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Ecole Franco-Chypriote

Cyprus, Nicosia

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The school at a glance
Instructs in French, English, Arabic, Hebrew, German, Spanish, Italian
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 465
Type Co-educational
Opened 2000
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum French Curriculum
Taught languages French, English, German, Spanish, Arabic
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, High School, Senior Secondary School
Introduction

Located in the heart of Nicosia, with campuses in Nicosia and Limassol, Ecole Franco-Chypriote (formerly Ecole Française Arthur Rimbaud) delivers the French curriculum from Nursery to High School. It is a school affiliated with AEFE, accredited by the French Ministry of Education and the Cypriot Ministry of Youth, Sports and Education. From Nursery onward, instruction is delivered in French and Greek, with English introduced in primary; by the end of Key Stage 2 students are fluent in French, Greek and English. In Grade 10, an English European Section opens, and the school is working toward the French International Baccalaureate (BFI). Pupils sit the Diplôme National du Brevet in Year 10 and the Baccalauréat in Years 12–13, with pass rates reported. CDI library hosts over 4,000 books. Extracurriculars include choir, orchestra, theatre, and clubs such as High School Newspaper and Bracelet Club; AEFE links enable mobility and participation in network programs.

The Essentials

Ecole Franco-Chypriote has 465 pupils, instruction in French, English, Arabic, Hebrew, German, Spanish, Italian.

Location
Two campuses in Cyprus: Nicosia and Limassol. The Nicosia campus is located at 20 Konstantinou Kavafi Street, 2121 Aglantzia, Cyprus (P.O. Box 22091, 1517). The Limassol campus is located at Ptolemeon, Limassol 3041.

Stages
Nursery School; Primary; Secondary (Collège and Lycée).

Type
Private school; member of the AEFE network; Pupils follow the French curriculum from Nursery through High School; Accredited by the French Ministry of Education and the Cypriot Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Education.

Additional learning support
SEN students are a priority; dedicated staff supervise and support students with special educational needs to ensure equal opportunities.

Country affiliation
Cyprus; AEFE network member (France–Cyprus education abroad).

School day structure
School day starts at 7:55 a.m. for Nursery, Primary, and Secondary. Nursery and Primary end at 2:30 p.m. (Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m.). Secondary day starts at 7:55 a.m.; After School Care is available from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Bus service
A bus service is offered; about 15% of pupils use it daily; provided by an external provider on an annual contract and organized under the school's responsibility.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
The school offers After School Care for Nursery and Primary pupils for an extra fee. After-school care runs Monday to Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Wednesdays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Food Options
The school has a canteen provided by FineEats Canteens, offering daily meals prepared by Chef Antonis and team. Each day, pupils choose between two meat/fish dishes and a vegetarian option with balanced sides; the menu includes sandwiches, salads, soups, smoothies, and snacks; meals are reviewed by a nutritionist. Meals are ordered via the Kanpla app and paid with a Kanpla Card. Canteen hours are 7:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by the Parents' Association (APE), the legal entity that commits to the AEFE agreement. The AEFE–APE convention frames governance, with the Headmaster representing AEFE and leading school operations. The Management Board, elected by parents for two-year terms, defines policy, approves the annual budget and tuition, and ensures AEFE compliance. The School Council handles pedagogical and educational decisions for both primary and secondary, with separate Primary School Council and student councils (Middle School Council and High School Council) representing parents and students and advising on school life.
Academics

Ecole Franco-Chypriote teaches French Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
The school follows the French curriculum from Nursery through High School. Pupils are prepared for the Diplôme National du Brevet in Year 10 and the Baccalauréat in Years 12-13. Multilingualism is central: students are immersed in French and Greek from Nursery, start English in Primary, and by the end of Key Stage 2 speak French, Greek and English. An English European Section opens in Grade 10 (Seconde) this September, and the school is working toward implementing the French International Baccalaureate (BFI).

Student Teacher Ratio
20 pupils per staff member

Exam Results
100% success rate in the Diplôme National du Brevet; 100% pass rate in the French baccalauréat, including 87% with honors and one student awarded the jury's congratulations.

Higher Education Progression
Most graduates from the AEFE network gain admission to prestigious French Grandes Ecoles and leading international universities. The French Baccalauréat is recognized in many countries and enables studies in France and in other European countries or internationally (United States, Canada).
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school places language learning at the heart of Primary education, with French, Greek, and English taught from early years to foster multilingual communication and cultural openness. The curriculum supports students' participation in choral activities, and a primary school choir exists with opportunities to perform publicly (e.g., in front of the Cypriot parliament in 2023).

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
An inclusive school approach prioritizes students with special educational needs; dedicated staff supervise and support SEN students and design personalised plans with regular follow-up to meet each student's needs.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Language learning has a central role in Primary education, with three languages taught: French, Greek, and English.

Mental Wellbeing
Student wellbeing is a core priority, with an anti-bullying policy and established protocols to identify, report, and address bullying in collaboration with families; additional support is provided for students with special educational needs.

Safeguarding
Governing bodies and school leadership emphasize safeguarding, including safety drills for fire and other risks, and processes to identify students at risk and coordinate with the educational team; anti-bullying policies and wellbeing measures further support safeguarding.
Parent Experience

History
Located in the center of Nicosia on Saint Maron Street in Saint Joseph School's premises, the French School of Nicosia opened its doors. The school changed its name to Ecole Française Arthur Rimbaud and signed its first AEFE agreement. The school celebrated its tenth anniversary; middle and high school classes were created and supervised by CNED. In 2000, the EFC was inaugurated, AEFE accreditation extended to the Baccalauréat, and the Limassol campus opened. As of 2025, about 400 pupils are enrolled in Nicosia and 65 in Limassol, reflecting growth of over 60% since 2024, with a new CM1 class opened and kindergarten capacity nearly full, and multilingualism at the heart of the project as French and Greek instruction continues from nursery and English begins in primary, aiming for trilingual proficiency by the end of Key Stage 2; the AEFE network provides access to programs such as ADN mobility and Orchestre des lycées français du monde.

Community
The school is part of the AEFE network, which brings together nearly 600 schools in 140 countries and provides access to international programs, such as the ADN mobility program and the Orchestre des lycées français du monde. Multilingualism is at the core of the educational project: from Nursery School onward, instruction is in French and Greek, with English starting in primary. The school remains rooted in its local environment and strengthens the bilateral relationship between France and Cyprus.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Two campuses operate in Nicosia and Limassol. Limassol opened in 2000. The school serves Nursery through High School and has around 400 pupils in Nicosia and 65 in Limassol; Kindergarten in Nicosia is almost full. The multilingual program uses French and Greek from Nursery, with English introduced in Primary; by the end of Key Stage 2 pupils are fluent in French, Greek, and English. Nursery facilities include a playground, a motor skills room, and a library.

Academic Facilities
The library (CDI – Documentation and Information Center) is open to all students from nursery to high school and to teachers and staff. The library holds more than 4,000 books and five press subscriptions. The library is the heart of the school's cultural activities, hosting events, clubs, and literary projects. Educational Counselling starts in Year 11 (seconde) with a dedicated Educational Counsellor (PRIO) who guides study choices and coordinates AEFE orientation and higher education counselors. ELCE – European Language and Culture Education – is offered as an English-language and culture elective.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The EFC's choir and orchestra provide opportunities to develop musical skills and participate in projects; The Orchestra of French Schools Worldwide (L'Orchestre des Lycées Français du Monde) enables travel to Brussels for concerts; in 2023 choir students sang before the European Parliament in Strasbourg. A primary school choir exists and performed before the Cypriot parliament in 2023. Clubs and workshops include High School Newspaper, Theater Club, and Bracelet Club, and the library hosts various cultural activities throughout the year. The AEFE network provides access to cultural and sporting initiatives.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school follows the French curriculum from Nursery School through High School and prepares pupils for the Diplôme National du Brevet in Year 10 and the French Baccalauréat in Years 12 and 13. The Headmasters' Welcome notes a 100% Brevet success rate and a 100% Bac pass rate, with 87% of Bac students receiving honors. From Nursery onward, instruction is bilingual in French and Greek, with English introduced in primary; by the end of Key Stage 2 students are fluent in French, Greek, and English. The AEFE network provides educational continuity worldwide and supports multilingual education and international programs.

Arts & Creative
Outside of school hours, EFC offers a diverse range of activities including mini-tennis, choir, European language and culture education, theatre, and dance. The Sports Association runs two-hour basketball sessions on Wednesdays and supports participation in AEFE events such as the Jeux de la Zese and other cross-country and team sports.

Cultural & Language
From Nursery onward, instruction is in French and Greek, with English introduced in primary; by the end of Key Stage 2 students are fluent in French, Greek, and English.

Social & Hobbies
Outside of class, students can join activities such as mini-tennis, choir, theatre, dance, and other clubs; the school's extracurricular offerings include these activities and sport through the Sports Association.

Community & Service
The Parents' Association comprises the parents of all students and is the legal partner that commits to the AEFE agreement; elections are held at the start of each school year to appoint a six-member volunteer executive committee.

Leadership & Professional
Student leadership is provided by the Middle School Council and the High School Council, elected bodies comprising students (with staff and parent representatives) that participate in school life, propose changes, organize activities, and address issues related to school life, including health, sports, and cultural education.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Health Education and Citizenship Education are part of the curriculum, with the Health Education Curriculum addressing student well-being; the High School Council and activities such as sports and clubs also support students' physical and mental well-being.
Languages

Language Provision
Pupils receive instruction in French and Greek from nursery onward. English is introduced in Year 2 (CP). Greek is taught via the Greek-speaking or French-speaking pathway, and in Year 8 a second foreign language (German or Spanish) is chosen. The school follows the French curriculum from Nursery through High School.

Bilingual Teaching
The school provides bilingual education in French and Greek from Nursery School onward. In primary, English is introduced, creating three languages (French, Greek, and English) by the end of Key Stage 2. In secondary, there are two language pathways: the Hellenic-speaking and the French-speaking pathways. In Year 8, students choose a new foreign language (German or Spanish).

Immersion Programs
From Nursery School onward, students are immersed in a multicultural and bilingual environment with instruction in French and Greek. English is introduced in primary, resulting in three languages by Cycle 3. The European Language and Culture English Course (ELCE) offers two hours per week of English with current events and cultural content.
Admissions

Admissions
Admissions are processed online via the Eduka platform for registrations and re-registrations. Online help is accessible via the '?' symbol at the top right of the homepage. For assistance during account creation or registration, contact the school. The school follows the French curriculum from Nursery School through High School and is accredited by the French Ministry of Education and by the Cypriot Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Education. Pupils are prepared to take the Diplôme National du Brevet in Year 10 (3ème) and the Baccalauréat diploma in Year 12 and 13 (première and terminale). From Nursery onward, instruction is in French and Greek, with English introduced in Primary; by the end of Key Stage 2 pupils are fluent in French, Greek, and English.
School Events
The school has not added events
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