Schooling is compulsory for all children between the ages of 3 to 16 in France.
It is free in state schools and fee-paying in private schools.
The French educational system is divided into 4 levels.
Children’s Schooling
Nursery School (l’Ecole maternelle) teaches children from 3 to 6 years old.
It is divided into classes depending on the children’s age: “petite section”, “moyenne section” and “grande section”.
The main goal of nursery school is to develop children’s socialisation and stimulation through play.
Primary School (l’Ecole élémentaire) teaches children from the age of 6.
It is divided into classes depending on the children’s age and acquired skills: Cours Préparatoire (CP), Cours Elémentaire 1st year and 2nd year (CE1-CE2) and Cours Moyen 1st year and 2nd year (CM1-CM2).
In primary school, children learn to read, write and count.
Middle School (le Collège) teaches children who have been through primary school. This is the start of secondary-school education.
Middle School lasts for 4 years – from 6th year to 3rd year (in the order “sixième”, “cinquième”, “quatrième” and “troisième”).
At the end of middle school, students take their “Brevet” diploma.
Sixth Form (Le Lycée) teaches students who have passed their “Brevet de Collège”.
It is made up of the three final years of secondary education (classes are known as “seconde”, “première” and “terminale”).
REGISTRATION
To enrol your child in a state school, you need to go your local town hall with the following documents:
- Your child’s birth certificate translated into French by a sworn translator
- Your child’s vaccination record
- Proof of address dated less than 3 months
You should also bring, if applicable, your children’s educational records if they began their education in another country.
To enrol your child in a private school, you should contact the school of your choice directly.
In France, there are international sections in elementary school, middle school and sixth form.
The international sections aim to facilitate the integration of foreign students into the French system and to create, through their presence, a framework conducive to the learning of a living language at a high level by French students.
In Reims, there is an English-speaking international section which primarily welcomes English-speaking pupils arriving in the city.
Schooling takes place at the Ecole Adriatique from CE2 to CM2 then to College Robert Schuman and finally to the Lycée Marc Chagall.
In Châlons-en-Champagne, a German international section welcomes pupils to Jules Ferry primary school, Collège Perrot d'Ablancourt and Lycée Bayen (Abibac).
It is also possible to prepare the Abibac (French and German Baccalauréat) in Reims, at the Lycée Jean Jaurès.
You will find all the information concerning the calendar and the registration procedure on the website Académie de Reims.