The French educational system is highly centralized and organized. It is divided into three stages: Primary education secondary education HIGHER EDUCATION. Since the 1980s the State has devolved his role to the local authorities.
The French educational system is highly centralized and organized. It is divided into three stages: Primary education secondary education HIGHER EDUCATION. Since the 1980s the State has devolved his role to the local authorities.
The French educational system is highly centralized and organized. It is divided into three stages: Primary education secondary education HIGHER EDUCATION. Since the 1980s the State has devolved his role to the local authorities.
The French educational system is highly centralized and organized. It is
divided into three stages: Primary education Secondary education Higher education
THE ROLE OF THE STATE
The ministry of education :
Determines the curriculum Determines the teaching methods Determines the status and functioning of every school Recruits, trains, appoints and manages the school staff Organizes the national exams baccalaureat A-Levels- a passport to higher education
Since the 1980s the State has devolved his role to the local authorities in the management of the local school system. The recteur is the ministry representative at local level, within acadmies (30 local authorities in all the territory GENERAL PRINCIPLES ACADEMIC FREEDOM State schools Private schools
FREE PROVISION NEUTRALITY SECULARISM ( Lacit) COMPULSARY EDUCATION (6 16 years old) COMMON CORE OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
The structure of school system System Schools Classes
PRIMARY
Nursery school 3 6 years old - PS - MS - GS - CP - CE1 - CE2 - CM1 - CM2 Elementary school 6 11 years old
SECONDARY Lower secondary (collge) 11 15 years old - 6 me
- 5 me
- 4 me
- 3 me
First exam Brevet des collges Upper secondary (lyce) 15 18 years old
Gnral, technological & vocational routes: - Seconde - Premire - Terminale Final exam Baccalaureat HIGHER EDUCATION - Short-term post baccalaureat studies (BTS / DUT) - University - Higher schools Lower secondary school Collge From 11 to 15 (4 grades) A unique system for all pupils (collge unique) with a national curriculum Weekly timetable: 28 to 30 hours Subjects taught: French, mathematics, history and geography, civic education, life and earth sciences, technology, art, musical education, physical education, physics and chemistry, two modern languages A final exam ( Brevet des collges ) with no real consequences on further studies
High secondary school Lyce From 16 to 18 (3 grades) Weekly timetable : 30 hours
THREE DISTINCT ROUTES General route: 3 options L for literary (French, philpsophy and Modern languages) ES for economics and social sciences S for sciences (mathematics, physics and natural sciences)
Technological route: Many studies: Management Sciences and Technologies, STG Laboratory Science and Technologies, STL Health and Social Sciences SMS Hotel and restaurants management
Vocational route: mainly tertiary (office management, accounts, trade, hairdressing.), industrial, craft industry,and medical & social sciences.
The vocational route allows pupils to gain vocational skills as well as knowledge and know-how in a given field.
In the lyce professionnel, pupils attend seconde to prepare for a baccalaurat professionnel over three years or a short path over two years , the certificat daptitude professionnelle (CAP).
These studies mix theoretical and vocational training. Nowadays, many pupils follow these ones because they do not want to go on long studies and few of them actually go to university.
At the end of the last year, pupils sit the baccalaurat exam. The first higher education diploma which opens doors for universities or higher schools.
General and technological route Vocational route 1 st year CAP 2 nd year general studies 2 nd year technological studies 2 nd year CAP 3rd year general studies 3rd year 3rd year technological studies General Baccalaurat Vocational Baccalaureat Technological Baccalaurat Certificat daptitude professionnelle University Active life After the lower secondary school collge First year 2 nd year BEP ou CAP Intermediate diploma First year general & technological studies French secondary school timetable Schooling weeks / year Schhooling days / year 36 weeks 180 days (given public holidays) Summer break 8 to 9 weeks Short breaks Autumn (2 weeks) Christmas (2 weeks) Winter (2 weeks) Spring (2 weeks) Weekly schooling 4,5 days Weekly timetable 30 hours Number of students / class 24.7 students per class on average in the lower secondary school 19.2 students per class on average in the professional sections 29.7 students per class on average in the second general and technological sections TEACHERS Status State civil servants Recruitment Competitive exam for teaching: - CAPES (the certificate of aptitude in secondary teaching) - CAPEPS (the certificate of aptitude in physical and sporting education teaching) - CAPLP (the certificate of aptitude of vocational teaching) - AGREGATION (more selective than the CAPES) Career Promotion by seniority and level No compulsory professional dvelopment Advancement Competition for staff management Working time 18 hours in front of students (Ongoing reform: annualization of working time) (35 40 hours estimed for Holidays 14 - 16 weeks Salary Starting salary: 1600 Average salary: 2500 / month KEY FIGURES (2013) Titles Key figures Students Primary school Secondary school 12 213 300 6 753 800 5 459 500 Teachers Secondary school 841 700 381 900 Diplomas 84.5% success rate in the national certificate (Brevet des collges)
86.8% success rate in baccalaureat Education expenditure 8,370 per pupil in lower secondary school 11,470 per student n high school (general and technological) 11,840 per student in vocational school