Collège Français Bilingue de Londres

Kentish Town, North West London, Camden. 87 Holmes Road, NW5 3AX. The area has good public transport connections and is near Hampstead Heath, Primrose Hill and Regent's Park.

Nursery to Year 10 (ages 3 to 15).

Private independent school under English law; follows the French National Education curriculum (homologation) and offers bilingual education.

Over 60 nationalities represented among 700 pupils aged 3 to 15.

AEFE network; affiliated with France and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Primary day runs Monday–Friday, 8:45 am–3:30 pm (arrive from 8:30 am) with two breaks and lunch; five inset Wednesdays; Secondary runs Monday–Friday with nine 50-minute sessions; arrive from 8:15 am; two breaks (10:15–10:30 and 14:05–14:20) and lunch in multiple time slots.

CFBL offers bilingual French-English education following the French National Curriculum (AEFE homologation). In Primary (PSM to CM2), each class is taught half the time by a native French-speaking teacher and half by a native English-speaking teacher, with 13 hours per language per week and content defined by the two teachers working closely together. Primary English language support is provided by EAL/FLE staff and includes a supplementary English programme to support bilingual learners. In Secondary, from 6ème, there are five hours of English and British culture; Spanish, German and Mandarin are offered as second languages from 6ème, and some non-linguistic subjects are taught entirely in English. At the end of 3ème, pupils move to a French lycée in London (mainly Lycée International Winston Churchill or Lycée Charles de Gaulle) or another school in France or overseas; the Brevet international option is available.

Primary classes are taught 50% in French and 50% in English by native French-speaking and native English-speaking teachers, with 13 hours per language per week. In Secondary, most learning sessions are conducted in groups of 30 pupils, with some subjects taught in smaller groups; up to 40% of teaching time occurs in small groups and there is a SENCO department.

Brevet results are published annually and have been high; in 2024, 63 entered and 63 passed (100%), with a substantial portion categorized as Very Good. iGCSE results are tracked for CFBL students who go on to take iGCSEs at partner Lycées, and those students are reported to be among the highest achievers of their cohort.

CFBL provides Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) to prepare pupils for career pathways in the French, British or international systems, in line with Gatsby Benchmarks and Parcours Avenir. Careers events include university visits, national and higher education fairs, and access to platforms such as ONISEP, UCAS and the National Careers Service. Destinations include French lycées in London, UK higher education institutions and other international destinations.

Gifted and talented pupils are offered differentiated work and may have a PPRE if appropriate.

CFBL places well-being and personal development at the heart of its approach, fostering a welcoming, inclusive community built on mutual trust and respect. The school emphasizes social and emotional growth as part of a bilingual, multicultural education. A dedicated student support team helps pupils with problems, late arrivals, absences, or questions. The team includes a Student Support Coordinator, Education Assistants and Lunch-break Supervisors who monitor pupils in the playground, corridors and lunchtime, and coordinate educational activities. This emphasis on well-being is supported by a caring environment and opportunities beyond academics to develop social and emotional skills.

CFBL has a full-time Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) who works with educational teams and families to develop personalised support plans. In Primary, regular small-group teaching supports literacy and numeracy. In Secondary, learning support is provided for French, Maths and English with sessions in small groups during the school day. For pupils with PPRE, PAP or PPS, termly targets are set, progress meetings are held with parents, and one-to-one support may be provided where appropriate. Gifted and talented pupils are offered differentiated work and a PPRE to ensure appropriate challenge.

In Primary, CFBL has two specialist EAL and FLE teachers to support beginners of English (and French as an additional language). They teach basic vocabulary and sentence structures and collaborate with class teachers to pre-teach vocabulary on topics being studied. In Secondary, the English programme is adapted to the levels and needs of students within non-streamed groups. Some Secondary subjects are taught entirely in English, such as certain non-linguistic areas. CFBL also runs a supplementary English programme in Primary described in Appendix 1.

The Health & Well-being provision includes a School Nurse (Designated First Aid Officer and Designated Safety Officer) who conducts health checks and coordinates care, with a School Doctor available by appointment. A psychologist and a speech therapist are on hand for appointments. Pastoral care is provided by a student support team, including a Student Support Coordinator, Education Assistants and Lunch-break Supervisors, who monitor pupils and coordinate educational activities. The school has a full-time SENCO who coordinates targeted support for pupils with additional needs. This integrated approach supports pupils' mental wellbeing alongside their academic progress.

CFBL follows a comprehensive safeguarding framework with a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Deputy DSLs (two DDSLs) to oversee day-to-day safeguarding. There are two nominated safeguarding governors who provide oversight and liaise with the DSL. Staff receive safeguarding and child protection training, with regular updates and annual reporting to the governing body. The school works within Camden multi‑agency safeguarding arrangements and cross‑agency procedures, and safeguarding considerations are integrated into policy development and practice. Records are kept securely and transferred appropriately when a pupil moves to another setting. The governing body ensures compliance with relevant statutory guidance and regulations.

1. Step 1 Completing our online form: To apply for a place at CFBL, fill out the online application form. Apply as soon as online applications open to ensure the best availability of places, particularly for the Early Years. Families provide details about the child and parents or legal guardians, and pay the £200 non-refundable application fee.

2. Step 2: Decision of the admissions committee: The Admissions Committee meets regularly (about once per month) to allocate places. The first Admissions Committee considers applications submitted from the start of applications (early October) and allocates places according to oversubscription criteria: Priority 1: children of staff members; Priority 2: children who have a sibling registered at CFBL; Priority 3: children who has at least one parent working for one of the KTECT companies, who contributed financially to the foundation of the school; Priority 4: children from a homologuée school established in the United Kingdom transferring at the end of the schooling offered by said school; Priority 5: Pupils transferring from a school recognised by the AEFE or the MLF established in the UK; Priority 6: Pupils transferring from a school recognised by the AEFE or the MLF established outside the UK; Priority 7: Pupils transferring from a school accredited by the Ministry of Education established in France or pupils who have followed CNED. Once all applications with oversubscription criteria have been dealt with, if there are any places left to allocate, they are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The second Admissions Committee takes into account the oversubscription criteria of applications submitted between October and December, and allocates any remaining places on a first-come, first-served basis, and so on. Admissions committees (for 2026-2027 applications): 1. 1st committee: Tuesday 11th November 2025 (application cut-off to be considered in this committee: Wednesday 5 November at 11.59pm) 2) 2nd committee: Wednesday 3rd December 2025 (application cut-off to be considered in this committee: Sunday 30th November at 11.59pm).

3. Step 3: Registration: Families will be informed of the outcome of the admissions committee (by email) within 4 working days, whether they are offered a place or not. If you are offered a place, please complete in EDUKA: Sign Acceptance form, Fill in Registration form, Submit all requested documentation (passports, birth certificate or French family book, proof of address, visa and exit certificate if applicable), and pay the registration fee and an advance on the first term's school fees, both non-refundable. Once these conditions have been met, the registration will be confirmed. This process must be finalised by the deadline in the offer letter, otherwise the school reserves the right to offer the place to another family. If you are not offered a place, unless you cancel your application, it will be taken into account at every subsequent Admissions Committee during the current school year. Please note that your application will not be carried over to the following school year. Families who have been unsuccessful in securing a place during the current school year will have to apply again the following school year, from October onwards.

French consulate: Means-tested bursary for French citizens on the French consulate's register; deadlines may differ from CFBL's; contact the French consulate if needed. French Scholarship Foundation: Provides financial support for school fees to families facing temporary financial hardship and supports CFBL and LIL Winston Churchill; online application; impartial and confidential; more information on FSF website. FECT Scholarships: CFBL offers FECT scholarships to 6ème students to reduce tuition fees for secondary years; four types: Excellence, Sports, CFBL Music and Arts, CFBL Merit; funded by KT Educational Charitable Trust; full details and application process available on CFBL site. Parents' Association (APC): Provides financial assistance including computer loan and one-off grants for trips and help with SEN diagnostic fees; more information on APC website.