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The basics of the education system in France for children in the school
system in the south west. Information includes all the stages from creche
(maternelle) to pre-primary, primary and secondary education and
international schooling.

Education in France is
compulsory for children aged six to sixteen. State (public) education is
free, secular with mixed-sex classes. Education is also available in
private, fee-paying schools (which include most religion-based and
international schools).

Below is
information on: 

• The
  required vaccinations  
• The structure of the school year and
  the cantine, or school lunch
• Detailed information on pre-school facilities
  and enroling in primary education, the structure of secondary education (collège
  and the diploma, the brevet, and the lycée and baccalaureate
  qualifications)
• Special needs education
  in France, international schooling and
  the national policy on home schooling in France
• Guidelines on what to do about bullying and violence in the classroom and school with links to the
  Department of Education website and French Government information on
  schooling

Vaccinations

The Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio
(DTP) vaccination is compulsory for a child to have the following
vaccinations. When enrolling, a certificates will be required to verify this.

In July 2007 the Tuberculosis (BCG) vaccine was declared to no
longer be obligatory except under certain criteria. 

Note: Some schools may still operate to the pre-July 2007 rulings which meant
that it was obligatory except for contra-indication or if after two
injections the test is still negative. The child simply has to have regular
tests to check that the negativity still holds. Homeopathic doctors (who
prefer not to vaccinate for BCG) may issue a certificate stating that the
child cannot have the BCG. This is acceptable to schools.

The School
Year

The school year starts in
early September, dates are set by the region (and in the case of private
schools, by the school itself) and finishes for the long summer holidays in
July. Traditionally many French primary schools have been closed on
Wednesdays with classes Saturday mornings instead. As of the new school year
of September 2008 there are no longer Saturday morning classes for
kindergarten and primary age children.

The school week is 24 hours
long. Some schools opt for a four day week with six hours of classes per day
on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; others adopt a five day week (Monday
to Friday). 

The school day hours vary
between regions but is generally 08:30-16:30 with two breaks.

Lunch hours vary from school
to school and in general last one and a half to two hours. Children may
either stay at school and eat at the cantine or return home for
lunch. The price of a cantine meal can vary in each school and will
depend on the local commune which subsidises school meals. Children at an école
maternelle whose parents do not work are not always accepted at the cantine,
the local Mairie will ask for proof that both parents work (pay slips
or work contract). 

There is no charge for state
schooling and books, however parents must supply stationery and additional
funds for school outings. 

Insurance is generally
requested to cover all risks at school and on school outings. A school doctor
performs an annual medical check on all children.

Primary
Education

Mothers' help, crèches,
kindergartens and nursery schools fall outside the official school system

Halte Garderies are open to children under the age of 6. Children may attend a few days
or half-days per week, as the parent chooses. Children are under the
guardianship of a qualified midwife, paediatric nurse or teacher. The is
usually a small fee to pay. Ask at your Mairie for details on local
facilities.

Écoles Maternelles 

École Maternelle is comparable with nursery school or kindergarten in anglophone
countries. While not compulsory it is considered essential in preparing a
child for school. Maternelles are for ages two to six and provide
optional education for children. Enrolment for the local école maternelle
should be done at the Mairie. It is free of charge (aside from extras,
including lunch).

Children who are two at the rentrée
- the start of the new school year in September - are accepted provided they
are sufficiently mature and "socialised". (This is gauged by a
doctor who will issue a certificate). If the child turns two before the end
of the year, and the school has space the child may be admitted.  If
there is no Maternelle in an area, a child may start at the école
élémentaire in the section enfantine from the age of 5
years.

The Maternelle is
divided into:

• Petite
  Section: 2-3 years
• Moyenne
  Section: 3-5 years
• Grande
  Section: 5-6 years

Apply at the Mairie for a certificat
d'inscription by June of the year you want your child to start. Late
applications are technically not allowed but will probably be
considered. 

You will need to show:

• the "livret de famille". If
  you don't have one, you will need to provide essential information
  including child's birth certificate 
• proof of up-to-date vaccinations supplied by
  the doctor
• proof
  of address

To register at the school,
take:

• the certificat d'inscription issued by
  the mairie
• certificate of health and school readiness
  issued by the doctor 
• proof of up-to-date vaccinations supplied by
  the doctor

If there are fewer places
available than applicants, older children will be given preference.

Écoles Élémentaires 

École élémentaire is the equivalent of
primary, junior or elementary school in anglophone countries. For ages 6 to
11, these deliver the beginning of compulsory education.

A child must be enrolled in
the école élémentaire by the June prior to the September start of
school. If a child is continuing in the same schooling area, there is no need
to re-apply to the Mairie. 

People new to an area, or if
the child did not attend the maternelle, must apply to the Mairie
for a certificat d'inscription to the assigned school in the
area. Take:

• the livret
  de famille or birth certificate 
• proof of up-to-date vaccinations for the child
• proof of residence in the commune 

It is not compulsory that a
child attends the local, assigned école élémentaire, but if a
"non-local" school is preferred, specific applications must be made
through the Mairie. A dérogation must be requested to
apply to a school outside the catchment area. Parents may approach schools
directly for enrolment (in addition to the Mairie) and in some primary
schools it is the director's discretion that allows entrance for a pupil from
another catchment area.

Grades/years of the écoles élémentaires

Secondary Education

Secondary education is
broken into two phases. It begins with the compulsory first cycle  for
ages 11 to 15 at collège after which, on completion a
successful scholar receives a diploma (brevet des collèges).
This is followed by the post compulsory second cycle for ages 15 to 18 at a lycée.
This is completed with the Baccalauréat. As with
the elementary schools, registeration must be made at the local Mairie
by June, or sooner if a child is to be schooled outside of the commune of
residence.

Collèges 

Collège is the first cycle
for scholars aged 11-15 years. On completing the CM2 cycle and receiving a brevet
the pupil is ready for admission into sixième (6ème). 

The child should be
registered at the local college for the geographic area (exceptions do apply
where the local facilities do not cater for specific studies) and
applications should be made before the spring holiday. School director's are
able to help with the completion of the applications.

Enrolment requirements vary
between schools although generally the following will be required:

• Application
  form
• End of term reports for the past year
• Exit
  certificate from the school
• Certificate
  of admission to 6eme
• Vaccination certificates for BCG, DT-Polio
• Two passport photographs with name and class
  requested

Further information is
available from the departmental school inspectorate and from colleges in the
commune.

Lycées

For ages 15 to 18. The final
three years are the seconde, première and terminale. It
is at this point that the scholar specialises in a chosen area. The final
exams are the Baccalauréat (the "Bac"). The Baccalauréat and
the "International Option" Baccalauréat (OIB) are globally
recognised qualifications for university entrance. 

The "bac" subjects
are grouped by discipline:

• General bac include: Arts & Literature (BAC
  L), Science (BAC S), Social & Economic (BAC ES)
• Technological
  bac includes: Science & Industrial Technologies (STI), Science &
  Laboratory Technologies (STL), Medical & Social Sciences (SMS)

Lycée d'enseignement professionnel (LEP/LPA)

The LEP and LPA are
technical or professional school alternatives to lycée which can be
followed after receiving a brevet des collèges. 

Special Needs

Provision for special needs
students in French schools in on the increase. While generally French schools
have not had "special needs" departments, much depends on the
school and the needs of the child, and some schools are able to cater to certain
needs - whether a physical or learning disorder - by accommodating the child
in regular or "integration" classes. 

SESSAD (services d'éducation spéciale et de soins à domicile) deal with
children and teenagers with mental, motor and sensory disabilities ensuring early
education and support for the family (counselling and accompaniment to
treatments) through to the end of compulsory education (and in cases through
to university). SESSAD provides a bridge between the traditional schooling
and the extra-school treatments and rehabilitation .

CLIS (classes d'intégration scolaire) is for children with
disabilities too severe for schooling in regular classes, but not requiring
special facilities. CLIS is a special class within an ordinary elementary or
secondary school (although seldom available in pre-school facilities). The
teaching is adapted to students needs but the curriculum taught is
essentially the same as that taught in the regular classes

There are 4 categories of
CLIS:

• CLIS 1 (D): Cognitive learning disorders, severe mental
  development limitations
• CLIS
  2 (A):
  Hearing impairment (troubles auditifs: sourds, malentendants)
• CLIS
  3 (B):
  Visual impairment (troubles visuels importants: aveugles, malvoyants)
• CLIS 4 (C): Physical disability/severe motor deficiency

Admission to CLIS is decided
by the CCPE (commission préélémentaire et élémentaire).

UPI (unités pédagogiques d'intégration) units accommodate children
with cognitive learning disorders from age 12 to 16 years (generally coming
from CLIS 1). The UPI provides adapted school integration and partial
participation through the teaching and activities. This system is being
expanded to incorporate children with sight, hearing and physical
disabilities.

Commonly, learning assistance is, handled outside of school hours by relevant
therapists (and if the child is not coping at their level they may be held
back). If the child needs constant or specific assistance, then they will be
admitted to a specialist school. A family doctor will be able to advise
further, as will the Mairie and the school in the relevant catchment
area.

• Extensive information with contacts to
  organisations and support groups on the ONISEP website
• The Association of
  American Wives of Europeans (AAWE) group based in Paris has information on
  education in France and facilities for students who learn differently.
  Tel: 01
  40 70 11 80
  Fax: 01 47 23 32 97
  e-mail

International Schooling

There are three types of
school that offer schooling in English:

• Monolingual National or International Schools:
  The entire curriculum is in English and the
  school follows the home country syllabus.
• Bilingual Schools or French Schools with an International
  Section:
  A percentage of classes are given in English by a native
  English-language teacher, within the French Curriculum. The scholar is
  qualified to take the OIB exam, the English equivalent of the French
  Bac.
• French Schools with a high level of English:
  In these schools a high percentage of teaching is given in English
  by native English-language teachers.

The Paris-based organisation
ELSA (English Language Schools Association of France), provides up-to-date
information for those seeking schooling in English, in France. There are
American and British Schools in Paris, which follow the exact curricula of
their home countries.

• ELSA (English Language Schools Association of
  France)
  Tel: 01 47 09 62 73
  e-mail
  Website
• The Council of
  International Schools, an international not-for-profit body, lists
  of most international schools in France (and worldwide): Click here
• International
  Schools Worldwide lists and describes some international schools
  in France

Baccalaureate

At high school level,
students can opt for either: 

• the
  International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma 
• the French Baccalauréat International Option
  (BOI) also known as the Option Internationale du Baccalauréat
  (OIB).

The IB Diploma follows the
syllabus of the home country. Many, but not all, of French bilingual schools
make this option available.

The BOI is a baccalaureate
qualification which forms an optional part of the French baccalaureate
examination and as such allows the student to enter higher education in
France. 

• The Centre international d'études pédagogiques
  (CIEP) has comprehensive information on the BOI in English: Click here

International schools (such
as British or American schools) offer the curriculum and qualifications of
the home country. For example, students at a British international school are
prepared for the GCSE and GCE examinations while American schools provide
testing for examinations including SAT I & II, and PSAT.

Home Schooling in France

Home schooling in France has
been legal since December 1998; annual registration is compulsory. A
declaration must be made each year at the Mairie of the place
of residence and at the school inspectorate (inspecteur d’académie or rectorat). 

For children from the age of
six to sixteen in home schooling an annual visit will be made by the school
inspector (inspecteur d’académie) and at a minimum every two years by
the mairie. In the event of two unsatisfactory inspections, the parents can
be ordered to send the child to school. In the event of a change of address,
a declaration must be made at the marie of the place of residence within
eight days of the move.

Various methods exist for
teaching children at home, for example correspondence classes or Montessori.
However the law requires that children acquire the following knowledge and
reach a level of education that can be compared with that of children in
school:

• Good command of written and spoken French
• French
  literature
• Principles
  of mathematics
• One
  foreign language
• Basics
  of science and technology
• Basics of history and geography of France,
  Europe and the rest of the world
• Artistic
  education 
• Sports

National exams can be taken
by registering at the rectorat.

Further information is
available from the government education
website and Les Enfants d’Abord, a French organisation for home schooling families.

Bullying & Violence in the Classroom & School

In the case of violence in a
French school (bullying, a violent incidence, problems with teachers), a
concerned parent should contact the representative French equivalent of the
Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) of the school concerned.

There are a number of
different PTA associations recognised by law and operating as official
members of the educational community. The main ones are FCPE (Federation des Conseils de Parents
d'Eleves), PEEP (Fédération des Parents d'Elèves de
l'Enseignement Public) and Apel Parents (websites in
French). 

Information on these and
other associations is available from schools, either directly from the
teachers or from notices posted on a bulletin board outside the school.

It may also be necessary to
contact the Inspection de l'Academie Nationale, to find the
inspection body for the region. The Académie is the local
Education Administration, which facilitates the application of the national
education policy within each French region. Policy depends on the local
context and on the local partner institutions such as:

• town
  administrations for primary schools
• county administrations for general secondary schools
  or collèges
• regional administrations for higher secondary
  schools or lycées
• To find local inspection office see the
  Ministry of Education website: Click here (in French)

Student and Scholar Helplines

• Free
  helpline for students: Jeunes Violence Ecoute Tel: 0800 20 22 23