French School Holidays – Dates for Your Calendar
There are three terms in the school year, starting in September. Dates of French school holidays vary according to the “zone” you live in.
education
Did you ever study in France? Join the club!
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a new “France Alumni” social network for former foreign students to keep in touch with each other and keep their connection with France alive.
What is Vie Scolaire in French schools?
What is vie scolaire in French schools and what is its function? Your questions answered…
Moving Teenagers to a French School – Beth’s Story
When Beth Ducat moved to France, she gave her two teenage daughters, Emma and Alex, the choice to stay in the UK or come to France with her. They chose the latter. Here, Beth tells how her daughters coped with their new French school…
Starting School in France – From Dorset to Mayenne
Holly was 12 when her family moved from Beaminster in Dorset to the Mayenne in France and had to go to a French school. Find out how she got on…
How the French Government Works
With many different layers, French government and administration is complicated. Here’s an explanation of how it works and who is responsible for what.
France Launches New Classes on ‘moral and Civic’ Education
At the start of the 2015 school year France introduced new ‘civics lessons’ in primary and secondary classrooms aimed at defending the values of la Republique.
All aboard the Climate Train in France
An interactive roaming exhibition is rolling around France to raise awareness about climate change leading up to the COP21 climate summit in Paris in December.
A Guide to Education Reforms in France in 2015
Reforms to the French collège system In spite of much consternation, union disgruntlement and, naturellement, strikes by teachers back in May, France’s Socialist Education Minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem’s reforms to educational practices in French middle schools (collèges) for pupils between 11 and 15…
The best apps for learning French
These days, language learning apps for smartphones and tablets can be the easiest way to pick up a foreign language. Which are the best for learning French?
A culinary adventure in Limousin
Dominic Bliss introduces his two young daughters to cuisine “outside their nutritional comfort zones” in the Limousin.
How to Be a Teacher in France
The weekend that followed was relaxing because I knew at last I had a job that suited and although I was now close to the end of my overdraft, I’d just about be able to dig myself out of debt.…
French television
Watching local TV is one of the best ways to keep up with what is happening in the country and improve your language skills.
Education in France
Education in France Welcome to our comprehensive guide to Education in France. Here you can find all the answers to your questions about Schooling in France, from a complete introduction to the French Education system, helpful tips to help you…
French Word of the Week: Épanouissement
Épanouissement is the French word for bloom, but this literal botanical sense is only one of the many uses of the word. It also comes closest to that elusive concept that the Declaration of Independence evokes as the right of…
Important References
The main government organizations, resources and services in France all in one place.
What Do You Love about France? Get Published
If you’ve ever visited France it’s sure to have made an impression. For some it’s the food, the wine, the slower pace of life in the countryside. For others it’s the culture, luxury and bohemian spirit of Paris, or the…
My interior design business in France
Julie Kilgallon is a qualified interior designer based on the French Riviera. She grew up in Manchester and was inspired by her mother’s soft furnishing business to pursue a career in interior design.
Buyers find that the French Alps are just what the doctor ordered
Doctors traditionally recommend a week in the Alps for the fresh mountain air but are just as keen on the region these days – as a prescription for financial benefits.
‘I set up an animal charity in France’
Phoenix Association is a Dordogne-based charity that exists to deal with the sad plight of the ever-increasing number of abused and abandoned animals in France. Phoenix was established by Richard and Sheelagh Johnson.
Planning Law and Procedure in France
French planning law and taxes is a huge topic to cover, however the rules and procedures were somewhat simplified by legislation which came into force in 2012.
Education in France – a Teenage Perspective
A guest post from our man in Cognac, Graham Downie I’ve just read this excellent blog post from one of me fellow FrenchEntrée property finders. Val Walmsley runs Poitou Property Services and recounts a conversation she had with a young lady who came to…
Chats Du Quercy
The purpose of Chats du Quercy is to find permanent, safe homes for homeless cats and kittens with responsible and caring owners. We aim to provide quality, short term housing in a safe, disease-free and stimulating environment…
Les Colonies De Vacances
Holiday camps for children (colonies de vacances) are not unheard of in the UK but in France they are a national institution. During the school holidays, French children aged from four up to 18 are sent away from home for several activity filled weeks.
ASHA – Helping horses and donkeys
The Association Saint Hippolyte Aquitaine (ASHA for short) is a horse charity in France named after an Italian priest who since the Middle Ages has been considered a patron saint of horses. ASHA aims to eradicate psychological problems so that horses can be re-introduced to society and fulfil a useful life as a working animal.
Materials & Provisions
Parents are expected to purchase a number of items for their child’s education. A list of these can be obtained from the school or sometimes from the Mairie. Here is …
Primary Schools (ecole Primaire)
The Basic Tools of Development French primary schools (also known as “écoles élémentaire”) cover the ages six to eleven with five courses of study, one for each year: CP – Cours Preparatoire CE1 – Cours Elementaire 1st year CE2 –…
School Selection
Which school? There are around 57,000 nursery and primary schools and 7,400 lycées in France so there is plenty of choice ! But of course most people will want to know where the nearest schools are in relation to an area they might consider moving to. A good place to start is to check the website of the nearest Académie…
French Private Schools
Around 15% of children in France attend private school of one kind or another. Schools come in many forms: international, catholic, American, British, day and boarding, French and bi-lingual.
Not surprisingly …
Planning Law and Procedure in France
French planning law is a huge topic however the rules and procedures were somewhat simplified by new legislation with came into force on 1 October 2007. The resulting rules apply throughout France. Here, legal experts from Heslop & Platt explain the procedure…
Mother and Baby Groups
A list of mother and baby groups throughout France Accents Mothers & Toddlers group Accents has been running for 3 years and are based in Civray (86400). They welcome all carers and children up to school age. Tel: Kathryn Dobson…
British Associations
AVF AVF is a national association (registered under the French law of 1901) with 350 local branches throughout France (local A.V.F) non confessional, non political, run by trained volunteers. Its purpose is to provide a service for those who move…
Support Groups
A list of support groups throughout France AIKB AIKB (Association Intégration Kreiz Breizh) is a non-profit making Association set-up (in accordance with French law) in 2003 with the aim of helping ‘newcomers’ to settle into their new life in Brittany.…
Child Care in France
France has an excellent child-care system in which the state funds 80% of the care. From the age of 2½ months to 3 years a child can be placed in a crèche. Here we look at the child care options in France…
Learning English with Les Amis des Chats
The children of Touffailles primary school have really been enjoying their english lessons lately. Over the past four weeks they have been improving their English using ‘Anglais avec les chats’, a unique education programme initiated by the cat charity Les Amis Des Chats…
Insurance – Confusion for Expats…
Insurance broker Aon conducted an online survey. It was sent to five-hundred English speakers in France (66% of which are British). There was some interesting feedback concerning confusion with French insurance…
Applying for University in France
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.
Vocational Courses in France after the Bac
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 VS. A-levels
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…
Nursery Schools in France (maternelle)
Although attendance at Nursery school is optional in France attendance levels are high with around nearly 100% by the age of four attending Ecole Maternelle…
French Parenting
‘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”.’
A Family Chronicle
Maurice Fourches was born in 1930 in Tulle Corrèze. Monsieur Fourches carried out his higher education at the Faculty of Science at Clemont Ferrand. Maurice’s military service was spent …
English-Language Library in Angers
Sitting on a small street not far from the massive Angers Chateau, the English-Language Library in Angers (ELLIA) holds a special position …
The Cocktail Drinker’s Guide to Gardening
In a series of articles, writer James Clay combines two delightful past-times Gardening and Cocktail Drinking. This month, with his usual comedy and charm, he tells us how to make the ultimate festive drink Mulled Wine, offers some Christmas gift suggestions, and explains why gardeners like manure so much!…
Moving to France check list
Get organised with our check-list of things to do…
Why I Chose…an Historic Mill in Mayenne
Image not found.How did you find your French house? And why did you choose it? What lessons have you learnt? Each month FrenchEntrée asks a homeowner to explain their choice of property in France. This month we talk to Nicki Newman in the Pays de la Loire region
Third Term – Why It Matters to Keep Working Hard
By now children have been assessed on their performance in the school year – and decisions have been made as to where they go next. But it’s not the end of the story…
Homeschooling in France
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…
French language tips: using ‘de‘
Using the preposition ‘de’: the French word de is a preposition with several meanings: ‘of’, ‘from’, ‘about’, or ‘some’.
French verb focus: devoir, ‘to owe’ or ‘to have to’
Devoir is another irregular verb, and it is unusual because it can mean to owe, or it can mean have to, must, ought to and should.
