GrandChêne proposes three options for primary education, allowing families to choose the programme that best suits their family needs. All primary programmes require the same level of English, both spoken and written.

In the Integrated Programme, children study six hours of native-level English per week, split into two half-days. This time is integrated into their local French school timetable, which means that children will follow regular primary school hours with no class on Wednesdays.

Our Integrated Programme is offered at two partner schools:

• Primary Pasteur in La Celle Saint-Cloud: Grande Section to CM2 (5 to 11 years old)
• Primary Jules Verne in Noisy-le-Roi: CE1 to CM2 (7 to 11 years old). We are hoping to expand our classes at this school in the near future.

To be admissible for this programme, the children need to have a strong academic record and be bilingual in French and English. Ideally, children will live in the catchment area for these schools. If not, the family requires special permission (“dérogation“) in order to attend the school.

The External Programme is available at Primary Pasteur in La Celle Saint-Cloud, and it welcomes bilingual children from Grande Section to CM2 who are enrolled full-time in another local school. This programme suits families who live outside the Pasteur catchment area.

In this case, children must come to Primary Pasteur for their English lessons twice a week. At Pasteur, the External students join the corresponding Integrated class for six weekly hours of English.

The Wednesday Programme offers three hours of English lessons per week at Primary Pasteur in La Celle Saint-Cloud on Wednesday mornings (9am to 12m), when children are off their French school timetable. Students may be enrolled in Moyenne Section (age 4) to CM2 (age 11) at any other local school.

This is a great option for families who live outside the catchment area, and who can offer solid English support at home. The Wednesday Programme sees families making the trip once a week from surrounding towns and villages.

It is also an interesting solution for children new to France or returning from abroad, as it allows the children to concentrate initially on their French subjects whilst maintaining their high level of English.