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In
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
, secondary education is in two stages:
* ''Collèges'' () cater for the first four years of
secondary education
Secondary education or post-primary education covers two phases on the International Standard Classification of Education scale. Level 2 or lower secondary education (less commonly junior secondary education) is considered the second and final pha ...
from the ages of 11 to 15.
* ''Lycées'' () provide a three-year course of further secondary education for children between the ages of 15 and 18. Pupils are prepared for the ''
baccalauréat
The ''baccalauréat'' (; ), often known in France colloquially as the ''bac'', is a French national academic qualification that students can obtain at the completion of their secondary education (at the end of the ''lycée'') by meeting certain ...
'' (; baccalaureate, colloquially known as ''bac'', previously ''bachot''), which can lead to higher education studies or directly to professional life. There are three main types of ''baccalauréat'': the ''baccalauréat général'', ''baccalauréat technologique'' and ''baccalauréat professionnel''.
School year
The school year starts in early September and ends in early July. Metropolitan
French school holidays are scheduled by the
Ministry of Education by dividing the country into three zones (A, B, and C) to prevent overcrowding by family holidaymakers of
tourist
Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism mo ...
destinations, such as the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...
coast and ski resorts.
Lyon
Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of t ...
, for example, is in zone A,
Marseille
Marseille ( , , ; also spelled in English as Marseilles; oc, Marselha ) is the prefecture of the French department of Bouches-du-Rhône and capital of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Situated in the camargue region of southern Franc ...
is in zone B and
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
and
Bordeaux
Bordeaux ( , ; Gascon oc, Bordèu ; eu, Bordele; it, Bordò; es, Burdeos) is a port city on the river Garonne in the Gironde department, Southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefectur ...
are in zone C.
In contrast to the practice in most other education systems, the school years in France are numbered on a decreasing scale. Thus, pupils begin their secondary education in the ''sixième'' (6th class) and transfer to a ''lycée'' in the ''seconde'' (2nd class). The final year is the ''terminale''.
In French, the word ''étudiant(e)'' is usually reserved for
university
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
-level students, and ''collège'' and ''lycée'' students are referred to as ''élèves'' (''pupils'' or ''students'' in English).
The curriculum (''programme officiel'') is standardized for all French public institutions. Changes to the programme are made every year by the French Ministry of Education and are published in the Ministry's ''Bulletin officiel de l'Éducation nationale'' (''BO''), the official reference bulletin for educators.
Collège
The collège is the first level of
secondary education
Secondary education or post-primary education covers two phases on the International Standard Classification of Education scale. Level 2 or lower secondary education (less commonly junior secondary education) is considered the second and final pha ...
in the
French educational system. A pupil attending ''collège'' is called ''collégien'' (boy) or ''collégienne'' (girl). Men and women teachers at the ''collège''- and ''lycée''-level are called ''professeur'' (no official feminine professional form exists in
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...
although the feminine form "professeure" has appeared and seems to be gaining some ground in usage). The City of Paris refers to a collège in English as a "
high school
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
".
[Children & families]
."
Archive
City of Paris. Retrieved on 20 July 2010.
Entry in ''sixième'' occurs directly after the last year of
primary school
A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary e ...
, called ''Cours moyen deuxième année'' (CM2). There is no entrance
examination into ''collège'', but administrators have established a comprehensive academic examination of students starting in ''sixième''. The purpose of the examination is evaluating pupils' level on being graduated from primary school.
Curriculum
The table at the right details the French curriculum. Along with 3-4 weekly hours of
physical education
Physical education, often abbreviated to Phys Ed. or P.E., is a subject taught in schools around the world. It is usually taught during primary and secondary education, and encourages psychomotor learning by using a play and movement explorati ...
, a typical school week consists of some 26 hours of schooling.
French language
French ( or ) is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Nor ...
and
literature
Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include ...
occupy the most time, 4-5 hours per week, followed by 4 hours per week of
mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
; other subjects occupy 1-3.5 hours per week.
The curriculum is devised by the
French Ministry of National Education
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...
and applies to all ''collèges'' in France and also for
AEFE-dependent institutions. ''Académies'' and individual schools have little margin for curriculum customisation. Teachers compose
syllabi per precise government educational regulations and choose
textbook
A textbook is a book containing a comprehensive compilation of content in a branch of study with the intention of explaining it. Textbooks are produced to meet the needs of educators, usually at educational institutions. Schoolbooks are textboo ...
s accordingly, and every major French publishing house has a textbook branch.
Process and purpose
Usually a different ''professeur'' or teacher teaches each subject; most teachers teach several different age groups. ''Collège'' pupils stay in the same class throughout the school year and in every subject (except for optional courses such as foreign languages, where students from several classes mix), so each year-group is divided into as many classes as necessary. The strong belief in teaching in mixed-ability classes means that
streaming occurs only rarely.
Class sizes vary from school to school, but usually range from 20 to 35 pupils. Each class has a ''professeur principal'' (main teacher or class tutor) who acts as the link between the teaching staff, administration and pupils.
Ultimately, the ''collège'' has the task of preparing students for the advanced subjects of the ''lycée''. At the end of the ''troisième'' class, students sit for
''le diplôme national du brevet'', an end-of-''collège''
examination. The ''brevet'' is not required for entrance to the ''lycée'', and passing it does not guarantee that a pupil will progress to the higher-level school.
During the last ''conseil de classe'' of the year, held in June, teachers and administrators decide whether or not a pupil can progress to the next grade. In deciding, they evaluate the student's
skills, participation, and
behaviour
Behavior (American English) or behaviour (British English) is the range of actions and mannerisms made by individuals, organisms, systems or artificial entities in some environment. These systems can include other systems or organisms as wel ...
. One of three outcomes is possible:
# The student progresses to the next grade.
# His or her ''redoublement'' (repeating the year) can be required.
# He or she can, in specific cases, be offered to skip a grade and be promoted two grades.
A student asked to repeat a grade can
appeal
In law, an appeal is the process in which cases are reviewed by a higher authority, where parties request a formal change to an official decision. Appeals function both as a process for error correction as well as a process of clarifying and ...
said decision. The decision of the appeals council is final.
Lycée
The ''lycée'' () is the second and last stage of
secondary education
Secondary education or post-primary education covers two phases on the International Standard Classification of Education scale. Level 2 or lower secondary education (less commonly junior secondary education) is considered the second and final pha ...
in the
French educational system. The City of Paris refers to a lycée in English as a "
sixth form college
A sixth form college is an educational institution, where students aged 16 to 19 typically study for advanced school-level qualifications, such as A Levels, Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) and the International Baccalaureate Di ...
".
A pupil attending a lycée is a ''lycéen'' (masculine) or a ''lycéenne'' (feminine).
Until 1959, the term lycée designated a secondary school with a full curriculum (7 years, the present college + lycée) directly under the supervision of the State, then from 1959 to 1963 any secondary school with a full curriculum. Older lycées still include a ''collège'' section, so a pupil attending a lycée may actually be a ''collégien''.
At the end of the final year of schooling, most students take the
baccalauréat
The ''baccalauréat'' (; ), often known in France colloquially as the ''bac'', is a French national academic qualification that students can obtain at the completion of their secondary education (at the end of the ''lycée'') by meeting certain ...
diploma. There are three main types of ''baccalauréat'', which are completely different from each other: the ''baccalauréat général'' (general baccalaureate), the ''baccalauréat technologique'' (technological baccalaureate), and the ''baccalauréat professionnel'' (professional baccalaureate).
''Lycées'' are divided into (i) the ''lycée général'', leading to two or more years of post–baccalauréat studies, (ii) the ''lycée technologique'', leading to short-term studies, and (iii) the ''lycée professionnel'', a vocational qualification leading directly to a particular career. General and technological education courses are provided in "standard" ''lycées'', while vocational courses are provided in separate professional ''lycées''.
In practice, competent pupils at a vocational ''lycée professionnel'' can also apply to take short-term, post–baccalauréat studies leading to the ''Brevet de technicien supérieur'' (BTS), a vocational qualification. That option is available also to pupils at a ''lycée général''.
Lycée général and lycée technologique
General streams (''baccalauréat général'')
In France, the ''lycée général'' is the usual stepping stone to
university
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
degrees.
Before 2021, the students of the general baccalaureate choose one of three streams (termed ''séries'') in the penultimate ''
lycée
In France, secondary education is in two stages:
* ''Collèges'' () cater for the first four years of secondary education from the ages of 11 to 15.
* ''Lycées'' () provide a three-year course of further secondary education for children between ...
'' year (S for Sciences; ES for Economics and Social sciences; and L for Literature). During the ''seconde'', students mostly take the same courses, despite having different academic skills and interests, so it is usually thought to be an easier year than either the ''première'' or the ''terminale''.
The ''baccalauréat général'' examination is different for all three ''séries'', and subjects are weighted according to the course taken.
According to the official statistics, for the 2003–2004 school year, 33 percent of all students chose ''série S''; 19 percent chose ''série ES''; and 11 percent chose ''série L''.
[ tp://trf.education.gouv.fr/pub/edutel/dpd/rers2004/chap4_12.pdf official statistics/ref>
All students take ]philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
courses in ''terminale'', while French language
French ( or ) is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Nor ...
classes end in the ''première'', excepting the ''série L'', where they become French literature classes, where pupils are to study two books during the year, from French writers, or foreign books translated into French (e.g. ''Romeo and Juliet
''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...
'' during the school year 2007–2008, or '' The Leopard'' from Italian author Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa).
There also is a required option for further specialisation in all ''séries'', although it is restricted to the chosen course. For example, a student in ''série S'' can choose to specialise in mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
, physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
, " ''SVT'' (biology
Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary i ...
and geology
Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ear ...
) or "engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...
sciences" but not in philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
.
A student in ''série L'' can choose to specialise in one of his or her foreign languages (English being the most popular), a third foreign language or a dead language such as Latin, or one of the following arts: music, theatre, circus, "plastiques". Specialisation adds a separate, weekly two-hour class in the chosen discipline; also, it increases the weight of the chosen subject at the ''baccalauréat''. The syllabus in the specialisation class is unrelated to the material learned in the common class. Specialisation plays no role in the choice of a post–secondary career or subject at university
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...
, except for a few courses aimed for students from a given ''série'' that can also accept students from other ''séries'' if they have taken a given specialisation.
Starting from the 2020-21 academic year, the S, ES and L streams of the general baccalaureate are deleted. Students of the general baccalaureate now choose three specialty courses, then keep two in the final year. There are 12 specialties (that vary in their availability depending on the school): arts, ecology
Ecology () is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level. Ecology overlaps wi ...
, history
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...
& geography
Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
, humanities
Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, the term contrasted with divinity and referred to what is now called classics, the main area of secular study in universities at the t ...
, languages
Language is a structured system of communication. The structure of a language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary. Languages are the primary means by which humans communicate, and may be conveyed through a variety of met ...
, literature
Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include ...
, mathematics
Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...
, computer science
Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to Applied science, practical discipli ...
, physics
Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...
& chemistry
Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...
, economic
An economy is an area of the Production (economics), production, Distribution (economics), distribution and trade, as well as Consumption (economics), consumption of Goods (economics), goods and Service (economics), services. In general, it is ...
and social sciences
Social science is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of societies and the relationships among individuals within those societies. The term was formerly used to refer to the field of sociology, the original "science of soci ...
, engineering sciences
Engineering physics, or engineering science, refers to the study of the combined disciplines of physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, and engineering, particularly computer, nuclear, electrical, electronic, aerospace, materials or mechanical en ...
, biology
Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary i ...
& geology
Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ear ...
. These specialties are added to a part common to all : French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
, philosophy
Philosophy (from , ) is the systematized study of general and fundamental questions, such as those about existence, reason, knowledge, values, mind, and language. Such questions are often posed as problems to be studied or resolved. Some ...
, history
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the History of writing#Inventions of writing, invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbr ...
& geography
Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, and ...
, languages
Language is a structured system of communication. The structure of a language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary. Languages are the primary means by which humans communicate, and may be conveyed through a variety of met ...
, sciences
Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.
Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...
, sport
Sport pertains to any form of Competition, competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and Skill, skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to specta ...
. A large part of the examinations are now done over the school year but the students also have final exams in their 2 specialties as well as in philosophy, added to a general oral examination.
Technical streams (''baccalauréat technologique'')
After the ''seconde'', students can also go on the ''lycée technologique'' to obtain the ''baccalaureat technologique.'' It includes eight other streams, called ''séries technologiques'':
* ''sciences et technologies de la gestion'' (Management Sciences and Technologies, ''STG'') (replaced ''sciences et technologies tertiaires'' (Service Sciences and Technologies, ''STT'') for the June 2007 Bac Exam)
* ''sciences et technologies de l'industrie et du développement durable'' (Industrial Science and Technologies and sustainable development, ''STI2D'')
* ''sciences et technologies de laboratoire'' (Laboratory Science and Technologies, ''STL'')
* ''sciences médico-sociales'' (Health and Social Sciences, ''SMS''): The name was changed in 2007 and became: ''Sciences et technologies de la santé et du social'' (Sciences and Technologies in Health and Social, ''ST2S'')
* ''sciences et technologies du produit agroalimentaire'' (Food Science and Technologies, ''STPA'')
* ''sciences et technologies de l'agronomie et de l'environnement'' (Agronomy and Environment Science and Technologies, ''STAE'')
* ''techniques de la musique et de la danse'' (Music and Dance Techniques, ''TMD'')
* ''hôtellerie'' (Hotel and restaurants management)
The STPA and STAE stream are available only in ''lycées agricoles'', speciality schools for agricultural sciences
Agricultural science (or agriscience for short) is a broad multidisciplinary field of biology that encompasses the parts of exact, natural, economic and social sciences that are used in the practice and understanding of agriculture. Profession ...
.
The teaching of the lessons is based on inductive reasoning and experimentation. It allows you to work or to pursue short and technical studies (laboratory, design and applied arts, hotel and restaurant, management etc.).
Lycée professionnel
The ''lycée professionnel'' leads to the ''baccalauréat professionnel''. The courses are designed for students who do not plan to continue into higher education. The vocational training is for craftspeople and involves internships in commercial enterprises. The courses are suitable for students who are more interested in a hands-on educational approach than in academic schooling. There are nearly 100 specialties, including: Leather crafts; Building technician; Maintenance of industrial equipment; Cooking; Road freight transport driver; Butcher, etc.
Carte scolaire
French parents are not free to choose the state school that their children will attend; unless the children have special learning needs, they will attend the school allocated to them by the ''carte scolaire'' (school map). Reasons for attending a state school that is not their nearest include studying an option unavailable in the school to which they were originally assigned (e.g. a rare foreign language).
For many reasons, many parents consider the allocated school standards inadequate, the teaching poor, and particularly if they do not like the idea of their children mixing with some of the other pupils at the school. In any city, there are "better" lycées and collèges, which parents would prefer their children attend. The two main methods used in such circumstances to get children into a school other than their assigned school are:
If parents would prefer their children attend a better lycée or collège, such as one in the city center, the main methods used in such circumstances are:
* paying for private schooling;
* having the child choose an unusual option (e.g. Ancient Greek or Latin) available only in the preferred school.
A similar trick is used if some classes in a school are seen as "better" than others. For organisational reasons, students taking certain options are grouped into special classes, which may be academically attractive. They typically include classes taking German as a first foreign language, or Latin or Ancient Greek as options.
Outside France
See also
* Baccalauréat
The ''baccalauréat'' (; ), often known in France colloquially as the ''bac'', is a French national academic qualification that students can obtain at the completion of their secondary education (at the end of the ''lycée'') by meeting certain ...
* Grandes écoles Grandes may refer to:
* Agustín Muñoz Grandes, Spanish general and politician
*Banksia ser. Grandes, a series of plant species native to Australia
* Grandes y San Martín, a municipality located in the province of Ávila, Castile and León, Spain ...
* Education in France
* Agency for French Education Abroad
The Agency for French Education Abroad, or Agency for French Teaching Abroad, (french: Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger; abbreviation: AEFE), is a national public agency under the administration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ...
References
External links
French Ministry of Education (in French)
''Centre national de documentation pédagogique'' website (in French)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Secondary Education In France
Education in France
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...