Basics about the French School System

• Education in France is compulsory from ages 6-16, and state education is free of charge. The majority of children attend the free state schools but there are some private (paying) schools available.

• Uniform is not required at any stage.

• Secularity (laicité) has been enforced by law in French state schools since 2004. Students cannot wear headscarves or any other visible religious insignia to school.

• Because schooling in France is secular, no religious training or instruction is taught.

• Extra-curricular activities are not widely on offer in French schools. There might be sports team or an orchestra, but generally children follow their hobbies in their own time.

• The national curriculum is followed by all French schools, so if you find you want to move to a different town or region you can do so without disrupting their education.

• Three levels of school attended in France. Maternelle (lasts 2-3 years, children aged 2 to 3 or 3 to 6 years old). Ecole Primaire (lasts 5 years, primary school, for ages 6-11) and collège (lasts 4 years, ages 11-15). This can then be followed by three yeas in lycée.

• School weeks and hours vary from region to region. All schools have classes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Some schools hold classes on Wednesday mornings or Saturday mornings. From September 2008 there are no longer Saturday morning classes for kindergarten (Maternelle) and primary age children (Ecole Primaire).

• When enrolling your child in to a French school the following is required; birth certificate, school records and a medical record with the history of vaccinations the child has received.

• The academic years is similar to the UK and falls into three terms. Christmas holiday is usually two weeks starting just before Christmas, the spring holiday is two weeks towards the end of April but does not usually include Easter and the summer holiday is generally eight weeks long from July to August. The school year starts in early September and the dates are set by region.

• Schooling in France is free but there are additional fees for a lunch service, extra childcare after normal school hours, stationary, books and school trips but this is much the same as UK.