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General overview of the french education system, the stages of the french education system, useful links, follow enic-naric france on social networks.

In France, education is mandatory and free from 3 to 16 years old. Access to higher education is dependent on achieving the baccalaureate national diploma.

The French education system is characterised by a strong State presence in the organisation and funding of education. On a national level, it is governed by the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation in a general framework set by the legislator, which, according to the Constitution, “lays down the basic principles of education” ( article 34 of the Constitution of 4 October 1958 ). 

The official language in education is French. State education is free and secular. According to the French Education Code , education is mandatory for every child between the ages of 3 and 16 years.

Preschool education is provided in nurseries (pupils aged 3 to 6 years)

Attended by almost all children from the age of 3, preschools and primary schools comprise “primary” education. It falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of National Education.

Primary education is provided in primary schools (pupils aged 6 to 11 years)

Primary education lasts five years. At the end of primary education, pupils automatically progress to the next level of education (collège = lower secondary school).

Lower secondary education is provided in collèges (pupils aged 11 to 15 years)

Attending collège is mandatory for all pupils. At the end of this stage (classe de 3e = year 9), pupils are presented with the Diplôme national du brevet (DNB), which is an exam that does not influence admission to higher secondary education. Depending on the pupil’s academic record and future plans, they may be directed to a year 10 class (classe de 2e) in a general and technological or vocational lycée (upper secondary school) or the first year of the CAP vocational qualification.

Upper secondary education is provided in general and technological or vocational lycées (pupils aged 15 to 18 years)

This stage takes three years and includes three academic tracks: the general (which prepares pupils for a longer career in higher education), the technological (which prepares pupils for a shorter career in higher education with a technological focus) and the vocational (which mainly leads to employment, but also optionally to higher education).

Completion of upper secondary education is recognised with obtaining the national diploma: the baccalaureate. This provides access to higher education and constitutes  the first university grade .

Higher education

In France, higher education is taught in institutes governed by a number of legal statutes, which are listed in  the French Education Code . Consult the dedicated webpage for more information on higher education in France.

Study in France

Understanding the french education system.

The French education system consists of three stages: primary education, secondary education, and higher education.

Most French elementary and secondary schools, as well as a large number of universities, are public institutions that have highly centralized administrations. The curricula at primary and secondary schools are standardized across all schools for a given grade.

Formal schooling in France starts as early as age three, when many children attend kindergarten ( maternelle ). Day care ( pré-maternelle ) is available from age two.

While  pré-maternelle  and  maternelle  are not mandatory, all children must be enrolled in school by age six.

Primary school consists of five years of study, from approximately age six to age eleven (similar to a US elementary school).

After primary school, students move to the secondary level, which is divided into two stages.

The first stage, the  collège , is composed of four years of study, for students ages eleven through fifteen (similar to a US middle school). Students receive a  brevet des collèges  upon its completion.

After the  collège  students attend the  lycée  (high school) for the final three years of secondary education. Students then take an examination to receive the  baccalauréat  ( bac ) qualification. The  baccalauréat  is equivalent to the US high school diploma, but differs in that it requires preparatory study.

After the  lycée , students choose to pursue either a vocational diploma or an academic diploma.

Vocational diplomas:

The DUT ( diplôme universitaire de technologie ) and BTS ( brevet de technicien supérieur ) are two-year technology-oriented degrees. BTS courses are offered by high schools, whereas DUT are awarded by universities. A DUT or BTS may be followed by one additional qualifying year of study, leading to a  licence professionnelle .

Academic diplomas:

There are three types of higher education institutions in France: universities , Grandes écoles , and specialized schools .

Universities  are public institutions that offer academic, technical, and professional degrees to any student who has obtained a  baccalauréat  or its foreign equivalent. University study leads to degrees in many fields. Degrees are awarded at three different levels of achievement, called  cycles , within a framework referred to as  licence ,  master ,  doctorat  (LMD), which is described in the following section.

The Grandes écoles  are selective public and private institutions. They are similar to universities, but typically offer a more specialized three-year course of study, in subjects such as business, public administration, or engineering. Students are admitted to the G randes écoles  based on their scores on a competitive exam. Before taking this exam, students must have obtained a  baccalauréat,  and they often have taken a two-year preparatory course ( cours préparatoires  or  prépas ). Students graduate from a G rande école  with a master's degree ( master ).

Specialized schools  are public or private institutions that train students for professional careers in specific fields, such as art, architecture, social work, or tourism. They offer  licence  and  master  degrees.

The  licence , a three-year course of study, is an undergraduate degree equivalent to a bachelor's degree in the English-speaking world.

After the  licence , students can complete a  master , a two-year course of study equivalent to a master's degree. The  master  can be a professional degree ( master professionnel ), e.g. law, business, or engineering, or it can be a research degree ( master recherche ), leading towards doctoral work.

Students holding a  master recherche  may complete an additional three years' coursework to qualify for a  doctorat   (doctoral-degree equivalent). The  doctorat  is obligatory for medical doctors, who receive a state diploma in medicine ( diplôme d'Etat de docteur en médecine ).

Source:  CampusFrance

The LMD framework is the result of the Bologna Process to harmonize university qualifications in Europe.

While the previous system no longer exists, you may hear people refer to their degrees using the old terminology. Prior to the reform, the first two years of what is now the  licence  were referred to as the DEUG ( diplôme d’études universitaires générales ). The third year of today’s  licence  was referred to as the  licence , and the fourth year as the  maîtrise . Today’s  master recherche  was a year-long degree called a DEA ( diplôme d’études approfondies ) and the  master professionnel  a DESS ( diplôme d’études spécialisées ).

You may also hear students refer to their academic credentials in terms of how many years of study they have completed since the  baccalauréat . For example, a master’s degree is a  “bac plus cinq”  (Bac+5). 

There is no standard or official equivalency between French and American degrees. The following infomation is provided as a guideline:

An American  high school diploma sometimes qualifies the student to enter an institution of higher education in France. The institution will rate its equivalency on a case-by-case basis.

An American associate degree  often qualifies the student to enter during the first or second year at a French institution. The institution will rate its equivalency on a case-by-case basis.

An American  bachelor's degree may be rated as equivalent to a licence . Certain institutions consider it equivalent to two or three years' study towards a DUT , BTS , or  licence . This may, in turn, qualify the student for application to a master's degree program in a French institution. The institution will rate its equivalency on a case-by-case basis.

An American  master’s degree qualifies the student to begin a second master's degree program in Europe or a doctoral degree program. The institution will rate its equivalency on a case-by-case basis.

An American doctoral degree (PhD) is considered equivalent to a French doctorat . The degree qualifies the researcher to begin a post-doctoral program or to teach in French instituions of higher education.

The  Ministry of Education  and the  Ministry of Higher Education and Research  are responsible for determining the equivalency status of foreign applicants to public institutions. To receive an attestation de niveau d'études , you may contact  ENIC-NARIC  if you live outside France, or you may contact your local  rectorat  if you live in France. Identify your rectorat , then consult its website to find the  DARIC  ( Délégation académique aux Relations internationales et à la Coopération . 

American degree equivalences may also be determined by the Franco-American Fulbright Commission, for a small fee (+33 1 44 14 53 60, [email protected] ). To obtain the document, you must submit a copy of your diploma, along with your transcripts and a full description of all your courses and the grades you received. All of these documents must be translated into French by a certified translator. When you apply to a French institution, you must include this  attestation  as part of your dossier.

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French Education System

Each country’s education system differs from the other, since there are many aspects to look at. The French education system is particularly known for being complicated when it comes to different categories and types of diplomas and tests. The French schools are known for being strictly educational. Meaning they don’t have much extracurricular activities at least related to the school (they don’t have much funding due to the low or no costs of tuition), no school dances or major events, no posters like you see in other schools in Europe. It is very common in France to repeat a school year if the students do not achieve the average grades they need to pass the classes.

The French education system consists of three stages: primary education, secondary education, and higher education.

Primary education

While day care and kindergarten are not mandatory, from the age of 6 all children must enrol in school. Primary school consists of five years of study, from the age 6-11 (similar to a US elementary school).

Secondary education

After primary school, students move to secondary school, which is divided into two stages:

• The collège (middle school), is composed of four years of study, for students ages eleven through fifteen. Students receive a “ brevet des collèges” upon its completion.
• The lycée (high school) for the final three years of secondary education. Students then take an examination to receive the baccalauréat ( bac ) qualification (high school diploma).

Higher education

After high school, students choose either a vocational diploma or an academic diploma.

Vocational diplomas:

The DUT ( diplôme universitaire de technologie ) and BTS ( brevet de technicien supérieur ) are two-year technology-oriented degrees. BTS courses are offered by high schools, whereas DUT are awarded by universities. A DUT or BTS may be followed by one additional qualifying year of study, leading to a “ licence professionnelle” .

Academic diplomas:

There are three types of higher education institutions in France: universities, G randes écoles , and specialized schools.

Universities

Universities are  public institutions that offer academic, technical, and professional degrees to any student who has obtained a “ baccalauréat “ or its foreign equivalent. University study leads to degrees in many fields. Degrees are three different levels of achievement

Grandes écoles

“Grandes écoles” are selective public and private institutions. They are similar to universities, but typically offer a more specialized three-year course of study, in subjects such as engineering, business, or public administration. Students are admitted to the G randes écoles based on their scores on a competitive exam. Before taking this exam, students must have obtained a “ baccalauréat”, and they often have taken a two-year preparatory course ( cours préparatoires or prépas ). Students graduate from a G rande école with a master’s degree ( master ).

Specialized schools

Specialized schools are public or private institutions that train students for professional careers in specific fields, such as art, architecture, social work, or tourism. They offer licence and master degrees.

The LMD Framework

The LDM framework stands for license, master, doctorate:

• The licence (bachelor). This is a three-year course of study, is an undergraduate degree equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in the English-speaking world.
• The master. This is a two-year course of study equivalent to a master’s degree. The master can be a professional degree (master professionnel), e.g. law, business, or engineering, or it can be a research degree (master recherche), leading towards doctoral work.
• The doctorate. Students holding a master’s degree can complete an additional three years’ coursework to qualify for a doctorate (doctoral-degree equivalent). The doctorate is obligatory for medical doctors, who receive a state diploma in medicine.

Criteria to enrol in a French University

If you want to enroll in a French university, you will typically need the following documents:

• ID photo or driver’s license
• High school transcripts (or relevant equivalent)
• Copy of passport
• A passport sized photo
• Proof that you can support yourself financially
• Copy of birth certificate
• Certified translation of the birthplace of your parents
• Essay (if asked)
• English proficiency results (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo etc.)
• Application fee (if asked)
• Any other required document depending on the University

French tuition fees

The tuition fees differ depending on the University. On average, here’s how much you might have to pay for tuition in a French University based on your degree.

• Bachelor’s degree: 2,770 euros per year
• Master’s degree: 3,770 euros per year
• PhD’s degree: 2,770 380 per year

For more information on tuition cost in French Universities and how you can get funding, you can read our other article (article here).

Main Differences Between the French and US Education System

The French and U.S. education systems – while both are good in their own rights – have many differences, including schedules, after-school activities, grading systems, and even the student-teacher relationship.

School schedule

French schedule is much longer than the US one. They usually start at 8AM and end around 5 or 6PM. Wednesdays end at noon but they have Saturday morning classes. While in the US, a typical school day starts at 7:30AM and ends at about 3PM.

After-school activities

The length of the hours in the French schools is one of the reasons why they don’t have many school clubs like in the US. They might have main ones like “chess, science” but not creative outstanding ones like you see in the US schools. They only have 2 hours of mandatory “physical education” per week. Whereas in the US they have clubs varying from theatre to sports and academics and any creative club you can think of that students might want to participate in.

The French system uses numbers from 0-20 to grade their students whereas in the US letters from A to F are used. Aside from the letters/numbers differences, another thing is that the French are not as “lenient” on the grades as the US system is. For example in the US we often see “A+” used or encouraging words to let the students know they have done a very good job. Well in the French grading system getting an A is near to impossible. If you get a 16 mark that’s as good as it’s gonna get. Also as mentioned before, in the US it’s considered a big deal if you have to repeat a whole school year but in the French system it’s actually really common. Read more about the French grading system .

Teacher-student relationship

Having a friendship with a teacher in France is a big no. In the US, students are used to stopping by a teacher’s office asking them a question about the lesson or have the teachers involved in school clubs and collaborate together on different projects, but in France it’s strictly academic. Teachers in France do not prefer at all to “stop by” for questions in fact, they don’t have office hours like the US teachers do. They just come in to teach the lesson and leave. They do have a place where the teachers gather but students aren’t allowed there.

French Schools in English

Studying in English in France is what some international students do if they don’t know how to speak French yet, but they want to enjoy all French things. There are many programmes to choose from in different courses, some of which are the top programmes in Europe and even the world. France is also an international student’s go-to because of the low tuition costs compared to the US or other major countries. And, of course, the chance to be around high academics, enjoy the French culture, and maybe even learn to speak French fluently. To find out more about which programmes international students pick most and what they have to offer, read our article on this topic.

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EDUCATION SYSTEM IN FRANCE

France offers public and private schools at all levels. Educational standards are generally high. The rigorous curriculum is dictated by the Ministry of Education and is practically the same across the country and in the French territories. Teachers are considered public workers and the teachers' unions are very powerful officials. Teacher strikes are frequent and often they are cited as the main reason for French families opt for private schools, which are overwhelmingly Catholic. The education system in France emphasizes the teacher's authority, the individual competition, including an absolute rating system, with stress on analytical thinking and rote learning as opposed to creativity.

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French students still affected by social inequality despite egalitarian 'façade'

France is still one of the countries where student performance is most affected by their economic and social background, the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) found in its survey published on Tuesday. It confirms an old tendency: although France's public school system is feted abroad, it does very little to solve social inequalities at home.

Issued on: 03/12/2019 - 20:31

Since the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) started its scholastic study – the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) - in 2000, France has always been a poor student when it comes to tackling inequality in school .

And this year's PISA survey , published Tuesday, is no different: according to the OECD, French student performance is still more affected by their social and economic situation than most of their foreign counterparts.

The survey, based on two-hour tests taken by 600,000 15-year-old students, also revealed that teenagers from four large Chinese regions (Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang) for the first time outperformed their contemporaries in Western nations and shared the top rankings with Singapore in reading, mathematics and science.

According to this study which is published every three years, the performance of 15-year-old French students is very slightly superior to the average of other developed countries, figuring on the same level as Germans, Belgians, British and Portuguese.

But French "underprivileged students are overrepresented when it comes to pupils in difficulty", OECD analyst Pauline Givord told AFP. Around 20 percent of privileged students are among the best performing in reading. A figure that drops to 2.4 percent among underprivileged ones.

"France is one of the countries where the students' social background most determines their performance, and we are talking about 15-year-olds," Julien Grenet, an economics of education professor and researcher at the Paris School of Economics , a research and higher education public institution, told FRANCE 24.

Record number in private schools

This reality contrasts sharply with France's proud image of its free public education system . "There is a façade where the French system fights inequalities, because all schools are supposed to be organised in the same way.

"But this façade does not really hide inequalities between institutions: you can have two secondary schools, which are organized in the very same way, but that in fact have students from completely different social backgrounds. And who will perform completely differently," Grenet said.

"This inequality is most striking during high school," which includes students aged 11 to 15, Grenet said. "Parents consider this a key moment that can determine if their child manages to get into a prestigious secondary school and renowned university afterwards, and so on. So they build strategies and dig deep into their pockets. In Paris, around 35 percent of teenagers attend private schools, which is a record for a capital city."

'Very little has been done'

According to the OECD, socio-economic inequalities in France have not worsened over the past 10 years. "But their level is still worrying," OECD analyst Eric Charbonnier told AFP. "The government must make this battle a priority."

"Very little has actually been done," Grenet said. Since 2012, French governments have tried to solve the issue: Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer  has decided to double the number of CP and CE1 classes (5 to 7-year-olds) in certain neighbourhoods, lowering the students-per-teacher ratio.

"This is positive, but it will take years until we see its results. And nothing has been done at the high school level: on the contrary, this government has not maintained the precedent government's efforts to tackle inequality," he said.

'French teachers rarely encourage'

"There should also be more resources , so those who teach in poor neighbourhoods are better prepared, instead of being newcomers, as is the case nowadays," Grenet suggested. "Especially when we know that a bad teacher can worsen student inequalities when they aren't properly prepared to fight it."

Some say that the French schooling problem resides elsewhere. "The lack of support, of self-confidence and anxiety have always been responsible for France's bad grades," Elise Huillery, professor at the Paris-Dauphine University, told FRANCE 24. "In France, we have teachers who rarely encourage students, rather they only point out what is wrong. So students start being afraid of their grades."

According to the survey, France is one of the worst countries when it comes to teacher-student support. "Only 57 percent of French students say their teachers seem to care about each student's progress, instead of a 70 percent average in other OECD countries."

Francette Popineau, head of the Snuipp-FSU union for primary schools, agrees: "The French system does not reward students... but rather points out what is not working. And this leads to a lack of self-confidence."

Distorted results when comparing countries

In an interview with French daily Le Figaro , Blanquer said his policy as education minister is "consistent" with results from the PISA survey, as France's situation is now "stable".

But many think that the survey should be taken with a grain of salt.

"When it comes to China, we're not talking about the whole country: only some cities took part of the study," said Grenet. "It's as if we would only take France's big cities into account! And in certain countries, not all 15-year-olds are attending school: this could distort results and give the country a higher note, as only students took part in the PISA survey. In Vietnam, for example, only 63 percent of 15-year-olds are in school.

"Either way, the French government should take this survey as a booster shot to fight inequality once again".

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Education in France

By: Edward   •  Essay  •  1,064 Words  •  March 19, 2009  •  1,922 Views

Essay title: Education in France

Julia Wilkinson

France is a nation focused on culture. It is in many ways the "cultural capital of the world". France has always been an inspiration for many artists. Due to its strong culture and other moral factors, France is a country afraid of change and its education system is subject to this fear. In France today, the education system is very similar to what it has been in the past. As other nations take steps to reform and improve their educational facilities France must be willing to follow or they will be left behind.

In France the education system is run by the state, it is supported by the state and is therefore basically free. During a French education, emphasis is placed on the transfer of knowledge. This approach is different from the U.S. where the emphasis is placed on showing the excitement of learning and how the child can find information for him or herself. As in the U.S., education is separated into levels that must be passed in a sequence to go on.

There are 5 levels of education in France. The first level is called Creche. The Creche is the equivalent of daycare in the U.S. The age range for the Creche is from birth to 3 years. The Creche's purpose is to prepare young children for the next level of education. After students complete their last year in the Creche they move on to the Maternelle. The Maternelle is the second level of education and is for children 3 to 5 years old. It is comparable to preschool in the U.S. (Lect. Notes #4 Sp.99). This level of education is when students are first introduced to education. After students successfully complete Maternelle they will move on the next step in their education called the Elementaire. The Elementaire lasts for 6 years so basically from the time children are 5 until they turn 11 they are in Elementaire. This level of education is similar to elementary school in the U.S. This is when students form bonds with other students and begin to learn what it takes to go forward in their education. After completing Elementaire students move on to the next level called Secondaire. Secondaire consists of two stages first is College and then Lycee. College is the same as middle school in the U.S. and students attend for 4 years. This is when students begin to form their personality and start noticing the opposite sex. Students also begin to explore their options for the future. This can be a confusing but rewarding time for the students. After completing the College level of education, students move on to the Lycee. The Lycee is the equivalent of the U.S. high school except students attend the Lycee for 3 years not 4. The Lycee is the time when students must decide their future educational plans. During the first year in the Lycee which is called the seconde, students are required to take mathematics, physics, biology, French, history, geography, physical education, and two foreign languages. During the second year or the premiere of the Lycee, students may spend no more than 2 hours on electives, and must spend no less than 25 but no more than 35 hours per week in the classroom. A typical week in a French school runs from Monday to Saturday. In the final year of the Lycee called the terminal, students are required to study philosophy and prepare for the bac which is the only way to move on to higher education. For a student to go onto higher education they must first pass the Baccalaureat. This is similar to the SAT or ACT test in the U.S. There are 8 types of Baccalaureat tests, labeled A-H. Baccalaureat A tests the student in Languages, Law

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How is Studying in France Different from Studying in India

Is france a good option for indian students.

By Grad-Dreams

How is studying in france different from studying in india.

Education systems differ from one another around the globe. Some have different styles to impart education while some have a more diverse curriculum. This article talks about the differences between studying in India and studying in France.

1. CULTURE :

India is often described as a melting pot of various cultures, traditions, and festivals. Filled with ethnic diversity, tourists in India also come across various religions. Festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi, Eid, Christmas, etc are joyously celebrated in India. The people here, even though a bit conservative are very welcoming towards foreigners and treat them with utmost warmth. The culture in France is truly exquisite. France has been a high culture center dating back to olden times in most parts of Europe. France is famous to be one of the most romantic destinations and is very passionate about its food, wine, sports, and standard of living. French people are often misunderstood to be snobs but it is not so. They are very welcoming especially if you speak their language.

2. EDUCATION SYSTEM:

 In India, the education system is quite rigid where students are forced to study all the subjects during their schooling. A student cannot skip these subjects and less importance is given to extracurricular activities and Physical Education while more attention is given to subjects such as Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The French education system is quite flexible as compared to our Indian education system. France ranks 3rd globally in education and also offers access to highly ranked Educational institutions with intensive teaching, several student beneficial facilities, and these institutions are very affordable as well.

3. GRADING SYSTEM:

  The Grading system in India is generally based on a percentage of the marks obtained by the student. The students are taught textual matter and are expected to present their answers exactly as they are given in the textbooks for maximum marks in their tests and exams. The French grading system differs from any other grading system for secondary education. The students are assigned their ranks in numbers ranging from 0 to 20. Grades like 20 or 19 are rarely given and any score above 15 is considered to be excellent. On the time graduation, the graduate receives the French Baccalaureate with honors, and mentions such as ‘Assez Bien’, ‘Bien’, and ‘Très Bien’ is given.

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4. UNIVERSITIES:

 India is ranked poorly being 131st out of 188 countries in the world regarding Education. India focusses on theoretical education more than practical education. Inspite of this, India has some of the best Universities focusing on Engineering and Medicine such as the Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Science, University of Delhi, etc. France is one of the Top 3 study destinations globally. Studying in France not only enhances your knowledge and learning but also improves you as an individual. Being an education hub, France houses many fine Universities such as, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University (PSL) is ranked 52nd in the World University Rankings, Down eight places to rank 68th in the world, École Polytechnique ranking 68th, the Sorbonne University ranked 83rd in the world. International students have to score well in TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) if they desire to study in French Universities.

5. FACILITIES PROVIDED:

  In general, most of the facilities provided by the Universities in France are much better as compared to those provided by the Universities in India. The main point of difference is the campus. The campuses of various French Universities are substantially larger than those in India and some even have restaurants built on the campus such as Resto U which provide food for the students at a subsidized price. There are huge libraries filled with several reference books for the students. There are great gyms and courts for various sports provided to students for practice. Some schools and universities also have their own track and swimming pools. French Universities like to provide their students with every opportunity to grow and enhance their respective fields.

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Difference Between French and American Education System

The French and American education systems are very distinct from each other. For example, in France, students will start to narrow their field of study in high school, whereas American students only choose a major once they’re in university.

Likewise, you’ll find no elaborate sports facilities at French high schools where the emphasis is on academics and sports are not a huge part of school life, unlike in America.

However, there are much more differences than only these few.

Different Levels and Grading Systems

In France, it’s common for children to go to pre-school ( maternelle ) from the ages of 3-5, although children may start in daycare at the age of two. After pre-school, they will go on to primary school ( école élémentaire ) for the next five years. Then, they will go to middle school ( collège ) for four years and then to high school ( lycée ) for three years. In lycée, students will prepare for an exam called baccalauréat , an important and extensive exam that will determine if they can go on to higher education. There are three categories of baccalauréat , depending on the field of work the student intends to enter.

In the U.S., children start going to pre-school as early as two years of age. They start kindergarten at age five, which is usually a year, and then on to elementary school from 1st to 6th grade. Then they start junior high school from 7th to 8th grade, and finally, they enter high school from 9th to 12th grade. Throughout junior and senior years (11th and 12th grades), American students prepare for the SAT or ACT, general standardized tests widely used as markers for college entrance. American students only choose a field of study once they enter university, unlike French students who choose it in high school.

Grading systems also vary drastically. For example, while French teachers grade students from 0-20, American teachers use a 0-100 scale or a letter scale from A-F. For example, at our essay writing service , we always target A grades.

School Hours and Holidays

Typically the American school day starts earlier, but the French school day is longer. American schools operate from Monday to Friday and typically start at 7:30am and end around 2:15pm. In France, the school day starts at 8:30am and ends at 4:30pm; however, on Wednesdays, the school day ends at midday. Some schools in France also have classes on Saturday mornings.

Breaks in U.S. and France

At lunch in the U.S., students can eat a hot meal in the school cafeteria; however, many students will opt to eat junk food as available in vending machines. In France, the lunch break is an hour-long, and most students eat a full hot meal at school. As the school day is longer in France, students also get a 10-minute break in the morning and a fifteen-minute break in the afternoon. In the U.S., students go nonstop from class to class throughout the day, with their only break being lunchtime which is typically half an hour.

Holiday schedule in the U.S.

A typical academic school year in the U.S. is 180 days long.

• Thanksgiving – celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November. Students usually have Black Friday off as well.
• Christmas – approximately weeks break from December 23 to the first weekday after New Year’s Day.
• Spring or Easter break – a one-week break in late March/early April.
• Summer break – 10-11 weeks off from early June to mid-August for primary and high school and the end of May to early August for university students.

Some schools also have fall breaks and winter breaks, adding another three weeks of vacation time.

Holiday schedule in France

In France, a typical school year is just a few days longer – it lasts 187 days.

• All Saints ( la Toussaint ) – a two-week break around the end of October and the beginning of November.
• Christmas ( Noel ) – a two-week break beginning before Christmas and ending after New Year’s.
• Winter ( hiver ) – two-week break in mid-February.
• Spring ( printemps ) or Easter ( Paques ) break – two-week break in mid-April.
• Summer – two months break starting from mid-June for high school students and early July for university students.

Sports and Extracurricular Activities

It is very common for American students to practice a sport, both at the high school and university levels. It is also common to be part of extracurricular activities and clubs. Because the school day ends earlier in the U.S., students have more time and are encouraged to participate in these activities. Sports and clubs are considered an important part of student life and are mentioned in college applications.

In France, the focus of the school day is on classes. Most French schools have two hours of physical education during the week, but sports and clubs are not at all common. If a student participates in a sport, practices are typically held on Wednesday afternoons, the day of the week when the school day ends at midday. In addition to having a long school day, students in France typically have four hours of homework per day; therefore, there isn’t time to participate in clubs and sports, while a typical American has about 1-2 hours of homework per night.

Student-Teacher Relationships

In France, the student-teacher relationship is much more formal than in the United States. While many American teachers are involved with students through coaching a sport or leading an extracurricular activity, students only have contact with teachers during class in France. Additionally, in the U.S., it’s common for teachers to set aside time to attend to students who have questions or who are struggling with the material. In France, it’s extremely uncommon for a student to approach a teacher to ask for clarification or extra help on a subject.

Transportation

The American education system offers transportation for students to get to school on school buses. Many students in the U.S. use a school bus to get to and from school if they don’t live within walking distance. During their last years of high school, many students will drive to school as the driving age in the U.S. is 16. Most American schools have parking lots for faculty and students.

In France, there are no school buses. Instead, students ride a bicycle, walk, get driven by their parents, or use public transportation in the form of buses, subways, or trains to get to school.

Costs of Higher Education

A big distinction between the American and French education systems is the cost of higher education. While in the U.S., public education is free before university, many of the most reputable and competitive universities in the U.S. are private, and if students are able to get accepted to one of these universities, they will often choose to go despite the high cost. The costs of private universities can be astronomical compared to French standards, with undergraduate tuitions costing upwards of $40,000/year. State colleges are subsidized by the government and are significantly more economical. It’s very common for students to take out student loans to pay for the costs of a university in the U.S.

France has an excellent public university system whose costs to students are subsidized by the government. Though there are a few private universities in France that are more expensive, the majority of students attend public universities. The cost per year for tuition for undergraduates is around USD$3500 and about $4500 for graduate and doctoral degrees. However, for students who are unable to afford tuition, the government will pay for their education and offer a stipend for their living costs.

Differences between education systems in France and U.S. are obvious when comparing them on basic and more detailed levels. From France’s longer school days to the emphasis on sports and clubs in American schools to the more formal relationship between students and teachers in France to the huge difference in tuition costs for American vs. French college or university students, the differences in education in these two countries are numerous.

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Essay on Indian Education System for Students and Children

500+ words essay on indian education system for students and children.

The Indian education system is quite an old education system that still exists. It has produced so many genius minds that are making India proud all over the world. However, while it is one of the oldest systems, it is still not that developed when compared to others, which are in fact newer. This is so as the other countries have gone through growth and advancement, but the Indian education system is still stuck in old age. It faces a lot of problems that need to be sorted to let it reach its full potential.

Problems with Indian Education System

Our Indian education system faces a lot of problems that do not let it prosper and help other children succeed in life . The biggest problem which it has to face is the poor grading system. It judges the intelligence of a student on the basis of academics which is in the form of exam papers. That is very unfair to students who are good in their overall performance but not that good at specific subjects.

Moreover, they only strive to get good marks not paying attention to understanding what is taught. In other words, this encourages getting good marks through mugging up and not actually grasping the concept efficiently.

Furthermore, we see how the Indian education system focuses on theory more. Only a little percentage is given for practical. This makes them run after the bookish knowledge and not actually applying it to the real world. This practice makes them perplexed when they go out in the real world due to lack of practical knowledge.

Most importantly, the Indian education system does not emphasize enough on the importance of sports and arts. Students are always asked to study all the time where they get no time for other activities like sports and arts.

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How Can We Improve Indian Education System?

As the Indian Education System is facing so many problems, we need to come up with effective solutions so it improves and creates a brighter future for students . We can start by focusing on the skill development of the students. The schools and colleges must not only focus on the ranks and grades but on the analytical and creative skills of children.

In addition, subjects must not be merely taught theoretically but with practical. This will help in a better understanding of the subject without them having to mug up the whole thing due to lack of practical knowledge. Also, the syllabus must be updated with the changing times and not follow the old age pattern.

Other than that, the government and private colleges must now increase the payroll of teachers. As they clearly deserve more than what they offer. To save money, the schools hire teachers who are not qualified enough. This creates a very bad classroom environment and learning. They must be hired if they are fit for the job and not because they are working at a lesser salary.

In conclusion, the Indian education system must change for the better. It must give the students equal opportunities to shine better in the future. We need to let go of the old and traditional ways and enhance the teaching standards so our youth can get create a better world.

FAQs on Indian Education System

Q.1 What problems does the Indian Education System face?

A.1 Indian education is very old and outdated. It judges students on the basis of marks and grades ignoring the overall performance of the student. It focuses on academics side-lining arts and sports.

Q.2 How can we improve the Indian education system?

A.2 The colleges and schools must hire well and qualified teachers. They must help students to understand the concept instead of merely mugging up the whole subject.

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https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/04/26/when-are-year-6-sats-2024-key-dates-for-parents-and-pupils/

When are year 6 SATs 2024? Key dates for parents and pupils

Year 6 pupils in England will soon be taking the key stage 2 (KS2) national curriculum tests, which are often referred to as SATs.  

The assessments are used to measure school performance and to make sure individual pupils are being supported in the best way possible as they move into secondary school .   

When are SATs?  

This year, SATs will take place over four days from 13 May to 16 May 2024.

The timetable is as follows:

What are the tests on?   

While pupils won’t be able to see what’s on the test beforehand, t he assessments only include questions on things that children should already have been taught as part of the national curriculum.  

You can find past papers on GOV.UK .  

As usual, there won’t be a test for English writing or science. Instead, this will be reported as a teacher assessment judgement.  

This is a judgement teachers will make based on your child’s work at the end of KS2.   

Does my child need to revise for SATs?  

Children shouldn’t be made to feel any unnecessary pressure when it comes to the KS2 assessments and t eachers will make sure that all pupils in their class are prepared.  

You should follow their general advice about supporting your child’s education throughout the year and ahead of the tests.  

While it is statutory for schools to hold the assessments, headteachers make the final decision about whether a pupil participates in them.   

Some pupils – for example those with special education needs or disabilities – may be assessed under different arrangements if these are more appropriate.   

If you have concerns about your child participating in the KS2 tests, you should speak to your school in the first instance.  

What if my child finds the SATs tests too difficult?  

It’s important to remember that one of the purposes of the key stage 2 assessments is to identify each pupil's strengths and the areas where they may have fallen behind in their learning as they head into secondary school.   

The results will help their new school determine in which areas your child needs the most support.   

The tests are designed to be challenging to measure attainment, including stretching the most able children. It means some pupils will find them harder than others.    

It takes three years to create appropriate tests. During the process, they’re rigorously trialled with year 6 pupils and reviewed by education and inclusion experts to make sure they’re the right difficulty level.   

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is responsible for developing the tests, and Ministers don't have any influence on their content.   

When will we find out the results of SATs?  

Schools will receive test results on Tuesday 9 July 2024.  

Before the end of the summer term, your child’s school will send you a report which will include test results and teacher assessment judgements.  

This should provide you with a good sense of the standard at which your child is working in each subject.  

The school will report your child’s test results as a scaled score for each subject. This is created from the number of marks your child scores in a particular test. A scaled score:  

• below 100 means that your child may need more support to help them reach the expected standard;  
• of 100 or more means that your child is working at, or above, the expected standard for the key stage.  

If your child is working below the overall standard of the key stage, or they have special educational needs, reporting will be different, and you should speak to your child’s teacher for more information.  

You can also find more information about  results at the end of key stage 2  on GOV.UK.  

You may also be interested in:

• How we are helping to inspire primary school children about their future careers
• What is the multiplication tables check and why is it important?
• SATs leaflet for parents

Tags: KS2 , primary school , SATs , SATs 2023 , SATs results , Secondary School

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The Ancient Egyptian Education System

This essay about ancient Egypt explores the crucial role of education in one of the most extraordinary civilizations in history. It highlights how education was integral to societal prosperity and continuity, focusing on the formal scribal and temple schools for the elite, and informal learning within the family for practical skills. The essay also emphasizes the moral framework of “ma’at” and the significant influence of religion in education, shaping both personal and societal ethics. It concludes by reflecting on the enduring impact of these educational practices on modern societies.

How it works

Nestled beneath the towering pyramids and along the verdant Nile River, ancient Egypt cultivated one of the most extraordinary civilizations ever known. Education played a pivotal role in this society, supporting its prosperity and continuity by fostering the accumulation of knowledge, the transmission of cultural norms, and the maintenance of traditions.

Education in ancient Egypt dates back more than five thousand years, progressing alongside the civilization itself. It served not just as a tool for imparting practical skills but also as a means to inculcate ethical values and cultivate a profound respect for the cosmic order that dictated Egyptian existence.

Central to this educational framework were the scribal schools, the main avenues for formal education. These institutions primarily catered to the elite’s offspring, as education and literacy were key indicators of social status and gateways to influence. Students in these schools underwent intense training in hieroglyphics, mathematics, geometry, and sacred texts, preparing them for crucial roles in society as administrators, archivists, and keepers of divine knowledge.

Besides scribal schools, temple schools also played a significant role, where priests conveyed knowledge related to religion, astronomy, medicine, and esoteric practices. Temples, with their extensive libraries and treasuries of ancient lore, became hubs of scholarly activity and intellectual discourse, drawing seekers of wisdom from all over.

Learning in ancient Egypt extended beyond these formal settings, permeating everyday life. Through apprenticeship and direct involvement, children acquired crucial life skills and values, engaging with family members in agricultural fields, craft workshops, and marketplaces. This informal learning environment was pivotal in passing down cultural and moral teachings from one generation to the next.

A hallmark of the Egyptian educational system was its focus on ethical training, centered around the principle of “ma’at” — a concept embodying truth, balance, and cosmic order. From a young age, children were encouraged to live by ma’at, showing deference to authority and fulfilling their duties to their community and deities.

Religion was intricately woven into the educational fabric, influencing both moral and spiritual growth. Learning about religious texts, rituals, and mythologies was essential, fostering a deep reverence for the divine among students. Temples, as centers of religious education, played a crucial role in disseminating sacred wisdom.

Though the Egyptian education system was predominantly exclusive, favoring the elite, it also offered avenues for the socially disadvantaged to ascend through intellectual merit and capabilities.

Despite its selective nature, Egypt’s education system was ahead of its time and instrumental in the civilization’s intellectual and architectural feats, such as advanced bureaucracy, commerce, and precisely aligned monumental structures.

The influence of Egypt’s educational system continues to be felt, shaping educational and cultural developments through the ages. The values of discipline, respect, and the pursuit of knowledge instilled in ancient Egyptian youths still echo across modern societies, highlighting education’s transformative power to uplift humanity.

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