The school system in France

Maternelle (three years: petite, moyenne and grande section) is free and compulsory from 3 years, developing language, movement and sociability.

• Élémentaire is five years teaching reading, writing and arithmetic.
• In collège four years with specialist teachers and a week of subjects, and at its end the Diplôme national du brevet (DNB) exam.
• Then the student chooses the track in lycée: général (theoretical and preparing for university) or technologique (technical) or professionnel (vocational preparing for work and possibly university) and it ends with the baccalauréat.
• The school week is four days or four and a half (Wednesday morning in some cities), with hours starting about half past eight and ending half past four, with a long lunch break.
• And the Éducation nationale sets the curriculum.
• And there are private schools sous contrat (under contract with the state) for fees, and religious ones (Catholic, Islamic and Jewish) and home education (instruction en famille) under conditions.

Enrolment in primary starts at the mairie: you present the family book or birth certificate, proof of address, the vaccination record (compulsory vaccinations) and the parents' residence card, and the mairie gives you a certificat d'inscription, a registration certificate according to the carte scolaire (the school assigned by your address), then you enrol your child at the school itself by presenting the certificate and meeting the headteacher (directeur).

• Admission is possible at any time of the year for arriving children even without complete documents, and admission may not be refused because of residence status.
• For middle and high school the child is enrolled via the academy (rectorat) and the Affelnet programme through his school and guidance files are processed.
• And French nationality is not required.
• If enrolment is refused contact the academy office (DSDEN) or the Défenseur des droits.
• And for university enrolment after the baccalauréat the Parcoursup platform.

For arriving children who do not speak French there are the UPE2A (Unités pédagogiques pour élèves allophones arrivants), reception classes teaching French as a second language (FLS) and integrating the child gradually into his ordinary class, under the supervision of the CASNAV.

• The child is assessed on arrival and placed in the class according to his age and abilities.
• Schools, municipalities and associations offer after-school support aide aux devoirs (homework help) free or at a token price, and leisure centres (centre de loisirs) on Wednesday and holiday days, and libraries (médiathèque) and activities.
• Encourage your child to read and speak with peers in French and to keep his mother tongue, since that strengthens his learning.
• And some documents are translated or interpreters provided for parents' meetings.
• And the Opération Ouvrir l'école aux parents pour la réussite des enfants (OEPRE) organises free French lessons for parents inside the school, so ask about it.

Pupils are assessed with a grading system out of 20 (10 to pass) in middle and high school, and with competence assessments in primary, and a bulletin (report card) is delivered three times a year (each term) with appréciations, remarks.

• The conseil de classe (class council) meets each term with parent representatives present.
• You communicate with teachers via the ENT (Espace numérique de travail) or Pronote or École Directe or the notebook (cahier de liaison), and you follow homework, absences and grades, and absences are justified with a certificate.
• You meet teachers in the réunion parents-professeurs and can request an appointment.
• Redoublement (repeating the year) is uncommon.
• And in high school subjects are chosen and files assessed, and the baccalauréat exams are held in spring and summer.
• And you can take part in parent associations (FCPE and PEEP) and be elected representatives.
• And for bullying call 3018 or 3020.

State schools are free, and families pay the canteen (cantine) at a price set according to the quotient familial (up to two or three euros) and after-school activities, trips and equipment.

• The state offers the allocation de rentrée scolaire (ARS), a back-to-school aid (about 400 euros per child) from the CAF for those with limited income, and bourses de collège and bourses de lycée according to income, and free textbooks in middle school.
• School transport is subsidised.
• And secularism (laïcité) is a basic principle in state schools: wearing visible religious symbols (such as the hijab, the abaya, a large cross and the kippah) is banned for pupils under the 2004 law and the 2023 abaya decision, and accompanying mothers in activities are allowed according to interpretation, and alternative or pork-free meals are sometimes provided.
• And for special needs AESH assistants and PPS and PAP individual plans via the MDPH.
• And for risks and difficulties contact the headteacher or the Défenseur des droits (09 69 39 00 00).

From what age is school compulsory?