What age do children finish school in France?

By law, all children have to go to school until they are 16. Between the ages of 11 and 15, students in France attend a middle school (collège). The vast majority of students stay in school beyond this, continuing their education until the age of 18.

What age do you finish school in France?

Education is compulsory between the ages of 6 (which corresponds to the start of primary education) and 16 (which does not represent the end of a cycle – see figure below). Pre-primary education (ISCED 02), which is dispensed at “nursery schools” and take children from 2/3 up to 6 years of age.

How long do French kids stay in school?

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.

What age do French kids go to kindergarten?

In France, kids start school very early : school starts at age 2 (for 52% of children) or 3 (for almost 100%) and children spend 3 years in maternelle (kindergarten).

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.

What Age Do You Start School In France?

Why does France not have school on Wednesday?

That French schoolchildren have had Wednesdays off is a quirk of history. When France instituted universal public education in the late 19th century, the government granted a weekly day off for children to attend catechism by the Roman Catholic Church.

What do they call collège in France?

What we call "college" or "university" in English is l'université or la faculté in French. Some formal education is compulsory until the end of junior high, although several solutions are possible if a student wants to enter an apprenticeship.

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.

How old are 12th graders in France?

Here are the various French high school grades: La seconde (15 ans) = 10th grade (Year 11 UK). La première (16 ans) = 11th grade (Year 12 UK). La terminale (17 ans) = 12th grade (Year 13 UK).

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 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.

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.

How much vacation does the average French person get in one year?

Vacation Leave Quota (aka Annual Leave)

All employees are entitled to paid leave of 2.5 days for each month of actual work. This gives 5 full weeks, resulting in 25 days annually. Nota Bene: By French calculation, this is actually 30 days of vacation, because Saturday is considered a working day in this calculation.

Is French college free?

Tuition fees are low in public Higher education institutions because the French government subsidizes higher education. The true cost of education is the same as it is elsewhere in the world—around €10,000 a year. The difference is that in France the government assumes a large share of that cost.

How many years is college in France?

Licence (L1, L2, L3) is an undergraduate degree awarded after a period of study lasting 6 semesters (3 years). Master's (M1, M2) is a graduate degree awarded after a period of study lasting 2 years (a total of 5 years' study).

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.

How is French education different from American?

For example, the American system excels in developing student's self-confidence and ability to speak in public. The French education system on the other hand excels in giving students a deep understanding of concepts, while developing students critical thinking.

Where is France ranked in education?

Shanghai ranking August

In 2023, France is 4th worldwide in number of institutions in the Top 50 of the Shanghai ranking, with 3 institutions, just after the US (28), the UK (6) and China (4), but before Switzerland (2), Canada (2), Japan (2), Denmark (1), Australia (1) and Sweden (1).

What is a French collège equivalent to in the US?

The first stage, the collège, is composed of four years of study, for students ages eleven through fifteen (similar to a US middle school).

Does France have a good education system?

France is known for having one of the best education systems in the world. With a nationally set curriculum and high academic standards, France's school system offers traditional methods of learning.

Do French people say college or university?

The English word 'college' is université in French. It is a feminine noun. Une université means 'a university'. To say 'the university', the definite article is used.

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 are 3 facts about school in France?

Top 5 French school facts

Children start schools at the age of 6. The children do not wear school uniforms. The school week is 24 hours long, split into manageable chunks throughout the five days of the working week.

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.