What is the school system like in France?

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.

What is school life like 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 is school in France different from America?

Unique Aspects of the French Education System

Emphasizing depth and rigor, students are often subject to high expectations and substantial academic pressure. Unlike the American system, there is less emphasis on extracurricular activities, with the French system centering more on academic achievement.

How many days a week is school in France?

Schools in France are working four, four and a half, or five days a week in different regions. There are some schools that close on Wednesday afternoons and may have lessons on Saturday for older pupils.

What are 3 facts about school in France?

School in France [Touch of France S1 documentary]

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 is unique about the French school system?

The French education system is divided into three stages: primary education (école), secondary education (collège and lycée), and higher education (université). One of the main attractions of the French system is its unique approach to education, which emphasises critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

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.

What age do kids start school in France?

Formal schooling in France starts as early as age three, when many children attend kindergarten (maternelle). Day care (pré-maternelle) is available from age two. While pré-maternelle and maternelle are not mandatory, all children must be enrolled in school by age six.

Do French kids go to school on Wednesday?

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.

Do French kids get homework?

Homework is officially banned in French primary schools, and has been since 1956. But many teachers ignore this and send children home with exercises to do. Older children often spend up to an hour each evening doing homework, and longer at the weekend or on Wednesdays when most schools close.

Do French kids have homework?

Secondary School (Collège) in the French system

Subjects are taught by specialist teachers, foreign languages are offered and daily homework becomes serious. In fact, it becomes so labour intensive that you sometimes don't see your child in the evenings.

Are French schools strict?

Schools in France are strict, and the teacher-student relationship can be very formal.

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 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.

Is education in France 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.

What grade is a 13 year old in France?

La quatrième (13 ans) = 8th grade (Year 9 UK). La troisième (14 ans) = 9th grade (Year 10 UK).

What is collège called 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.

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.

What subjects are taught in France?

The curriculum is organised by subject – French, mathematics, history and geography, civic education, life and earth sciences, technology, art, art history, musical education, physical education, physics and chemistry, and two modern languages or ancient languages constitute the bulk of the coursework.

What is high school called in France?

lycée (high school), which provides a three-year course of further secondary education for children between the ages of 15 and 18. Pupils are prepared for the baccalauréat (baccalaureate, colloquially known as le bac) or the CAP (Certificat d'aptitude professionnelle).

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).

Does France have a good school 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.