A worldwide school network
More than 580 schools, collèges and lycées established outside France, in nearly 140 countries, offer teaching in line with the requirements of the French national education system. These accredited establishments promote humanist values (tolerance, equality, etc.) and offer a seamless education from nursery school to the baccalauréat.
Cultural identity and plurilingualism
All French schools in Spain and Portugal offer plurilingual teaching in French, English and the local language (Spanish or Portuguese). This teaching can be enriched by other languages (the offer varies according to the school: Catalan, Basque, German, Italian, Latin, Ancient Greek, etc.). Students can validate their skills through a wide range of certifications such as Cambridge, DELE, DALF, etc.
The international dimension is complemented by school exchanges between schools in the worldwide network, through the ADN Agora program. This program enables pupils in 2nde (first year of high school) to spend several months on a school exchange in another school in the AEFE network or in France.
The Pathways
An educational pathway is a structured, progressive and continuous set of lessons, not limited to a single subject, and educational practices, both in and out of school, around a theme. Pupils build skills and acquire knowledge through the experiences, encounters and projects they take part in.
The citizenship pathway (Parcours Citoyen)
From primary school to lycée, the citizenship pathway is aimed at future citizens who are becoming aware of their rights, duties and responsibilities. Backed up by the curriculum, in particular moral and civic education (EMC) and media and information literacy (EMI), it contributes to the transmission of the values and principles of the French Republic by tackling the main areas of citizenship education: secularism, gender equality and mutual respect, the fight against all forms of discrimination, the prevention of and fight against racism and anti-semitism, LGBTphobia, environmental education and sustainable development, the fight against harassment.
The artistic and cultural education pathway (Parcours d’éducation Artistique et culturelle)
The PEAC provides a coherent approach to the education of pupils from primary to secondary school, across the whole range of educational activities: in-school, extra-curricular and out-of-school. An education in and through art, the PEAC is based on three pillars: art lessons, encounters with artists and works of art, and artistic practices. The aim of this pathway is to enable each pupil to tackle the major areas of art and culture in all their diversity, and to make the most of the activities in which they take part, including those outside school. It also fosters cohesion within the school or establishment by mobilising pupils, teachers and parents around artistic and cultural projects.
The health pathway (Parcours Santé)
Health, defined by the World Health Organisation as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’, is a key issue for the education system. It is an important factor in children’s educational success. From nursery school to secondary school, the educational health pathway aims to provide health education, prevention and protection for pupils; it takes into account children’s environment and the links between the different stages of their lives.
The Education and Guidance Pathway (Parcours Avenir)
Improving the integration of young people and preparing them better for the world of work means that every pupil must be able to find out about the professions in their own environment. The individual pathway for guidance and discovery of the economic and professional world enables every pupil from 6eme to Terminale to acquire the initial keys to understanding the world of work so that they can build their educational and professional guidance plans. It aims to facilitate and develop exchanges between schools and those involved in the economic world.
Career guidance
The French education system attaches great importance to career guidance, enabling each pupil to build his or her own individual pathway to better prepare for the future.
Schools organise career and training discovery courses that enable pupils to find out about all the training and careers available to them, starting in 4eme (3rd year of middle school).
A number of higher education fairs are organised in lycées to provide families with information and support. Representatives from French, British, Swiss, Spanish and Portuguese universities are on hand to meet pupils
Students support
Pupil support is at the heart of French education: pedagogical support, personalised support, help with homework, and so on. To learn, children and teenagers need to be monitored, supported and supervised. In early years, a classroom assistant (ASEM agent spécialisé des écoles maternelles) is present in each class to support the teachers and look after the well-being of the pupils.
In collège, educational support is offered to all pupils to help them make the best possible progress. This support can take several forms, and can take place during lessons or as an extension of them. There are also support schemes to meet specific needs.
In lycée, students benefit from personalised support. They can take part in tutoring and English courses in addition to compulsory lessons. Their school can also offer them bridging or refresher courses.
Inclusive schools
The right to education for all children, whatever their disability, is a fundamental right. Inclusive schools aim to provide quality education for all pupils from early years to secondary school, by taking into account their individual characteristics and special educational needs
