about me Newsletter SubscribeEnjoying Life in France OR French Property Tips your FREE newsletters.Type in your email to subscribe
View Previous Newsletters 2008/2009 School Calendar International Schools in France * International schools in France * NEW: International sections within French lycées. * Directory of schools more... Insurance for Schoolchildren in France Statistics about French educationSome interesting facts and figures• Number of pupils in primary and secondary education (aged six to eighteen) (2002-2003): 12,126,000. • Total staff numbers in primary and secondary schools (2002-2003): 1,341,200, including 894,200 teachers. • Budget of the French Ministry of Education (2003): 62.8 billion euros. • Average annual expenditure per pupil (2002): 6,470 euros. • Educational expenditure (initial training) as a proportion of gross domestic product (2000): 6.1%. France ranks fourth in the world and is above the average for Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, which is 5.5%. |
|
AXA PPP healthcare is right there with you
 Enjoy the worldwide reassurance of great British healthcare. Join us now and get up to two months cover free.
France by high-speed train
 Relax to France by high speed train - modern and comfortable TGVs serve more than 120 destinations - from only £15 one-way from Paris!
Education Forum Latest Education and Learning French Forum PostingsHot Topics on life in FranceWhat our Topic Hosts have got in store...Renovation & Decoration What to think about when doing up your homeHealthcare in France  Helping you navigate the French health systemLe Gastrozone .jpg){kind=small} Your guide to buying & preparing good French foodGite Business  Can you make a living from holiday accommodation?Vegetarian France  Help and advice on PCs, telephones, satellite and the internet in France. |
Search FrenchEntréeFrench Property Database Search
Over 10,000 properties for sale throughout France..... More search options Use a property finder |
.jpg)
Once you have your bac “en poche” (literally, in your pocket), you have access to university, and as long as there is space, you can, in theory, sign up for any of the courses available. Jacqueline Karp tells you some of the points you need to be aware of.
Many students prefer to look at options with smaller class numbers than at university, more personal attention, and a professional qualification at the end of two years. So what's available?
The Baccalauréat is a state diploma awarded to pupils in their final lycée year. But how does it differ to A-levels? Jacqueline Karp explains...
Information about the vaccinations your children will need in France. This is a relatively easy process as the medical system is very thorough here and easy to access via your local doctor.
Simple because despite the apparent chauvinism of the French in general a tremendous number of them want to learn the English language. Anybody with a university degree or teaching certificate is eligible to be recruited by us providing that they have a pleasant personality and a clean and welcoming home.
Meeting your child’s teachers can be nerve-racking if your own French is shaky. Here’s one way to overcome that language barrier. Plus news of a recent film success set in a Paris school.
If you have an artist in your midst who is still wondering where to go after the bac, help is here. Télérama, the radio and television magazine has just brought out a special supplement for school-leavers with an interest in studying art...
For many years children in the French state system had to attend a school near their home. However, this has now been abolished - although selection criteria still can apply...
There are no official league tables in France - in fact, they are frowned upon by some in the government and teachers - so it can be difficult finding out how good your local school really is. However, there are some statistics available
Dyslexia can be isolating, especially when you are also trying to learn a new language. However, with a new English-speaking website and contact, it is now easier to get information on how to help a child with dyslexia in France
With violence in French schools a growing concern, find out the reputation of your local collége or lycée
If you're worried about how your child is coping at school, perhaps home schooling is the answer - 500 families already do so in France. Stephanie Dagg, who has homeschooled her own daughter, explains how it works and what you need to know about homeschooling your child in France
Much of the information available about French education prepares you for the procedures and helps you understand the system. However there are some aspects about moving your child to France that aren’t mentioned in books and certainly don’t feature in the fantasy “get a new life” TV programmes...
'When I arrived in Paris as an au pair, the school children advancing hand in hand in the streets immediately caught my attention. Just like “Madeline” in the 1930’s series about the little Parisian and her friends, "in the streets they walk in two straight lines".'
After visiting schools, filling out a number of forms and checking out the school bus the Dagg family were full of optimism and enthusiasm for what lay ahead. But how has it worked out in reality? Here's their informative - and hugely amusing - account of their first year in the French school system