essay on education system in france in french

French Education System

Understanding the French Education System: Structure, Achievements, and Global Impact

France’s education system is renowned for its rich history, rigorous standards, and global influence. 

Let’s explore the Overview of the French Education System , examining its structure, achievements, and international impact.

Overview of the French Education System

Structure of the french education system.

The French education system is structured into three main levels: French Primary and Secondary Education , Higher Education in France , and Vocational Training and Apprenticeships . 

French Primary and Secondary Education

Primary education in France encompasses écoles maternelles (nursery schools) and écoles élémentaires (primary schools), providing a foundation in core subjects such as mathematics, science, and French language.

Secondary education consists of collèges (middle schools) and lycées (high schools), where students pursue a comprehensive curriculum leading to the Baccalauréat (French high school diploma).

Higher Education in France

Higher education in France is characterized by its prestigious universities and grandes écoles (elite institutions). 

These institutions offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various fields, including humanities, sciences, engineering, and business.

Vocational Training and Apprenticeships

France emphasizes vocational training and apprenticeships as viable pathways to career success. 

Vocational schools and apprenticeship programs provide hands-on training and industry-specific skills, preparing students for the workforce.

Achievements of the French Education System

The French education system boasts impressive achievements across various metrics. 

High literacy rates, strong academic performance on international assessments, and a robust research and innovation ecosystem highlight its success.

• Literacy Rates: France maintains high literacy rates, with a strong emphasis on literacy skills from early childhood.
• Academic Performance: French students consistently perform well on international assessments such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
• Research and Innovation: French universities and research institutions contribute significantly to global advancements in science, technology, and the arts.

International Impact of the French Education System

The French education system exerts a significant influence on the global stage, shaping educational practices and promoting French language and culture worldwide.

• French International Schools: French international schools provide French education and language instruction to students around the world, maintaining academic standards aligned with those in France.
• French Study Abroad Programs : France’s reputation as a hub for academic excellence attracts students from diverse backgrounds, fostering cultural exchange and collaboration .
• French Language and Integration Courses : French language and integration courses enable immigrants and expatriates to integrate into French society and pursue educational opportunities.

French Student Life and Culture

Beyond academics, French student life and culture play a significant role in shaping the educational experience. 

Students in France benefit from a rich cultural heritage, with opportunities to explore art, literature, and history firsthand. 

Extracurricular activities, such as sports, clubs, and cultural events, foster camaraderie and personal development. 

Moreover, the vibrant student community contributes to a dynamic learning environment, where diverse perspectives and ideas are encouraged. 

From bustling university campuses to quaint college towns, the French education system offers a unique blend of academic rigor and cultural immersion.

French Education and Reforms

French educational philosophy.

At the heart of the French education system lies a commitment to equality, secularism, and academic rigor. 

The principles of liberté, égalité, fraternité (liberty, equality, fraternity) underscore the French approach to education .

French Education Reforms

France periodically implements education reforms to adapt to changing societal needs and global trends. 

Recent reforms have focused on improving access to education, enhancing teacher training, and modernizing curricula.

French Education and Innovation

Educational technology in france.

France embraces educational technology as a tool for enhancing teaching and learning experiences . 

Digital platforms, interactive tools, and online resources supplement traditional instruction methods, fostering student engagement and collaboration.

Challenges in the French Education System

While the French education system excels in many areas, it faces challenges such as socioeconomic disparities, overcrowded classrooms, and adapting to technological advancements. 

Addressing these challenges requires ongoing reforms and innovative solutions .

Funding and Tuition in French Education

Funding and tuition in French education vary depending on the level of education and type of institution. 

Public schools offer free education up to the secondary level, while higher education institutions may charge tuition fees, albeit at a significantly lower rate compared to many other countries.

French Education and Employment

The French education system plays a crucial role in preparing students for the workforce. 

Vocational training programs and apprenticeships provide valuable skills and practical experience, enhancing graduates’ employability in various industries.

Reflections on the French Education System

The French education system stands as a pillar of academic excellence, with a strong emphasis on knowledge, critical thinking, and cultural enrichment . 

Its achievements, global influence , and commitment to innovation ensure that France remains at the forefront of educational excellence.

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Educational Goals and State Service

Demographic overview.

Educational Expenditure

Educational structure.

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Schools in France: A Guide to the French Education System

The French school system can seem confusing for expat families but Catharine Higginson’s indispensable guide will help take you through the different stages of your child’s education, from ‘maternelle’ to ‘lycée’, and the exams they will sit in France

Every educational system has its advantages and disadvantages and like any other, the French system is not without its detractors. Equally, it is greatly revered for its overall high standards, 99% literacy rate and lengthy higher education . Education in France is obligatory between the ages of three and 16 and the state is heavily involved in both financing and organising the education system.

The system’s main principles were established in 1958 and provide for free, secular instruction for all. Pre-primary education starts at the age of three, at an école maternelle and some establishments will take children from the age of two and a half. Children are expected to be toilet-trained (although no one will bat an eyelid at the occasional accident) and will generally spend the entire day at school, eating at the canteen, having a nap in the afternoon and working on basic numeracy and motor skills.

This class is known as petite section and from here the children progress through moyenne section and then onto grande section. And yes, it is a ‘proud parent’ moment when your child ‘passes’ from one section to the next at the end of the academic year!

All primary schools offer a before and after school club type service – la garderie – which usually runs from 7am until the start of school and from the end of the school day until around 6-6.30pm in the evening. This may seem like a long day for small children but it is a boon for working parents. Fees are means-tested and incredibly reasonable. The garderie staff will administer after school snacks – le goûter –and supervise homework.

Are there school busses in France?

In smaller communes there may be a ‘ regroupement scolaire ’ in place. This means that children from the different local communes will be bussed into one primary school, or possibly even two different schools so that class sizes are larger. In my case three communes were involved. All three operated a morning garderie and then the bus would collect children from the two communes which were now minus a working school, and take them to the village with one.

In the evening the process would be reversed, but all the children attending the garderie were taken to the former primary school in the larger of the two villages and parents collected them directly from there. Again, it may seem strange expecting even quite small children to take the bus but the system is well organised and in France children do this from a very early age. Most regions provide free or heavily subsidised transport and you can find out where and how to apply for a bus card – titre de bus – through the mairie or online via the commune’s website.

Primary school in France

In France ‘primary’ education includes both the école maternelle (from petite to grande section) and the école élémentaire classes which start with CP and end with CM2. CP or cours préparatoire is the first part of the second cycle of primary education (maternelle being the first) and is where more formal education begins; this class is when children are expected to learn to read.

CP is followed by CE1 and CE2 – cours élémentaire première année (CE1) and cours élémentaire deuxième année (CE2) – where the emphasis is on basic literacy and numeracy skills.  Pupils finish their primary school with the classes known as CM1 and CM2 ( cours moyen 1 and 2); these years are part of the third cycle which is a period of consolidation of everything the children have worked on to date and which ends during the first year of secondary school or collège .

Secondary school in France

The first class in collège is known as 6ème (the sixth year of education) and children spend four years in collège until they reach 3ème. In their first year, pupils have 26 hours of obligatory classes in French, maths, a foreign language, history and geography, art, music, PE, science and technology and civic education. There will be another three hours of optional subjects to be added to the timetable too and in the fourth and fifth years Latin, German, Spanish or another regional (French) language may be added.

Pupils sit the exam known as le brevet in 3ème and while they do not need to pass this to be accepted into a lycée (high school), or continue with further education, success is considered fairly essential. The exam is seen as both a right of passage and an evaluation of the skills and knowledge acquired in secondary school, and is thus generally considered to be important.

The brevet results are based equally on continuous assessment ( contrôle continu ) and the exams ( les épreuves ). These take place over two days and include a three-hour French exam, two hours of maths, a two-hour history, geography and EMC ( enseignement moral et civique ) paper and an hour-long physics/chemistry/science and/or technology evaluation.

High school in France

After secondary school and assuming that the conseil de classe was favourable (in other words, that the subject teachers were in agreement)  children move onto lycée or high school. They might go to a general and technical or professional ( lycée d’enseignement général et technologique/un lycée professionnel ) establishment depending on their capabilities and planned future direction. They will then enter the ‘first’ class (which is confusingly known as seconde) and opt to study for either a seconde générale et technologique , seconde professionnelle or a certificat d’aptitude professionnel (CAP) – 1re année . In the case of a seconde générale pupils can add various options to the core subjects and choose which ‘bac’ subjects they will study for the baccalaureat exam taken at the end of the three year period.

Some technical diplomas (such as catering, graphic design and dance for instance) begin in the first year, i.e. seconde , so it is essential to factor this in when choosing a lycée . Technical lycées offer the bac pro . This offers three years of further education, practical training, hands-on experience in a professional environment, covers 75 specialist professions and results in a qualification.

In some cases, students go onto further studies after their diplomas. The CAP is another more practical qualification covering around 200 specific careers mainly within the industrial, commercial and service sectors.

Shopping for school supplies in France

Depending on which year they are in and the subjects they will be studying, your child will need to provide their own supplies and the lengthy list of school equipment required for the coming academic year does seem strange initially. The list will be sent out at the end of the summer term or at la rentrée (the back to school period) and will include everything from paintbrushes to slippers, glue sticks and exercise books. These lists are often extremely specific, especially when it comes to art supplies and cahiers (exercise books); buy the wrong size and shape and both you and your child will be in trouble!

Most of the big supermarkets and office supply stores will have everything you require and there are lots of special offers. The office supply stores tend to be slightly more expensive but often offer a ‘click and collect’ service, which can be a lifesaver especially if you have multiple children who all need different items. The costs do add up but families in receipt of the family allowance equivalent ( les allocations familiales ) receive a special one-off payment; this is known as the ARS ( allocation rentrée scolaire ) and is a generous €392 for children aged 6-10, €413 for children aged 11-14 and €428 for the 15-18 age group.

Find out the 10 biggest differences between French and British schools and test your knowledge of school vocabulary with this quiz . Here are 12 things you need to know about French schools .

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French Education System

Each country’s education system differs from the other, since there are many aspects to look at. The French education system is particularly known for being complicated when it comes to different categories and types of diplomas and tests. The French schools are known for being strictly educational. Meaning they don’t have much extracurricular activities at least related to the school (they don’t have much funding due to the low or no costs of tuition), no school dances or major events, no posters like you see in other schools in Europe. It is very common in France to repeat a school year if the students do not achieve the average grades they need to pass the classes.

The French education system consists of three stages: primary education, secondary education, and higher education.

Primary education

While day care and kindergarten are not mandatory, from the age of 6 all children must enrol in school. Primary school consists of five years of study, from the age 6-11 (similar to a US elementary school).

Secondary education

After primary school, students move to secondary school, which is divided into two stages:

• The collège (middle school), is composed of four years of study, for students ages eleven through fifteen. Students receive a “ brevet des collèges” upon its completion.
• The lycée (high school) for the final three years of secondary education. Students then take an examination to receive the baccalauréat ( bac ) qualification (high school diploma).

Higher education

After high school, students choose either a vocational diploma or an academic diploma.

Vocational diplomas:

The DUT ( diplôme universitaire de technologie ) and BTS ( brevet de technicien supérieur ) are two-year technology-oriented degrees. BTS courses are offered by high schools, whereas DUT are awarded by universities. A DUT or BTS may be followed by one additional qualifying year of study, leading to a “ licence professionnelle” .

Academic diplomas:

There are three types of higher education institutions in France: universities, G randes écoles , and specialized schools.

Universities

Universities are  public institutions that offer academic, technical, and professional degrees to any student who has obtained a “ baccalauréat “ or its foreign equivalent. University study leads to degrees in many fields. Degrees are three different levels of achievement

Grandes écoles

“Grandes écoles” are selective public and private institutions. They are similar to universities, but typically offer a more specialized three-year course of study, in subjects such as engineering, business, or public administration. Students are admitted to the G randes écoles based on their scores on a competitive exam. Before taking this exam, students must have obtained a “ baccalauréat”, and they often have taken a two-year preparatory course ( cours préparatoires or prépas ). Students graduate from a G rande école with a master’s degree ( master ).

Specialized schools

Specialized schools are public or private institutions that train students for professional careers in specific fields, such as art, architecture, social work, or tourism. They offer licence and master degrees.

The LMD Framework

The LDM framework stands for license, master, doctorate:

• The licence (bachelor). This is a three-year course of study, is an undergraduate degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the English-speaking world.
• The master. This is a two-year course of study equivalent to a master’s degree. The master can be a professional degree (master professionnel), e.g. law, business, or engineering, or it can be a research degree (master recherche), leading towards doctoral work.
• The doctorate. Students holding a master’s degree can complete an additional three years’ coursework to qualify for a doctorate (doctoral-degree equivalent). The doctorate is obligatory for medical doctors, who receive a state diploma in medicine.

Criteria to enrol in a French University

If you want to enroll in a French university, you will typically need the following documents:

• ID photo or driver’s license
• High school transcripts (or relevant equivalent)
• Copy of passport
• A passport sized photo
• Proof that you can support yourself financially
• Copy of birth certificate
• Certified translation of the birthplace of your parents
• Essay (if asked)
• English proficiency results (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo etc.)
• Application fee (if asked)
• Any other required document depending on the University

French tuition fees

The tuition fees differ depending on the University. On average, here’s how much you might have to pay for tuition in a French University based on your degree.

• Bachelor’s degree: 2,770 euros per year
• Master’s degree: 3,770 euros per year
• PhD’s degree: 2,770 380 per year

For more information on tuition cost in French Universities and how you can get funding, you can read our other article (article here).

Main Differences Between the French and US Education System

The French and U.S. education systems – while both are good in their own rights – have many differences, including schedules, after-school activities, grading systems, and even the student-teacher relationship.

School schedule

French schedule is much longer than the US one. They usually start at 8AM and end around 5 or 6PM. Wednesdays end at noon but they have Saturday morning classes. While in the US, a typical school day starts at 7:30AM and ends at about 3PM.

After-school activities

The length of the hours in the French schools is one of the reasons why they don’t have many school clubs like in the US. They might have main ones like “chess, science” but not creative outstanding ones like you see in the US schools. They only have 2 hours of mandatory “physical education” per week. Whereas in the US they have clubs varying from theatre to sports and academics and any creative club you can think of that students might want to participate in.

The French system uses numbers from 0-20 to grade their students whereas in the US letters from A to F are used. Aside from the letters/numbers differences, another thing is that the French are not as “lenient” on the grades as the US system is. For example in the US we often see “A+” used or encouraging words to let the students know they have done a very good job. Well in the French grading system getting an A is near to impossible. If you get a 16 mark that’s as good as it’s gonna get. Also as mentioned before, in the US it’s considered a big deal if you have to repeat a whole school year but in the French system it’s actually really common. Read more about the French grading system .

Teacher-student relationship

Having a friendship with a teacher in France is a big no. In the US, students are used to stopping by a teacher’s office asking them a question about the lesson or have the teachers involved in school clubs and collaborate together on different projects, but in France it’s strictly academic. Teachers in France do not prefer at all to “stop by” for questions in fact, they don’t have office hours like the US teachers do. They just come in to teach the lesson and leave. They do have a place where the teachers gather but students aren’t allowed there.

French Schools in English

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The complete guide to the French school system

October 5, 2020

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What is school like in France? It’s a question you might find yourself pondering as you study French and get to know more about French culture.

In some ways, French school is like school in many places in the world, including the US and UK – but there are a number of key differences, including a few that give some interesting insights into French culture as a whole.

Explaining just about any country’s education system is a complex task, since there are so many different aspects to look at. The French education system in particular is known for being complicated when it comes to things like different categories and types of diplomas and tests.

Hopefully, this article will give you a good overview and some important takeaways about school in France and the French school system.

French school vocabulary

Before we start discussing the French education system, there are some words it might be helpful to know – or words you might already be wondering how to say. How to say “school” in French, for example.

When you think about it, there’s a lot of vocabulary related to school, from school supplies, to types of exams, to traditions. But when talking or learning about school in France, here are a few that are especially useful. 

Note that you’ll find additional vocabulary, including school grades/levels, diplomas, and more, in the sections of this article that focus on them.

l’école – school. This is a general word for school in French, but as you’ll see in later sections of this article, schools of different levels have different names, just as they do in many other places (nursery school, high school, etc.).

un professeur/une professeur(e) (often shortened to prof )– teacher. This is the general word for “teacher” in French. It used to be exclusively masculine, even if the teacher was a woman. But in recent decades, it’s become accepted to use it with a feminine article when talking about a female teacher. In Canadian French especially, to people may add an “e” to the end when referring to a female teacher, as well: une professeure .

In France, teachers are usually referred to by their first names until collège (middle school/secondary school). Then, they’re referred to as Monsieur or Madame [Last name].

un maître/une ma î tresse – a teacher in preschool/elementary school. Teachers of younger kids are usually referred to this way. Their students usually refer to, or, in preschool/nursery school, call them, by their first name.  By elementary school, to be polite, they will usually just call them Maître or Ma î tresse when addressing them directly, but will still use their first name, for instance, to say who their teacher is.

un instituteur/une institutrice – a more formal, less common term for an elementary/primary school teacher.

un directeur/une directrice – the principal/headmaster or headmistress of a school.

la rentr ée – back to school. This can refer to the first day back at school or the general back-to-school period. La rentr ée is also used as a general term for a return to the routine after summer vacation, so you will see it in other contexts, as well.

la cantine – the cafeteria or canteen/dining hall.

les devoirs – homework. If you’re in French class, you probably already know this word quite well!

la r é cr é ation/la r é cr é – recess.

l’étude – study hall.

les notes – grades or marks.

la classe – class/classroom.

un cours – a class (for middle and high school/secondary school).

un examen – a test.

une interrogation (often called une interro ) – a quiz.

faire l’école buissonnière – to skip school.

sécher un cours – to skip a class.

le centre de loisirs –after school program/vacation program. This usually includes activities as well as free playtime, and sometimes a study hall option or sports options.  During school vacations, the centre de loisirs is a sort of (optional) day camp for preschool and elementary school kids.

We’ll cover many other French school vocabulary words throughout this article. You can also find more school-related French words here .

Basic facts about the French school system

Public (state) education in France is compulsory for children aged 3-16.

Until recently, it was 6-16, but that changed in 2019. So, if you’re reading an older source on French education, keep that in mind.

Another big change is that, as of the 2020-2021 school year, people aged 16-18 who have stopped their studies are required to be employed or involved in an internship or volunteer work .

Public (state) and university education in France are free or extremely affordable.  

All state-run primary and secondary education in France is free. This includes la maternelle (preschool/nursery school). People from countries where  preschools/nursery schools are private and expensive will probably be impressed by this (I know I was, not to mention grateful).

In fact, one of the principles of education in France seems to be affordability. Even universities, which do charge tuition, only charge a few hundred to a few thousand euros per year. There are some universities that cost more, but these tend to be private ones that, interestingly enough, aren’t usually considered as prestigious.

There aren’t really “good” and “bad” public (state) schools in France.

Some French high/secondary schools are known for their high level of academic achievement and for carefully selecting students (this is similar to the high school system in New York City, for those familiar with it). Or there might be schools where outside problems like crime rate or poverty contribute to the general environment.

But generally speaking, because of the strict way school is viewed, the rigorously upheld national curriculum, and the fact that in the early years of their careers, teachers are usually required to teach in other French regions besides their native ones, French schools are fairly uniform when it comes to their quality. Again, there can be some exceptions, but the actual level of education in public schools tends to be perceived as the same, at least in my experience.

A major principle of French public (state) schools is la laïcité (separation of church and state).

Students aren’t allowed to wear religious symbols (although a very subtle one, like a small necklace pendant, may be tolerated) or clothing, and no religious holidays are celebrated or even particularly discussed at school.

In some cases, there may be a school celebration or play around Christmastime, but even this tends to be referred to as an “end-of-year” celebration. That said, in this predominately Christian country, some schools may put up a small Christmas tree, and classes and after school activities may involve Christmas-themed coloring pages or crafts, but it’s never particularly overt and these decorations never feature religious symbols like angels, a manger/creche, etc.

Although education is compulsory until age 16 in France, an estimated 64% of students stay in school until age 18.

A little over 50% of them will continue to university or an apprenticeship.  

More than 80% of schools in France are publics (public schools (US)/state schools (UK)).

Most of the remaining 20% of schools in France are private schools (public schools for our UK readers). A majority of them are run by the Catholic church, but they tend not to be intensely religious. One of the reasons for this is that French private schools can be sous contrat – that is, affiliated with the state, including for the payment of their teachers’ salaries, if they follow certain rules, like adhering to the national curriculum. 

Homeschooling (usually called le homeschooling ) is legal in France, but very rare.

Only about 0.3% of school-aged kids are homeschooled here.

There is a standard national curriculum for every grade/level.

Grades/notes in french public school are based on a maximum of 20 points ..

So if a student gets a 20 on a test or assignment, they got a perfect score.  10/20 is usually considered at least a passing grade.

Starting as early as CP (1 st grade/1 st year), it’s common for French students to have to memorize poems and recite them in front of the class.

Each student may have to recite a poem, or a student might be randomly called upon to do it.  It’s kind of terrifying, but it also leads to many French people knowing at least a few lines of famous poems by heart.

School supplies are very standardized and important.

One of the strangest things for me when I started teaching in French elementary schools is how each child has the same kind of supplies (even though some of these, like backpacks and folders, can be personalized), and how they use them in the same way.

For instance, if you ask an elementary school child to write something down, they’ll often take out an ink pen and make a neat line with a ruler to head their paper. Students have many different kinds of notebooks (a school planner, a notebook of poems and texts to memorize, etc.) and folders, and overall are encouraged to be very organized and precise.

French students still learn cursive.

In certain places, like the US, many schools have stopped teaching cursive, but in French, it’s still taught – even from kindergarten/year 1 ( grande section ). In fact, handwriting is a big part of French learning.

The types of French schools

There are five types of French schools, although some may be combined, especially in areas with a small population.

Note that kindergarten/year 1 is grouped with preschool/nursery school, and not elementary school, like it usually is in the US.

The five types of French schools are:

• la maternelle (preschool and kindergarten/nursery school and year 1) for students age 3-6
• l’école élémentaire (elementary school/primary school) for students age 6-11
• le collège (middle school (including ninth grade)/secondary school) for students age 11-16
• le lycée (high school/secondary school) for students age 16-18
• l’université , often called la fac (short for la faculté ) (university/college) for students 18 and up

These schools cover three main categories of education:

• l’école primaire (primary school). This includes la maternelle and l’école élémentaire .
• l’école secondaire (secondary school). This includes le collège and le lycée .
• l’enseignement supérieur (higher education) – l’université .

We’ll look at the equivalents of each grade/level a little further on.

The French school year, week, and day

The French school year starts in early September and usually finishes around the first week of July.

Up to university level, students have a two-week break every six weeks or so.

There’s one in mid-October to early November ( les vacances de la Toussaint ), one in mid-December to early January ( les vacances de fin d’année ), one in February ( les vacances de février ), and one in March or April ( les vacances de printemps ). Additionally, there is a two-month summer break ( les vacances d’été / les grandes vacances ).

There are also a lot of holidays on the French calendar, including three in the month of May alone. Add to this the very likely possibility that there could be a teacher strike or a strike that affects teachers’ ability to come to the school (like a transportation strike, for instance), a teacher being sick and the school not being able to find a substitute, teacher workdays, and so on, and you will discover that while kids in French schools work hard, they do, luckily, get a pretty decent amount of time off.

French students from maternelle through lycée go to school five days a week (Monday-Friday).

School times and schedules can vary a bit, especially as kids get older, but generally speaking, school starts between 8 and 9am and ends anywhere from 3-4:30pm. Kids might stay at an after-school program until as late as 6:30pm.

If you’re reading or watching something that dates to pre-2008, you may notice that the school schedule was a bit different. Before that time , schools were open on Wednesday mornings, and then also also on Saturday mornings.

The idea was to give kids a bit of a mid-week break, as well as time to pursue extracurricular activities (more on that in a bit). But as a working parent, I cannot imagine how complicated it must have been…or how annoying to have to wake up early on a Saturday to get your kid to school for a few hours…not to mention to have to have part of your Saturday blocked.  Fortunately, that’s no longer the case today.

There are no longer classes on Saturday mornings, but typically, maternelles and écoles élémentaires still only offer classes on Wednesday mornings until lunchtime. Parents can sign students up for after school programs and activities that allow them to stay at the school for the typical amount of time if they prefer, or if they need to due to work.

French school life

Here are some important things to know about school life in France:

French students in public (state) schools don’t wear uniforms.

French students in public (state) schools don’t have an equivalent of something like the pledge of allegiance, morning prayer, etc., most french public (state) schools don’t allow students to bring their lunch from home..

Students either eat at the la cantine (cafeteria/canteen) or go home for the allotted lunchtime (usually an hour or two).

Meals served in French schools are usually considered decent to good quality.

I’ve heard that in a way, meals served in French schoools are a form of education, exposing students to many traditional French dishes. As early as la maternelle , children eating in the school cafeteria also start learning things like how to cut their meat, how to drink from a real glass (as opposed to a plastic one), etc. These are some of the reasons why my son eats at the school cantine – he gets to try traditional French meals it may not occur to me to make at home, and he reviews and brushes up on his table manners .

French schools aren’t closely tied with extracurricular activities or dances.  

In places like the US, school is a huge part of students’ lives, especially as they get older. Many activities, including music, sports, debate club, the school newspaper, yearbook, and so  on, are organized through the school and take place on the school grounds. But this isn’t the case in France.

For the most part, in France, school is school. You will have physical education or art or music classes during the day, but if you want to do more than that, you’ll have to sign up with an outside after-school program.

This also means there isn’t a sense of “school spirit” or “the big game” that you see in a lot of American TV shows (and experience in real life if you go to an American school). French schools also don’t organize school dances or have yearbooks, or even graduation ceremonies in most cases.  The idea behind this, I think, is that school is about academics: the French are very serious about students being there to learn and do their work.   

French education and activities are as affordable as possible.

Each year, based on their income tax, families are given a tarif familial . This determines how much they’re charged for things like school lunches, field trips (although some of these are free) and other activities, supplies, etc. 

Is bullying an issue in French schools?

Bullying exists in French schools but, in a way, on a lesser scale than in some other places.

Bullying ( le harcèlement ) does, unfortunately, happen in French schools. But it’s not the sort of systematic thing it is in the US, where the bully is a stock character in every high school-set TV show, and the results of real-life bullying often make news headlines.

This said, there have been bullying-related suicides in France, and there are anti-bullying campaigns and helplines. The issue is addressed by school administration. But most French people I know don’t seem to have had problems with bullying (or to have been bullies) when they were in school, and it doesn’t seem like the sort of shared, expected experience that it does in countries like the US.

It’s fascinating to me that there is no exact French word or phrase for “school bully”. I think that this shows two important things about French culture:

1. It’s a bit tougher, maybe some would say more “tough love”, than the culture in places like America. For instance, while a bully would be the only one to make fun of you for not getting a good grade, or generally being “stupid”, many French teachers will point out a student’s inadequacies (at least academically), and friends and acquaintances will liberally correct each other. When I taught in French elementary schools, this was pretty shocking to me.

2. A more old-school “stiff upper lip” mentality still predominates. This is changing, as people become more aware of the effects of bullying and as victims speak out and express themselves on social media and elsewhere. But as with many problems that cause strong emotions or difficult, complex feelings, the idea in French culture is to try to accept it and certainly not to air it out in public.

This said, these are general observations, at a large-scale level. Many parents of kids who are being bullied will take action of some kind, whether that’s confronting the kid or their parents themselves (although schools discourage this), talking to school administrators, or at least considering getting their child psychological help if it’s needed (though therapy is fairly rare and often thought of as strange or unnecessary in mainstream French culture). 

What is each year (level) of school called in French?

Most French students are in school for fifteen years (not counting university) – from petite section at age 3, to terminale at age 18.

Here are the French school grades/levels and their equivalents in the US and UK. For anyone unfamiliar with these school systems, I’ve also included the age a typical student would be in each grade/level.

Note that there are three types of French lyc ée (high school/secondary school). These are:

le lyc ée g én éral – the typical high school you might be thinking of, where students take academic classes in many different subjects.

This said, students in these schools choose a path of study based on their major areas of interest/what they want to major in in university. So some will have more emphasis on math courses, while for others it will be foreign languages or literature, etc. The system is a bit complicated to us outsiders, especially since there are subdivisions. This Frenchman’s account of being a student at a typical French lycée gives some interesting insights. And as he advises, the Wikipedia entry on the baccalauréat  exam also provides some helpful information. The French entry goes into even further detail.

le lyc ée technique/lyc ée technologique – This high school (or sometimes just a high school curriculum) focuses on applied technical or technological studies alongside academic ones. Areas of study include laboratory sciences, applied arts, management, and hospitality industry studies.

le lyc é e professionnel – vocational school. That is, a school that mainly focuses on preparing and teaching students who plan to go to work directly and don’t need or want to pursue their studies into university. Subjects include construction-related work, agriculture, and clerical positions.

Students at all three types of lyc ée will have to take some kind of exit exam , usually a variant of le baccalaur éat . This will determine if they can go to university (and which university will accept them), or, in the case of some lyc ée professionnel exit exams, like the CAP ( certificat d’aptitude professionnelle ), if they’re qualified to do a particular job or set of jobs.

What to know about French universities

French universities are always called “ université ”, not college .

But you may see this word associated with older forms of higher education in France in the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and even around Revolutionary times.

Usually, though, coll è ge means “middle school” in contemporary French.

A university is usually referred to in everyday language as la fac .

This is short for la faculté (school division of a university). The pronunciation of this word may sound a bit obscene to the unprepared Anglophone ear, as this funny, iconic, and NSFW scene from the hit French movie L’Auberge espagnole delightfully illustrates , but when you listen to it more carefully (as you should when the French-speaking character pronounces it), you’ll realize that it really does have a short “a” sound.

Not all French universities are considered equal.

This doesn’t necessarily mean in terms of the excellence of their faculty, but in terms of their funding and prestige.

Any French university will have a certain standard of academics that’s perfectly respectable. But French universities are often no-frills affairs when it comes to funding. There are also no special events like graduation ceremonies and such, and there aren’t donors who regularly gift the school with new wings and materials.

On the other hand, the Grandes Écoles are exclusive, extremely prestigious French universities that students full of academic, career, or political ambition strive to get into. They’re the rough equivalent of Ivy League schools in the US, but unlike an Ivy League school, a Grande École will only have about 200-300 graduates per year.

Unlike countries where your diploma will only take you so far, it’s been observed that every French president has always graduated from a Grande École, not some regular university.

As this article points out, the French university system can be seen as elitist . But at least even the Grandes Écoles only charge a few thousand euros for tuition, which allows them to be accessible based on academic merit, rather than economic earnings (and keeps students debt-free).

So, there are good and bad sides to the system.

After graduating from lycée , most students who want to enter a Grande École will take one to two years of classes préparatoires first.

Affiliated with a lycée and usually called by a singular, shortened name, prépa , this is an incredibly intense year or two of studies, with at least 30 hours a week of work, plus oral exams.

Prépas are organized into different areas of studies , but all of them are intense and challenging.  I know someone who took a year of prépa before going to a prestigious engineering school. He says it was the hardest year of his life, even harder than taking classes at the Grande École he then got into. He just worked and slept.

The reward for this work is getting into a good school and then, hopefully, getting a good job that lets you earn a good living or even fulfill your most ambitious desires, like becoming head of state.

That said, as with any prestigious school, a diploma is a diploma; it depends on what you choose to pursue afterwards. My friend, for instance, went to a Grande École and currently has a well-paid IT job. He’s very happy, but it’s not like his academic career automatically made him the French president or one of the richest people in the country.

La Sorbonne is not considered the best school in France.

Internationally, the best-known French university is probably La Sorbonne, officially known as l’Université de Paris today. Established in the Middle Ages, it was the first university in Europe, and is one of the oldest in the world. Still, while you can get a quality education at La Sorbonne, it is not a Grande École.

When it comes to universities in France, cost does not equal quality.

There are many private French higher education organizations that (like many of their counterparts in the US) are more focused on making money than on education.

These schools are usually very pricey, but have no prestige among the French. As a general rule, the higher the cost of a university/higher education institution in France, the less its diplomas are actually “worth”, although there are a few exceptions. If you’re thinking about studying in France, be sure to research any private institutions you’re considering.

French diploma equivalencies

Most French universities offer a three-year program to get the equivalent of an undergraduate degree in the US or UK. 

But there are a lot more French diplomas than that, and sometimes it can be confusing to find their equivalents in another country’s education system.

Let’s look at the most common French diplomas you’ll come across, and their equivalents in the US and UK.

• un DEUG (two-year university diploma) – Associate’s degree (US)/Diploma of Higher Education (UK)

• une licence – (a three-year undergraduate degree) – Bachelor’s degree

                Licence dans un domaine littéraire : BA/Bachelor of Arts

                Licence dans un domaine scientifique : BSC/Bachelor of Science/B.S. degree

• Master 1/ Maîtrise – Master’s Degree

• Master 2/ DEA : A degree given one year before postgraduate studies. There is no precise equivalent for this in the US or UK, as far as I can find, so it still generally corresponds to a Master’s Degree.

                Master dans un domaine littéraire : MA (Master of Arts)

                Master dans un domaine scientifique : MSC/MS (Master of Science)

                Master dans les affaires : MBA (Master of Business Administration)

• Doctorat : Phd/doctorate

This helpful webpage lists a few more specific French diplomas , as well as certain documents and certifications, along with their UK and US equivalents (when applicable).

French school milestones

You may live in a country where school is full of major events. I know that’s certainly the case in the US, where I grew up. Finishing each kind of school can, in some places, be the reason for a celebration or even a ceremony at the school itself. There are school dances, competitions, sports, and more, and of course, when you graduate from high school, there’s the iconic cap and gown ceremony where you receive your diploma.

But that’s not really the case in France. As I’ve mentioned before, the French are very serious about education. Kids may have fun at school, but there isn’t a really fun or “big deal”/ “good job” spin on things. Add to that the fact that most activities like extracurricular sports, clubs, and so on, aren’t associated with schools directly, there are no dances, and there aren’t many big school events.

This said, it may depend on the school, and of course, there can be exceptions. French preschools and elementary schools often host end-of-year carnival-style parties, for instance, and some put on concerts or plays as well.

One thing that does shape the school experience for French students are two important exams.

The first is le brevet des coll èg es , a major test taken at the end of collège (middle school) and the rough equivalent to the GCSE’S under C Grade or GNVQ Intermediate in the UK. There is no US equivalent.

The biggest French school milestone is taking le baccalaur éat , usually called le bac . This exam covers multiple subjects and includes written and oral sections, as well as some parts that may require demonstrating skills (in sports, for example). A student’s overall score and some of the minor subjects covered will differ depending on their area of study.

Le bac is the rough equivalent of A levels in the UK. As for the US, many sources say le bac is similar to AP exams, but personally, since all French high school students have to take it and it influences college admissions, I consider it similar to the SAT’s. The SAT’s are a standardized test covering a limited range of subjects, but when it comes to cultural impact and pre-test jitters, that’s the best match for le bac .

Le bac has many variants and a complex scoring system that I won’t go into in this brief overview of the French education system, but if you’d like to learn more about le bac , I’d recommend this detailed resource.

The biggest difference between le bac and AP or SAT exams, though, is that le bac also determines whether or not you can graduate lyc ée. In that sense, you can think of it as your high school diploma or a certificate of completion.

The results of the bac are posted on lists in front of the school. French students go to find their scores, then, hopefully have reason to celebrate, and that’s it – lycée is finished. There is no graduation ceremony.

University in France does seem to be a similar experience to US and UK schools, in that students still find ways to have fun, and things are a little more open in terms of scheduling – even though there’s still a lot of hard work.

At the end of post-graduate studies, students write and defend (present) un m émoir (thesis/memoir/ dissertation).  If the jury of academics approve, they and the family members and friends that the student has invited will often finish the presentation with a small celebratory ap éro (snacks and drinks).

At the end of some university cycles, there may be une remise de diplômes (graduation ceremony). Students would typically wear business or formal attire, rather than a cap and gown or other traditional clothing. But graduation ceremonies aren’t especially common.

Overall, you could say that the motto for school in France is “it’s not personal, it’s business.”  Whether they’re 3 or 23, French students’ priority is to learn. Fun is something that may happen but it’s not considered an intrinsic part of the educational experience, nor are emotional events like marking milestones.

This doesn’t mean that school in France is a totally joyless affair. You only have to look at comedies old and new that are inspired by the French school experience, including the iconic Le Petit Nicolas and the relatively recent movie Les beaux gosses (sort of like a French Superbad ) to see that there are plenty of laughs, good memories, and nostalgia tied to French academic life.

What is school like where you live? What do you like and dislike about the French education system?

Study in France

Understanding the french education system.

The French education system consists of three stages: primary education, secondary education, and higher education.

Most French elementary and secondary schools, as well as a large number of universities, are public institutions that have highly centralized administrations. The curricula at primary and secondary schools are standardized across all schools for a given grade.

Formal schooling in France starts as early as age three, when many children attend kindergarten ( maternelle ). Day care ( pré-maternelle ) is available from age two.

While  pré-maternelle  and  maternelle  are not mandatory, all children must be enrolled in school by age six.

Primary school consists of five years of study, from approximately age six to age eleven (similar to a US elementary school).

After primary school, students move to the secondary level, which is divided into two stages.

The first stage, the  collège , is composed of four years of study, for students ages eleven through fifteen (similar to a US middle school). Students receive a  brevet des collèges  upon its completion.

After the  collège  students attend the  lycée  (high school) for the final three years of secondary education. Students then take an examination to receive the  baccalauréat  ( bac ) qualification. The  baccalauréat  is equivalent to the US high school diploma, but differs in that it requires preparatory study.

After the  lycée , students choose to pursue either a vocational diploma or an academic diploma.

Vocational diplomas:

The DUT ( diplôme universitaire de technologie ) and BTS ( brevet de technicien supérieur ) are two-year technology-oriented degrees. BTS courses are offered by high schools, whereas DUT are awarded by universities. A DUT or BTS may be followed by one additional qualifying year of study, leading to a  licence professionnelle .

Academic diplomas:

There are three types of higher education institutions in France: universities , Grandes écoles , and specialized schools .

Universities  are public institutions that offer academic, technical, and professional degrees to any student who has obtained a  baccalauréat  or its foreign equivalent. University study leads to degrees in many fields. Degrees are awarded at three different levels of achievement, called  cycles , within a framework referred to as  licence ,  master ,  doctorat  (LMD), which is described in the following section.

The Grandes écoles  are selective public and private institutions. They are similar to universities, but typically offer a more specialized three-year course of study, in subjects such as business, public administration, or engineering. Students are admitted to the G randes écoles  based on their scores on a competitive exam. Before taking this exam, students must have obtained a  baccalauréat,  and they often have taken a two-year preparatory course ( cours préparatoires  or  prépas ). Students graduate from a G rande école  with a master's degree ( master ).

Specialized schools  are public or private institutions that train students for professional careers in specific fields, such as art, architecture, social work, or tourism. They offer  licence  and  master  degrees.

The  licence , a three-year course of study, is an undergraduate degree equivalent to a bachelor's degree in the English-speaking world.

After the  licence , students can complete a  master , a two-year course of study equivalent to a master's degree. The  master  can be a professional degree ( master professionnel ), e.g. law, business, or engineering, or it can be a research degree ( master recherche ), leading towards doctoral work.

Students holding a  master recherche  may complete an additional three years' coursework to qualify for a  doctorat   (doctoral-degree equivalent). The  doctorat  is obligatory for medical doctors, who receive a state diploma in medicine ( diplôme d'Etat de docteur en médecine ).

Source:  CampusFrance

The LMD framework is the result of the Bologna Process to harmonize university qualifications in Europe.

While the previous system no longer exists, you may hear people refer to their degrees using the old terminology. Prior to the reform, the first two years of what is now the  licence  were referred to as the DEUG ( diplôme d’études universitaires générales ). The third year of today’s  licence  was referred to as the  licence , and the fourth year as the  maîtrise . Today’s  master recherche  was a year-long degree called a DEA ( diplôme d’études approfondies ) and the  master professionnel  a DESS ( diplôme d’études spécialisées ).

You may also hear students refer to their academic credentials in terms of how many years of study they have completed since the  baccalauréat . For example, a master’s degree is a  “bac plus cinq”  (Bac+5). 

There is no standard or official equivalency between French and American degrees. The following infomation is provided as a guideline:

An American  high school diploma sometimes qualifies the student to enter an institution of higher education in France. The institution will rate its equivalency on a case-by-case basis.

An American associate degree  often qualifies the student to enter during the first or second year at a French institution. The institution will rate its equivalency on a case-by-case basis.

An American  bachelor's degree may be rated as equivalent to a licence . Certain institutions consider it equivalent to two or three years' study towards a DUT , BTS , or  licence . This may, in turn, qualify the student for application to a master's degree program in a French institution. The institution will rate its equivalency on a case-by-case basis.

An American  master’s degree qualifies the student to begin a second master's degree program in Europe or a doctoral degree program. The institution will rate its equivalency on a case-by-case basis.

An American doctoral degree (PhD) is considered equivalent to a French doctorat . The degree qualifies the researcher to begin a post-doctoral program or to teach in French instituions of higher education.

The  Ministry of Education  and the  Ministry of Higher Education and Research  are responsible for determining the equivalency status of foreign applicants to public institutions. To receive an attestation de niveau d'études , you may contact  ENIC-NARIC  if you live outside France, or you may contact your local  rectorat  if you live in France. Identify your rectorat , then consult its website to find the  DARIC  ( Délégation académique aux Relations internationales et à la Coopération . 

American degree equivalences may also be determined by the Franco-American Fulbright Commission, for a small fee (+33 1 44 14 53 60, [email protected] ). To obtain the document, you must submit a copy of your diploma, along with your transcripts and a full description of all your courses and the grades you received. All of these documents must be translated into French by a certified translator. When you apply to a French institution, you must include this  attestation  as part of your dossier.

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How To Understand The Confusing French School System

By: Author Dan Forsythe

Posted on Published: January 12, 2023  - Last updated: May 9, 2024

French school system, grades and diplomas explained

Are you moving to France and wondering what to expect from the national school system? Or just curious about teaching in a country that birthed Voltaire, Monet, and the language of Molière?

We look at how the French education system works with intriguing comparisons to the US. You might be surprised at the differences and the occasional similarities.

Is the French education system any good?

Let’s start with a question every transatlantic parent will worry about: is the French school system good?

The short answer is yes.

Any country that produced 71 Nobel Prize winners (4 th overall, globally) must be doing something right.

But the French school system is far from flawless. The OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) places France just 26 th of 41 assessed countries in 2023.

However, PISA looks at more than educational skills. For reading, literacy, math, and science, France scores a respectable 494, above the OECD average of 488.

For comparison, the US is ranked 8 th globally and scores just one point higher (495) for core skills.

What’s differences will American students notice?

Ask an American in France about the French vs. American school systems, and several differences are regularly mentioned. It’s a mixed bag of stuff that matters and things that are simply surprising. We’ll let you decide which:

• Schooling in France is highly centralized, and curriculums are consistent across départements.
• There are no school board elections. Parents may join a group organizing school activities, like the annual kermesse (summer fete,) but have little influence on teaching.
• French teachers teach – they are rarely involved in after-school activities.
• Schools in France are strict, and the teacher-student relationship can be very formal.
• School days are longer in France but include a full or half day of closure on Wednesdays.
• There are no yellow school buses. Free or subsidized buses are typically provided up to 15 years old.
• There is no dress code for any age.
• French children have unnervingly neat handwriting drilled into them from a young age.
• University education is essentially free in France.

The school system in France

Behind those headline differences, there is some info that every parent should know when moving from the US to France.

Education in France is compulsory from 3 to 16 years old. The law was changed in 2018, reducing the mandatory starting age from 6.

Public schools in France are free and secular. Stationery and other ancillary costs are out-of-pocket costs. Insurance is required for sports and school trips, and a copy of the certificate will be requested.

At primary level, you will find private, typically Catholic, schools. Private schools in France are cheap, around €300 annually. Many are in demand, with a higher teaching reputation.

There are very few private schools at the high school level. Most are expensive international schools located in cities with large expatriate communities, notably Paris.

The choice of public schools is determined by geography, and parents have little say in which schools their children attend. Consequently, private tutoring is widespread.

Between 16-18, educational paths are chosen. The French school system is geared towards graduating with a baccalauréat (aka, le bac ). It is broadly equivalent to a High School Diploma.

There are three academic and eight technical baccalauréat, in addition to vocational equivalents.

At 16, it is possible to opt for a course only offered at a preferred lycée . This explains why some teenagers suddenly develop a keen interest in Latin or ancient Greek history.

The four stages of schooling in France

There are four stages of education in the French education system , discounting post-18 education (university or vocational colleges):

École maternelle (preschool and kindergarten) – for children aged 3 to 6. This is typically provided at an école primaire and prepares kids for primary teaching.

École élémentaire (primary school) – The first stage of measured education for children aged 6 to 11. Children follow a teaching curriculum from this point, which includes a second language.

Collège (Middle School and Junior High) – pupils aged 11 to 15 follow a broad program of study.

Lycée (High School) – further secondary education until age 18, although students can leave at 16. The final two years teach narrow baccalauréat subjects.

Grading – France vs. American Education system

Another clear difference between French vs. American school systems is how grades are described.

The first three years of school (3-6) are known as the first cycle, or La Maternelle (kindergarten.) Equivalent to preschool/kindergarten in the US.

At the primary school level, grades are named rather than numbered. The terms loosely describe the level of learning, which starts with CP, or cours préparatoire (preparatory,) stretching to CM 2 ( cours moyen ) at age 11 (5 th grade.)

For college-age upwards (11+,) numbers take over, but in reverse. The US counts up from 6 th grade, and the French system counts down from 6ème . The final year (i.e., 12 th grade) is terminale (final.)

Universities in France

A world-beating feature of the French education system is that public universities are free for residents and international students.

There are some annual admin fees, typically €170 (Undergraduate) and €243 (Master’s,) but that’s a drop in the ocean compared to university fees back home. Private universities in France are more aligned, averaging €10,000 per annum .

There are 140 universities in France, the EPSCP – Éstablissement public á caractére scientifique, culturel et professionnel (Public Establishments of a Scientific, Cultural or Professional Character).

83 are public institutions, and the remainder is elite Grands éstablissements public , like the illustrious Sorbonne.

Those numbers exclude the famous Grandes Écoles – uber-elite private universities akin to the Ivy League, with specialist teaching. For example, the Institut National Du Service Public (formerly the École Nationale d’Administration) teaches much of France’s political class.

French degrees vs. US degrees

The annual QS rankings place 13 French universities in the top 500 globally. However, this is eclipsed by US universities, with 12 in the world’s top 25 alone .

A French degree still opens doors. And since 2004, they’ve been easier to compare internationally, when France adopted Le système LMD : Licence – Masters – Doctorate . This corresponds to Bachelor’s-Master’s-Doctorate.

In the past, you would have seen the qualifications tied to a baccalauréat . A Licence , for example, was Bac+3 ( baccalauréat plus 3 years of further study.)

Now, the system allocates degree level and length of study. An L3 is a 3-year licence , equivalent to a Bachelor’s.

An L2 is equivalent to an associate degree in the US.

Master’s degrees are studied for one or two years: M1 or M2.

PhDs are broadly comparable to doctorates in the US but focused on training for research, incorporating other components in addition to a primary thesis.

France uses the Bologna Process, participating in the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System ( ECTS .) ECTS facilitates transfer and comparison between degrees issued by European universities.

How long is the school day in France?

Search online, and the most common observation is that school hours are longer in France.

A typical school day in France is from 08:30 to 16:30. Excluding breaks, a school week delivers 24 hours of lessons.

The biggest shock for many is that école élémentaires are usually closed on Wednesdays. And collége and lycée are typically closed on Wednesday afternoons. Efforts to remove this parenting inconvenience invariably hit a brick wall with teaching unions.

A local périscolaire (extracurricular) may be the solution for young children. It’s essentially a kid’s club, open when schools are closed. It is a lifeline for working parents with young children and is usually subsidized and inexpensive.

School vacations in France

Vacations are cherished in France. Parents may have generous workplace allowances but must contend with long school vacations totaling 16 weeks over 5 different periods. That’s in addition to jours fériés (public holidays) that fall outside vacations.

There are three teaching zones in France, each with different vacation start and end dates to stop the beaches from getting too crowded.

The school year in France begins on the 1 st of September, following the 8-week vacances d’été (summer vacation.) Even for non-parents, La rentrée signifies the end of summer fun. Or perhaps a moment to sigh with relief.

Lunches in French Schools

We round out our guide to the French school system with the obligatory section about food, namely school lunches. The French love of food and dining etiquette begins at school.

Schoolchildren have 1-1.5 hours of lunch. Primary school children often pop home for a nap.

When they’re old enough, most children eat at the school canteen and enjoy hot, varied multi-course meals.

Lunches vary in price and level of local subsidy, usually €3 to €5. Quality is high, including starters, mains, cheese, and desserts. And wine ( only kidding .)

Here’s a taster — don’t look if you’re hungry, as it all looks delicious!

There’s no junk food on the menu, except on the occasional Friday. Only those with special diets can bring their own lunch, with prior permission.

Final thoughts

US parents living in France will discover there are many, many subtle differences comparing French vs. American school systems. We’ve only scratched the surface. But hopefully, this guide to the French school system has answered your most burning questions and at least highlighted the major differences.

Discover more:

• French classroom vocabulary and phrases
• List of school subjects in French
• French school vocabulary

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Dan Forsythe

A politics and history graduate with a technical writing background and based in France, Dan writes amazing articles for all things French. An insatiable traveler, Dan has crisscrossed France, Europe, and beyond. When he’s not hiking or falling down historical rabbit holes, Dan sips tea and writes technical pieces or blog posts about travel, history, and life in his adopted home.

See all posts by Dan Forsythe

French Education System: Schooling in France

• Post category: French Parenting / Moving to France
• Post author: Nassie Angadi

If you are planning a move to France , you may start to look into the French education system if you have children. And right then, you are immediately hit with an alphabet soup of initials: CP, CM, CE1, etc.

French people refer to the school years with these acronyms, which to an outsider makes no sense at all.

In the U.S. and in France, school starts with compulsory kindergarten, then elementary school, middle school, high school, and higher education. In the US though, it is relatively straightforward, with 1st grade, 2nd grade, up to 12th grade, and graduation. Congratulations you are fully up to speed, easy peasy!

Well, the French have never found a topic that they have not managed to complexify. Pre-school and kindergarten is actually for 3 years, and just wait till you get to the primary schools and junior high.

From secondary education, private schools, bilingual curriculums and vocational schools, the system is filled with acronyms and scholastic cycles that is not the easiest to decipher.

So let’s demystify the schools in France and the education system, shall we? Allons-y!

1. Overview

• The school year in France starts in September and ends the 1st week of July .
• In general, schooling is free in France.
• Parents only pay for the lunchtime canteen, as well as if they use the early morning drop-off or late evening pick-up services. These services are income-based and tax credits are available as well. The average cost is as cheap as €1-7/day.
• Parents receive aid to send their children to school for supplies, clothing, etc. Allocation de rentrée scolaire  (ARS) is an income-based allocation available for children aged 6 to 18 from modest families. It is approximately €400/year per child.
• Unlike the U.K., students across France don’t wear school uniforms, at least not yet in public schools.
• Boys and girls are not separated.

2. Preschool (Maternelle)

First off, we should note that schooling for all French children is mandatory in the calendar year the child turns 3. This means if your child is born in December, he will be entering school at 2 years and 8 months old.

Thus in the chart below, when it says “age”, it means the year that that child turned that age.

To translate into American schooling standards, Moyen Section is pre-school, Grand Section is kindergarden, and little 3 year old Petit-Sectioners would still be in nursery.

Don’t be fooled however, Petit Section in France is not just a child-care nursery . French three-year-olds learn to sing the alphabet, to count, to draw, etc.

There are a lot of nursery rhymes and french songs , before moving to poetry as they move into primary school. They also do activities with their class such as going swimming , riding a bike in the school courtyard, etc.

If there are a lot of really young children (i.e. children born at the end of the year), the town will open a TPS or Toute Petite Section for the really littles.

The first day of class is known as the Rentrée , and it is such a big deal that many offices give their employees the day off to take their (small) children to school.

School starts at around 8:30am every morning and continues until 4:30pm. There is a 2-hour break in the middle of the day for lunch and recreation.

Lunchtime canteen

Lunch time is considered part of schooling, and French schools take it quite seriously. No picky eaters allowed here. From a young age, children are introduced to a wide variety of healthy meals and taught to try everything.

If the child has an allergy, the parents have to get a PAI from the school doctor authorizing them to send lunch with the child. Some schools also allow parents to pick up children for lunch to eat at home. Here is a maternelle and primary school sample menu:

☞ READ MORE: French food that all kids will love

Arrangements on Wednesdays

Most preschool and primary school students don’t have school on Wednesdays. It is supposed to be the day for extra-curricular activities, to rest, etc. There was a move in 2018 by the government to insist on Wednesday morning classes, however, the teacher unions and parents protested.

This led to some towns having school on Wednesday mornings and reducing hours on other days, while other towns did not.

For working parents who cannot keep their children home each Wednesday, or pick their kids up at 4:30pm, there are the leisure centers.

Each town offers a centre de loisirs (activity and leisure center), where parents can drop off their children on Wednesdays at a minimal cost that is based on income levels. In real terms, the cost is around €5-20/day including lunch.

These leisure centers are in the same school that the child attends, with animateurs watching the kids and proposing a variety of activities. These leisure centers are also open in the mornings for parents who need to head to work early in the morning.

These centre de loisirs hold a variety of craft activities, sports , dance, and other programs based on the age of the child. They also sometimes do field trips to nearby farms, the cinema, museums, etc.

English instruction

Most public maternelles in France start a dose of English instruction, about 45 minutes once a week. This can vary however from school to school.

It can also depend on whether a dedicated English teacher can be found, and the regular teacher’s ability to speak English.

All the children get a report card twice a year, at half-term before the Christmas holidays, and at the end of the year in June .

Parents must give their approval for child to move up a grade. At the end of each year, parents receive two forms for the Poursuite de Scolarité . The first form is the Proposition du conseil des maîtres with the decision of teacher and school to either promote the student or keep him/her behind. Parents have a few days to approve or appeal the decision.

A few days after that, parents will get a 2nd form with la décision of Conseil des maîtres . This decision can then also be approved or appealed by the parents to the Appeals Commission and the School Board. You can read more about French preschools here.

3. Homeschooling

Homeschooling used to be legal in France, but its usuage was significantly restricted in 2022. Consequently, parents desiring to homeschool must now obtain prior authorization.

The authorities will consider only one of four specific reasons for permitting homeschooling:

• The child’s health or disability
• The child’s dedicated involvement in a sport or artistic pursuit
• If the family is traveling and not located at a fixed domicile in France.
• A unique situation specific to the child justifying an alternative educational path.

Despite these stringent regulations, Les enfants d’abord , a French national organization advocating for home-educating families, is actively challenging and opposing this new law.

The Mairie in your town will require you to make an annual declaration, as will the  rectorat  (school inspector). Parents must cover roughly the same curriculum as a French school.

4. Primary school (École primaire)

The French primary school operates on cycles. Maternelle is the first cycle , and from there CP to CE2 is the 2nd cycle where children are expected to learn the fundamentals.

Handwriting still matters in France. Kids in maternelle are taught to draw in boucles (curls) and by CP they are taught to write in cursive. Students are expected to master the cursive and write beautifully.

Along with beautiful handwriting, la dictée (dictation) is also a big part of French learning. Unlike English, French is a language with a lot of accents and hidden sounds and accords. As such, learning to write with the teacher dictating a paragraph of French literature is part of the culture.

Along with dictation, students study classic French poets and their most famous poems in school, and at times are expected to be able to memorize it and recite it in class. The idea is to listen to understand “the diversity of language”. You can read some examples of French poetry for kids here.

As they get older, they start to move from having one teacher for all the subjects, to specialized teachers for each subject. Similar to other countries, the emphasis is on reading, writing, maths, science, language, etc.

In the 3rd cycle , from CM1 to the 1st year of Middle school, the emphasis is on “consolidation of knowledge”.

Starting in primary school, children are offered an accueil des études (study hall), where they can do their homework afterschool while waiting for their parents. It usually lasts an hour, after which they can join the regular centre de loisirs.

There are two types of study hall, étude surveillée and étude dirigée . Etude surveillée is supervised study hall, where the child works somewhat independently on their homework, rather than waiting to get home to do it.

Etude dirigée, on the other hand, is more of a directed study hall for students in difficulty, who would benefit from small class size and more personal attention. The type of study hall offered depends on the school.

☞ READ MORE: Top French books for Children (by age)

Beyond classroom learning, students are offered Class Verte or Classe Blanche , which are experiences outside the classroom.

In Classe Verte (green class) is exploring the countryside, with activities such as hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, etc.

Classe Blanche (white class) is usually for skiing and snow-related activities. Students who live the French Alps usually also have day trips to nearby ski resorts in winter as part of their schooling.

These classes are usually in primary school, but are also sometimes offered for Grand Section in maternelle or middle school students. These can be daytrips or overnight trips over 1-3 weeks, where the entire class is expected to participate.

The teacher accompanies the trip with regular lessons in the morning, and the afternoon used to concentrate on the physical activities.

Foreign Students

Foreign students who don’t speak French are provided a teaching assistant through Français Langue Etrangère (FLE) .

In addition, children who have learning or physical disabilities are provided special assistants to help them navigate the system ( Services d’éducation spéciale et de soins à domicile ).

5. Middle school (Collège)

Collège in French is not “college of higher education” as we know it in North America, but actually middle school. Here finally the French drop the acronyms and the U.S. equivalent of 6th grade is the sixème ( 6ème ) in France.

In junior high (collège) and secondary school (lycée) , the schedule is much more variable depending on the school. Older middle school and high school children will have varying hours at school based on the classes they are taking.

Some schools have classes on Wednesday, for a 1/2 day or full day, while others even have classes and exams on Saturday mornings.

Applying to Middle school

Not all middle schools offer a full range of courses, so French students apply to get into the middle school of their choice.

School years 5ème to 3ème are part of the 4th cycle of French education, known as the deepening cycle .

In 6ème, students pick one of two foreign languages that they will study through the rest of their scholastic career. Known as Langue Vivante 1 (Living language 1), the most common languages chosen are English, German, Spanish or Italian.

The following year, in 5ème, they will pick the 2nd language, known as Langue Vivante 2 , amongst the choices offered at their middle school.

Starting in collège , the French grading system becomes quite hard. A 12 out of 20 is considered a pretty decent mark. Unlike North America, where a good portion of the class is expected to be in the 70%-90% range, this is not the case in France.

Redoublement , meaning to redoing the scholastic year, is not uncommon in France. In addition, there is no social stigma to doing so. This is especially the case for the scholastic years that are at the end of a learning cycle (in CE2, 6ème, 3ème).

A child will be held back if he cannot demonstrate the necessary competence in that cycle. The idea is to have the student catch up before he gets any further.

At the end of 3ème, French students must pass an exam known as the brèvet , which includes testing on French, mathematics and other subjects. It is an important test, but not an important test, as everyone is expected to pass the brèvet.

Middle schools are judged on their ability to get their students to pass the Brèvet, so French families will often decide what neighborhood and what school to send their children to, based on the brèvet results.

☞ READ MORE: Top French comics for the young and young at heart

6. High school (Lycée)

The 5th cycle of the French school system is the lycée and it is all about preparing French students for the future.

Applying to High school

The courses offered at the high school will be based on the type of high school diploma that the student is working towards. After the brèvet at the end of middle school, students must apply to one of 3 types of high schools:

Boarding Schools

While boarding schools are common in other countries like the U.K., they are not common in France, especially in big cities. However, in the French countryside where the closest middle school or high school may not offer all the classes the student would like, boarding schools are available.

These schools are called internats , and offer a variety of options such as full days with meals, overnight stays, etc.

Field trips

High school students are also offered trips in France and around the world, depending on the town’s resources. Recent trips in high schools in Paris have been to China, India, New York, etc.

At the end of high school, students must sit the BAC. The BAC is similar to the American SAT, in that it is a nationwide exam that all French students must pass to move on to higher education.

While the SAT is usually one exam, the BAC is a series of exams over several days in a variety of subjects, depending on what the student has chosen.

Unlike the U.S. or U.K., one of the subjects that is mandatory in France is philosophy. It is obligatory in the final year of high school, to emphasize “the learning of freedom through the exercise of reflection”.

The first exam in the BAC series of exams is always philosophy. Here is a recent question from that exam:

Est-il possible d’échapper au temps ? – Is it possible to escape time? Essay Question on BAC exam

The official grading for the BAC shows at what point the student can earn a “mention”:

There are also several technical diplomas for high school students who specialize in technical areas such as the Brevet de technicien supérieur (BTS) or Le brevet des métiers d’art (BMA), etc.

☞ READ MORE: Facts about French schools

7. International Language Sections

All throughout the schooling system, from maternelle to high school, there are International sections with options such as American English, British English, Dutch, Arabic, Japanese, etc. working towards the International Option Baccalaureate (OIB).

These international sections allow students to study certain subjects in a foreign language of their choice. Both French and foreign students can apply to them, but in cities like Paris, the competition is tough. (The earlier the child applies in their scholastic career, the easier the chances are to get in.)

The workload in the “other language” is on top of the regular French workload, and the chances of the student getting in depends on their high scholastic abilities as much as their fluency in the other language.

8. Universities and Higher Education

Once students have their BAC in hand, they are able to apply to a series of public universities and institutions across France. When you see job applications in France, they will refer to having “Bac +5” etc. This means that the person completed studies for 5 years after the Bac, meaning that they have 4 years of university and a Master’s degree.

Universities are generally free in France and every French student is guaranteed a spot somewhere, along with a student bursary from CAF (a govt department).

More interestingly, some schools like the National School of Public Administration  ENA , actually pay the students a stipend of around  €1700/ month  to attend. Competition is tough to get in, and students are required to work for the government for 10 years after graduating, or they pay those funds back.

Grandes écoles

The best students, however, will aim to get into one of the grandes écoles . These schools are quite exclusive, and the equivalent of the American Ivy League.

Students don’t get in immediately after high school but spend 2 years doing private courses known as “preparatory classes”, or  prépas , so they can sit for an entrance exam ( concours) .

Entrance into one of the Grandes écoles is meant to grant the student a surefire job and a high flying career.

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Education in France

In France, school is mandatory starting at the age of six. Before reaching this age, children can attend kindergarten, a special feature of the French system. After kindergarten, there are two cycles: primary school (first cycle) and middle school and high school (second cycle).

L'école maternelle/ Kindergarten

Kindergarten is usually split into petite, moyenne et grande sections (first, second and third years), based on the child’s age. Its purpose is to spark their interest in school and teach them to live together. As they play, they begin to learn writing, drawing, numbers, etc.

L'école primaire/ Elementary School (First Cycle)

After kindergarten, children attend elementary school. They begin in CP (preparatory course) where they are introduced to French reading and writing, numbers, a regional or foreign language, art and physical education.

For the next two years, in CE1 and CE2 (elementary courses), students continue studying these subjects.

Finally, in CM1 and CM2 (intermediate courses), students reinforce their knowledge of French and mathematics and are introduced to new subjects such as experimental science and technology; history, geography, art and civic and moral education.

Le collège/ Middle School (Second Cycle)

Students generally start middle school at the age of 11 or 12, where they will stay for four years through grade six, seven, eight and nine. In grade seven, middle schoolers take up a second language.

Institutions may offer elective courses such as regional or ancient languages (Greek or Latin). Middle schoolers can also sometimes take bilingual classes. They take up a second foreign language in grade six.

In grade 9, students must take an exam to obtain the diplôme national du brevet . This exam is made up of written and oral exercises and is meant to test the knowledge students have acquired by the end of middle school.

Le lycée/ High School (Second Cycle)

With their diploma in the bag, middle schoolers can head to high school where they will spend the next three years through grade ten, eleven and twelve. They can then choose to continue their schooling in a lycée d’enseignement général et technologique (general and technical high school) or in a lycée professionnel (professional high school).

Lycée d’enseignement général et technologique

In a lycée d’enseignement général et technologique , the grade 10 curriculum is common to all students. In grade 12, they can choose to go into the general or technical streams where they will remain until the end of grade 12. Both streams lead to the baccalauréat exam.

The baccalauréat (high school diploma) is the key to higher education. It attests the knowledge and skills students have acquired by the end of secondary studies and it enables them to pursue higher education.

• General track

The general track is comprised of three streams, all of them leading to a baccalauréat in economics and social sciences, in literature or in science. It generally leads to postsecondary studies in preparatory classes, universities or specialized schools.

• Technical track

This track enables students to receive advanced training in a specific field such as Management Sciences and Technologies (STG), Music and Dance Techniques (TMD) or in Sciences and Technologies in Health and Social (ST2S). The technical track is made up of eight streams, each focused on a different specialization. It generally leads to a licence professionnelle (professional university degree at the undergraduate level), an engineering degree or to further studies at an institute of technology.

Professional High School

These institutions teach students the skills, knowledge and know-how specific to a professional field. A professional high school education prepares youth for a career or for further studies. They can then go on to complete a baccalauréat professionnel (professional high school diploma) in 3 years or a certificat d’aptitude professionnelle – CAP (certificate of professional competence) in 2 years.

Le Centre de Formation d'Apprentis (CFA)/ Apprentice Training Centre

These centres provide training to apprentices aged 16 to 25. They prepare students for the baccalauréat professionnel , the certificat d’aptitude professionnelle or the brevet d’études professionnelle – BEP (diploma of occupational studies). The curriculum combines practical hands-on training provided by the apprentice’s employer with a more theoretical component provided by the CFA.

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EDUCATION SYSTEM IN FRANCE

France offers public and private schools at all levels. Educational standards are generally high. The rigorous curriculum is dictated by the Ministry of Education and is practically the same across the country and in the French territories. Teachers are considered public workers and the teachers' unions are very powerful officials. Teacher strikes are frequent and often they are cited as the main reason for French families opt for private schools, which are overwhelmingly Catholic. The education system in France emphasizes the teacher's authority, the individual competition, including an absolute rating system, with stress on analytical thinking and rote learning as opposed to creativity.

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French education system pros and cons and a comparison between other countries

Welcome to my Blog, French Tutoring Fun! If you are new here, you may want to read my book which gives you my 15 Secret Tips to speak French in 7 days from zero: click here to download the book for free ! 🙂

Welcome again to my Blog, French Tutoring Fun! As it is not the first time you come here, you may want to read my book which gives you my 15 Secret Tips to speak French in 7 days from zero: click here to download the book for free ! 🙂

The French education system we know nowadays has pros and cons. It evolved through history, it was before restricted to the elite and later the main aim was to give access to education to a large number of French people. From the beginning of the French Revolution (1789), education began to be a priority. It is under Napoleon Bonaparte that the first high schools (“les lycées” in French) were founded. One of the first reforms of the education system is from Napoleon I in 1806, with the creation of the first French university , l’Université Impériale. Later, at the end of the XIX century (à la fin du XIX ème siècle), Jules Ferry, a minister introduced the Jules Ferry law which made school attendance: free , compulsory and laic. Another important reform in the French education history is after the revolt of May 1968 (a revolt from students due to the lack of modernity, a very high number of pupils in the classrooms due to the lack of premises), the universities have a certain autonomy and there is a democratization of the public administration. Let’s see together the French education system with the pros and cons.

A French singer, France Gall, sang “ Sacré Charlemagne ” (1972) about this crazy idea of creating school.

You might want to know more about the French Revolution to un derstand further

French Revolution

French education system implemented by the French government: pros and cons

Firstly, let’s take a look at the French education system pros before discussing the cons.

Why is the French education system good?

Free education.

One of the biggest advantages of education in France is that it is free for public primary schools and secondary schools , they are state schools . Private schools also exist, (les écoles privées) these are catholic schools and not free . The faculties in France are public and you require to pay a tuition fees but it is really cheap. In 2016, the government allocated 149.9 billion euros from taxes for the education system.

In France, education is compulsory from the age of three to sixteen years old. Starting at an early age is a French education system pros or cons?

The school years continue at “L’école Primaire” which is the equivalent to the primary school . Pupils start at the age of six years old. The class structure is: -From six to seven, the class is called “Cours Préparatoire” (CP). -From seven to eight, it is called “Cours Elémentaire” (CE1). -From eight to nine, it is called “Cours Elémentaire” (CE2). -From nine to ten, it is called “Cours Moyen” (CM1). -From ten to eleven, it is called “Cours Moyen” (CM2).

“Le collège”, equivalent to the secondary school , has four levels and is for pupils from eleven years old. The different levels are called “la sixième”, “la cinquième”, “la quatrième”, “la troisième”. At the end of these four years, the students take an examination called “le brevet” which is the equivalent to GCSE.

“Le lycée” is the French high school for the last 3 years before joining the higher-education in faculties . The classes are called: “la seconde”, “la première”, “la terminale” and at the end there is an examination called Baccalaureat which is similar to A-level in England.

Fun fact: I remember when I was at school we had to get up when the teacher entered the classroom as a sign of respect and say “hello Madam/Sir” (Bonjour Madame/Monsieur) and then we could sit down.

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Another French education system pros over cons is a unique curriculum for every school.

One curriculum for all

Even if in France we can find public and private schools, they all follow the same curriculum . Private school will choose and hire their own teachers , but that is the only difference as everyone must receive the same education in France. Unfortunately, this is not always the case because each year there is a ranking of the best schools in France according to the marks the students got for the baccalaureat .

The curriculum is decided by the French Ministry of Education. In 2015, the French government voted a reform which lets the schools decide themselves 20% of the curriculum .

In France, there is no school uniform. Children born between the 1st of January and the 31st of December will be in the same grade.

Now we have seen the French education system pros let’s see the cons.

Why is the French education system bad?

Strictly educational and challenging

Because school is free in France, it is based on education mainly. There are no activities since there is not much money to spend on. This is one of the French education system points that could be a pros for some people and a cons for others.

In my opinion, this is a massive disadvantage of the French education system because I firmly believe it has an impact on the development of the kids. Having activities at school such as cooking allows you to learn a lot but in a different way, other activities will allow you to learn sharing with others which you do not do while sitting at a desk listening to the teacher.

Fortunately, parents usually enrol their children in activities either sporting or musical but outside school and therefore an additional cost is required for the parents.

French education is pretty challenging. Children are pushed to get good grades and compliments are very rare. If you are not good enough you will be looked down and teachers will say to your parents “what your kid is going to do in his life?”, “With such bad grades he will never get a decent job”, “your kid does not work enough”. In summary, it is always the fault of the kid because he or she does not “fit in the mould” instead of teachers applying a self-analysis. I think the main issue comes from how the teachers are trained, they often do not have the appropriate skills to deal with kids who have more difficulties.

When I was in “terminal”, the last year of high school, teachers were asking students what we were going to do at the university. To give you a bit of context, I was a student that “fitted in the mould”, I was quiet (extremely shy) and never had any behavioural issues, I was working regularly and hard but barely got the average in my grades despite working a lot. I mentioned to my teachers I wanted to do studies of pharmacy to be a pharmacist. Most of them did not believe in me. I can only recall one teacher who told me that I will succeed. The other teachers clearly told me “they are very hard studies, you will not make it”, “why trying such hard studies considering you could do something easier and much straightforward”. I did not even listen to them because I did not even understand how they could know I would not make it. In the end, I succeeded and got my diploma of Doctor of Pharmacy.

In my opinion, this French education system style is less a pros and rather a cons.

A complicated system

The French education system is known to be quite complicated with different types of examinations and diplomas .

It is common in France to repeat (redoubler) a school-year (une année scolaire) if the student does not have the level to continue further. It is not seen as something negative but rather an opportunity for the kid to reinforce his knowledge (ses connaissances). About 30% of the students will repeat a school-year at least once.

It is from the French high school that the students will take different paths depending on what they would like to do in higher-education . First, they will decide if they want to continue in a lycée général or a lycée professionnel. Until 2020, “le lycée général” had three different branches, either “Scientifique” (S) which focused on physics, chemistry and Science, or “Littéraire” (L) which focused on languages, philosophy and French literature, or “Science Economique” (ES) which focused on economy and sociology.

Since 2018-2019 following a reform from the government, there is a transition to a new organisation of the “voie générale” in high school. The students will prepare the baccalauréat based on the two following criteria:

Continuous control which counts for 40% of the final mark

• 10% for the report card marks from “première” and “terminale”, to value the regular work from the student.
• 30% for a test on subjects in common. Two in “première” and one in “terminale”.
• French test at the end of “première”.
• Subject of the speciality 1 chosen.
• Subject of the speciality 2 chosen.
• Philosophy at the end of “terminale”.
• A 20-minute oral regarding a project prepared in “ première” and “terminale”.

“Le lycée professionnel” allows students to develop skills in a specific job to prepare for either:

• “CAP” which leads to working life. It exists 200 professional specialities. The preparation lasts two years. There is a 12-16 week internship to reinforce theoretical lessons.
• “Le baccalauréat professionnel” which helps the insertion in working life or to continue studies as a senior technician. It lasts three years.
• “BEP” (le Brevet d’Etudes Professionnels) which is an intermediate diploma leading to “baccalauréat professionnel” but is not mandatory.

You might also be interested by what French people do during their holiday!

French holiday habits

French education system compared to other countries

Now we have seen that the French education system has pros and cons, we will compare to the British and American system.

French education system pros and cons vs British

School timetables and lunches

In British primary schools, kids finish one hour earlier than in France. However, they only have one hour lunch against two hours in France. This allows kids and teachers to take the time eating (as you may know, lunches in France is an important moment and we need to take the time) and socializing.

In France in nursery and primary school, kids often have no school on Wednesday or at least half day off.

In England, some kids go to school with their lunch box which contains usually a sandwich and snacks or go to the cafeteria. In France, we have “la cantine”, it is like a cafeteria, parents pay every month an extra money to the school. The food is freshly cooked each day.

The school structure and subjects taken

In England, the nursery school is optional, primary and secondary school however is compulsory from the age of five to sixteen.

Primary school in the UK begins at the age of five to eleven. The year groups level are from Year R (Reception) to Year 6. Then, comes the secondary school which goes from Year 7 to Year 9.

In England, the following subjects are mandatory to take GCSE that they prepare during Year 10 and 11: science, maths and English. On top of that, students will have to choose one subject in each of the following categories: -A modern foreign language: the most common are French, German and Spanish. -A humanity subject: history, geography or religious studies. -An art subject: music, drama, art and design or media studies. -A technical subject: design and technology, food technology or computer science.

The students have the freedom to choose a bit more their subjects compared to France where it is either science “Scientifique”, literature “Littéraire” or economy “Science Economique”.

Learning style

In the UK, learning is more practical and exploratory ways are rather encouraged. In France, from an early age, we learn by heart: grammar, times tables, and even reciting poems in front of the classroom.

In England, there is the school uniform, as I mentioned earlier this is not the case in France. The advantage is that the kids will not be comparing the clothes they wear, there is no social difference. The disadvantages are that it can cost a lot of money for parents with a lower income. Also, with a school uniform kids cannot express themselves, their own personality, who they are to feel good and comfortable.

Learning of foreign languages

In England, primary schools have the responsibility to teach either a modern or ancient foreign language since 2014. It is taught up to one hour a week. In France, a foreign language is taught from the nursery school. The first foreign language taught in France is English.

French school education system pros and cons compared to American

The school structure

The American education system is less focused on examinations .

Most kids enrol at a part-time preschool but the education provided by the state starts at Kindergarten, equivalent to Year 1 in the UK.

Schools are divided into three levels: -Elementary school: Grade Kindergarten (at the age of 5-6) to Grade 5 (10-11 years old). -Middle school: Grade 6 (11-12 years old) to Grade 8 (13-14 years old) -High school: Grade 9 (14-15 years old) to Grade 12 (17-18 years old)

US curriculum

In the US the curriculum is quite general for students to have a wide range of knowledge in many areas. In the last two years of high school, students will have the opportunity to take on other subjects that interest them.

There are no exams like GCSE or A-level like in the UK.

Sport teams and clubs

This is something the French education system is lacking. From high school sports are an important part of the culture. Sports participation has so many advantages. It is a physical activity which should be done regularly but above all, it helps developing teamwork, communication and many more skills.

In American schools there are a wide range of clubs to spend time on their hobbies, such as chess, mathematics and music, whereas activities in France are done outside of school.

French schools abroad

French school network.

There are 522 French schools from nursery school to secondary school in 139 countries with 370,000 students in total.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates the French school network overseas. Their mission is to spread French culture but also to support French children outside France to ensure a continuity in their education. For the French education system , this is a more a pros than a cons.

To have more information on why you should learn French, check out the article below

Why you should learn French?

Celebrities and French schools

Some celebrities abroad decide to enrol their children in French schools. For instance, in America, Madonna chose Le Lycée Français de New York for her daughter Lourdes. Also, Angelina Jolie’s kids followed the French education system and the school uses the same curriculum as in France.

French schools in foreign countries are popular because it is dynamic, they use an innovative method and it develop the multiculturalism and the excellence. The French education system is therefore seen from other countries with pros rather than cons.

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France has a lot of disadvantages in its system when it comes to education but let’s be honest, we are very lucky to have a free education system. In America, students start working life already having tens of thousands of dollars in debt. It cannot be perfect everywhere but some parents found an alternative, “L’école à la maison” (teaching at home). Unlike most people that think school is not mandatory, it is the education which is mandatory. Some parents in France educate their kids at home! Of course, this is supervised and proof of what is being taught must be shown regularly. Does the French education system have less pros than cons to justify teaching from home?

Are you for or against French education system and which one do you prefer? Let me know in the comments your opinion!

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Education System in France

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An Overview of the French Education System

What would you like to know about the French system of education?

Here’s a brief description for you of its background, its structure, and some of its important characteristics, just as an introduction.

French education, like that in other countries, is struggling greatly to cope with the current pandemic. Its functioning is in enormous upheaval. Its very remaining open is problematic and controversial, and organization of instruction in safe conditions is an ongoing challenge. The information in this article describes the system as it operates under normal circumstances  (which may be a long time in returning) but it should help nevertheless to understand the underlying nature of the system.

You should know that in its organization and administration, the French system of education is very different from that of the U.S. and of some other English-speaking countries. It provides a striking contrast for Americans, who have no centralized Ministry of Education, but rather 16,800 or so basically autonomous school districts run by locally elected school boards, and even differing regulations from state to state. The centralized French approach to education stems, of course, from a long overall tradition of centralized government, and was designed to ensure at least égalité to French citizens by providing free, universal instruction accessible to all.

In France, the centralized public school system is under the supervision of the Ministry of National Education, Youth, and Sports.  It is for all intents and purposes the same everywhere, including overseas, except for minor differences due to local conditions or constraints. There is a national curriculum with national exams. Teachers must obtain national certification, and belong to a national corps of civil servants.

Like other educational systems in the developed world, the French system has of course to cope with a number of concerns, including the very serious problems of violence and substance abuse in some schools, problematic math and reading levels, teacher training and absenteeism, and the competition with the internet, phones, and TV for students’ interest and time.

There is concern about anxiety and depression among students. There are naturally periodic complaints about all these issues, and calls for reform of various kinds which successive Ministers of Education have tried to deal with, with varying success.

Nevertheless, you will see that the French system has an intellectual and educational tradition of quality and high standards, of which the country is generally proud. Its graduates are highly regarded throughout the world.

16 Key Characteristics of the French Educational System

• Most notably, its extreme centralization with national curricula, exams, and corps of civil servant teachers, plus inspectors.
• Longer school days and more vacation days than in most other European countries. The total number of school hours in the year is, however, roughly the same.
• The stress on the secular character of public education, a principle held very strongly by government and educational authorities. This has, for example, led to a national problem concerning the wearing of a Muslim head veil to school, which has been basically forbidden by authorities. The argument is that all conspicuous apparel of a religious nature ought not to have any place in the secular schools where everyone should be equal and neutral. There is a refusal of what they call communitarisme , or the juxtaposition and delineated coexistence of identifiable ethnic or religious communities, as in the US.
• The importance of education to the French public. The bac is a sacred institution, a matter of public interest. The press covers the topic extensively, and the actual exam questions are announced to the public nationwide after the exams. In late August and early September, the whole country prepares for the Rentrée Scolaire , with considerable press and TV time devoted to the return of the country’s youngsters to school.
• An emphasis on abstract thought. The French primary curriculum tends to deal with abstract concepts in math and grammar sooner than in other countries. The four hour-long bac essays in French and philosophy ask abstract questions like, “Can philosophy get along without a reflection on science? Or “Is human freedom limited by the necessity to work?” or “How does one recognize that an event is historic?” (These are actual philosophy bac questions.)
• A tradition of the transmission of knowledge, the cerebral duty of teachers to instruct, not educate in the most comprehensive sense. In connection with this, secondary teachers mostly come to school for their 16-18 hours of class, but do not have to be in school otherwise. Monitoring of halls, classes, cafeterias, and recreation areas is done by surveillants hired expressly for that purpose, since it is not considered part of a secondary teacher’s job.
• A relatively elitist approach, and accompanying this, a tendency toward individual competition and achievement. One of the areas where teaching practice has evolved most in the last couple of decades is the inclusion of small group work and team projects to teach students how to work together cooperatively.
• Early orientation at the end of the ninth year into the type of study a student will follow, as contrasted with the American system, in any case, when this is still the beginning of high school and choices remain open.
• A tradition of rigor and clear thought in presentation of ideas. A noted French philosopher Alain, said, “L’homme se forme par la peine” , that is, “man is formed through effort” and this idea has always been present in French educational circles. Learning is not generally expected to be fun.
• A certain reliance on rote learning and lectures, despite much change in teaching practice in general. One of the areas where teaching practice has evolved most in the last couple of decades is the inclusion of small group work and team projects to teach students how to work together cooperatively.
• A generally large number of subjects studied, at all levels of schooling, and relatively few options as opposed to compulsory subjects, especially for the bac . The role of math is especially important in French education and is the fundamental means of selection of the best students.
• Relatively short shrift given to the arts, except when chosen as an optional subject in the lycée . Students may get only an hour a week of music or art in early secondary school, and none later. The existence of the outside network of arts possibilities means that those who have the interest and the means tend to pursue the arts outside of the school setting.
• Sports practiced outside of school in community teams rather than school ones. Sports are available to varying degrees to French students, but this is definitely not a sports-oriented educational culture.
• A marking scale from 1-20. The passing mark is 10, thus a little lower than in other marking systems.
• Absolute marking standards, making it possible to have a whole physics class with marks below the necessary required average and severe marking practices. Giving low grades is sometimes considered to be a way of motivating students to do better. Corrigés , or corrected answer sheets, are often given out after exams, including literature essays, to indicate what should have been the answers or key points treated.
• Several parents’ associations with links to major political factions. Sometimes representatives of several associations attend the same class council meetings.

Key figures:

• 535 overseas schools under the French system, located in 139 countries.
• 28 regional administrative districts (Academies) headed by Recteurs
• Schooling is free and compulsory from 3 to 16 years of age.
• Of France’s 67 million residents, 13 million are children in primary and secondary schools, and over 800,000 are teachers.
• About 17% of schools are private.
• Approximately 97% of these private schools are under contract (contrat d’état) with the Education Nationale, which requires that their school programs be identical to those in the public system, in exchange for a substantial subsidy. These schools are largely Catholic.

Nancy Willard-Magaud holds degrees from Wellesley College and Yale University. Formerly Director of the American Section of the Lycée International de St. Germain-en Laye, she helped to create the American Option of the French Baccalauréat (OIB) and served as its Inspectrice Générale Déléguée (head moderator). Her three sons attended French schools and American and French universities. She has been awarded the Palmes Académiques for her service to French education and culture and is currently special consultant to the English-Language Association of France (ELSA-France).

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Policy Description

Educational policies: france (2014), introduction.

The French educational system is based on the principles of the 1789 revolution. According to the French constitution, it is a duty of the state to provide free, compulsory, secular education at all levels. 

The structure of the French educational system can be traced back to Napoleon’s First Empire (1804-1815). He initiated a division of the Imperial University into academies managed by rectors which still exists today. Napoleon also centralised the administration: the state authorised the opening of schools, appointed teachers, and defined the school curricula. The school system was organised into two orders: primary education (l’école du people) and secondary education (l’école de l’élite sociale), which was attended by the bourgeoisie. Napoleon first developed secondary education to train administrative and technical executives, organising it into state lycées and municipal collèges. Both of these institutions also offered elementary-level classes. The final exam in secondary schools was the baccalauréat. Primary education was developed during the July Monarchy (1830-1848) as municipalities were ordered to build primary and upper primary schools. The influence of the Catholic Church was strong on both primary and secondary schools.

During the Third Republic (1870-1940), the Ferry reform established free primary education (1881), made attendance compulsory for all children between the ages of six and 13, and mandated that public education would be secular through the abolition of religion classes (1882). Compulsory school attendance was extended to children up to age 14 in 1936 (Zay Reform). 

The dual system of primary and secondary education was eliminated during the Fifth Republic. First, the Berthoin reform (1959) extended compulsory school attendance to children up to age 16. Second, the Fouchet reform (1963) made secondary education in colleges accessible to all children starting at age of 11. Elementary schools therefore no longer awarded final certificates. Third, the Haby law (1975), created the collège unique for all children graduating from elementary school. 

During the 1980s, priority education zones were established to provide greater support to the schools with the most problems. Vocational programmes were developed through in-company educational activities. The 1989 framework law set up a comprehensive project to further the democratic response to education. Starting in the 1990s, efforts were made to redefine timetables and reduce children’s workload. 

In 2003, all of the education-related legislation that was currently in force (laws, decrees of the President of the Republic or of the Prime Minister, ministerial orders, and circulars) became part of the Education Code. A new framework law passed in 2005 states that education is a national priority, and that the system should guarantee that all students will acquire a common set of knowledge and skills that will give them equal opportunities in professional life. These principles were reaffirmed by the most recent reform (law no. 2013-595 of 8 July 2013 and related decrees).

Organisation of the educational system

The French educational system is organised into the following levels: 

Pre-primary (ISCED 0). This level of education is provided in kindergartens for children ages 2/3-6. Today almost all children attend kindergarten from the age of three onwards.

Primary (ISCED 1). This level of education is provided in elementary schools for children ages 6-11. There is no examination for students who have completed elementary school; instead, children move automatically to secondary education.

Lower secondary (ISCED 2). This level of education is provided in four-year collèges for pupils ages 11-15. Since the passage of the Haby Law in 1975, students in colleges have been taught the same subjects. A brevet diploma is awarded upon completion of college. Admission to upper secondary education does not depend on performing well on the brevet. However, at the end of college the families of students are advised as to whether their son or daughter should pursue general and technological studies or vocational training. Thus, French students are asked to specialise at the end of college.

Upper secondary (ISCED 3). This level of education is provided over a three-year period to pupils ages 15-18. The general and technological lycées prepare pupils for long-term higher education, while professional lycées mainly prepare students for a career (although they have the option to continue their studies). The diploma awarded upon completion of the lycée, the baccalauréat, is a prerequisite for admission to university. In professional lycées, students can earn the Certificat d’aptitude professionnelle (CAP) after two years and the baccalauréat after two additional years.

Higher education (ISCED 5 and 6). This level of education consists of two systems: universities which do not have selective admission; and non-university institutions, such as Grandes Ecoles which are highly selective and open only to students who have earned a baccalauréat after two years of attendance at classes préparatoires.

The French education system is centralised. The state finances public education, defines the curricula, appoints inspectors to control the quality of the structures and the teaching, and organises teacher recruitment and training. The 2013 reform raised the minimum level of education prospective teachers had to attain to a five-year university degree. In addition, candidates for teaching jobs now have to participate in a national competition. Primary education teachers have become professeurs des écoles. Secondary education teachers must earn a certificat d'aptitude au professorat du deuxième degree to teach a particular subject (mathematics, sciences, etc.). Specific certificates exist for teachers of sports and technical and vocational skills. Other types of teachers can become aggregated teachers.

Despite the state’s central role, the decentralisation of competences, which started in the 1980s, has led to local authorities becoming responsible for ensuring the operation of the system (school buildings, transport, etc.).

Currently about 20% of students are enrolled in private schools. Some of these schools have a special contract with the state under which they receive public subsidies, provided they follow the state curricula and the teachers have the same training and diplomas as those recruited in public schools. 

Compulsory Education

Education is compulsory between the ages of six and 16 years. The compulsory period encompasses primary and lower secondary education, as well as one year of upper secondary education.

The Berthoin reform of 1959 structured compulsory education into three cycles: 1) a five-year elementary cycle aimed at providing a general basic education to all children ages 6-11; 2) a two-year observation cycle for children ages 11-13, during which (at the end of the first trimester) families are advised as to which courses students should take; and 3) a final cycle for children ages 13-16, in which students either pursue a general education or prepare for working life. The final cycle can last beyond the compulsory period.

The Haby reform of 1975 extended the length of the education period for all children by introducing a unique four-year college structured into two cycles: 1) an observation cycle during the first  two years; and 2) an orientation cycle during the last two years, in which students pursue the same type of education as in the first cycle, but also attend complementary courses (including vocational courses) of their choice.

The 2013 reform restructured schooling from kindergarten to the end of college into the following four cycles: 

The initial learning cycle consists of three levels of kindergarten: namely, small section, middle section, and large section. 

The basic learning cycle consists of the first three years of primary school: namely, preparatory class, elementary class first year, and elementary class second year.

The consolidation cycle corresponds to the last two years of elementary school and to the first year of college, and consists of intermediate class first year, intermediate class second year, and sixth-year class.

The deep learning cycle corresponds to the last three years of college, and consists of fifth-year class, fourth-year class, and third-year class.

At the end of these cycles, the children should have acquired a common set of knowledge and skills in the following areas: the French language, a modern foreign language, mathematics, science and technology, information and communication techniques, humanist culture, social and civic skills, and autonomy and initiative.

Since 1989, education at all levels is provided for 36 weeks a year, a period which is subdivided into five working periods of equal duration, and four vacation periods. The school calendar varies by region. 

School councils determine the start and end of each school day. However, the weekly number of hours is established centrally. The 2013 reform abolished the weekly day off, which had characterised French pre-primary and primary education since the 19th century. The school week consists of 24 hours spread over nine half-days. In exceptional circumstances, the lessons may be provided on Saturday mornings instead of on Wednesday mornings. Since 2004 the school week at college has ranged from 25 hours (in the first year) to 28.5 hours plus three (or six) hours for an optional class (in the last year). 

Bibliography

• Eurypedia - The European Encyclopedia on National Education Systems, © European Union, 1995-2014, http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/education/eurydice/eurypedia_en.php
• Ferhat I., « Quelle formation pour quels enseignants ?. Regard historique sur la réforme de la « mastérisation » », La Vie des idées, 17 mars 2009. Available online (last accessed 11/10/2014) : http://www.laviedesidees.fr/Quelle-formation-pour-quels.html
• Gerbod P., Les rythmes scolaires en France : permanences, résistances et inflexions, In: Bibliothèque de l'école des chartes. 1999, pp. 447-477. Available online (last accessed 16/10/2014) : http://ec-patay.tice.ac-orleans-tours.fr/php5/Espace/PaulGerbot.pdf
• Heurdier L. et Prost A., Les politiques de l’éducation en France, Paris, La Documentation française, 2014
• Lang V., « Le pré-recrutement des instituteurs de l’enseignement public (19e – 20e siècles) », Centre de recherche en éducation de Nantes, 2008. Available online (last accessed 11/10/2014) : http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/31/15/05/PDF/Prerecrutement_instituteurs_publics.pdf "
• Ministère de l’éducation nationale, de la recherche et de la technologie, « L’aménagement des rythmes scolaires à l’école primaire », Janvier 2000, Rapporteurs: Yves bottin, Michel Delaunay, Sonia Henrich. Available online (last accessed 07/10/2014) : http://media.education.gouv.fr/file/07/2/6072.pdf
• Prost A., Du changement dans l'école. Les réformes de l'éducation de 1936 à nos  jours, L'Univers historique, Editions du Seuil, 2013

Websites of the French government: 

• http://www.vie-publique.fr
• http://www.education.gouv.fr
• http://eduscol.education.fr
• http://www.adressrlr.cndp.fr

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A Comprehensive Overview of the Education System in France in Current Decade

Auriville Sanschagrin

Didier Giguère

France has a highly respected education system with three main levels primary secondary and higher education Primary and secondary education are compulsory and free while higher education is divided into public and private institutions The French government plays a central role in education policy and funding with the majority of funding for primary and secondary education coming from the state and the majority of funding for higher education coming from a combination of the state and private sources Some people believe that the meaning of life is to make the world a better place for future generations This can involve working to solve social or environmental problems or simply striving to be a positive influence on the people around you Overall education in France is considered to be of a high quality with high levels of enrollment and achievement although there are some challenges including a high dropout rate and a lack of diversity in higher education

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How to Cite

Auriville Sanschagrin, & Didier Giguère. (2023). A Comprehensive Overview of the Education System in France in Current Decade. Global Journal of Human-Social Science , 23 (G1), 13–15. Retrieved from https://socialscienceresearch.org/index.php/GJHSS/article/view/103592

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