1. an overview… The French education system

2. Organization

3. Founding principles  Compulsory schooling : from 6 to 16  Free education  Secularity: religious, political and phisosophical neutrality

4. 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

5. Sharing out responsibilities: building and maintenance State Region council « Département » council (chief admisnistrative division) Town council UNIVERSITE LYCEE COLLEGE ECOLE

6. The French education system Structure

7. 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)

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Vocational and professional high school  2 training programmes 2 years Vocational diploma (BEP) Vocational training certificate (CAP)  1 training programme 4 years Baccalauréat professionnel : Professional secondary-school-leaving certificate

12. The French education system School year organization

13. 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 week maximum: 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

14. Teachers’ timetable  Primary school teachers : 27 hours per week  Secondary school teachers (certifiés): 18 hours per week 20 hours for the P.E. teachers  Successful candidates of advanced professional competitive examinations (agrégés): 15 hours per week

15. 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

16. 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

17. The French education system Curriculums

18. 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

19. Diplomas and certificates  National examinations Brevet des collèges Baccalauréat Baccalauréat professionnel CAP BEP  Road safety certificate  Data-processing and Internet certificate

20. The French education system Administration

21. High school organization chart Headmaster or Principal Bursar Deputy headmaster or principal Teachers Documentation and information department Careers officer Psychologist School life: Education adviser Supervisors SecretariatSocial worker Nurse

22. The French education system Current issues

23. 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

24. 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

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

26. Thank you for your attention