Guide to International Schools

If you are moving with your family, your final destination on where you decide to live in France, may be influenced by the proximity of a good international school. Most international schools cater for many different nationalities and, although lessons are generally taught in English, they tend to encourage their students to be bilingual, conversing comfortably in French and English.

Where Are the Top French Schools?

One of the most famous French international schools is the British School of Paris, a high-achieving school in the 16th district of Paris on the banks of the Seine. It has 700 students and over 60 languages are spoken, making it a truly global learning environment in a prestigious location.

Schools Away from Paris

For families looking to settle away from the capital, there are plenty of excellent alternatives. Unsurprisingly, many of them are located in popular expat areas and near cities with international airports. These include one of the best international schools in France, called Saint Denis in Loches, which is recognised as a historic ‘Ville d’art et d’histoire’ in the Loire Valley, the International Bilingual School (IBS) of Provence, which is just outside the sought-after town of Aix-en-Provence and within easy reach of Marseille.

Studying on the Riviera

Not far away on the Côte d’Azur, there are two other highly reputable schools – Mougins School in the hills to the north of Cannes and west of Nice, and the International School of Nice, another popular choice with expat residents on the French Riviera. ISN has students from 42 nationalities, including British, American, French, Scandinavian, Italian, German, and Dutch.

Other Popular Student Destinations

Southwest France has one of the fastest-growing expat communities in France and is home to several established international schools. One of the largest is the International School of Toulouse, which has over 500 students from age 3 upwards.

The school is in Colomiers, to the west of Toulouse, and just 20 minutes from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport. Bordeaux International School is a smaller bilingual school with students from 25 nationalities and six continents. Lyon, a little further North, also has its own international school.

Sports Academies

France has a number of private academies that teach an international curriculum alongside elite sports tuition. One of the best-known is Mouratoglou Tennis Academy on the French Riviera, just 15 minutes from Nice International Airport. Here, children benefit from more than 320 days of sunshine a year and 12 hectares of sports facilities to perfect their game without neglecting their studies.

Choosing your International School

Applications to private schools in France should be made as far in advance of your move as possible. The enrolment process can take some time, and the school may ask to see school reports and exam results. You will also want to visit the school and look around before committing and applying.

It is also worth noting that most private and international schools in France are day schools rather than boarding schools. When you visit an international school, ask about the curriculum, whether the examinations taken by students are recognised nationally or internationally (for example, the International Baccalaureate), the size of the classes, the sporting and music facilities, and the languages spoken.

Finally, although tuition costs information will be readily available, it is worth finding out what costs are involved in the application process, reserving student accommodation and starting to plan how you may be able to save on currency. If you are looking to buy a property in a specific area, for a student, or as an investor, our a la carte bespoke service may be ideal.