Dream Properties Dordogne

It is advisable to register your children in the local schools. This helps in integration of not only the child but of the rest of the family in the local community. Schooling is obligatory in France from the age of 6 to 16, and is free of charge.
Kindergarten
Children can go to “l’école maternelle “(kindergarten) from the age of three onwards and sometimes even 2 depending on the number of places available. To register your child you need to contact your local town hall (marie)
Primary
Registration for a child at primary school for the first time in France is done directly through the school or the local town hall.

Secondary

For secondary school (11 years onwards) you contact either the school or the “Service de la Division des Elèves de l’Inspection Academique”. At this level your child will have to take a French test to check his or her level of understanding.
One important thing to think about when sending your child to school in France is insurance, which will be insisted upon in particular for extracurricular activities and school trips. For further information you can contact:

• The Head of the school
• An insurance company, normally the one with whom you have your house and contents policy will be able to include your school age children (and family pets) on the same policy for a small additional premium
• The Parent’s Association of the school
• The “Centre de Documentation et d’Information de l’Assurance (CIDA)

2 rue de la Chaussée d’Antin
75009 Paris
Tel: 01 42 46 13 13

For good information on the system of schooling in France you can consult the French Ministry of Education website: www.education.gouv.fr – “informations pratiques” – “inscriptions dans un établissement scolaire”.Here you will find information on the school calendar, how to register your child etc

Post 16 education
Living in France is a whole new experience and buying property and land in France is only the first step towards becoming part of the local culture and way of life. It is essential when considering to move abroad not only the interests of the parent but also of the child. France has one of the most efficient education systems in Europe with it's highly rated Baccalaureate. Coming from the UK or else where for that matter, this is an entirely unique and French system, in which the further education of the child must be comprehended at the earliest stage possible. Indeed the French schooling system subdivides into three main critical categories that will heavily define the career path of your child right from the class of Seconde (2nde) (Lycée entry level):

S - Scientifique (sciences)
The natural sciences stream requires a high level in mathematics, physics & chemistry, and biology.

ES - Sciences économiques et sociales (economics and social sciences)
The bac ES is balanced between literary and scientific courses of studies, and students must take an economics and social sciences exam.

L - Littéraire (literature)
The bac L weighs French literature, philosophy, history & geography, and foreign languages heavily.

The bac L offers several main options – one having to be chosen in the class of Première (1ère) – these options includes the study of Foreign Languages; Arts Plastiques (fine art + history of art); History of Art; Theatre and a huge part of philosophy, history and Geography in Terminal.

However interesting these subjects may be if your child wishes to become a physician, a doctor or wishes to work in almost any scientific domain, this is not the section for them to choose, since it will be impossible for them to be offered a place at a French University studying a scientific subject with a Bac Litéraire.
The French education system is still a very traditional and backwardly rigid system in which it is still impossible to mix scientific subjects with other more culturally orientated ones after the class of Seconde.

There are two different types of lycee, lycee professionelle and lycee general. The lycee general is generally for brighter students who study either a BAC S (scientifique) BAC ES (economique scientifique) or BAC L (Litteraire). There is much emphasis put on the BAC S, this BAC is needed to enter the top universities in France, the subjects studied are as the title would suggest geared towards science and maths. Even though students choose the individual BAC which will be either literature and languages or science and maths, all students still have to study a range of subjects, therefore those doing BAC L will still have lessons in maths and science and those doing BAC S or ES will still have a certain amount of literature/language courses. Obviously this is different to here in Britain because when you chose your A levels you can drop science and concentrate on more arty subjects.

The lycee professionelle is very similar to our FE colleges. The BAC professionelle can be in things like catering, accounting and the hotel industry. Students still study a range of different subjects, but the level of difficulty is much lower, and the end qualification is not as recognised in the world of work.

Grades
The French Discipline at Morris works regularly with the French grading scale of 0 - 20. After you’ve studied abroad and we receive your transcript, the French Discipline will convert your French grade to an American A-F grade using an international grade conversion chart. The grading scale in France is 0 - 20 with 20 as the highest grade. No one ever receives a 20. Grades above 16 are rare. The average grade is 10.

French Grade       UMM Equivalent
15-20                       A
14-14.99                 A-
12-13.99                 B+
11-11.99                 B
10-10.99                 B-
9-9.99                     C+
8-8.99                     C
7-7.99                     C-
6-6.99                     D+
5-5.99                     D
0-4.99                     F

Some distinctions (Mentions) are awarded to top students:

A list of some English speaking schools in British consular districts can be obtained from their web site (http://www.amb-grandebretagne.fr/).
The British council provides a list of English speaking schools in France