Ecole Francaise de Bristol

United Kingdom, Bristol

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The school at a glance

Instructs in French

Fees Fees not listed

Ages 1 - 16 years

Pupil numbers 250

Type Co-educational

Opened 1980

Bus Service No

Availability Not shared by this school

Academic offering

Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), French Curriculum

Taught languages French

Strengths Outdoor Education, Languages, Academic Enrichment

Clubs Social and Hobbies, Cultural and Language, Community and Service

Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Preschool, Primary School, Secondary School

Introduction

Located at The Fonthill Centre in north Bristol, Ecole Francaise de Bristol teaches French and English within an immersion framework for children aged 1 to 16. The Early Years Foundation Stage and a bespoke French Education Nationale-inspired curriculum support reading, writing and grammar in French, with a focus on four tenses, across three cycles: Reception/Grande Section, CP–CE2, and CM1–CM2. By CM2, pupils are prepared for Secondary and GCSE pathways. Class sizes are small and resources reflect French culture through events and partnerships. The school is a member of the AEFE network and operates as a non-profit charity with funding from fees, not French government subsidies. The campus features bright, purpose-built classrooms, a garden, and year-round access to a dedicated Early Years area with its own outdoor space and a vegetable patch, plus a primary/secondary block with reading corners and interactive whiteboards. Outdoor play, weekly yoga and other activities support wellbeing. Extra features include native-language support (Français Langue Maternelle), exchanges with France, and family-led activities via the PTA.

ecolefrancaisedebristol.com

Gallery

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Vibes and Culture

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The Essentials

Location

35 Stanton Road, The Fonthill Centre, Southmead, Bristol BS10 5SJ, United Kingdom. The school operates from The Fonthill Centre in the Southmead area of Bristol. It is accessible by local bus routes and is part of a residential neighborhood with nearby amenities.

Stages

Maternelle / Preschool; Primary Day Release for bilingual children (Reception–Year 6) with Garderie wraparound. Secondary: French GCSE preparation with Saturday morning class.

Additional learning support

The school has a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) to support pupils with additional needs. From September 2026, the SENCO is Fanny LUMB; inquiries can be sent to SENCO@ecolefrancaisedebristol.org.

Country affiliation

AEFE network member.

School day structure

Maternelle runs Monday to Friday in a French immersion context. Primary Day Release runs 9:00–15:30 with Garderie before 8:00–9:00 and after 15:30–17:30; Secondary learners attend a Saturday French GCSE preparation class from 9:30–11:30, with a Thursday after-school French club from 16:45–17:45.

Diving Deeper

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Fees

Application / Registration fees and deposits
- Annual registration fee for new pupils: GBP 50 per child. Re-registration fee: GBP 25 per child.
- Deposits: when a place is offered an invoice is issued (typically for one‑third of the fees for the first term for day‑release and preschool places); this invoice is payable within 15 days to secure the place. Deposits are not transferable and are non‑refundable if the child does not take up the place.

Tuition and session fees by year group / service (per published fee schedules)
- Maternelle / Preschool (age range for preschool classes):
- Daily full‑day care (8:00–17:30) without a funded session: GBP 95.00 per day.
- Daily full‑day care (8:00–17:30) with a funded session plus wraparound care: GBP 37.00 per day (this breaks down as Funded session £0 + French Programme Premium £18 + Wraparound care £19).
- Funded session (9:00–16:30) without wraparound care: GBP 18.00 per day (French Programme Premium).
- Weekly examples (full day care, no funded sessions): 2 days £190; 3 days £285; 4 days £380; 5 days £475 (total weekly costs shown in the fee schedule).
- French Programme Premium (activity fee) for funded‑hours registrations: examples in the schedule include £36, £54, £72 depending on the pattern of funded hours; optional wraparound care at £19 per day with funded hours.

- Primary Day‑Release classes (Français Langue Maternelle) — Reception (Grande Section) through Year 6 (CM2+):
- Day‑release tuition (Tuesday–Friday, 09:00–15:30): GBP 573.00 per term (same termly rate applied across Reception to Year 6 day‑release places in the published schedule).
- Garderie (wraparound) termly fees for regular bookings: AM (08:00–09:00) termly cost GBP 91.00; PM (15:30–17:30) termly cost GBP 143.00. Ad hoc garderie bookings: GBP 9 per morning session, GBP 12 per afternoon session (invoiced separately).
- Prorated calculation: if a child enrols after the start of term and misses more than two days, a prorated daily charge of GBP 44 per remaining day in the term is used to calculate fees.

- Saturday clubs / after‑school language classes (primary foreign‑language clubs and secondary Saturday GCSE preparation):
- Saturday and after‑school classes operate as separate class services; fee details for specific Saturday or after‑school clubs are given in the individual class information letters. (Primary and secondary classes are offered on Saturday mornings and Thursday afternoons/after‑school as described for each class.)

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Maternelle / Preschool invoicing: all preschool fees are invoiced termly, split into three instalments invoiced on the first day of the month; the published payment schedule shows the three dates for each term (example instalment dates are shown in the preschool fee document). Families are strongly encouraged to set up a standing order.
- Day‑release invoicing: day‑release tuition fees are invoiced in advance in monthly instalments on the first day of each month; the published schedule shows three payment dates per term (the schedule is adjusted for registrations part‑way through a term). Termly Garderie fees for regular bookings are invoiced in advance on the dates shown in the fee schedule.
- Payment deadlines and late payment: invoices must be paid according to the schedule; the school will not accept pupils whose fees/charges have not been paid within 28 days and may refer outstanding sums to a debt collection agency. No credit is given if a child leaves before the end of term; fees are payable for the whole term (even where payment is made in instalments).

Boarding / residential provision
- No boarding or residential provision is offered; the school operates as a preschool/day school with day‑release and Saturday/after‑school class services. No boarding fees apply.

Other costs and additional charges
- Snacks, supplies and lunches: preschool and day‑release fees include mid‑morning (and where applicable mid‑afternoon) snacks and general school supplies; parents supply packed lunches and nappies/wipes as required.
- Activity / French Programme Premium: where funded sessions are used, a French Programme Premium (activity fee) applies; example amounts in the schedule include GBP 36, GBP 54 and GBP 72 depending on the pattern of funded hours.
- Ad hoc bookings and extras: ad hoc garderie sessions are charged at GBP 9 (morning) and GBP 12 (afternoon). Occasional extra preschool days bookable subject to availability are charged at the daily full‑day rate (GBP 95 per day for non‑funded days).
- Discounts: a 5% discount is applied for families with three children registered at the school.
- Uniform: no school uniform fee is listed in the published fee documents for the services covered by the school's fee schedules.

Refunds, cancellations and late/penalty charges
- Cancellation and notice: written notice deadlines apply for withdrawing a place (dates/deadlines are specified in the terms and conditions); de‑registration deadlines are set by the school for each term. If a child is de‑registered during the year a new enrolment is required to resume attendance. No credit is given if a child leaves mid‑term; fees remain payable for the whole term.
- Class cancellations and refunds: if a class cannot be covered by supply staff and must be cancelled, a full refund is given for each cancelled session that parents have paid for.
- Late collection charges: a late collection charge of GBP 15 is applied from the second instance of late collection, charged for every half‑hour or part thereof. For funded preschool places repeated late collection can lead to withdrawal of the funded place and charges equivalent to full‑day care may be applied.

Fee payment options and banking details (published options)
- Payment methods accepted: bank transfer is accepted for all fees; childcare vouchers are accepted for day‑release and wraparound care fees where eligible. Payments from Tax‑Free Childcare accounts (HMRC “Tax‑Free Childcare”) can be accepted for Garderie fees but not for day‑release tuition fees. The school lists childcare voucher providers it accepts (Computershare, Edenred, Sodexo) and provides a Lloyds bank account for transfers. Standing orders are recommended.

Summary notes for parents (practical points)
- Registration: a completed online registration form and payment of the registration fee and deposit are required to secure a place.
- Invoicing frequency: preschool fees are invoiced termly in three instalments; day‑release tuition is invoiced in monthly instalments on the first of each month with termly payment dates shown in the published schedule.
- Discounts, bursaries and government schemes: a 5% sibling discount is available for families with three children; bursary/financial assistance schemes and government childcare schemes (Tax‑Free Childcare, childcare vouchers, Working Tax Credits/Universal Credit) are referenced in the school's financial assistance guidance and eligibility conditions apply.

Academics

Curriculum

The school offers a bespoke programme based on the French Education Nationale curriculum within an immersion context. It enables bilingual children to develop competence in reading and writing in French, with a focus on grammar, conjugation and spelling. The curriculum is structured across three cycles: Cycle des apprentissages premiers (Reception / Grande Section); Cycle des apprentissages fondamentaux (CP, CE1 and CE2); Cycle de consolidation de la langue (CM1 to CM2). Students focus on speaking, writing and comprehension in French, with emphasis on four tenses (imperfect, present, future and perfect). At the end of CM2, children are ready for Secondary/GCSE classes. Resources are chosen to reflect French culture through major cultural events in France and French-speaking countries throughout the year. Class sizes are kept small.

Student Teacher Ratio

Small class sizes.

Wellbeing

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Parent Experience

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Facilities

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Extra-Curricular Activities

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Languages

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Reputation

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Admissions

1) Registration of Interest. Parents fill an online Registration of Interest form with the desired start date, preferred attendance days, and funding/wraparound care needs. ROI forms for Term 1 admissions are processed first, and current preschool pupils are guaranteed re-enrolment until 25 April 2025. Places are allocated in order of the number of days per week requested, with siblings prioritized within that order. ROI forms received after 25 April 2025 for Term 1 admissions are offered subject to availability. 2) Offers and registration. Offers for Term 1 admissions are emailed during the week of 5 May 2025 and remain valid for ten days. If a place is offered, parents must confirm acceptance and complete the Online Registration Form; a deposit invoice is issued and the deposit must be paid within 15 days; a start date is confirmed in writing after these steps. 3) In-year admissions and waitlists. In-year admissions are subject to availability with priority given to siblings for registrations of 3, 4 or 5 days at the start of term 2. The school does not operate waiting lists due to the above priority criteria. Offers will be made following the ROI by term-specific deadlines, and registrations in Term 3 are typically not accepted. 4) Registration changes and medical needs. Changes to registration (adding/reducing days or changing the start date) are governed by the Terms and Conditions and require advance written notice. If a child has medical needs, the school will draft an Individual Health Care Plan prior to attendance. 5) Funding options. Funding includes UK government schemes and school-run scholarships. Government-Funded Sessions run 9:00–4:30 and may cover up to four funded sessions per week (30 hours); universal entitlement and Working Families Scheme may apply. The school uses the Funding Loop platform to claim funded hours. The French Government Scholarship Scheme and the EFB Scholarship provide additional fee remission under certain conditions, with a 5% discount for families with three children registered at the EFB. 6) Notice period and cancellation. Changes or cancellations require advance written notice and follow the Terms and Conditions, which specify deadlines for term start dates and cancellations.

Scholarships

EFB Scholarship: The school offers an EFB Scholarship with potential remission of fees; conditions apply. A 5% discount is offered for families with three children registered at the EFB. French Government Scholarship Scheme: Applications are processed through the Service Social of the French Consulate in London. To qualify, the child must attend the French Maternelle Accredited Programme four days per week (Monday to Thursday), be a French national, and be registered with the French Consulate in London; family patrimony thresholds apply, and the maximum remission is £10,536 per annum. The subsidy does not apply to wraparound care fees or to a fifth day. EFB Scheme: A credit for the French Programme Premium is provided for eligible pupils, subject to eligibility and terms set by Bristol City Council; the subsidy is not available on wraparound fees or on the fees for a 5th day. Remission details and eligibility are governed by the associated bursary policies and government schemes.

Waitlist

We do not operate waiting lists. In-year admissions are subject to availability with priority given to siblings of current pupils for registrations of 3, 4 or 5 days at the start of term 2. Offers are made after the Registration of Interest Form is received by term deadlines, and term 3 registrations are not usually accepted.

School Events

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FAQs

Where is Ecole Francaise de Bristol located and how can I get there?

The school operates from The Fonthill Centre at 35 Stanton Road, The Fonthill Centre, Southmead, Bristol BS10 5SJ. It's in a residential area with local bus access and nearby amenities, making it convenient for families relocating to Bristol.

What ages does the school serve and what curriculum does it follow?

Ecole Francaise de Bristol educates children from age 1 to 16. It offers a bespoke programme based on the French Education Nationale within an immersion context, organized into three cycles and focused on developing French reading, writing, and grammar.

Is the school co-educational and what are its governance and accreditation details?

Yes, the school is co-educational. It operates as a charity and limited company, is a member of the AEFE network, and is Ofsted registered as an Early Years provider.

What are the main registration and deposit fees to secure a place?

There is an annual registration fee of GBP 50 per child. A deposit, typically one-third of the first term's fees for day-release and preschool places, must be paid within 15 days to secure a place.

Do you operate waiting lists or how are admissions allocated?

The school does not run waiting lists. In-year admissions depend on availability, with priority given to siblings for 3–5 day registrations at the start of term 2, and offers are made after the Registration of Interest process.

Are there scholarships or financial aid options available?

Yes. There is an EFB Scholarship that may remit fees under certain conditions, plus a 5% discount for families with three children. Government funding options may apply, including UK schemes and the French Government Scholarship via the London Consulate, with eligibility varying.

How is the curriculum structured at EFB Bristol?

The curriculum follows a French Education Nationale framework in three cycles: Cycle des apprentissages premiers (Reception/Grande Section), Cycle des apprentissages fondamentaux (CP–CE2), and Cycle de consolidation de la langue (CM1–CM2). Students focus on speaking, writing, and comprehension in French and study four tenses, with CM2 students ready for secondary education.

What can you say about class sizes?

Class sizes are kept small to support close, individualized attention for each pupil.

How does the school prepare students for secondary education or GCSEs?

In secondary, pupils continue developing French language skills and can prepare for an early French GCSE between Years 9 and 11; at the end of CM2, students are prepared to transition to secondary education.

What are the main facilities like at the Bristol campus?

The school is based at The Fonthill Centre with bright, spacious classrooms, a garden and dedicated year-round playground. Early Years has two large interconnected rooms, a dedicated nappy area, and spaces for cooking, crafts, reading and play, plus weekly yoga.

Are there outdoor and sports facilities available?

Outdoor play is a core feature, with a dedicated playground and lawn used by all year groups. The Early Years area includes a sandpit, mud kitchen, Wendy houses, scooters and climbing structures, with weekly yoga and indoor activities supporting physical development.

What additional facilities or community features exist on site?

Les Bambins, a weekly toddler group for 18–36 months, runs on Mondays. The Parent-Teacher Association funds projects and community events, including kitchen upgrades and a large covered area in the playground.

What clubs or after-school activities are offered?

There is a Saturday morning French club for Reception to Year 2 and a Thursday after-school club for Years 3–6. Additional Saturday and after-school language classes are offered, with details varying by class.

Are there international exchanges or partnerships active at the school?

Yes, the school values international and local partnerships, runs exchanges with schools in France, and hosts regular cultural activities and visits to support language development and global awareness.

What wellbeing and community aspects are part of life at EFB Bristol?

Wellbeing and a sense of belonging are central, with strong partnerships with families. The school's programs include outdoor activities, yoga and holistic development, and the PTA fosters community involvement.

Is there specific SEN support or EAL provision?

The school has a SEN Coordinator (SENCO). From September 2026, the SENCO will be Fanny LUMB, and inquiries can be directed to SENCO@ecolefrancaisedebristol.org.

How is safeguarding handled at the school?

Safeguarding is overseen by the Head of School, with a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and a Deputy DSL. The safeguarding policy suite includes child protection, anti-bullying, attendance, e-safety and more, with policies available on request.

Is there a uniform and how are meals managed?

There is no school uniform requirement listed. Snacks and lunches are included for preschool and day-release, and families typically provide packed lunches where required.

Is boarding offered, or is it strictly a day school?

Boarding is not offered. The school operates as a day school with day-release and after-school care; there is no house system.

How is governance structured at the school?

The school is a registered charity (No. 900410) and a limited company (No. 02463900). It is AEFE-affiliated and Ofsted registered, and it is not subsidised by the French government.

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