CA Britline
4th July 2009
Home French Property Living in France Holidays in France Regions of France Directories Forum

Education in France

Jacqueline Karp
Hello everyone, and welcome to Education in France. Whether your kids are toddlers about to enter nursery school (maternelle), at primary school or even teenagers struggling through their bac year (terminale), this is the place for you. FrenchEntrée Education aims to provide you with a comprehensive source of information and news on 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 Subscribe

Enjoying Life in France OR French Property Tips your FREE newsletters.
Type in your email to subscribe
Join Our Newsletter!
Email:  
Your email address is not provided to anyone else - see Privacy Policy for full details.
View Previous Newsletters

2008/2009 School Calendar

Education "Zones"
When does school start in your area? And what are the holiday dates? More...

International Schools in France

.

* International schools in France
* NEW: International sections within French lycées.
* Directory of schools more...

Insurance for Schoolchildren in France

School Insurance
If you have a child or children who will be attending school in France, a separate specific insurance policy will be required. Known as assurance scolaire, it is highly recommended by the French Ministry of Education, and is a prerequisite for children in most schools. more...

Statistics about French education

Some 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%.

Education in France

Starting school in a country with a different education system and language can be daunting. This section will help you understand how French education works, from école to lycée, plus much more including real-life stories from those already here

+++++LATEST STORIES+++++

News and information on the most recent developments in French education

Which way after the bac?

GraduationOnce 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. more...

Other Options after the Bac

© Jacqueline KarpMany 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?
more...

How does the Baccalauréat differ from A-Levels?

French Baccalauréat studentsThe Baccalauréat is a state diploma awarded to pupils in their final lycée year. But how does it differ to A-levels? Jacqueline Karp explains... more...

Children's Vaccinations in France

Vaccinations required for children in France

Moving to Languedoc Roussillon 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.more...

At last a way for English expats to earn money without leaving home!

Teacher and StudentSimple 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.more...

The language barrier - how you can overcome it when it comes to talking to your child’s teachers

entre les mursMeeting 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.

more...

Budding artists in the family? The answer to all those questions...

Studying Art in FranceIf 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... more...

Carte scolaire in France abolished

going to school illustrationFor 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... more...

How good is my local school in France?

classroomThere 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

more...

How to get help for dyslexia in France

thumbnail newDyslexia 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
more...

Violence in Schools

graffiti large thumbnailWith violence in French schools a growing concern, find out the reputation of your local collége or lycée
more...

Homeschooling in France

boy writingIf 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 more...

Insider tips on educating your child in France

Always happy at French school?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... more...

French language learning issues

Hard at WorkHow to plan and cope as your child learns French is a primary concern of any parent introducing a non-French speaking child into the French education system. more...

List of Academies in France

The 28 Academies with their contact details

more...

*** REAL LIFE STORIES***

Frenchentree readers on what it is like to go to school in France

French Parenting

One expat's personal account...

Margaret Lanzenberg'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".' more...

' The Only Way Is Up!'

spiral notebookAfter 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
more...

'Emotionally, it is tough'

Beth Ducat recounts how her two teenage daughters coped with moving into French schools more...

‘I was so worried about the next day, I couldn’t sleep at night’

Holly, a 12 year old from Beaminster, Dorset, on the stress of moving to a small school in the Mayenne.

more...

‘English is not obligatory in France!

A reader tells of her struggle to allow her child to take Spanish, not English, as her second foreign language more...
AXA PPP healthcare is right there with you
AXA Private HealthcareEnjoy the worldwide reassurance of great British healthcare. Join us now and get up to two months cover free.
France by high-speed train
TGV - Rail EuropeRelax to France by high speed train - modern and comfortable TGVs serve more than 120 destinations - from only £15 one-way from Paris!

Education Forum

Discussion forum about France & French property
The FrenchEntrée Education Forum is a great place to read and post adverts on all education issues including French schools, colleges, training opportunities and providers. Visit the Education Forum

Latest Education and Learning French Forum Postings

Hot Topics on life in France

What our Topic Hosts have got in store...

Renovation & Decoration
karen and andrew smallWhat to think about when doing up your home

Healthcare in France
Peter Owen,  French Health Care Topic HostHelping you navigate the French health system


Le Gastrozone
Gem DriverYour guide to buying & preparing good French food

Gite Business
Gite complex with poolCan you make a living from holiday accommodation?

Vegetarian France
trevor croppedHelp and advice on PCs, telephones, satellite and the internet in France.


Search FrenchEntrée


French Property Database Search

Find your dream house in France Over 10,000 properties
for sale throughout France.....


More search options
Use a property finder

French Property Products & Services

Track down the right supplier Search over one thousand suppliers to the French property market...
Text Search:

Category:


Click here to add an "entry"

Local Services in France

Track down the right supplier Search for your local suppliers of products and services in France...
Choose Category:

Choose Region:

Choose Department:

Search by name:


Click here to add an "entry"
Click here to view a map of listings

Link French Govt Site

Link French Govt Site

French Government Education Site
French Entrée