Do French schools have breaks?

Admittedly French schools have longer days, in part to compensate for the extended holidays, and while some feel they are too long for younger children, they also fit in much more easily with working hours, plus they have Wednesday afternoon off (all day Wednesday at some primaries), and typically a lunch break of up ...

How long are school breaks in France?

French schools have five holidays during the year: All Saints 'autumn' break, Christmas, winter break, spring holiday (Easter), and the summer holiday. The breaks are usually two weeks except for summer holidays which last eight weeks.

Do French schools have recess?

School Hours in France

Some schools close on Wednesdays. During school, students get two short breaks (recesses) and a minimum of a one and a half hour lunch break. Students can go home for lunch or eat at school.

How long is lunch break in French schools?

At school, the lunch break lasts between 90 minutes and 2 hours, during which a four-course meal is eaten while seated. French etiquette recommends that everyone starts eating at the same time and leaves the table only once everybody is finished.

Do French students have lunch at school?

Note: unlike the United States, there is no national school lunch program in France. All of the lunches you'll read about here are funded by local municipalities. Three-course (or even four-course) freshly-prepared hot lunches are provided to over 6 million French children in the public school system every day.

French school System - (in French with subtitles)

How long is a school day in France?

School routine

Generally speaking, the school day in France is from 8:30 until 4:30, but it varies depending on which area you live in. This is longer than the typical school day in the UK or America, but there is a longer lunch break and two other breaks during the day. There are 24 hours of lessons a week.

Do French students go to school on Saturday?

The school day in France typically runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a half day on Saturday, although students do not attend school on Wednesday or Sunday.

Why do French schools have a 2 hour lunch break?

In fact, the French spend longer eating, but eat less–in part because that 'fullness feeling' (satiety signal) needs about 20 minutes to get from your stomach to your brain. But the French also spend longer eating because they believe that it's important to teach kids to eat well – it's a life skill, like reading.

Why is there no school on Wednesday in France?

The idea of a weekday off dates to 1882, when secular primary education became compulsory in France: a day without classes, then Thursday, was to allow for religious education outside school. In 1972 a government decree fixed Wednesday instead as the mandatory day off.

Why does France have a 2 hour lunch break?

The rest of the time is spent playing (and digesting all of that good food). Why so long? Lunch is supposed to represent up to half of daily caloric intake, so eat big meals at midday rather than in the evening. Plus, the French believe that eating slowly is an essential part of eating properly.

How strict are French schools?

The French system is centralised and highly structured, with a strict curriculum and standardised tests. In comparison, other countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have more decentralised systems, emphasising individualised learning and personalised approaches.

Do French students go to school on Wednesday?

The French school day (and week) can be long. However, French students may have more frequent and longer breaks during the school day (there's no school on a Wednesday in Primary or a Wednesday afternoon in Collège and Lycée), leaving ample time to catch up on homework or study for exams.

How are French schools different to English schools?

Differences in teaching styles

They learn poems and texts by heart. There is not much group work. On the other hand, British teachers encourage pupils to talk and work together. France's stricter, centralised and bureaucratic approach means that pupils must make the effort to adapt themselves to the teaching strategy.

Do kids in France go to school 4 days a week?

4.2.

The school year in France is separated by five periods of schooling and four holiday periods, comprising at least 36 weeks of study. As a general rule, in maternity and primary schools, each week comprises 4.5 days of schooling, with the half-day each Wednesday (in a small number of cases, Saturday morning).

Does France have a 4 day school week?

Other French cities, including Lille, Marseille, Toulouse, and Bordeaux, have opted to return to a true “four day” week, where the full day Wednesday, rather than Tuesday and Friday afternoons, are dedicated to extracurricular enrichment activities for students.

Do French students wear uniforms?

Currently, the French national school system does not require pupils to wear uniforms, unlike many private establishments, such as military schools, and schools in overseas French departments.

Why is everything closed on Monday in France?

The reason lies in France's enshrined labour code, the Code du Travail, which was first published in 1910. The Code du Travail used to say that it was illegal for anyone to work more that six days a week and that workers should have 35 consecutive hours of rest.

What do French students do on Wednesdays?

Wednesday/Mercredi : Wednesdays are a little different since it's the recreational day for the students. They have some class in the morning, but we all eat together for lunch, and in the afternoon Clemence, Armand, and Mayeul have tennis, guitar, and music-reading lessons.

Is the French education system good?

High-Quality French Education

France is known globally as having both a competitive and exceptional quality of education. With a history dating back to the late 18th century, the French education system has a long tradition of excellence and is widely recognized as one of the best in the world.

Do French kids go home for lunch?

There are no vending machines in French schools (they are banned by law), and children are strongly discouraged from bringing their own meals from home (and most don't). So the cantine is the place where the majority of French children eat lunch on school days.

What time do French eat dinner?

The French tend to eat lunch and dinner later than Americans do. Lunch is noon to about 2:30 p.m. Dinner is 8 to 11 p.m. Many restaurants close in the late afternoon to prepare for dinner service.

Do kids in France get free lunch?

In France, the meals are free in about 50 municipalities out of 35,000. The price depends on the household income in most large towns. As part of the 2017 poverty action plan, local authorities offering a progressive price scale with price segments equal to or below €1 can benefit from a state contribution.

Which country has the shortest school day?

Italy offers a slightly shorter day at 5 hours and 30 minutes. Finland and Brazil, known for their progressive educational systems, average a 5-hour school day, focusing on efficiency and student well-being. Germany presents the shortest average school day, with students spending only 4 hours and 30 minutes in school.

Do French students get Wednesdays off?

Essentially, they teach 24 hours per week, typically from Mondays to Friday, and Wednesday is a half-day. That said, a minority of primary schools (in French) have chosen to swap out Wednesday mornings for Saturday mornings or have every Wednesday off.

Is religion taught in French schools?

French children typically learn about religion through the history curriculum, which emphasises the contribution of religious traditions to culture and civilisation, rather than their significance in contemporary France.