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Our Learning Journey
The integrated journey
The British Section provides a continuous educational pathway from the age of 3 to 18. Our curriculum is designed to challenge pupils academically while fostering a British pedagogical approach - emphasising enquiry-based learning, critical thinking, and confidence in expression.
Primary Years (Ages 3–11)
Maternelle & Elémentaire
In the Primary years, the focus is on building a robust foundation in English language and literacy, alongside a rich programme of stories, drama, and topic-based learning.
- Nursery (Petite & Moyenne Section): A gentle introduction to the Section, focusing on language acquisition through play, song, and structured activities.
- The Externé Model: most pupils are admitted as externés, allowing them to benefit from the bilingual curriculum through the externé system, whereby pupils attend their local French school for part of the week and join the British Section at the Lycée site for two half-day session (6 hours in total). This allows children to integrate into their local French community while maintaining and developing native-level English.
- Our Partner Schools: Our Primary pupils are also hosted at local partner schools, Ecole Maternelle Jehan Alain and Ecole Félix Eboué in Le Pecq, and British Section teachers travel to the two schools twice per week to teach our classes there.
The Externé programme offers a unique and flexible pathway for primary-aged pupils to benefit from both the French and British educational systems. Children attend their local French state school for most of the week, fostering strong connections within their local community, while joining the British Section at the Lycée International for two half-days each week (6 hours in total).
During these dedicated sessions, pupils receive intensive teaching in English language and literacy, helping them maintain and develop native-level English skills while following the high academic standards of the British curriculum.
The Externé model provides the ideal balance between local integration and bilingual education. It allows children to enjoy a traditional French school experience, build friendships in their local area, and at the same time benefit from a rich dual-curriculum environment that nurtures excellence in both languages and cultures. Most primary pupils join the British Section through this popular and highly successful programme.
Français Spécial (FS)
Immersion for Non-Francophones
We welcome families arriving directly from the UK or other English-speaking environments. For children with little or no prior knowledge of French, the Français Spécial programme provides an intensive immersion year that enables children to join mainstream classes the following year. During the Français Spécial year, pupils join their British Section peers for their Section classes in Primary and Secondary (CE1 to Seconde), while receiving specialised, small-group French tuition to bring them up to the required level for full integration into the French system.
Middle School (Ages 11–15)
Collège
As pupils enter Collège, there is greater subject specialisation and a drive towards increasing autonomy. The British Section curriculum runs in parallel with the French national curriculum, reinforcing pupils’ ability to move seamlessly between two pedagogical traditions and methodologies.
- Curriculum: Pupils have 6 hours of British Section lessons per week, covering English Literature and History-Geography. These subjects are taught by native-level, UK-qualified teachers.
- A Transition to Independence: At this stage, students begin to engage with more complex literary analysis and historical enquiry, preparing them for the transition to the high school years.
- Location: Middle School classes are held at the Collège International or our partner collèges, Les Hauts Grillets (Saint-Germain-en-Laye) and Pierre et Marie Curie (Le Pecq).
Upper School (Ages 15–18)
Lycée
The final three years of schooling (Seconde, Première, and Terminale) are dedicated to preparing pupils for external examinations International GCSE and the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) - and university entrance.
- The BFI Advantage: This is the international version of the French Baccalauréat. It is a demanding, dual-language diploma where the British Section provides the English Literature and History-Geography components. Students also prepare an independent project in English.
- University Preparation: Our students take up places at prestigious universities all over the globe with many enrolling on binational courses and continuing their international pathway. We provide dedicated support for UCAS applications (UK), as well as guidance for North American universities, and European universities offering courses in English.
- Global Recognition: The BFI is highly regarded by the world’s leading universities for its breadth and depth, allowing students to develop subject specialism within the broad and balanced bilingual curriculum.