As is stated in the Section’s ‘Aims and Objectives’, the Section exists in order to: “enable English mother-tongue students who have been admitted to the Section to have access through the teaching provided by the Section to a level of instruction in English appropriate to their age and ability” and “where appropriate, to enable students whose mother tongue is not English, to have access to reinforced instruction in order to achieve a level of attainment comparable to that of English mother tongue students in the subjects taught by the Section”.
Students of all nationalities can be admitted to the Section – the determining criteria are those proving linguistic competence in English.
The physical structure of the Section does not permit the creation of classes of different linguistic abilities. Students therefore need to be of a comparable linguistic level to the other students in the relevant age range.
ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE
PROCESS
1. Applications for admission to the Anglophone Section can be made as from January of the year for which admission is requested. Students are usually admitted to the Section at the beginning of an academic year ( ie September). Occasionally it is possible to admit students during the course of the school year.
2. Students will normally be invited to Testing Days organised in Fontainebleau in March/April.
3. Those students who are unable to attend for testing because of geographical location can be tested in their current school. Results of such tests will be provisional and will be confirmed after a personal interview has been arranged.
4. Admission to the Anglophone Section is by written test and interviews. Students entering CP ( 1st Grade) will be assessed orally. In all cases, previous school reports and assessment documents must be provided.
5. At least two members of the Section teaching staff will assess each application. The final decision on admission will be taken by the Head of Section.
TESTING
1. Appropriate written test documents are used in the assessment process.
In Primary testing, these are standardised tests enabling a statistical evaluation of linguistic level, reading age etc to be obtained.
Secondary testing documents always involve a written text with comprehension questions and essay writing.
In all cases, the oral interview is conducted in a positive manner to enable each candidate to show the extent of their linguistic experience.
EVALUATION
1. The teaching staff involved in the evaluation process discuss the tests and interviews and classify the applications linguistically as follows:
a. native speaker/writer ( irrespective of nationality)
b. strong English Second Language
c. weaker English Second Language
2. Based on the composition of the class concerned, a decision is taken as to the ability of the student to follow the course and to progress in the Anglophone programme. Consideration is given to whether the student would be at ease with the level required for the class and to whether the presence of the student might be a handicap to the work of the overall group. This process is also designed both to ascertain the current level of the student and to assess his/her overall potential for evolving within this bilingual learning environment.
3. If the decision is taken to continue the admissions procedure, application for a place is made to the relevant part of the French host school.
All three schools have serious space constraints as they are State establishments with the obligation to accept pupils from the catchment area.
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
It should be noted that in the Primary Section, there are restrictions of an administrative nature.
The financing of primary Education is the responsibility of the local Mairie which is, therefore, obliged to set certain limits on entry to a school which normally exists to serve the needs of the local catchment area.
The Anglophone Section is allowed a certain number of places each year.
All candidates must be residents of Seine et Marne and increasingly the Section is asked to give priority as follows PROVIDED THAT THE STUDENTS MEET THE LINGUISTIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECTION :
d. families living or working in Fontainebleau
e. students who already have a sibling in the Primary School.
When families are informed that the Section is in a position to offer their child a place, application must then be completed by registration at the Mairie in Fontainebleau.
Admission to the Section does not automatically guarantee a place in the school canteen.
Secondary applicants must also complete enrolment documents at the French school and, if necessary, apply for a “derogation de secteur”. This should normally ensure that the family receives the relevant subsidy for school transport.
SUMMARY OF ADMISSIONS PROCEDURE
All candidates are welcome to apply for admission to the Anglophone Section, irrespective of nationality.
The fundamental criteria for admission to the Section are purely LINGUISTIC.
In the event that several candidates are applying for a limited number of places, evaluation is as follows:
A. Close scrutiny of tests and interview results to ascertain linguistic category. This is not, of course, an exact science and as far as the oral aspect is concerned, evaluation is essentially made on the candidate’s ability to communicate satisfactorily during the interview. Every effort is, nonetheless, made to ensure that as many elements as possible are taken into consideration and the evaluation process is always carried out in an objective but positive fashion.
B. Evaluation of the overall composition of the group.
C. Based on the study programmes of the Section, an assessment of the student’s ability to benefit from the course and progress in the required fashion.
D. Discussion with the relevant French administrator.
The Section does not apply a system of “ first come, first served”.
Following Admissions Tests in March/April, parents are informed if their child has the level of English which would be required for him/her to follow the relevant course.
Places can be offered only once the relevant French school/authority confirms availability of places – final decisions are sometimes not made before the end of May.
Some parents are informed that, although their child shows certain linguistic fragilities, we are aware of his/her potential and will keep them on a waiting list. Depending on demand, we might subsequently be able to offer a place to such students SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF PLACES OVERALL.