Schools in France: Expat Guide to Enrolment, Terms and Lessons

Schools in France are widely regarded for having high academic standards. Across the country, children from the age of three to sixteen are required to attend school, with many staying on until eighteen to achieve their French Baccalaureate (le bac).

In this guide, we explore how expat families can enrol their children in school, how lessons and terms work, and what international schools in France are like for foreign students.

The French education system, or système éducatif français, is broken into four parts:

Education is compulsory until age 16, but students must either continue with education or enter training until 18 years of age. Many choose to stay in the state education system until they are 18 to complete “le bac”, the French Baccalaureate.

The system has a strong reputation and is globally recognised, ranking 12^th in the WorldTop20 education rankings 2026. It is run centrally by the state, with the curriculum prescribed by the Ministry of Education. This means that the programmes stay broadly the same in state schools and state-contracted private schools.

In terms of exams, where we may have GCSEs and A-Levels in England, students in France sit the brevet when they finish collège and “le bac” when they end their time at the lycée. Those who pass “le bac” can then go on to higher education if they choose.

A school day in a French state school is generally longer than those found in UK schools, with a 4.30pm finish being typical. That said, lunch breaks are also considerably longer, meaning the overall time in the classroom is more or less the same. However, after-school homework clubs and other activities mean finish times can be later than they may be in UK schools.

For primary school children, the day normally begins at 8.30am; however, some schools may start a little earlier. Some schools may also offer a before-school childcare programme. Known as the “garderie”, this can be a welcome option for working expat parents who may have a commute that makes school runs a little bit rushed.

For older students, the start of the school day depends on the individual timetable, meaning it’s possible to have different start times throughout the week.

A school day in France normally runs from 8.30 am-4.30 pm, but secondary pupils may finish between 5 and 6 pm depending on their timetable.

Lunch breaks are long and break up the day considerably. Schools might allocate as much as two hours to lunch, serving the pupils a multi-course (often three-course) hot meal.

Cumulatively, the school day contributes to a 24-28-hour week, but as students get older, the hours increase. Those studying for “le bac”, for example, may be required to attend school for longer, with hours varying by subjects chosen. Lycée students preparing for Le Bac typically have around 28 hours of timetabled lessons a week, with homework on top, but this can be more depending on subjects taken.

Some students have even longer days. Supervised homework clubs and social groups are also available, meaning finish times can easily reach 6 or 7 pm.

In between lessons and lunch are two short breaks of around 15-30 minutes each.

Many nursery or primary schools are closed on Wednesdays. Some may open for morning learning, but this varies between communes, so check before you commit to a particular school. For those at collège or lycée, Wednesdays are often a half day, but as with early years education, this can also vary, so check first.

This can prove challenging for expat parents, especially those who work full-time; however, the local centre de loisirs can provide childcare for primary-age children.

The French school year runs from early September to early July; unlike in the UK, where holidays are widely the same, France is divided into three zones, A, B and C, with some school holidays staggered by zone. February and Spring breaks are staggered, but Toussaint (October break), Christmas and summer holidays fall at the same time across the country.

For expats, this is crucial as booking travel for family trips requires checking your zone’s holiday dates, as they may vary significantly from others.

Pupils get two weeks off in October, Christmas, February and Spring, as well as a four-day weekend in May. Summer holidays begin in early July, lasting for around 8 weeks. Bank Holidays give pupils extra days off too, but unlike in the UK, where they are normally the nearest Monday to a particular date, in France the holiday falls on the specific date itself.

The enrolment process for French schools varies by stage of education. Enrolling in primary school requires a visit to the local mairie, whereas enrolment for secondary education is conducted through the school, departmental education authority (DSDEN) and by catchment area.

To enrol your child in a French nursery or primary school as an expat, you’ll need to register at the local mairie. This will provide you with a certificate for the school in your area. For your registration to be accepted, you’ll need to bring the following documents for your child with you:

For a September start, mairies usually set a spring deadline. Families arriving mid-year can enrol on arrival.

For the next stage of education (ages 11-15), placements are handled directly by regional education authorities or departmental services (DSDEN) based on your address and school capacity. The requirements are similar to those used when applying for a primary school place, with a few small differences.

To enrol in collège, you’ll need:

Deadlines vary by area, so check with your DSDEN.

For many expat children, French may not be a first or second language; with lessons in state schools taught in French only, the language barrier soon becomes a challenge. CASNAV is a service of the French National Education System and supports students who do not speak French as a first language.

It is available in each academic region of France and helps ensure each student receives the right support for their level.

CASNAV assesses a child’s level in French, individual needs and current academic knowledge. This is done on arrival in France and allows children to take UPE2A classes. These classes:

Through supporting vocab, reading, writing and speaking, CASNAV enables non-French-speaking students to gain access to the same level of education as other children their age and integrate with classmates much more easily. It should be noted that places for a UPE2A class are often limited, so placement is not guaranteed.

France has a wide range of public and private schools; whilst standards are considered generally high across both sectors, they can vary between towns, cities and neighbourhoods.

Public schools in France are free for all children living in France, including expat children. State schools are secular by law, and unlike in the UK, most don’t require uniforms, although some schools have piloted them.

Teaching leans towards a teacher-led style, with maths, science, French, and history featuring prominently. Expectations run high both academically and in terms of discipline, which may surprise some expat families moving to France from countries where the classroom is more informal. Assessments are common too, and as children progress through the system, the intensity of homework and testing increases.

Lessons are taught in French, so newly arrived expat children may require UPE2A support as mentioned earlier.

Private schools in France are a mix of under contract (sous contrat) and independent (hors contrat). It’s important to understand the difference between the two before moving to France, as costs can vary significantly.

International schools in France are a popular choice for expat families. Lessons are taught in English or bilingually, and pupils can take exams recognised in their home country. These include IGCSE and the IB.

For expat families who may be in France for a short time, these schools are beneficial. Education can continue following the same curricula between countries. A child spending six months in France studying for their IGCSEs in an international school could move to an international school in Germany and may be able to continue with the same curriculum.

International schools offer an alternative curriculum, but fees are high. You can expect to pay typically €10,000 to more than €30,000 a year depending on the child’s grade.

Annual tuition fees for 2026/27 at ICS Paris are currently listed as follows:

In addition to the annual tuition fees, registration, application and development fund fees may also apply as part of your first-year costs. At ICS Paris, this would add a further €7,500 to your total bill, although the €3,000 registration fee does not apply for nursery children.

The International Schools Database for 2026 indicates there are 98 international schools in France, with more than half in Paris. These include the École Jeannine Manuel and Ermitage International School. Lyon has six international schools; another six are available in Aix-en-Provence & Marseille, while a further three are found in Bordeaux. The remainder are found in Nantes, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Pau, Lille, Grenoble, Flumet and the Côte d’Azur.

Yes, not every English-language education in France comes with the price tags of the international schools. For families willing to enrol their children in the state system, there are free routes that incorporate English into a French education.

Because lessons are still mostly in French, either of these options is best suited to a child who can already speak some French or is young enough to pick it up quickly. For many expat families, this is the perfect balance between standard state schooling and the fees of international schools.

Settling in also means sorting visas, work, housing, banking and healthcare. Our guide to health insurance in France explains how healthcare works for expats. Speak to our team today if you have any further questions.