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Geneva Local Reference INFOrmation
The basics of the education system in France for children in the school system in Ain or Haute-Savoie. Information includes all the stages from creche (maternelle) to pre-primary, primary and secondary education and international schooling.
Education in France is compulsory for children aged six to sixteen. State (public) education is free, secular with mixed-sex classes. Education is also available in private, fee-paying schools (which include most religion-based and international schools). Below is information on:
VaccinationsThe Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio (DTP) vaccination is compulsory for a child to have the following vaccinations. When enrolling, a certificates will be required to verify this. In July 2007 the Tuberculosis (BCG) vaccine was declared to no longer be obligatory except under certain criteria.
Note: Some schools may still operate to the pre-July 2007 rulings which meant that it was obligatory except for contra-indication or if after two injections the test is still negative. The child simply has to have regular tests to check that the negativity still holds. Homeopathic doctors (who prefer not to vaccinate for BCG) may issue a certificate stating that the child cannot have the BCG. This is acceptable to schools. The School YearThe school year starts in early September, dates are set by the region (and in the case of private schools, by the school itself) and finishes for the long summer holidays in July. Many primary schools are closed on Wednesday and have classes Saturday mornings. This practise has been under debate and from September 2006, some schools have elected to follow a Monday to Friday school week. The school day hours vary between regions but is generally 08:30-16:30 with two breaks. Lunch hours vary from school to school and in general last one and a half to two hours. Children may either stay at school and eat at the cantine or return home for lunch. The price of a cantine meal can vary in each school and will depend on the local commune which subsidises school meals. Children at an école maternelle whose parents do not work are not always accepted at the cantine, the local Mairie will ask for proof that both parents work (pay slips or work contract). There is no charge for state schooling and books, however parents must supply stationery and additional funds for school outings. Insurance is generally requested to cover all risks at school and on school outings. A school doctor performs an annual medical check on all children. Primary EducationMothers' help, crèches, kindergartens and nursery schools fall outside the official school system Halte Garderies are open to children under the age of 6. Children may attend a few days or half-days per week, as the parent chooses. Children are under the guardianship of a qualified midwife, paediatric nurse or teacher. The is usually a small fee to pay. Ask at your Mairie for details on local facilities. Écoles MaternellesÉcole Maternelle is comparable with nursery school or kindergarten in anglophone countries. While not compulsory it is considered essential in preparing a child for school. Maternelles are for ages two to six and provide optional education for children. Enrolment for the local école maternelle should be done at the Mairie. It is free of charge (aside from extras, including lunch). Children who are two at the rentrée - the start of the new school year in September - are accepted provided they are sufficiently mature and "socialised". (This is gauged by a doctor who will issue a certificate). If the child turns two before the end of the year, and the school has space the child may be admitted. If there is no Maternelle in an area, a child may start at the école élémentaire in the section enfantine from the age of 5 years. The Maternelle is divided into:
Apply at the Mairie for a certificat d'inscription by June of the year you want your child to start. Late applications are technically not allowed but will probably be considered. You will need to show:
To register at the school, take:
If there are fewer places available than applicants, older children will be given preference.
Écoles ÉlémentairesÉcole élémentaire is the equivalent of primary, junior or elementary school in anglophone countries. For ages 6 to 11, these deliver the beginning of compulsory education. A child must be enrolled in the école élémentaire by the June prior to the September start of school. If a child is continuing in the same schooling area, there is no need to re-apply to the Mairie. People new to an area, or if the child did not attend the maternelle, must apply to the Mairie for a certificat d'inscription to the assigned school in the area. Take:
It is not compulsory that a child attends the local, assigned école élémentaire, but if a "non-local" school is preferred, specific applications must be made through the Mairie. A dérogation must be requested to apply to a school outside the catchment area. Parents may approach schools directly for enrolment (in addition to the Mairie) and in some primary schools it is the director's discretion that allows entrance for a pupil from another catchment area. Grades/years of the écoles élémentaires
Secondary EducationSecondary education is broken into two phases. It begins with the compulsory first cycle for ages 11 to 15 at collège after which, on completion a successful scholar receives a diploma (brevet des collèges). This is followed by the post compulsory second cycle for ages 15 to 18 at a lycée. This is completed with the Baccalauréat. As with the elementary schools, registeration must be made at the local Mairie by June, or sooner if a child is to be schooled outside of the commune of residence. CollègesCollège is the first cycle for scholars aged 11-15 years. On completing the CM2 cycle and receiving a brevet the pupil is ready for admission into sixième (6ème).
The child should be registered at the local college for the geographic area (exceptions do apply where the local facilities do not cater for specific studies) and applications should be made before the spring holiday. School director's are able to help with the completion of the applications. Enrolment requirements vary between schools although generally the following will be required:
Further information is available from the departmental school inspectorate and from colleges in the commune. LycéesFor ages 15 to 18. The final three years are the seconde, première and terminale. It is at this point that the scholar specialises in a chosen area. The final exams are the Baccalauréat (the "Bac"). The Baccalauréat and the "International Option" Baccalauréat (OIB) are globally recognised qualifications for university entrance.
The "bac" subjects are grouped by discipline:
Lycée d'enseignement professionnel (LEP/LPA)The LEP and LPA are technical or professional school alternatives to lycée which can be followed after receiving a brevet des collèges.
Special NeedsProvision for special needs students in French schools in on the increase. While generally French schools have not had "special needs" departments, much depends on the school and the needs of the child, and some schools are able to cater to certain needs - whether a physical or learning disorder - by accommodating the child in regular or "integration" classes. SESSAD (services d'éducation spéciale et de soins à domicile) deal with children and teenagers with mental, motor and sensory disabilities ensuring early education and support for the family (counselling and accompaniment to treatments) through to the end of compulsory education (and in cases through to university). SESSAD provides a bridge between the traditional schooling and the extra-school treatments and rehabilitation . CLIS (classes d'intégration scolaire) is for children with disabilities too severe for schooling in regular classes, but not requiring special facilities. CLIS is a special class within an ordinary elementary or secondary school (although seldom available in pre-school facilities). The teaching is adapted to students needs but the curriculum taught is essentially the same as that taught in the regular classes There are 4 categories of CLIS:
Admission to CLIS is decided by the CCPE (commission préélémentaire et élémentaire). UPI (unités pédagogiques d'intégration) units accommodate
mentally handicapped children from 12 to 16 years (generally coming from CLIS
1). The UPI provides adapted school integration and partial participation
through the teaching and activities. This system is being expanded to
incorporate children with sight, hearing and physical disabilities.
International SchoolingThere are three types of school that offer schooling in English:
The Paris-based organisation ELSA (English Language Schools Association of France), provides up-to-date information for those seeking schooling in English, in France. There are American and British Schools in Paris, which follow the exact curricula of their home countries.
BaccalaureateAt high school level, students can opt for either:
The IB Diploma follows the syllabus of the home country. Many, but not all, of French bilingual schools make this option available. The BOI is a baccalaureate qualification which forms an optional part of the French baccalaureate examination and as such allows the student to enter higher education in France.
International schools (such as British or American schools) offer the curriculum and qualifications of the home country. For example, students at a British international school are prepared for the GCSE and GCE examinations while American schools provide testing for examinations including SAT I & II, and PSAT. Home Schooling in FranceHome schooling in France has been legal since December 1998; annual registration is compulsory. A declaration must be made each year at the Mairie of the place of residence and at the school inspectorate (inspecteur d’académie or rectorat). For children from the age of six to sixteen in home schooling an annual visit will be made by the school inspector (inspecteur d’académie) and at a minimum every two years by the mairie. In the event of two unsatisfactory inspections, the parents can be ordered to send the child to school. In the event of a change of address, a declaration must be made at the marie of the place of residence within eight days of the move. Various methods exist for teaching children at home, for example correspondence classes or Montessori. However the law requires that children acquire the following knowledge and reach a level of education that can be compared with that of children in school:
National exams can be taken by registering at the rectorat. Further information is available from the government education website and Les Enfants d’Abord, a French organisation for home schooling families. Bullying & Violence in the Classroom & SchoolIn the case of violence in a French school (bullying, a violent incidence, problems with teachers), a concerned parent should contact the FCPE of the school concerned. The FCPE (Federation des Conseils de Parents d'Eleves) is the French equivalent of the Parent Teacher Associations (PTA). FCPE are recognised by law and are now official members of the educational community.
There are a number of different FCPE associations, the main ones being PEEP (Fédération des Parents d'Elèves de l'Enseignement Public) and Apel Parents (websites in French). Information on these and other associations is available from schools, either directly from the teachers or from notices posted on a bulletin board outside the school. It may also be necessary to contact the Inspection de l'Academie Nationale, to find the FCPE concerning the region.
The Académie is the local Education Administration, which facilitates the application of the national education policy within each French region. Policy depends on the local context and on the local partner institutions such as:
Student and Scholar Helplines
Further Information
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