What age is school mandatory in France?

In France, education is compulsory for all children from 3 to 16 years old. Parents must therefore guarantee their child's education whether by public or private school, or provide home schooling or education by correspondence.

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.

What school do 17 year olds go to in France?

The French education system

Students enter secondary school from the age of 11. From 11 to 14 they attend collège (class 6ème to 3ème), from 15 to 18 they attend lycée (class 2ème to terminale).

Is it legal to homeschool in France?

Children residing in France can homeschool, regardless of their nationality. On the other hand, a French child living abroad is not affected by this law. Education in the family can be done in a place other than the child's home. The instruction in the family must contain only children from one family.

Why is there no school on Wednesday in France?

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 Age Do You Start School In France?

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.

How long is a school day in France?

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.

Are French schools 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.

Does France have free collège?

Students who attend public universities usually pay a few hundred dollars per year, depending on the degree level and program of study. Over the years, France has modified its free tuition model, and some EU students pay tuition based on family income.

Is the French education system better than 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.

Do they wear school uniforms in France?

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.

What do the French call collège?

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.

Is it illegal to give homework in France?

The official rules state that a teacher can give out some reading or research of some kind, or give children some information to learn, however they are meant to avoid giving written tasks. This ban dates back 60 years, to a 1956 circular, which said 'no written homework … will be required of children outside class'.

Why is homeschooling illegal in France?

Since the law against Muslim separatism was passed in 2021, homeschooling has been banned in France. Faced with the government's almost systematic obstruction of parents who opt for homeschooling, the Liberté Éducation association has decided to plead the cause of educational freedom before the UN in Geneva.

Can you wear a hijab in school in France?

“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.”

Can you wear a cross in French schools?

This report inspired the law of March 15, 2004, which stipulates that "in public middle and highs schools, the wearing of symbols or clothes through which pupils clearly show a religious affiliation is prohibited." While the law primarily targets the headscarf, it also bans Jewish yarmulkes, large Catholic crosses and ...

Is WIFI banned in French schools?

Since 2015, France has banned WIFI in nurseries, schools, kindergartens and childcare centres across the nation that cater for children under the age of six. This is in a bid to reduce young children's exposure to electromagnetic wave radiation.

Can you smoke in school in France?

Smoking in enclosed public places such as offices, schools, government buildings and restaurants is strictly prohibited. Law officials may enforce the laws with minimum fines set at €500.

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).

Does France have Wednesday off?

Students in France traditionally have no school on Wednesdays, a vestige from the 19th century when students were expected to study catechism once a week, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Do French schools have lunch breaks?

In French schools, the lunch break typically lasts between 1 hour and 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How is French school different from American school?

In France, the student-teacher relationship is much more formal than in the United States. While many American teachers are involved with students through coaching a sport or leading an extracurricular activity, students only have contact with teachers during class in France.

How long are lunch breaks in France?

France has a much more leisurely approach to lunch breaks that the locals take very seriously. Instead of a meager hour or less, everyone, including school children, is allotted two full hours to eat and wind down with friends or family.