My Insights Into French Schools
Although I grew up in Morocco, I attended a French school throughout secondary and sixth form, known in the French system as collège and lycée. At the time, everything felt normal. It wasn’t until I moved to the UK and started talking about my school experience that I realised how different it was.
The longer school days, the teaching style, the breaks, and even the social norms, came as a surprise to many people I spoke to in the UK. Here’s what makes French schools unique, and why they might feel like a bit of a culture shock to someone used to the British system.
Long School Days
In most French schools, the typical school day runs from 8 AM to 6 PM. Yes, you read that right, 10 hours a day. That doesn’t necessarily mean we were in class the entire time, but our schedule was packed, with only short breaks in between.
On top of the regular timetable, we also had “optional” subjects, like theatre, music, or visual arts, which were taken seriously and often scheduled outside of regular hours. I had art classes from 6 to 8 PM on Wednesdays.
Some students, like me, also took private tutoring in the evenings. I had extra math lessons twice a week until 9:30 PM. It was a full-on routine, and balancing it with homework and exams taught me time management early on.
Constant Testing and Surprise Quizzes
One thing that stands out in the French system is the frequency of testing. While there were planned assessments, teachers also gave pop quizzes regularly to make sure students were keeping up.
This system aimed to evaluate progress consistently rather than relying solely on final exams. It could feel overwhelming at times, but it also meant that students were always engaged and expected to stay up to date with lessons.
Smoking is Surprisingly Common
This might seem strange, but in many French lycées, it’s completely normal to see students smoking outside the school gates and sometimes chatting casually with teachers while doing so.
Most students in their final years of lycée are 17 or 18, so technically, they are adults. While it might seem shocking to people from countries with stricter smoking norms around schools, in France, it’s often just seen as part of the environment, not encouraged, but not surprising either.
No Uniforms
In contrast to the UK, French schools don’t have uniforms. Dress codes do exist, and each school can set its own rules, but in general, students are free to dress however they like, as long as it’s respectful and appropriate.
This allows for more personal expression, and what’s considered acceptable varies a lot between schools. Some are quite relaxed, while others might prohibit things like ripped jeans or spaghetti straps.
Generous Holiday Schedule
The school holidays in France are spread out differently from those in the UK. Every six to seven weeks, students get a two-week break, which helps to manage stress and avoid burnout. While that time is great for relaxing, it often comes with a fair amount of homework too, so the break isn’t always entirely work-free.
There’s also a long summer holiday, typically about eight weeks. Which is just enough time to forget everything you learned during the week.
Proper Lunch Breaks
One thing I appreciated about the French system was how lunch was treated as a real break. We had up to two hours for lunch, and most students would sit down and eat a full meal, often with three courses: a starter, a main, and a dessert.
We also had two 15-minute breaks during the day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, which gave us time to grab a snack, chat with friends, and recharge before heading back to class.
Class Council (Les Conseils de Classe)
Something unique to the French system is the “conseil de classe”, a termly meeting where all the teachers of a class, the headteacher, and two elected student representatives gather to review each student’s academic progress and behaviour.
Each student is discussed individually. The student reps are allowed to take notes and speak up to defend classmates if needed. After the meeting, everyone is curious to hear what was said. It’s a bit nerve-wracking, but it also helps students stay accountable and aware of their performance.
Final Thoughts
The French school system is structured, demanding, and very different from what many British students are used to. It prioritises academic rigour, discipline, and routine, but also values proper breaks, meals, and regular holidays.
Was it intense at times? Definitely. But it also taught me resilience, independence, and how to handle pressure. For anyone curious about education systems around the world, the French one is worth exploring, just don’t be too surprised by the 8-to-6 schedule.
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