By Giulia Ceccon · Chief Marketing Officer
French international schools follow the French Ministry of Education curriculum from maternelle (3+) through to the baccalauréat at 18, often accredited by the AEFE (Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger). The bac is internationally recognised and the curriculum is taught primarily in French, with English typically introduced early and intensified through the secondary years.
The learning pathway
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Ages 3–6
Maternelle
French preschool — a warm, structured environment focused on language, socialisation and early foundations. Immersion works well for younger children with little or no French.
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Ages 6–15
École & Collège
Primary and lower-secondary. National curriculum with strong emphasis on French language, maths and philosophy foundations. Collège ends with the Diplôme National du Brevet.
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Ages 15–18
Lycée & Baccalauréat
Since the 2021 reforms, the bac spans the last two years. A common core plus specialty subjects (spécialités). Grades out of 20; anything above 14 is considered strong.
International sections and language support
Many French schools abroad run sections internationales — bilingual streams that layer additional English-medium subjects onto the French curriculum, and some offer the Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB). For non-French speakers, FLS (Français Langue Seconde) support is usually offered in the early years.
Is French right for your child?
It tends to suit families who…
- •Have a French connection or are moving to France
- •Are native or fluent French speakers
- •Value a rigorous, philosophy-rich secondary education
- •Are targeting European universities
It may be less ideal if…
- •Your child joins at secondary level without French
- •You'd prefer English-medium instruction throughout
- •The structured French pedagogy feels too traditional
Common questions
FAQs about the French curriculum
Can my child join a French school without fluent French?
Younger children pick up the language quickly. Schools usually offer language support (FLS — Français Langue Seconde) in early years. Joining at secondary level without prior French is much harder.
Is the bac accepted by UK and US universities?
Yes — both UK and US universities accept the French baccalauréat. UK offers are typically quoted in bac points (e.g. "13/20 overall"), and US universities treat it as equivalent to a strong high school diploma plus subject specialisations.
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