How strict are French schools?

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.

Are schools in France strict?

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.

What rules do French schools have?

What is the French school system like?

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.

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.

Outstanding or outdated? The ins and outs of French education

What 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.

Is Wednesday a day off school in France?

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).

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.

Is France school hard?

The French education system offers an inflexible approach to education; one where the teacher has absolute authority, tough grading and rote learning are the norm, where high academic standards are demanded in reading, writing and arithmetic. The French don't expect children to have 'fun' at school.

Are French classes hard?

In their language difficulty ranking, the Foreign Service Institute puts French in the top ten easiest languages to learn for English-speakers, alongside notoriously easy languages such as Spanish and Italian.

Is it illegal to not go to school in France?

In France, school attendance is compulsory for children aged three to 16. Authorised absence may be granted for various reasons, including a 'child following their legal representatives (travel outside school holidays)', according to the French government website.

Can you wear a hijab in French schools?

“Since 2004, in France, religious signs and symbols have been banned in schools, including headscarves, kippas and crosses,” she said. “Gabriel Attal, the education minister, says that no one should walk into a classroom wearing something which could suggest what their religion is.”

Do French schools have a dress code?

Uniforms have not been obligatory in French schools since 1968 but have regularly come back on the political agenda, often pushed by conservative and far-right politicians.

Are parents strict in France?

In The Atlantic, Megan Mcardle wrote that the strict, authoritative parenting style that is common in France can sometimes veer on the side of being too harsh. This helps minimize temper tantrums and picky eaters, but can leave little room for French kids to reveal their individuality.

Do French 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.

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 ...

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.

What is the dropout rate in France?

This is the case for 15% of students in France: In other words, in France, out of 100 students who start university-level education, 64 will receive at qualification at that level, 15 will be re-oriented to a programme in vocationally oriented tertiary education, and only 21 will leave without a tertiary qualification.

Does France have homework?

As an integral part of the education program, homework is taken very seriously. Even in the first years, it's not uncommon to spend a half hour a night with your child going over the day's lessons and preparing for tests.

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.

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.

Are schools in France free?

Public schools in France are free, secular, and co-ed. They follow the national curriculum that is set by the Ministry of Education. Typically, these schools use more conventional teaching methods.

How long is French summer break?

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.

At what age do you graduate in France?

After primary school, two educational stages follow: collège (middle school), for children during their first four years of secondary education from the age of 11 to 14. lycée (high school), which provides a three-year course of further secondary education for children between the ages of 15 and 18.

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.