Cycles of study

Cycle	Classes	Student age
Nursery	M1 and M2	4 and 5 years old
Primary	P1, P2, P3, P4, P5	6 to 10 years old
Secondary	Observation cycle: S1, S2, S3 Pre-orientation cycle: S4, S5 Orientation cycle: S6, S7	11 to 13 years old 14 to 15 years old 16 to 18 years old

Nursery cycle

Admission to nursery school takes place at the start of the September school year of the calendar year in which the child turns 4. Since schooling in France is compulsory from age 3, children may need to complete a school year in the French system, in the “petite section” nursery class, before starting at our school.

Teaching hours for nursery school children are set at 25 h 30, including 20 hours of learning activities and 5 h 30 of educational recreation and snack-time activities. This is spread evenly across the day for a total of 180 days over the year (5-day school week).

Curriculum (M1-M2)

In the nursery cycle, the European School of Lille faithfully follows the Early Education programme of the Office of the Secretary-General of the European Schools.

Primary cycle

Schooling in the primary cycle is organised over 36 weeks and comprises 180 school days spread over five-day weeks.

Pupils have 25h30 of lessons in P1 and P2, and 27h15 of lessons in P3, P4 and P5.

Curriculum — P1-P2

The European School of Lille faithfully follows the European Schools’ curriculum: Syllabi and level descriptors.

In the primary cycle, emphasis is placed on language 1, mathematics and the first foreign language, without neglecting artistic, musical and sports education, discovery of the world, and non-denominational ethics.

Pupils therefore receive 8h of language 1, 4h of mathematics, 2h30 of language 2, 5h of musical, artistic and physical education, 1h30 of discovery of the world, 1h of non-denominational ethics, and 3h30 of breaks, bringing the week to 25h30.

Curriculum — P3-P5

The European School of Lille faithfully follows the European Schools’ curriculum: Syllabi and level descriptors.

In the primary cycle, emphasis is placed on language 1, mathematics and the first foreign language, without neglecting artistic, musical and sports education, discovery of the world, and non-denominational ethics.

The number of teaching hours changes, as pupils receive 6h45 of language 1, 5h15 of mathematics, 3h45 of language 2 combined with 1h30 of European hours, 3h of musical, artistic and physical education, 3h of discovery of the world, 1h30 of non-denominational ethics, and 2h30 of breaks, bringing the week to 27h15.

Secondary cycle

Pupils have a timetable that depends on their year level and their options. Their timetable includes between 31 and 35 periods of 45 minutes of lessons per week, spread over 5 days.

The timetable is split into 5 days :

• Monday: 08h05 – 12h20 puis 13h10 – 17h25
• Tuesday: 08h05 – 12h20 puis 13h10 – 17h25
• Wednesday: 08h05 – 12h20
• Thursday: 08h05 – 12h20 puis 13h10 – 17h25
• Friday: 08h05 – 12h20 puis 13h10 – 17h25

S1-S3 — Observation cycle

Lessons:

From S1 to S3, pupils study L1 (language 1), L2 (language 2), L3 (Spanish or German), mathematics, integrated science (physics, chemistry, biology), humanities (history, geography), physical education, ethics, art, music and ICT (information and communication technologies).

Lessons in language 2:

In the third year, all pupils will study humanities and non-denominational ethics in their first foreign language (L2).

Options:

• In the second year, Latin is offered as an option. In the third year, pupils who chose Latin in the second year will continue studying it.
• In the third year, for pupils who did not choose Latin, the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) option is offered.

Assessment: Pupils are assessed using letter grades (A B C D E F Fx).

Link to the syllabi: Syllabi and level descriptors

S4-S5 — Pre-orientation cycle

Lessons:

From S4 to S5, pupils study L1 (language 1), L2 (language 2), L3 (Spanish or German), mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, history, geography, physical education, and non-denominational ethics.

Lessons in language 2:

History, geography and non-denominational ethics are studied in language 2.

Options:

• The options offered are Latin, ICT, economics, art education, italian.

Assessment: Pupils are assessed using numerical grades out of 10.

Link to the syllabi: Syllabi and level descriptors

S6-S7 — Orientation cycle

The S6 and S7 years make up the orientation cycle leading to the European Baccalaureate, whose grading includes a continuous-assessment component over the two years and an examination component at the end of S7.

Lessons:

From S6 to S7, pupils study a common core made up of compulsory subjects, some of which are taught in language 2, together with options chosen from a wide range of options and complementary subjects to complete their curriculum, in order to reach a minimum of 31 periods per week and a maximum of 35 periods.

Assessment: Pupils are assessed using numerical grades out of 10.

Link to the syllabi: Syllabi and level descriptors

Towards the European Baccalaureate

The school curricula of our two sections (French-speaking and English-speaking) are identical and prepare pupils for the same examination: the European Baccalaureate. This is a high-level qualification, recognised in every European country, allowing students to enrol in universities or institutions of higher education in all European Union countries.

To obtain the European Baccalaureate examination, students must have been enrolled for the last two years of secondary school (S6, S7) in a European school.

The final examination consists of five written exams and three oral exams. A significant share of continuous assessment also contributes to obtaining the Baccalaureate. The board is chaired by a university professor and made up of examiners from each European country. Pupils are assessed on the compulsory subjects (L1 = mother tongue, L2 = first foreign language, and mathematics) and on subjects they will have chosen in advance from among their options.

All information on the European Baccalaureate on the European Schools’ website: https://www.eursc.eu/en/European-Schools/studies-certificates/European-Baccalaureate

Special programs

Mobility in S5

Mobility placements within the network of European schools are offered to S5 pupils. During this one-semester stay (September to December) in another European country, pupils have the opportunity to develop their language skills and experience a different European cultural context, without their schooling being interrupted. Indeed, this programme allows pupils to join a class at their level within their language section in another European school, keeping their L2 and L3 as well as their options: continuity of teaching is thus largely ensured.

More information on the S5 mobility page.