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Ecole Bilingue

United Kingdom, London

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The school at a glance
Instructs in French, English
Fees £13,995 - 18,126
Ages 3 - 11 years
Pupil numbers 124
Type Co-educational
Opened 2004
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum French Curriculum
Taught languages French, English
Strengths Sport, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School
Introduction

Ecole Bilingue is a secular bilingual primary school in west London delivering the French national curriculum through a French-English immersion program. Located at St David's Welsh Church, St Mary's Terrace, London W2 1SJ, it serves children aged 3 to 11 (Nursery to CM2). Founded in 2004 by Véronique Ferreira and Franck Laurans, it is AEFE-affiliated and approved by the French Ministry of Education, with continuity into CM2-6eme. The school offers half-day instruction in each language; Nursery PS includes French with daily English, MS/GS are bilingual, and CP–CM2 are bilingual. The 36-week calendar runs September to June in a non-religious environment, with parents able to follow French, British, or US curricula. Facilities include three blocks, Smartboards in all classrooms, a bilingual library, on-site catering, and about 20 iPads. Students use Little Venice Leisure Centre and Nuffield Paddington pool for sport. The Parents Association (APEB) and ClassDojo/Padlet support the school community.

St David's Welsh Church, St Mary's Terrace, London W2 1SJ, United Kingdom

The Essentials

Ecole Bilingue has 124 pupils, instruction in French, English.

Location
London, United Kingdom. Registered office at St David's Welsh Church, St Mary's Terrace, London W2 1SJ. Since 2004, L'école bilingue provides non-religious education for children aged 3 to 11 and offers bilingual instruction in French and English. The calendar runs September to June (36 weeks) following the French school year.

Stages
Nursery and Elementary. Nursery: Petite Section (PS) aged 3-4 with French plus English lessons 1/2 hour per day; Moyenne Section (MS) aged 4-5; Grande Section (GS) aged 5-6. Elementary: CP, CE1, CE2, CM1, CM2, all bilingual French-English.

Country affiliation
France (AEFE partner); approved by the French Department for Education.

Religious affiliation
Non-religious.

School day structure
Open September to June (36 weeks). French and English teachers teach half a day in each class and swap at lunchtime. Lunch is cooked and served on site between 12:00 and 12:30. Pupils have 30 minutes of sport daily and 1 hour of music per week.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Lunch is cooked and served on site; a school catering service is provided. Nursery lunch is served on site from 12:00 to 12:30; Elementary lunch is served on site from 11:30 to 12:45.

Governance and Ownership
The school is an independent school approved by the French Department for Education and is a partner of AEFE.
Fees

Annual tuition at Ecole Bilingue ranges from GBP 13,995 to GBP 18,126 for 2026/27.

Application and registration fees

- Application fee: GBP 120 (payable at time of application).
- First registration fee (to secure an offered place): GBP 720 (non‑refundable).

Tuition fees (per term) and annual totals (per academic year)

- Maternelle (Nursery) tuition: GBP 4,665 per term (plus 20% VAT). Annual total (three terms): GBP 13,995 (plus 20% VAT on each term). Sibling rate: GBP 4,432 per term (plus 20% VAT); annual sibling total: GBP 13,296 (plus VAT).

- Elémentaire (Elementary) tuition (CP–CM2): GBP 5,035 per term (plus 20% VAT). Annual total (three terms): GBP 15,105 (plus 20% VAT on each term). Sibling rate: GBP 4,783 per term (plus 20% VAT); annual sibling total: GBP 14,349 (plus VAT).

Optional and additional fees

- Lunch (optional): GBP 313 per term (VAT exempt). Annual total for lunch (three terms): GBP 939.
- Extras: clothing and equipment (uniform and kit), photographs, charges for educational visits, extra tuition, and costs for damage or bank charges are treated as separate "Extras" and may be billed in addition to tuition.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Academic year structure: three school terms (Autumn, Spring, Summer). Fees for each term are due as cleared funds on the schedule below.
- Payment deadlines: Fees for each term are due and payable in cleared funds before the last day of May for the Autumn Term, before the last day of October for the Spring Term, and before the last day of February for the Summer Term. Confirming a place requires payment of the first term in advance by May prior to the start of the school year.
- Instalments: payment by instalments is available only by separate written agreement with the school.
- Late payment: the school may charge simple interest on overdue fees (up to 1% per month) and may exclude a pupil for overdue fees; exclusion and long non‑payment can create a liability for a Term's Fees in lieu of Notice.

Refunds, cancellations and notice

- Registration and application fees are retained by the school and are non‑refundable.
- Generally, tuition fees are not refunded or reduced except where there is a legal obligation to do so. In the event of withdrawal without the required Term's Written Notice, Parents remain liable for a full Term's Fees in lieu of Notice unless the place is filled immediately without loss to the school. Short‑notice cancellations after acceptance can result in fees already paid being non‑refundable.

Fee payment options and bank details (used for registration and fee payments)

- Payments are required as cleared funds to the school bank account. Bank transfer is used for registration and fee payments; account details given for payments are as follows:
- LLOYDS BANK PLC, Threadneedle Street Branch, 39 Threadneedle Street, London EC2R 8AU.
- IBAN: GB86 LOYD 3065 4135 6814 68.
- BIC: LOYDGB21682.
- Sort code: 30‑65‑41.
- Account number: 35681468.
- Payments by a third party do not release Parents from liability if the third party defaults. The school may request proof of payer identity for anti‑money laundering purposes. Accepted alternative methods (credit/debit card or cheque) are not specified as standard; any alternative arrangements must be agreed with the school.

VAT and tax treatment

- Published tuition figures above are shown with 20% VAT to be added ("+20% VAT"). Lunch is shown as VAT exempt. Parents should allow for VAT to be added to tuition where indicated.

Boarding

- L'Ecole Bilingue is a day primary school; no boarding provision is offered.

Administrative and contractual notes (fees‑related)

- A legally binding contract for tuition and fees is formed by the letter of offer, the acceptance form and the school's fees list; payment obligations, notice requirements and the school's terms and conditions govern fee liabilities, refunds and disputes. Instalment plans, where offered, require a separate written agreement.

(Fees listed above correspond to the published schedule for the 2026/27 academic year as provided in the school's 2026–2027 fees information.)
Academics

Ecole Bilingue teaches French Curriculum for students aged 3 to 11.

Curriculum
The school teaches the French national curriculum. It uses bilingual French-English immersion, with French and English teachers teaching half a day in each class, and a 36-week calendar from September to June. Since 2004, it has educated children aged 3 to 11 in a non-religious environment, with students able to pursue schooling in either the French or English systems, and parents may choose between French, British, and US curricula. Nursery and Elementary sections are bilingual: Nursery includes Petite Section (PS) with French and English lessons; Moyenne Section (MS) and Grande Section (GS) are bilingual; Elementary includes CP through CM2 with bilingual French-English instruction. The school is approved by the French Department for Education, is AEFE-affiliated, and ensures continuity of education into the French secondary system (CM2-6eme).
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school prioritizes a safe, caring, and happy environment for students. Children come first and the priority is to deliver high quality bilingual education in that environment. Well-being is supported through a nurturing atmosphere and attentive staff. Pupil activities include daily sport and weekly music, contributing to social and emotional development. The school operates from September to June, following the French school year calendar with 36 teaching weeks.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school uses both French and English in its curriculum as part of a bilingual program. In Nursery PS, French is taught with English lessons for 1/2 hour per day. In Moyenne Section (MS) and Grande Section (GS), classes are bilingual in French and English. French and English teachers teach half a day in each class and swap at lunchtime. The school teaches in both French and English.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is prioritized in a safe and caring environment. The staff are attentive to the well-being and development of children. The small, supportive atmosphere fosters emotional security. The bilingual setting supports confidence and social integration. Regular routines and activities such as sport and music contribute to mental wellbeing.

Safeguarding
The school provides a safe environment with a focus on children's safety and well-being. The team includes 21 qualified staff dedicated to the welfare and safety of children. The school is homologated by the French National Education system and is a partner of AEFE, ensuring alignment with safeguarding and educational standards. The secular nature of the school in London supports consistent child protection principles.
Parent Experience

History
The Ecole Bilingue was founded in September 2004 by Véronique Ferreira and Franck Laurans, who are the owners. Véronique Ferreira is the pedagogical director and Franck Laurans is the administrative director. The school is a French national education establishment approved by the French Ministry of Education and a partner of AEFE. It aims to provide secular, high-quality education in a small, family-like and welcoming environment, with early immersion helping children acquire or maintain a second language and develop openness to the world. The teaching team comprises 21 qualified staff whose primary concern is the well-being, safety and development of the children.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The school has a Parents Association (Association des Parents).
Facilities

Facilities Overview
West London's Paddington/Little Venice area hosts L'école bilingue on the grounds of St David's Welsh Church, St Mary's Terrace, London W2 1SJ. The school comprises three blocks: the outdoor space with a playground and garden; the old church (Ground floor/Elementary: 5 classes, a multipurpose room, kitchen, teachers' room/First aid, storage, and toilets for girls, boys and adults); the floor for Kindergarten (3 classes, a multipurpose room, kitchenette, preparation area, storage, and child-sized toilets); and the former Vicarage, housing a bilingual library, meeting room and the headteacher's office. All pupils stay on site for lunch and a catering service is provided. All classrooms are equipped with Smartboards and about 20 iPads circulate across the classes. Weekly access to Little Venice Leisure Centre supports sports, and the Nuffield Paddington swimming pool (Sheldon Square) is used weekly by Elementaire pupils.

Sports Facilities
The school has outdoor space comprising a playground and garden. It is located near Little Venice Leisure Centre and the Nuffield Paddington swimming pool, which are used weekly by pupils for physical education.

Academic Facilities
The premises include a bilingual library, a meeting room and a management office in the old Vicarage. The site features three blocks: the ground floor Elementary area and the Kindergarten floor with multiple classrooms and multipurpose spaces, a kitchen and canteen, and all classrooms equipped with Smartboards. About 20 iPads circulate among the classes. A school catering service provides meals on-site.

Extra Curricular Facilities
The school has a parents' association, APEB, which manages extracurricular activities. Communication with families is conducted via CLASSDOJO and a dedicated Padlet.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school teaches the curriculum set by the French Ministry of Education. The primary school ends at age 11 within the French, English and American educational systems, and parents may follow their child's schooling in any of the three systems. An evaluation booklet, aligned with the French programs and issued at the end of each semester, shows progress. Bilingualism is pursued by immersion, with instruction delivered through both languages and subjects taught in French and English.

Arts & Creative
The timetable includes a weekly music lesson taught by a specialist.

Cultural & Language
Bilingualism by immersion means the program is taught through the languages, i.e., language is the medium of instruction. The kindergarten has three classes: Petite Section 3-4 years, French with 30 minutes of English per day; Moyenne 4-5 years, and Grande Section 5-6 years, bilingual. The elementary section comprises five classes: CP 6-7, CE1 7-8, CE2 8-9, CM1 9-10, CM2 10-11, all bilingual French-English.

Social & Hobbies
Students have two sport sessions per week, including swimming, gymnastics and team sports such as athletics. They also benefit from a daily 30-minute motor activity period.

Community & Service
The school is homologated by the French National Education and is a partner of AEFE. The educational team consists of 21 qualified staff. There is a Parents Association (APEB) for the school community. The school was created in September 2004 by Véronique Ferreira and Franck Laurans, who lead the school and administrative operations.

Leadership & Professional
Véronique Ferreira is the head of pedagogy and Franck Laurans is the administrative director. The educational team comprises 21 qualified staff. They can be contacted via the school email.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Students have a daily 30-minute motor activity. They receive one hour of singing and music per week with a specialist teacher. Physical activity occurs twice a week, including swimming, gymnastics and team sports.
Languages

Language Provision
Languages taught are French and English. Nursery Petite Section is French with English lessons (1/2 hour per day). Moyenne Section and Grande Section are bilingual French-English. Elementary CP–CM2 is bilingual French-English. French and English teachers teach half a day in each language and swap at lunchtime.

Bilingual Teaching
The school provides bilingual education in French and English. French and English teachers teach half a day in each class, swapping at lunchtime. The Nursery sections PS, MS, and GS are taught in a French-English mix, with MS and GS described as bilingual. Pupils can pursue schooling in either the French or English systems.

Immersion Programs
Bilingual education by immersion is used. The regular curriculum is taught through the medium of language, with French and English used to teach different subjects. This approach helps pupils develop proficiency in both languages.
Admissions

Admissions
1) Admission conditions: Children of all nationalities, all religions and all ethnicities are welcome at L'Ecole Bilingue from September, starting at age 3. The only priorities are given to siblings (current or former students), to former students returning to the school, and to children of staff. Registrations are confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis according to the order of receipt of the registration forms. Parents commit to maintaining at home the use of the two languages of instruction in any form (babysitter, nanny, music, art, sports, etc.).

2) Tuition fees and registration procedure: Tuition Fees 2016-2017: Pre-registration £120 (VAT included); First registration £720 (VAT included). Tuition: Nursery £4,665 (+20% VAT) per term; siblings £4,432 (+20% VAT) per term. Elementary £5,035 (+20% VAT) per term; siblings £4,783 (+20% VAT) per term. Canteen (optional): £313 per term (VAT-exempt).

3) Registration procedure: 1) To register and archive data about your child, return the completed registration form to L'Ecole Bilingue, St David's Welsh Church, St Mary's Terrace, London, W21SJ, accompanied by a £120 transfer to L'Ecole Bilingue, Lloyds Bank PLC, Threadneedle Street Branch, 39 Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AU; IBAN GB86 LOYD 3065 4135 6814 68; BIC LOYDGB21682; Sort code 30-65-41; Account number 35681468. 2) Families are contacted from January preceding the start when a place is available. 3) To confirm your child's place, pay the first term of tuition in May preceding the start (having previously read the school's internal regulations); a completed registration form does not guarantee a place. 4) L'Ecole Bilingue accepts registration forms only after the child's birth. 5) If a place is not obtained by 31 May preceding the start, renew interest after that date; there is no need to submit a new registration form. 6) In case of last-minute withdrawal (less than one term in advance), tuition fees paid will not be refunded. 7) Please note that due to the large number of applications, waiting list positions are no longer communicated.

4) Accreditations: L'Ecole Bilingue is approved by the French National Education and is a partner of AEFE. In the London context this guarantees continuity of schooling in the French education system at the end of the proposed schooling (CM2-6ème liaison).

5) The educational team: L'Ecole Bilingue was created in September 2004 by Véronique Ferreira and Franck Laurans, who are the owners. Véronique Ferreira is the educational director; Franck Laurans is the administrative director. They can be contacted via the school's email. The team consists of 21 qualified, energetic and attentive staff whose primary concern is the well-being, safety and development of the children.

Waitlist
Due to the high volume of applications, waiting list positions are no longer communicated.
School Events
The school has not added events
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