an overview…

The French education system

The French education system

Organization

Founding principles

Compulsory schooling : from 6 to 16

Free education

Secularity: religious, political and phisosophical neutrality

The role of the State Defining the syllabus at every school

level

Organizing exams, delivering certificates, diplomas and degrees

Recruiting, training, assigning, paying and managing the teaching and administrative staff

Sharing out responsibilities:building and maintenance

State

Region council

« Département » council (chief admisnistrative division)

Town council

UNIVERSITEUNIVERSITE

LYCEELYCEE

COLLEGECOLLEGE

ECOLEECOLE

The French education system

Structure

2 major divisions Primary school =

nursery school (2 to 5) +

« élémentaire » school (6 to 11)

Secondary school =

« collège » (11 to 15) +

« lycée » (15 to 18)

Primary school (after 6)

5 years → First year infant class (CP) → Primary class I (CE1) → Primary class II (CE2) → Intermediate class I (CM1) → Intermediate class II (CM2)

CP (cours préparatoire): beginning of compulsory schooling

Collège: secondary school between 11 and 15

4 years: - Sixth class - Fifth class - Fourth class - Third class

Brevet des collèges: general exam taken at the end of third class

16:end of compulsory schooling

General and technical high school (15 to 18) 3 years : - second class (determination year) - first class - final year 3 channels in first and final classes - sciences (S) - arts and humanities (L) - economics and social studies (ES) Technological subjects in many fields :

management, industrial, health… End of final year: Baccalauréat examination

qualifying for entry to university

Vocational and professional high school

2 training programmes2 years Vocational diploma (BEP) Vocational training certificate (CAP)

1 training programme4 years Baccalauréat professionnel : Professional

secondary-school-leaving certificate

The French education system

School year organization

Students’ timetable Primary school

Different systems according to the town 6 hours a day, 4 days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)

and holiday shortened or 4 days plus Saturday morning.

8.30-11.30 1.30-4.30 or 9.00-12.00 2.00-5.00

Secondary school

Between 28 and 35 hours per weekmaximum: 8 hours a day

8.00-5.30 or 8.30-6.00 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday a.m., Thursday, Friday Some classes on Wednesday afternoons or Saturday mornings

Teachers’ timetable Primary school teachers : 27 hours per week

Secondary school teachers (certifiés): 18 hours per week20 hours for the P.E. teachers

Successful candidates of advanced professional competitive examinations (agrégés): 15 hours per week

Number of students and employees

363 285 primary school teachers 6 626 500 pupils

520 736 secondary school teachers 3 248 500 collège students 1 512 900 lycée students 724 000 lycée professionnel students

Holidays Beginning of new school year:

beginning of September

Toussaint (all Saint’s day): 10 days (end of October, beginning of November)

Christmas: 2 weeks Winter: 2 weeks Spring: 2 weeks Summer: July and August

Principle : 7 weeks at school / 2 weeks on holiday

The French education system

Curriculums

Subjects French Mathematics History-geography Biology Physics chemistry Modern language 1 Physical education Fine arts (collège) Music (collège) Technology (collège) Civics (collège) Philosophy (final year)

Modern languages 2 / 3 Ancient languages Social sciences Economics Arts Data-processing Extra-curricular subjects

Diplomas and certificates

National examinations

Brevet des collèges Baccalauréat Baccalauréat professionnel CAP BEP

Road safety certificate

Data-processing and Internet certificate

The French education system

Administration

High school organization chart

Headmaster orPrincipal

Bursar Deputy

headmaster or principal

SecretariatNurse

Social worker

TeachersDocumentation and information

department

Careers officerPsychologist

School life:Education adviser

Supervisors

The French education system

Current issues

Debate topics Special help in education Prevention of illiteracy Equal opportunity for girls and boys Increasing the value of vocational teaching Providing education for sick and handicapped children Civic education Students’ health Information and communication technologies Education to the environment for a sustained

development The education system European openess

Projects 2007 Success for every student Setting up of a common base of knowledges and

competences Basic knowledge : reading, writing, grammar, mental

arithmetic Adapted syllabus of educative success Renovation project of the foreign language teaching Mastery of information and communication

technologies Equal opportunities : girls / boys, handicapped students Individualized course of study and a successful

integration into the job market

Updating 2007 adapted from an original slide show by Amélie Castets from the French Embassy

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