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Lycée Français de Bilbao

Spain, Bilbao

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The school at a glance
Instructs in French, Spanish, English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 2 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 833
Type Co-educational
Opened 1933
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum French Curriculum
Taught languages French, Spanish, English, German
Typical class size 20
Strengths Sport, Languages, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Lycée Français de Bilbao is a private French international school in Zamudio near Bilbao, serving ages 2 to 18. The curriculum is French with plurilingual education in French, Spanish, English and Basque. It offers the Baccalauréat Français International in two pathways, trilanguage and quadrilingual, with language targets B2 in two languages for trilanguage and B1/B2 in C for quadrilingual. The European English program, launched in 2023, provides history-geography and mathematics in English from 6e to 2nde, with PARLE recognition. An official dual diploma in French and Spanish supports university access worldwide, alongside active pedagogy and modern facilities. The campus includes libraries, laboratories, technology spaces, dedicated dining rooms, a gym and outdoor play areas. Extracurriculars cover sports, arts and creative activities, and technology clubs, with partnerships through the Association des familles d'élèves. The school promotes citizenship and intercultural understanding, and provides age-group libraries and a nutritionist to support dietary needs today.

Galbarriatu, 10, 48170 Zamudio, Biscay, Spain

The Essentials

Lycée Français de Bilbao has 833 pupils, typical class sizes of 20, instruction in French, Spanish, English.

Location
Barrio de Galbarriatu, 10, 48170 Zamudio, Bizkaia, Spain. Zamudio is part of the Bilbao metropolitan area in the Basque Country. The Lycée Français de Bilbao operates a bus network with 11 routes across the Greater Bilbao area, including Getxo, Gorliz, and Castro.

Stages
Maternelle (nursery/preschool, including TPS for age 2) and maternelle up to 6, Primary (6–11), Collège (11–15), Lycée (15–18).

Type
French international school affiliated with the AEFE network (France) in Zamudio near Bilbao.

Additional learning support
A multidisciplinary wellbeing team supports students, including a Conseillère principale d'éducation (CPE), a school psychologist, and a nurse.

Country affiliation
AEFE network (France).

School day structure
School day hours are 8:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday.

Bus service
Bus service with 11 routes across the Greater Bilbao area (from Getxo to Gorliz and Castro), with two daily schedules: one serving secondary students and morning care, the other serving nursery/primary students and after-school activities; service overseen by a Transport Committee and provided by a transport company.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are mandatory for all students from preschool (PS) through 9th grade (3ème). PE uniform is required for PE classes; students with PE at 08:00 may arrive in sportswear and must switch to the uniform after class. The uniform includes grey trousers, white shirts or polos, and green sweaters or school sweatshirts with green socks; girls may wear a grey skirt or pants; a blue-and-white check blouse is required up to CE1.

Food Options
Daily meals are prepared on site by the catering team and tailored to the students' ages. A nutritionist works with the catering provider to ensure balanced menus and to accommodate allergies or dietary needs in coordination with the school nurse. Lunchtime is part of the learning journey; a Nutrition Committee with students, teachers, parents, administration and kitchen staff meets regularly to improve the service, and the dining service has earned the AENOR Comedor Sostenible certification.

Governance and Ownership
The Lycée Français de Bilbao is integrated into a worldwide network of around 600 educational establishments. The School Council, presided by the director of the primary school, includes 15 parent representatives and meets at least quarterly to advise on primary and kindergarten matters and help develop the establishment project. The Establishment Council, presided by the principal, includes representatives from all school community members (four parent representatives at LFB) and meets at least quarterly to adopt the establishment project, internal regulations, schedules and calendar, and to advise on staffing and the budget. Documents related to governance are available for download via Eduka.
Fees

Annual tuition at Lycée Français de Bilbao ranges from EUR 0 for 2026/27.

Annual tuition at Lycée Français de Bilbao ranges from EUR 6,328 to EUR 7,401 depending on year group. That works out at roughly EUR 6,328 for the early years, EUR 6,328 to EUR 6,794 for primary, EUR 6,794 to EUR 7,401 for secondary, EUR 7,401 for sixth form. Billing is governed by the school's Financial Regulations and Tariffs; the exact invoice timing, number of instalments, due dates and late-payment penalties are defined in the F... 20% on tuition for the third child; 30% for the fourth child; 40% for the fifth child.
Academics

Lycée Français de Bilbao teaches French Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum
The Lycée Français de Bilbao provides a plurilingual education in French, Spanish, English and Basque. It offers the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI). The BFI is available in two programs, trilingual and quadrilingual, to strengthen language skills and broaden the students' international perspective. Access to the BFI requires language level targets: B2 in language A and B for the trililingual pathway, and B1/B2 in language C for the quadrilingual pathway. The European English program, launched in September 2023, provides history-geography and mathematics taught in English from 6e to 2nde, and AEFE has awarded the PARLE distinction to this program, enabling the European English section mention on the final diploma. The school emphasizes active pedagogy and offers a official dual diploma in French and Spanish, with the aim of ensuring access to top universities worldwide.

Higher Education Progression
Access to top universities worldwide.
Parent Experience

History
Founded in 1933 as the Escuelas Francesas de Bilbao, the Lycée Français de Bilbao is a private international school created by a group of French residents in Bilbao, led by industrialist Jean Laffontan until 1963. His son-in-law Gabriel Jobbe-Duval succeeded him, and his grandson Antoine Jobbe-Duval is the current President of the Management Committee. The school is part of the Iberian network of 26 French establishments and is recognized by France–Spain bilateral agreements: the Convention of February 7, 1969 (ratified in 1977) and Royal Decree 806/93 of 1993; since 1990 the Management Committee has signed a Convention with AEFE, under the supervision of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The school moved from Indautxu to Deusto after the Civil War, returned to Bilbao in the 1950s with the introduction of secondary education, and in 1968 established the current campus at Barrio de Galbarriatu, Zamudio. It educates children from age 2 through Terminale and emphasizes multicultural and multilingual education and citizenship.

Community
The LFB educational community aims to foster an inclusive, collaborative, and respectful learning environment where students, teachers, staff, and families work together toward common goals. It emphasizes the holistic development of students, including values, social and emotional skills, and promotes dialogue, respect for diversity, and critical thinking. It includes programs such as the Alumni network, the AFA, and the Family School to support a connected, active community.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The AFA is a non-profit association that groups the families of Lycée Français de Bilbao students. The AFA maintains regular exchanges with the school's management and represents the voice of each family in all matters related to their children's education. Its Board of Directors is composed of a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and board members. The Board is elected every four years at a General Assembly.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The main building houses primary and secondary students, along with administrative and management services. The infants' building has been expanded and renovated to provide modern, bright, and safe facilities for all activities. Three libraries serve different age groups—the children's library for ages 2-5, the BCD for ages 6-10, and the CDI for ages 11-18—managed by two librarian teachers who collaborate with staff on age-appropriate projects. Four independent dining rooms accommodate students by age, with a daily healthy menu prepared in the school kitchens and a nutritionist available to support dietary needs. A covered courtyard and a gym on site, along with laboratories, technology spaces, and outdoor play areas, support both learning and recreation.

Sports Facilities
The gymnasium is on site and forms a core part of the sports facilities. The campus includes a large outdoor courtyard and a playing field for outdoor games and physical education. In the main building, dedicated sports facilities are available to support physical education lessons and sporting activities. A range of sports spaces is accessible to students across all levels, as highlighted in the virtual tour of the campus.

Academic Facilities
Laboratories provide scientific spaces for experiments and investigations. Libraries offer study and research resources across age groups. Technology spaces support digital learning and various technical projects. Three libraries serve different age groups: the children's library for ages 2-5, the BCD for ages 6-10, and the CDI for ages 11-18, managed by two librarian teachers who collaborate with teachers on age-appropriate projects.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Thanks to its extracurricular activities program, developed in collaboration with the Association of Families of Students (AFA), the Lycée Français de Bilbao offers a wide range of sports, creative, and technological activities that provide additional balance and well-being, nourish growing passions, and allow students to experience new things. Better expression, interaction with others, developing creativity and pushing themselves are skills that students can acquire and develop fully outside the classroom. All activities offered by the school are supervised by experienced instructors and are open to students from kindergarten to high school. The adventure continues with holiday campuses, with themed and sports activities during vacation periods and holiday camps for students and families.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Arts & Creative
The school offers creative activities as part of its extracurricular program.

Social & Hobbies
The school provides activities that help students express themselves, interact with others, develop creativity, and challenge themselves outside the classroom.

Community & Service
The extracurricular activities program is developed in collaboration with the Association des familles d'élèves (AFA).

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school offers sports and technological activities that provide balance and well-being; all activities are supervised by experienced instructors and are open to students from kindergarten through high school; holiday camps with themed and sports activities are offered during vacation periods for students and their families.
Languages

Language Provision
The school teaches French, Spanish, English and Basque. BFI (French International Baccalaureate) is offered. There is an official double diploma in French and Spanish. An European English Programme is available.

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers multilingual education. Languages taught include French, Spanish, English, and Basque. It provides the BFI (French International Baccalaureate) and an official double diploma in French and Spanish. The school welcomes students from age two.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Welcome to the Lyce9e Frane7ais de Bilbao admissions area. Please complete all fields in the enrollment form so our team can start the enrollment process. If you have any questions or inquiries during the process, we can assist you by telephone, email, or WhatsApp. We are here to help.

2. The school is located at Barrio de Galbarriatu, 10, 48170 Zamudio, Bizkaia. Office hours are 8:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday. You can reach us during these hours for assistance.

3. Family links are available: Eduka, Pronote, AFA, the French international School portal, e-sidoc, AEFE, and the school calendar. These resources are listed under Enlaces para las familias in the admissions area. They provide access to key information and communications related to the school.

Scholarships
The Lyce9e Frane7ais de Bilbao has a solidarity fund to provide temporary assistance to families in need. In addition, students with French nationality may apply for a scholarship from the Government of France. All information regarding eligibility, calendar, procedures to follow, creation and submission of the application is available at the Consulate General of France in Madrid. The Consulate handles scholarship applications which are awarded by AEFE.
School Events
The school has not added events
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