Our Alumni

When I think back on my school years, one feeling stands out above all: the Anglophone Section was my safe haven. I was there from CP to seconde, and for me, it was much more than a place to learn. It was a place where I felt encouraged, understood and free to be myself. My classmates and I often used to joke, “Thank God for the Anglophone Section.” But behind the humour was something deeply true: it was a place where I could grow in confidence and find my voice.

School did not always come easy for me. I had ADHD and dyslexia, and I learned in my own way and at my own pace. But in the Anglophone Section, I found an environment where I could speak, question, create and imagine freely. I loved the debates, the books, the school plays and the trips. Theatre, in particular, helped spark my love of the stage and of storytelling.

Today, that early passion has become my profession. I am now an author, keynote speaker and leadership communication expert. I work with leaders and teams around the world, helping them communicate more clearly, lead more authentically and tell better stories. I am the founder of StoryCast®, author of the bestselling book Glow in the Dark, and also a guest lecturer at INSEAD, the business school.

When I look back, I can say very honestly that I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the Anglophone Section. It played a huge role in my journey. It gave me the confidence to speak up, think critically and trust my voice. It also gave me lifelong friendships. Some of my closest friends today are still the ones I met there, and for years a group of us born in 1984 kept up the tradition of meeting around Christmas.

That connection has now come full circle. Today, my own children are in the Anglophone Section. My daughter even has Mrs Waddington, one of the teachers I had as a child. Recently, I also returned during Book Week to lead storytelling workshops with CE2 and CM2 pupils — a meaningful moment for someone whose own voice was nurtured there.

The Anglophone Section is also part of my family story. My larger-than life mum, Avril Bateman, better known to most as “Ms. Bateman” was one of the founding teachers of the Section and taught there for 35 years, from 1978 to 2013. She sadly died in January 2026, and although her loss has been deeply felt by many in the community, her legacy lives on thanks to The Avril Bateman Theatre Fund (www.avrilbateman.com).

For me, the Anglophone Section gave me more than an education. It gave me confidence, friendships, a sense of belonging and the freedom to discover who I was.

When I think back to my time in the Anglophone Section, what stands out most is the feeling of being part of a truly international community. I joined in 5ème and graduated in 2003, half Swedish and half Indonesian, studying in English and French while adapting to life in France. It was challenging at times, but the teachers’ academic and emotional support gave me the confidence to grow.

Today, I am an Executive Producer at CNBC Brand Studio, where I produce thought leadership events, TV series, documentaries and interviews with global leaders, athletes and CEOs. My work has taken me around the world — from Davos to Singapore and Cannes — and I have had the opportunity to film with inspiring figures such as Christine Lagarde, Serena Williams and David Beckham.

The Anglophone Section gave me both a strong academic foundation and a global outlook. After graduating, I pursued my studies in the UK, including a Master’s in TV Journalism in London, and even spent a year volunteering in Nepal, running an English school for children. These experiences were rooted in the confidence and curiosity the Section helped nurture.

Beyond academics, the experience was deeply enriching: theatre productions, MUN, international trips and friendships with families from all over the world broadened my horizons and built lasting resilience. Many of my closest friends today are still from the Section, now living and working across the globe.

Today, I am proud that my children are part of the next generation of the Anglophone Section. Choosing Fontainebleau and the Section again felt natural, because I know first-hand the strength of this community and the foundation it provides.

The Anglophone Section truly shaped who I am and gave me the confidence to step onto the global stage.

When I think back to my time in the Anglophone Section, one moment stands out. A student from the University of Kent came to speak to our class about studying in the UK — something I had never even considered before. That conversation changed everything.

Fast forward, and I am now Head of Computational Genomics at the Centre for Human Genetics at the University of Oxford. My team helps researchers across the university by analysing sequencing data and providing training, and I also teach on the MSc in Genomic Medicine. It’s a role I stepped into just over a year ago, and my ambition is to grow the facility into Oxford’s main bioinformatics hub.

The Section gave me the confidence and the tools to take that leap abroad. I still remember wrestling with history and English literature essays — guided by teachers like Mr Loxham, Mr McIntyre, Mrs Bateman, Ms Hewitt and Mr Rossel — who taught me to think critically and write clearly. Those skills shaped the path I followed.

And of course, it gave me lifelong friendships. Thomas and Marie, two of my closest friends, are still part of my life today. We meet up whenever I’m back in France, or they come to Oxford. And yes — I do enjoy telling people I went to school with the actor from Bridgerton!

In 2010, I graduated from the Anglophone Section at Lycée François Premier. Ten years later, I completed my PhD in chemistry at Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris. Soon after, I was offered a research position at Harvard Medical School and moved to Boston in early 2021. Since then, my work has focused on understanding the HIV protein responsible for infection, and how it fuses viral and human cell membranes.

Looking back, the Anglophone Section was one of the main reasons I became fully bilingual. At the time, we almost took it for granted to be able to switch between French and English, but the international qualifications I earned, including the OIB (now BFI), really opened doors. They helped me stand out when applying for internships, shaped my academic path, and allowed me to build an international circle of friends.

Most of all, the Section gave me lifelong friendships. We meet almost every year, have celebrated weddings together, and visited each other’s homes across the world. Some of these friendships go back more than twenty years, and they remain one of the most special gifts of my time in the Section.

I graduated from the Anglophone Section in 2010 with the International Baccalaureate, then went on to study Economics at the University of St Andrews in the UK. Ten years later, I completed my MBA at INSEAD.

Today, I work as an Investment Officer at Proparco, part of the Agence Française de Développement group. My team helps deploy capital to the private sector in emerging markets, supporting projects that advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It’s a mission I care deeply about.

The Anglophone Section gave me much more than a bilingual education. It gave me the academic tools and confidence to study abroad—and the curiosity to pursue an international career with purpose. I still remember our English literature classes. I even reread Lord of the Flies recently and was instantly brought back to those classroom discussions.

To current students: enjoy this experience and stay connected. The friendships you’re building now will stay with you. For me, they’ve lasted across countries, time zones—and years.

I was once like you. A student, concerned with enjoying life and dreading (some) studies. I studied Chemistry at university. I had no idea what I really wanted to do at the age of 17 but it was my best guess. I still was still discovering until very recently what it is I would love to do, age 28. I did not learn my job at school or university. But I learned the languages, social interaction skills and basics that made this possible. My advice to students? You have tons of time to discover yourselves, here and after school. Make sure to use the diverse cultures you meet in Fontainebleau to drive you to explore the wider world around you once you have the chance. And travel, you won’t regret it.