The educational system in France
The education system of France is a unified one, with a general structure that consists of primary schools, collèges and lycées. As opposed to the system which was in place until the 1970’s that had an obvious separation between primary and secondary education. Since, France has shown excellent advancement in the development of pre-school education; all 3 to 5 year olds can attend nursery classes.
School attendance is enforced for those between 6 to 16 years of age. France has 60,000 primary schools providing formal education to pupils during their first five years; the first three present a foundation for basic skills and then continuing to the next stage that takes the child up to the end of primary school.
Secondary schooling is separated into two consecutive stages, known as cycles. Beginning at 11 to 15 years, nearly all children now attend a college, taking them from form 6 (sixième) to form 3 (troisième). Since the mid 70’s a single mixed-ability collège was established for all pupils regardless of their level of achievement. Following form 3, pupils advance to general, technical or vocational lycèe. These prepare pupils for the corresponding baccalaurèat examinations, which generally are taken at 18 years of age.
Decisions regarding pupils (i.e. class advancement, repeating a year) are taken through a course of action involving a dialogue between the school, families and pupils by teachers in a class council. Parents can appeal the result and demand that the pupil be moved up rather than repeat the year, or repeat the year rather than do a course they do not wish their child to pursue. Every school is provided with specialist counsellors to help pupils, parents and teachers resolve any problems they may come across.
Form 3 (which is the final year at collège) is the first opportunity a child has a choice concerning to select the subjects they wish to study, and the direction they would like their curriculum to take. However, students must choose a foreign language in form 6 and another in form 4.
Together with the regular school educational structure, specialists or tailored classes are often integrated into primary and secondary schools. These programmes adapt general and vocational education sections designed particularly for children and young people having difficulty at school due to: psychological, emotional or behavioural problems, and for slow learners. Related curricula are also found in special schools, mostly for those under the guidance of the Health Ministry. The goal is to help these children to accomplish a minimum skills level.