Your children will be a part of the local French school and the Anglophone section is integrated within the French state host school providing classes taught in English as part of the regular school day. Your children will follow the French national curriculum, culminating in the French baccalaureate with International Option (OIB) In parallel, they will spend a minimum of 6 hours per school week in classes taught in English, enabling them to take English language qualifications as well as the French ones.
The Anglophone section is for children with a very high level of English when entering the programme. Students are taught by English mother-tongue specialist teachers.
A European section enables French students with no prior knowledge of a foreign language (English or German at our school) but with a strong motivation to learn that language. It enables them to take intensive language classes and then to also study history (partially) in English or German.
All children will follow the French national curriculum and follow the complete French programme with their class mates. At specifically designated times (which vary with the age of the child) the class splits, and the Anglophone children go to English-taught classes with Anglophone section teachers. These classes include English language and literature for primary children. From 6eme (or 6th grade / year 7) history is taught both in English and French to the Anglophone section students. Full details on the curriculum can be found on the Section pages.
Anglophone section classes range from 8 – 20 children depending on the age and subject.
Primaire – for children aged 6 – 10
Collège – for children aged 11 - 14
Lycée – for children aged 15 – 17
There are three schools on the same site, as a result, the Anglophone section covers primaire, collège and lycée and children can move seamlessly between the different schools.
Yes, of course. Please contact the Anglophone section office, and let us know where you are moving from and the ages of your children and we can put you in touch with families who may have similar experiences. Being part of the Anglophone section is also being part of the Anglophone community, and we often help each other out.
There is a "French as a foreign language" programme for children new to the French language. This is available for all new students to the Primary School and College (ages 6 - 14). However, you may also want to consider intensive French courses or residential courses for the whole family before you arrive.
Almost all of our students have mastered the French language within one school year. For some children, this can take 18 months. Non French speakers are fully supported, both by our French host state school as well as by the Anglophone section.
The OIB is a French baccalaureate where two subjects are taught and examined in English at the level of the English A level standard.
The IB originated in Switzerland and is a full programme of studies leading to the IB diploma. This programme is not compatible with the French baccalaureate and therefore not taught in any French state school.
Anglophone section students take GCSE exams (in English language and English literature) and may also take GCE O’ level exams in History, French, Spanish, German, Art and Maths.
At the end of Lycée, all Anglophone section students take the Option Internationale du Baccalaureat.
Results for the O’ levels and OIB are consistently high. Recent exam results are given in the Section pages.
Graduating Anglophone Section students will have the choice of applying for further education in French and English speaking countries.
Families moving to or returning to English speaking countries will have the confidence that the children will be able to 'slot' back into their studies.
In addition to the core languages (English and French), in 6eme (6th grade / year 7) optional languages offered are: German, Russian and Portuguese.
In 4eme (8th grade / year 9) students can start to learn, German, Russian or Spanish, as well as continuing languages already taken.
This is a very demanding programme of studies. However, we have had many successful students with learning difficulties. Please discuss your individual case with the Head of the Anglophone Section.
In Lycée the Head of the Anglophone Section meets with students individually to help guide them through their career and university choices (in France, the UK or US). For the last few years, the Anglophone Section has organised a Careers Forum inviting speakers to talk to Lycée students about their particular field of expertise and explain to them what certain careers are really all about; we have covered marketing, finance, journalism, the media, engineering, archeology recently. There is a Careers Advisory service in the French school.
The Section usually counts over 20 nationalities within the student body and pupils come from a wide spectrum of geographical and cultural backgrounds.
Although a small number of students are enrolled for 2 years or less, the majority of pupils remain in the Section for 5 years and more. An increasing number of students complete all their schooling ( 6 – 18 years) in the Section.
A relatively small percentage of students continue their education at universities or ‘grandes écoles’ in France. Occasionally students opt for courses in Germany, Belgium or the Netherlands, but the vast majority go on to universities in the UK and the USA.
They follow a wide range of courses: history, politics, economics, engineering, sciences, languages, English, arts studies, drama, anthropology, medicine, sociology, international law etc.
Many of the Section’s former pupils enter careers in engineering, international business and management, finance and all aspects of law, including human rights law.
All teachers are native English speakers with appropriate academic and teaching qualifications from their home countries : Great Britain, USA, Canada, New Zealand, India. In this way, we can ensure that not only are your children taught English and taught IN English, but that they are also taught many of the customs and cultural nuances of the Anglophone countries. Our teaching staff all have considerable teaching experience before joining the team in Fontainebleau.
We are all pleased that Section teachers are very committed to their mission in Fontainebleau and tend to remain here for several years.
The Anglophone section classes are built into the regular French school day.
Primary school hours are fixed (8.30 – 16.00).
In lycée and college, hours vary according to the timetable of the particular students, and Anglophone section children tend to have slightly longer days and perhaps a shorter lunch break, than those children in the French sections. Classes can start as early as 8.30 and finish as late as 17.00. There is no school on Wednesday afternoon nor Saturday in Primary and College. Lycée students will have some classes on Saturday morning.
As far as homework goes, yes, the children will receive homework in English, and this will give them more homework than the children who follow (only) the French curriculum. Children will be expected to read in English at home to cement their reading skills in both languages
Sport is an important and required part of the French education, so all sport and swimming classes are part of the French school curriculum . There is a sports hall on the school premises but often children use the nearby sports facilities in Fontainebleau for their sports classes. There are many varied sports facilities in and around Fontainebleau available to students outside of school hours.
Every year the Anglophone section organises an informal Sports Day and Family picnic in the Forest of Fontainebleau.
All collège students are required to study music and the recorder as part of the French school curriculum. Individual music lessons can be arranged at many music schools in and around Fontainebleau.
Drama plays an important part in the Anglophone Section: plays are produced in the last year of primary, in collège and in lycée and are much anticipated events in the School year. French school trips are organised to the theatre of Fontainebleau.
Several lunch time activities take place in primary school such as arts & crafts, computer club, drama, dance, sewing etc. In collège, there is a weekend activity camp (to Buthiers) and a London theatre trip.. Every year selected Anglophone Section lycée students participate in the Model United Nations meetings held in Dublin, Paris and the Hague. These are highly respected debating events.
Although there is no school uniform appropriate dress is expected.
Parents can get involved both in the Anglophone section and with the French host school: from the formal parent-teacher type committees to informal help supervising school trips, international day, plays, lunch time activities, careers advice and so on.
Absolutely – all children are required to take an age appropriate English test, which will test oral and written skills of your child. A high level of English is a prerequisite to be accepted to the Anglophone section.
Students in Collège & Lycée classes
The official ‘catchment zone’ is relatively limited for French students entering ‘regular’ classes.
HOWEVER, students accepted for entry into the Anglophone Section do NOT need to live in the catchment zone and will automatically be granted authorization to attend the Collège and Lycée if sufficient places are available.
Students in Primary classes
For pupils seeking to enter the first 5 years of school ( CP – CM2/ 1st – 5th Grade) there may be residence requirements. If you live in Fontainebleau and your child has been accepted into the Anglophone Section, no further formalities need to be completed and your child will be admitted to the school, provided sufficient places are available.
For families living outside of Fontainebleau, you will need to check with the mairie of your place of residence to confirm that an arrangement exists between your village/town and Fontainebleau to enable children to attend this school.
You should contact the Anglophone Section Office for help in this matter.