Schooling in France
#16
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Location: Hérault (34)
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Re: Schooling in France
I know it's so tempting to keep them tied close to home, but has she considered Montreal? Our son, with a freshly obtained Bac ES in his (bac? pocket) raced away to Canada to further his education, and to especially benefit from the bi-lingual nature of the generally very safe community, good job prospects, ease of finding good, relatively inexpensive rental accommodation etc. And he's never looked back, apart from wishing he still had good wine and Camembert at French prices!
And with direct seasonal flights from Toulouse we get to see him far more frequently than we ever imagined.
And with direct seasonal flights from Toulouse we get to see him far more frequently than we ever imagined.
Apart from UK destinations, we in the Hérault aren't blessed with airports that serve the other destinations that we desire, and any visiting involves a 3-day camel trek. Well, almost....
#17
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Re: Schooling in France
Vaccinations compulsory ? I can see that not going down well with those obsessed with the "alternative" lifestyle !
#18
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Re: Schooling in France
I hinted at this in #4. There have been controversial threads in the past re UK parents who didn't approve of vaccinations and didn't want to comply with the regulations in France. This was for "normal" schooling where vaccinations are compulsory, not even homeschooling.
#19
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Re: Schooling in France
I am surprised that we have not had posts from those who see the requirement to vaccinate as a violation of Civil Liberties and an imposition by "The Hew World Order" or whatever.
#21
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Re: Schooling in France
We could import some.
#24
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Re: Schooling in France
The normal regulations, not the ones you get in Anglosaxon countries !
#27
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Re: Schooling in France
Additional info for working parents:
There's no school on Wednesday afternoons, which can be problematic for parents who are working. Largish towns do have Centres Aérés for Primaire and younger Collège children, but not rural Communes.
Wednesday afternoons are popular anyway for all children's social lives (birthday parties) and sporting/cultural activities and they usually need to be taxied everywhere. Children also need to be taxied over the weekend unless their friends live within walking distance, and parents should be prepared for this.
During school time, Primaire normally finishes at 16h00 now but if for some reason the parents can't pick them up, there are various activities organised until 18h00. Collège and Lycée can finish at 16h00 or 17h00 depending on the time-tables and there are usually school buses at both times.
Holidays are also a head-ache for working parents - 2 weeks in February, Spring, Autumn and at Christmas, and 9 weeks in the summer. The larger towns open their Centres Aérés during these periods and there are Colonies de Vacances in the summer, if parents haven't got family to look after their children when they have to work.
If potential expats with children have the choice between a rural Commune and a town, and if they are working, they should consider the time and energy that they must dedicate to their children's school, leisure and social lives, and choose accordingly.
Fore-warned is fore-armed!
There's no school on Wednesday afternoons, which can be problematic for parents who are working. Largish towns do have Centres Aérés for Primaire and younger Collège children, but not rural Communes.
Wednesday afternoons are popular anyway for all children's social lives (birthday parties) and sporting/cultural activities and they usually need to be taxied everywhere. Children also need to be taxied over the weekend unless their friends live within walking distance, and parents should be prepared for this.
During school time, Primaire normally finishes at 16h00 now but if for some reason the parents can't pick them up, there are various activities organised until 18h00. Collège and Lycée can finish at 16h00 or 17h00 depending on the time-tables and there are usually school buses at both times.
Holidays are also a head-ache for working parents - 2 weeks in February, Spring, Autumn and at Christmas, and 9 weeks in the summer. The larger towns open their Centres Aérés during these periods and there are Colonies de Vacances in the summer, if parents haven't got family to look after their children when they have to work.
If potential expats with children have the choice between a rural Commune and a town, and if they are working, they should consider the time and energy that they must dedicate to their children's school, leisure and social lives, and choose accordingly.
Fore-warned is fore-armed!
#28
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Re: Schooling in France
Hello,
I would like to add some slight modifications to dmu''s complete and accurate description of the French schooling.
First, it is highly recommended for pupils to pass the Brevet des Collèges, but they can go up to Lycées even if they fail.
Second, dmu mentioned home-schooling as something "tolerated." It is not tolerated, it is allowed: schooling is compulsory, but sending your kids to school is not, and no authority can oppose your choice to keep your children at home as long as they are provided with the instruction they need to pass the tests. And as dmu specified, this will be regularly checked by inspector of schools.
More information about maternelles and primary schools: two afternoons a week, the pupils attend the TAP (temps d'activité périscolaire). It is provided by activity leaders working in "centres aérés" or by artists employed for a short time by the mairies. The TAP consist (or are supposed to consist) in introducing children to artistic disciplines (music, theatre, painting, etc...) and sports. In some places it is free, in others it is not, but in any case it is not compulsory. The mairies are entirely in charge of the TAP, and no link has been established between them and the Education Nationale yet.
I would like to add some slight modifications to dmu''s complete and accurate description of the French schooling.
First, it is highly recommended for pupils to pass the Brevet des Collèges, but they can go up to Lycées even if they fail.
Second, dmu mentioned home-schooling as something "tolerated." It is not tolerated, it is allowed: schooling is compulsory, but sending your kids to school is not, and no authority can oppose your choice to keep your children at home as long as they are provided with the instruction they need to pass the tests. And as dmu specified, this will be regularly checked by inspector of schools.
More information about maternelles and primary schools: two afternoons a week, the pupils attend the TAP (temps d'activité périscolaire). It is provided by activity leaders working in "centres aérés" or by artists employed for a short time by the mairies. The TAP consist (or are supposed to consist) in introducing children to artistic disciplines (music, theatre, painting, etc...) and sports. In some places it is free, in others it is not, but in any case it is not compulsory. The mairies are entirely in charge of the TAP, and no link has been established between them and the Education Nationale yet.
Last edited by ElinorD; Jan 23rd 2016 at 8:21 pm.
#29
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Re: Schooling in France
Hello,
I would like to add some slight modifications to dmu''s complete and accurate description of the French schooling.
First, it is highly recommended for pupils to pass the Brevet des Collèges, but they can go up to Lycées even if they fail.
Second, dmu mentioned home-schooling as something "tolerated." It is not tolerated, it is allowed: schooling is compulsory, but sending your kids to school is not, and no authority can oppose your choice to keep your children at home as long as they are provided with the instruction they need to pass the tests. And as dmu specified, this will be regularly checked by inspector of schools.
More information about maternelles and primary schools: two afternoons a week, the pupils attend the TAP (temps d'activité périscolaire). It is provided by activity leaders working in "centres aérés" or by artists employed for a short time by the mairies. The TAP consist (or are supposed to consist) in introducing children to artistic disciplines (music, theatre, painting, etc...) and sports. In some places it is free, in others it is not, but in any case it is not compulsory. The mairies are entirely in charge of the TAP, and no link has been established between them and the Education Nationale yet.
I would like to add some slight modifications to dmu''s complete and accurate description of the French schooling.
First, it is highly recommended for pupils to pass the Brevet des Collèges, but they can go up to Lycées even if they fail.
Second, dmu mentioned home-schooling as something "tolerated." It is not tolerated, it is allowed: schooling is compulsory, but sending your kids to school is not, and no authority can oppose your choice to keep your children at home as long as they are provided with the instruction they need to pass the tests. And as dmu specified, this will be regularly checked by inspector of schools.
More information about maternelles and primary schools: two afternoons a week, the pupils attend the TAP (temps d'activité périscolaire). It is provided by activity leaders working in "centres aérés" or by artists employed for a short time by the mairies. The TAP consist (or are supposed to consist) in introducing children to artistic disciplines (music, theatre, painting, etc...) and sports. In some places it is free, in others it is not, but in any case it is not compulsory. The mairies are entirely in charge of the TAP, and no link has been established between them and the Education Nationale yet.
No doubt larger towns can organise more cultural activities, but rural Communes can't
#30
Re: Schooling in France
Hello,
I would like to add some slight modifications to dmu''s complete and accurate description of the French schooling.
First, it is highly recommended for pupils to pass the Brevet des Collèges, but they can go up to Lycées even if they fail.
Second, dmu mentioned home-schooling as something "tolerated." It is not tolerated, it is allowed: schooling is compulsory, but sending your kids to school is not, and no authority can oppose your choice to keep your children at home as long as they are provided with the instruction they need to pass the tests. And as dmu specified, this will be regularly checked by inspector of schools.
More information about maternelles and primary schools: two afternoons a week, the pupils attend the TAP (temps d'activité périscolaire). It is provided by activity leaders working in "centres aérés" or by artists employed for a short time by the mairies. The TAP consist (or are supposed to consist) in introducing children to artistic disciplines (music, theatre, painting, etc...) and sports. In some places it is free, in others it is not, but in any case it is not compulsory. The mairies are entirely in charge of the TAP, and no link has been established between them and the Education Nationale yet.
I would like to add some slight modifications to dmu''s complete and accurate description of the French schooling.
First, it is highly recommended for pupils to pass the Brevet des Collèges, but they can go up to Lycées even if they fail.
Second, dmu mentioned home-schooling as something "tolerated." It is not tolerated, it is allowed: schooling is compulsory, but sending your kids to school is not, and no authority can oppose your choice to keep your children at home as long as they are provided with the instruction they need to pass the tests. And as dmu specified, this will be regularly checked by inspector of schools.
More information about maternelles and primary schools: two afternoons a week, the pupils attend the TAP (temps d'activité périscolaire). It is provided by activity leaders working in "centres aérés" or by artists employed for a short time by the mairies. The TAP consist (or are supposed to consist) in introducing children to artistic disciplines (music, theatre, painting, etc...) and sports. In some places it is free, in others it is not, but in any case it is not compulsory. The mairies are entirely in charge of the TAP, and no link has been established between them and the Education Nationale yet.