Schools
All the news and essential information about schools in France.
Great lunches but rigid teaching: How foreign parents view the French school system
Sending children to school in France can be quite a culture shock for foreign parents - from delicious school lunches and impressive after-school care to complaints about a rigid attitude and lack of imagination, here's how readers of The Local view the French system.
How France’s school phone ban works
From September, France will ban phones in lycées (high school), after previously banning them in schools for younger children - here's how the legislation works in practice.
The 17 items of stationery that schoolchildren in France should have
Every summer, French supermarkets fill up with stationery to cater to the incredibly detailed list of items that schools send out to parents ahead of the new school year.
Children in France could be forced to change schools if their parents behave badly
Children at schools, collèges or lycées in France could be obliged to change establishment if their parents' behaviour is judged unacceptable under the terms of a decree published in the Journal Officiel at the end of July.
French court gives teacher suspended sentence over pupil's suicide
A French court Monday handed a suspended one-year jail sentence to a teacher for bullying an 11-year-old pupil who killed herself in 2019, in a rare such verdict in the country.
French teachers to hold nationwide strike on Tuesday over budget cuts
Five of France's largest teaching unions have called a nationwide strike on Tuesday in protest at what they describe as 'austerity' budget plans for education.
'Question for 2027': The battle in France over cutting sacred summer holidays
France's teachers and the government appear to be on a collision course after France’s education minister and president have both suggested that the country’s long summer holidays could be cut by as much as half.
French lawmakers pass bill banning social media for under-15s
French lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban social media use by under-15s, a move championed by President Emmanuel Macron as a way to protect children from excessive screen time.
French government plans to get kids reading more
The French government has called for 'urgent mobilisation' to encourage kids to spend more time reading, after a recent study showed that children on average spend just 19 minutes a day reading, as opposed to three hours a day on screens.
Macron plans mobile phone ban for French high schools
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a ban on mobile phones in upper-secondary schools (lycées) across the country at the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
5-day weeks, shorter classes and later starts: How France could change the school day
After five months of debating topics from the organisation of the French school calendar to access to screens and support for parents, the 'citizens' council' published its list of ideas to improve the organisation of children's days.
Death of bullied nine-year-old shakes France
A nine-year-old girl was found dead in her home in northeastern France this weekend, prosecutors and police sources said, pointing to a likely death by suicide after she was bullied.
Do French schoolkids really have the right to strike?
During France's Wednesday Bloquons Tout protests, thousands of school pupils took part in blockades of their schools - The Local looks at whether lycéens actually have the right to strike.
7 tips from parents for surviving the French school system
The French schooling system can often present a bit of a culture shock - both good and bad - for recent arrivals. Here are some tips from parents who have already navigated the education system.
TELL US: Parents, what are your impressions of the French school system?
The Local is looking to hear from foreign parents about their experiences with the French school system. Please take a moment to share your thoughts in our short survey.
Phone ban and sex education: The changes in French schools from September 2025
As 12 million students – and some 850,000 teachers – return to classrooms across France on Monday, September 1st, here’s what they can expect from the start of term.
9 essential back-to-school websites for children and parents in France
Heading off to school in France in September can be a stressful time for parents and children – whether or not you’ve done it all before.
How to prepare for your child starting at French school
From the practical - stationery, uniforms, packed lunches - to the emotional - parental involvement and help for struggling kids - and the crucial issue of aid for non-French speakers, here's what to expect if your child is starting school in France for the first time.
French education minister urges focus on mental health of pupils after knife attack
France's education minister said on Friday every school must adopt plans by the end of the year to identify and help pupils suffering from psychological distress.
Macron calls for 'citizens' convention' on French school holidays
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to launch a 'citizens' convention' to determine how long the French school year and school day should be - and whether the summer holidays ought to shortened.
French Muslim school re-allocated suspended state funding
A French court ruled that a Muslim school could continue to receive state subsidies after local authorities in 2023 cut funding over alleged "serious breaches" of teaching rules, the court and its management said.
First US 'refugee scientists' to arrive in France in weeks
The first researchers fleeing US spending cuts imposed by President Donald Trump will start work at a French university in June, officials said on Thursday.
France to introduce new sex education guidelines in schools
The French government is putting the final touches on a reformed sex education syllabus for schools, with some topics, notably around gender identity, causing resistance among conservative groups.