Anglophone Section of Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau, 77300, France. The Anglophone Section sits on the Fontainebleau International Campus, which hosts three French state schools: the Ecole Internationale Léonard de Vinci (Primary, 6–11), the Collège International de Fontainebleau (Middle School, 11–14) and the Lycée International François Premier (Lycée, 15–18). The Anglophone Section is based at 48 rue Guérin, Fontainebleau, and the campus is accessible by bike, car and bus, with drop-off zones and easy walking distance to the town centre.

Primary (ages 6–11), Collège Middle School (ages 11–14), Lycée High School (ages 15–18).

Integrated into three French state schools on the International Campus; the Anglophone Section is a fee-paying section run by the non-profit Association des Parents d'Élèves de la Section Anglophone.

Over 470 Anglophone students from more than 30 nationalities; the section includes students from English-speaking families, bilingual families, and those who learned English as a second language.

Pastoral care in English; Student Well-being Coordinator; bilingual Listening Point on Fridays; a psychologist available; mindfulness workshops.

France; part of the French state education system on the Fontainebleau International Campus.

Collège day starts at 8:20 am and ends around 5:25 pm; lunch at 12:30 pm; Wednesday afternoons off.

The campus is accessible by bike, car and bus. Bus lines connect to François 1er Gare Routière and François 1er. Lines include 3530, 3445, 3443, 3412, 3417, 3432, 3438, 3401, 3403, 3404; check times in advance. Carpooling is encouraged; there are drop-off zones.

In Lycée, students study the national curriculum in French in addition to Anglophone Section subjects. They will obtain the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) at the end of their schooling. The qualification comprises ACL (Language and Literature), DNL (History and Geography), and Connaissances du Monde (Knowledge of the World), all taught in English, alongside two majors and French-language options. Since September 2022, Première students begin studying for the BFI, which replaced the OIB; this reform deepens understanding beyond language and emphasizes oral presentation. About 40% of final grades come from Section subjects; Connaissances du Monde involves independent research across Première and Terminale, culminating in a 20-minute presentation; ACL and DNL have a 4-hour written exam and a 30-minute oral exam. The Anglophone timetable is six hours per week in Seconde, nine in Première, and eleven in Terminale (with two hours taught in French).

Complementary pastoral care in English supports student well-being. There is a bilingual Listening Point in the Lycée on Thursdays, where a professional psychologist, Ms Moser, listens to students who wish to talk; appointments can be made via the lycée secretaries, Pronote, or by contacting Ms Rios. Workshops address mindfulness and healthy personal boundaries on a regular basis. The aim is to help students develop resilience, self-confidence and cross-cultural awareness within a bilingual environment.

Admission focuses on age-appropriate, native-level English proficiency. The Anglophone Section is not equipped to meet serious learning difficulties, and such students are not normally admitted.

The Anglophone Section uses dual immersion in French and English, with roughly 25% of learning time spent in English taught by native English teachers. The remainder of classes are conducted in French alongside Anglophone and Francophone students. For students new to French language and culture, French as a Foreign Language lessons are available. In Primary, six hours per week are spent in English classes.

Mindfulness and healthy personal boundaries are the focus of regular workshops. A Listening Point is supported by a professional psychologist who can meet with students; appointments can be arranged through Pronote or the lycée secretaries.

Safeguarding falls under the responsibility of the French school; the Anglophone Section provides complementary pastoral care in English to support safeguarding. The Student Well-being Coordinator oversees well-being, and a bilingual Listening Point in the Lycée offers access to a psychologist. Students can contact the Coordinator or the psychologist via the Section office, Pronote, or the lycée secretaries.

1. Eligibility and language prerequisites. The Anglophone Section has a native or near-native English level in all aspects of the language. The programme is a dual-language program and candidates must be academically able and highly motivated. Complete fluency in both oral and written French is required for Seconde and Première admission; students with little or no French can benefit from Français Langue Étrangère classes in other years.

2. Entrance test. Applicants must successfully complete an age-appropriate English language entrance test to enter the Anglophone Section of a French public school. Testing applies to all prospective students from CP through Première. Terminale entrance is not tested; a good level of French is not required to join up to troisième, as French immersion classes are available.

3. Places and timing. Each year, places become available for candidates who have completed the admissions test. There is no deadline for applications, but candidates are strongly encouraged to sign up at least two weeks before the testing date. By the end of May, places can be confirmed. Terminale (year 13/Grade 12) is not accepted.

4. Test dates and intake timeline. For September 2026 intake, test dates are allocated by year group: CP (18 February or 11 March, in person); CE1 (11 March, in person); CE2 (11 March, in person); CM1 – 1ère (First Round, 21, 23–25 February); CM1 – CM2 (Second Round, 25 March); 6e – 1ère (Second Round Written 14 March and Second Round Oral 18 March). Test results for Primary and Secondary are announced end of March/beginning of April; Acceptances follow: Primary (End of April/Beginning of May); 6e (Early June); 5e, 4e, 3e (End of May); Seconde (End of May); Première (End of June).

5. Application form, fees, and visits. An application form is available as part of the admissions process; fees apply; Open Days/Visits are offered to prospective families; details and contact information are provided by the Anglophone Section.

6. Assessment criteria. The main criterion for admission is age-appropriate, native-level proficiency in English. For Primary, the expected level is around A2; for 6e around CEFR B2; tests reflect SAT-type reading/writing tasks; testing applies to CP through Première; Terminale admission is not tested; referral to French language requirements for Lycée is noted, with immersion options up to troisième for those with limited French.

7. Scholarships. The Anglophone Section offers a Financial Need Scholarship for outstanding students whose families cannot pay the Section fees. The scholarship covers tuition, exam, registration, and association fees for the Lycée; normally awarded on entry to Seconde and covers the full three years, with potential for Première; estimated total value of the scholarship over three years is €10,000. Eligibility includes being a new applicant, having paid testing fees or been tested and offered admission to Seconde (or Première) in the Lycée's international section, an outstanding academic/behavioural record, and evidence that the family cannot afford the annual fees. The award is made on the recommendation of the Director and approval of the Parents' Board; the Board may have no more than two scholars enrolled at any time.

Financial Need Scholarship (overview). The Anglophone Section offers a Financial Need Scholarship for outstanding students whose families cannot pay Section fees. It covers tuition, exam fees, registration fees, and Association fees for the Lycée, and is normally awarded on entry to Seconde (with potential for Première). The estimated total value over three years is €10,000. Eligibility requires being a new applicant, having paid testing fees or been tested and offered admission to Seconde (or Première) in the Lycée, an excellent academic and behavioural record, and evidence that the family cannot afford the annual Section fees. The scholarship is awarded on the recommendation of the Director and with the approval of the Parents' Board; the board may approve no more than two scholarship holders at any time.