French school in Provence, France

Study at state schools abroad

Few people know that a number of public schools accept international students. At the same time, the study can be either absolutely free or a symbolic fee is charged for the work of the international department. However, as a rule, schools do not engage in student accommodation and guardianship. This concern is undertaken by a foreign agency, the purpose of which is to choose for a foreign student the right school and host family, to provide local health insurance, guardianship. As a rule, study at a public school with all these services is still much cheaper than at private schools.

Having been worked on secondary education abroad for many years, I am constantly exploring options for cooperation with similar agencies and agents to collect feedback about their work from students, schools, and educational conferences.

Secondary education in France in French

I was lucky enough to know the French teacher of one of Kyiv schools who took groups of children on language programs in France until she moved to Nice on a permanent residence. After some time, we started working on entering our high school students in the public schools of Provence. One of the most interesting schools in our cooperation is the international centre of Valbonne, a public school near Nice, Provence, which aims to work with international students and has a private residence. Together with our representative in France, we organize the enrolling 15-16 years children at this school, accommodation in school residence, provide the guardian, which solves all the issues with the school at the time of the child's stay on the program, do visa support. While graduating from school, children get a diploma of French secondary education and enroll in French universities where education is free.

Since I have never visited the school in Valbonne, I asked Natalia to tell about the school through the eyes of parents (Natalia has a son in that school). Below I publish the answers to my questions for this blog.

Location of school CENTRE INTERNATIONAL DE VALBONNE

International centre Valbon is located in the structure of the scientific town Sophia Antipolis and occupies an area of 12 hectares. Nearby cities: Antibes 10 km, Cannes -15 km away and Nice is 25 km away.

You can get from Nice airport:

- Bus-express 250 to Antibes bus station, frequency is every 30 min, duration 30 mins, cost 1.5 Euro, then a bus 10 to the bus station Valbonne, duration 30 mins, cost 1.5 euros.

- by taxi -80-100 Euro;

From Nice:

Bus-express 230, the duration is around an hour and cost is 1.5 euros.

At the beginning of the academic year a shuttle is provided from the airport to the school, during the holidays - from school to the airport and back.

All information about the date, flight, time is filled by parents in electronic form in advance before each vacation.

Adults can stay in the complex for the parents, Bastion, located on the school grounds. The availability of places and the possibility of accommodation are discussed in advance with the school administration.

Accommodation in the school residence CENTRE INTERNATIONAL DE VALBONNE

The Valbonne International Center is home to about 700 students from around the world.

There is an Anglo-American, German, Spanish, Italian Department, since a Russian branch has been opened.

This is home to some of the teachers and post-graduate students. Students of the same course are accomodated in the pavilions at 90-100 people, depending on the chosen specialization and age.

The first year of study at the lyceum is the second grade, these children live 3 people in a room with shower and wash-basin, facilities are on the floor. Living together in the first year helps to overcome the process of adaptation and socialization, after all, teenagers are easier to overcome difficulties when they are together.

The second year of study - the first grade and the third year - graduation or terminal - living in individual rooms with all conveniences.

In the same building, except the rooms where the students live, is located class for homework, a computer room, a TV room, a coffee shop where afternoon tea is given.

Together with the children are always adult teachers in the halls, who monitor and control boarding school life - the children call them in the French manner surveyors.

Study at CENTRE INTERNATIONAL DE VALBONNE

The first year of study (seconde) in the French lyceums does not have a specific specialization. In addition to the subjects included in the program mathematics, English language, English literature, French language and literature, history/geography, science (chemistry, physics, biology), sports, - in the Russian Department studies Russian language and literature, history and geography in Russian.

In early September foreign students pass a test in French and get into 1 or 2 level. After the end of the first trimester, additional classes in certain subjects are assigned if the child needs help.

After the first year, depending on the level of achievement and teachers' recommendations, you need to choose among three specialisations: S sciences, scientific (mathematics, physics, chemistry - average score 12-20), ES économie-sociale, Economics-sociology (those who are good at geography and history), and L littéraire, literary or linguistic (high French). The first year is the same for all, all subjects are studied. Then teachers council pass, look at your grades and teachers comment on your abilities. And you recommended what it is better to leave but the choice is up to the family and child.

Depending on the decision made in the second grade of the lyceum (seconde) upon graduation from the educational institution in two years (première , terminale) and passed exams, a French diploma will be received:

bac S, - Sciences, bac ES - Economics - sociology or bac L, literature that will allow you to choose university faculties and to plan your further education.