What is the French education system all about?
France is known for having one of the best education systems in the world: according to a survey by U.S. News
and World Population Review, France is ranked 5th globally for education. With a nationally set curriculum and
high academic standards, the same curriculum in France is taught in 581 French schools around the world,
including ours. The Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE), which is a branch of France’s Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, oversees all French schools abroad and ensures that the quality of education is maintained by inspecting
schools on a regular basis and offering continuous learning and training to teachers. Our school maintains its
accreditation through this rigorous inspection process which is performed every year, and throughout the year,
by the Government of France.
The French school program teaches children aged 3 to 18 to work independently, while also collaborating with
their peers, and developing critical thinking based on fundamental values:
Autonomy: The French school system encourages students to develop their own critical thinking and to
become autonomous in their learning. Students are encouraged to take initiative and develop their creativity.
Civil society: Civic and moral education is an integral part of the French school curriculum and aims to
encourage students to participate in community life and to understand the values of democracy.
Rigour: The French school program is known for its rigour and its high level of requirements. Students are
encouraged to work hard to develop all of their intellectual abilities.
Culture: The program for French school students abroad highlights French culture and also multiculturalism in
order to train global citizens.
There are some aspects that set the French education system – and our school – apart from other schools:
Rigorous testing that evaluates learning, not just whether something is memorized. There are no multiple
choice questions on exams, even in the French Baccalaureate (“Bac”) exam, taken in grade 12. Rather, the Bac
tests oral and written proficiency in multiple subjects. This is a more rigorous approach to establishing
whether a student has not only acquired but understood the subject.
1.
The school teaches based on a cycle system. The cycle system is a structure that allows for the progressive
organization of education, by adapting the objectives and expected skills to the students’ age. Teaching
programs are thus tailored to the different stages of the students’ development and acquisition of skills. This
is why the French education system is organized into 3-year cycles
What is the cycle system at the French school?
The cycle system is a structure that allows for the progressive organization of education, by adapting the
objectives and expected skills to the students’ age. Teaching programs are thus tailored to the different stages of
the students’ development and acquisition of skills. This is why the French education system is organized into 3-
year cycles.
Cycle 1: cycle of early learning (PS, MS, GS), concerns preschool education, which welcomes children from 3 to 6
years old. The main objective of this cycle is to accompany children in their psychomotor, social, and cognitive
development. Learning is focused on discovering the world, language, fine and gross motor skills, autonomy, and
learning to live in a community.
Cycle 2: cycle of fundamental learning (CP, CE1, and CE2) which takes place between CP and CE2, aims to
consolidate the achievements of cycle 1 and to develop skills in French, mathematics, science, history-geography,
and foreign languages. Students also learn life skills such as autonomy, responsibility, and citizenship.
Cycle 3: cycle of consolidation (CM1, CM2, and 6th grade) which takes place between CM1 and 6th grade, students
study subjects such as French, mathematics, science, history-geography, civic education, physical education, and
foreign languages. Students progressively prepare for their entry into middle school. Cycle 4: cycle of in-depth learning (5th, 4th, and 3rd grades) which concerns middle school, aims to deepen the
knowledge and skills acquired in cycle 3 and to prepare students for their professional orientation or further
studies. Students study subjects such as French, mathematics, science, history-geography, civic education,
physical education, and foreign languages
Who decides the school calendar and the school hours?
The French school system sets the number of hours for all students and our school follows this rigorous program.
As a French school, we are part of a larger network of French schools around the world that are overseen by the
French Government’s Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE). Our school calendar and school hours are
proposed by the School Director, reviewed by the School’s Board of Directors, and confirmed by the AEFE and
the French Ministry of Education through the National Education Inspector.
The school day may seem long for our students, and that’s because academic excellence is at the forefront of our
mission. However, the day also accounts for breaks throughout the day that allow the students to decompress,
socialize with their friends, work on other school activities and projects, and to have their snacks and their lunch
without rushing. As such, overall, the daily schedule is balanced. As students get to middle and high school, they
have more breaks from classroom instruction providing time for independent study, which is also in line with the
formal program that all French schools follow.
How is the school year calendar decided?
It is a policy in all French schools around the world, and decided by the Government of France, that students
should not have more than 8 straight weeks of class without a break. Knowing that the curriculum at a French
school is rigorous, this decision is intended in order to keep the students’ wellbeing at heart. It might seem that
our students have more holidays than students in other schools, but a recent analysis conducted by our school
shows that we in fact have more days in the calendar where our students are learning new material (e.g., 171 days
in 2022-2023 compared to an average of 160 days in other schools). Our students have a rigorous program when
they are in school, so after all this hard work, our students need rest and recovery. While we focus on academic
excellence, we do not want it to come at the price of the wellbeing of our students.
When there are unexpected holidays due to KRG directives or days off due to inclement weather, all of the school
hours are recalculated and reviewed to ensure that our students meet the full requirements. Any changes to the
schedule are then approved by AEFE and the French Ministry of Education.
How is the tuition fee established?
Our school is a not-for-profit school and operates based on student tuition, donations made by sponsors/donors,
and a subsidy received from the Government of France. The School is managed and overseen by a volunteer,
unpaid Board of Directors composed of parents whose children attend the school. Our school’s non-for-profit
status sets us apart from other schools in Erbil. It is the student’s education and wellbeing that is at the core of
our mission, rather the business of moneymaking. This tuition fee allows us to keep classroom sizes small so that
your child can benefit from more personalized follow-up by their teacher.
Can I get a discount on tuition?
There are several ways in which you can save on tuition! You can ask the School administration for more
information, but you can receive the following discounts:
If you refer a friend and they register their child;
If you are registering a new child to the school before June 15th for the following school year, then you get a
discount on the registration fees;
Siblings benefit from tuition discounts;
Prepayment of the full year of tuition, may make you eligible for a discount.
How can I support my child at the French school if I do not speak French?
Our school offers an after-school homework assistance program for primary students so they can remain in a
classroom with a French speaking teacher to complete homework and for other academic support. When they get
to middle and high school, the school system requires the students to be able to study independently.
We value close teacher-parent relations which is fundamental to student achievement. The French School takes
pride in opening its classroom doors for parents to enter and observe the learning process. This comes with
strong faith and belief in the capabilities and standards of the teaching our teachers provide.