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SECONDARY

In France, secondary education is split into two distinct phases: collège and lycée. The Anglophone Section of the CSI Lyon welcomes students all through the secondary years. In France the year group that a student is placed in is determined by their age during the calendar year when the school year starts: the table below shows the age / year group equivalencies that apply. 

The secondary school day generally runs between 08h00 and 17h25, divided into ten 50-minute sequences. 

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The Anglophone Section teaching programmes are organised around subject areas: English Language & Literature and History/Geography, plus Contemporary Studies in 1ère and Terminale. Students will spend between six to eight-and-a-half sequences each week with their Anglophone Section teachers, depending on their level in the school. The distribution of hours per week / subject / year level is shown below, along with the key examinations that students will sit in secondary. 

* Sequence: 50 minutes

Subjects & teaching programmes in secondary

In secondary, three subjects are taught at different levels, beginning in collège and working, ultimately, towards the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) in Terminal. Please see our Examinations page for more information on the various exams that students will take in the Anglophone Section. 

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English Language & Literature

From 6ème through to 4ème the Language & Literature programme is based on the learning objectives of English programmes in a range of anglophone countries and is designed to help students make progress in their reading, writing and speaking skills. Students are introduced to a variety of challenging and engaging texts, both fiction and nonfiction, as the main focus of the teaching. Not only are reading skills developed through these texts but they are also used to inspire different types of writing and to build the basic skills of grammar, punctuation and spelling.

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In 3ème and 2nde students will work towards International GCSE in English Language. (Students entering Seconde in 2025 will continue to work towards IGCSE English Literature as well). 

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In 1ère and Terminale, in line with the framework of the BFI, Language & Literature has been renamed as approfondissement, culturel et linguistique (ACL). In practice the teaching programme is the same as that of the former Language & Literature course. 

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History / Geography

The programme is based on the content of the French national curriculum but with an approach characteristic of the learning and teaching styles in English-speaking countries. While the programme in History is roughly chronological, from the civilisations of the Ancient world up to the contemporary era, emphasis is placed on the comparison of historical themes in different periods. The Geography curriculum focuses on an exploration of the interactions between human activity and the physical environment. 

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In 1ère and Terminale, in line with the framework of the BFI, History / Geography as classed as a discipline non-linguistique (DNL). All students in the Anglophone Section will study History / Geography as their DNL. As above, the programme is shared with the French history/geography teachers. 

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Contemporary studies / Connaissances du monde

This subject has been introduced with the creation of the BFI in 2022 This subject focuses on developing students' understanding of the history of ideas, geopolitical issues, knowledge of the challenges of the contemporary world and the culture and civilisation of the Anglophone world. Connaissances du monde will be taught in the Anglophone Section by the History / Geography teachers and will be assessed in Terminale by an oral exam.

  • When are the students in school? When does the school day begin and end?
    Primary Students attend school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 09h00 to 16h30, including the lunch break. There are no classes for primary students on Wednesdays but supervised extra-curricular activities are offered. Please see Primary timetable on the CSI Lyon website. Secondary Students attend school from Monday to Friday and classes may be scheduled between 08h00 to 17h30 or 18h30, depending on individual timetables. There are no classes on Saturday.
  • Does my child need to be fluent in English to attend the Anglophone Section?
    All Anglophone Section students are expected to have age-appropriate native-level English language skills, in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Each applicants English-language proficiency will be tested during the application process.
  • What are the canteen facilities?
    Canteen facilities are provided by the CSI Lyon, our host school, and are not included in the Anglophone Section school fees. Parents of primary pupils should note that families who live outside the Ville de Lyon boundary will not be eligible for reduced canteen charges. For more information about canteen facilities please see the CSI Lyon website: For secondary - collège, here. For secondary - lycée, here.
  • What are the school holiday dates?
    Schools holiday dates are set by the French government each year. You can find the dates for the current school year here. NB. Lyon is in Zone A.
  • What do I need to know for the first day of school?
    La rentrée is a busy time for all families, especially those that are new to the school and the Anglophone Section. Details of the back-to-school schedule will be sent out by the CSI administration directly to all families. The Anglophone Section will also make English-language versions of the planning available on the website. Back-to-school meetings are held in Primary (usually for parents on the first morning of term), and in Secondary (a separate meeting will be organised for each year group). Some general reminders for new families are presented below: Confirm the date of the first day of school (la rentrée). Make sure your child has the necessary stationery and equipment for both French and English classes. If your child is going to take the school bus, make sure he/she has a valid TCL card, you and they know which bus to take, and at what time. If your child is in primary, make sure he or she has your mobile phone numbers and the bus number in his/her pocket or in the school bag. Make sure you have arranged school insurance for your child (see FAQ above).
  • Do you provide boarding facilities for students coming from abroad?
    No, the Anglophone Section does not provide boarding facilities.
  • Which school year will my child enter at the CSI Lyon?
    Year groups in France are made up according to the child's year of birth running from January to December, whereas the school year runs from September to June each year.
  • How will my child get to and from school?
    The CSI Lyon is located in Gerland, in the 7eme district of Lyon. There are several public transport options available, as well as a dedicated school bus service for younger pupils. Public Transport:www.tcl.fr Métro line B (blue line): ten minutes walk from the station ‘Stade de Gerland’ Bus n° 60 : bus stop ‘Institut Pasteur’ is very near the school Tram T1: ten minutes walk from the tram stop ‘Halle Tony Garnier’ Car: Street parking near the CSI (limited) and the nearest public car park is LPA-Tony Garnier in the rue Jonas Salk. Note : access to the road in front of the school is strictly prohibited for vehicles. Bike: Velo’v (www.velov.grandlyon.com) Like many cities, Lyon has a bike rental system called Velo’v. The nearest station to the school is ‘Borne 7049 Cité scolaire Internationale avenue Tony Garnier’ School Bus Service - Junior Direct Surprising as it may seem to parents of younger children, most pupils at the CSI take these buses unaccompanied, even at primary age. Parents are advised to accompany their children on the bus at the start of the school year, at least for the first few days until the child is familiar with the bus number and the route to and from the school gate. In the first week of the school year, primary children are taken to their bus at the end of the day by a member of staff. After this time, children are expected to travel independently. It is recommended that parents give children a card with their bus number and their parents’ cell phone numbers on it, in case there is a problem in the adjustment period. More information is available on the school website at https://csilyon.ent.auvergnerhonealpes.fr/vie-de-l-ecole/ramassage-scolaire/ramassage-scolaire-2024-2025-13077.htm On the TCL website you can also sign up to have real time information sent to your mobile phone including alerts when services are disrupted or running late. Note that passengers are advised to be at their bus stop five minutes earlier than the time of departure. As a final word on this subject, it is worth noting that parents get to know each other very quickly at the bus stops, and parents can exchange mobile numbers in case of a problem. In addition, the bus drivers are very accessible and attentive to children in difficulty for whatever reason. After a few weeks, pupils - even the youngest ones - generally enjoy taking the bus and the independence it provides.
  • Is there a catchment area for the Anglophone Section at the CSI?
    There is no catchment area for the Anglophone Section but we do advise that potential applicants consider carefully how far they and their children will be able to travel to school on a daily basis. Public transport options are available (see question above).
  • Is there a special needs department?
    As an International Section within a French public school, the CSI Lyon doesn’t have a separate special needs department. In the French system, children with special educational needs are usually referred to external specialists and can, in certain cases, benefit from an individualised education plan which is set up by the specialist in question in collaboration with school teaching and medical services.
  • What are the school fees?
    You can find out more about the school fees here.
  • Where can I find more information about the teaching programmes?
    Information about the teaching programmes can be found under the Learning menu: For primary, please see here. For secondary, please see here.
  • Why is the Anglophone Section fee-paying?
    Of the nine International Sections at CSI Lyon, two of them (including the Anglophone Section) are fee-paying. While the other sections are generally subsidised by their national governments, the Anglophone Section receives no such funding from the British or American governments. As such the APESA charges school fees, which cover the cost of employing teaching and administrative staff and providing teaching materials and equipment. The Anglophone Section is an Association loi de 1901, which is a not-for-profit association governed by French law.
  • I've been asked to provide proof of "school insurance". What is this and what is it for?"
    If you have children of school age in France, you are required to provide proof of school insurance. This is known as "Assurance Scolaire" and it covers a child and his/her parents in case of injury caused to a third person (personal liability) or injury caused by a third party. Holders of a comprehensive insurance policy which covers the whole family should look very carefully to check which type of risks are actually covered by their contract. It is recommended that you ask your insurance company to provide all necessary details. Parents can obtain school insurance from their own insurance company or choose a contract recommended by the parents’ association.
  • 3ème (year 10 / 9th grade)
    LANGUAGE & LITERATURE Pupils spend 4 hours per week with their English Language & Literature teacher. In 3ème, students sit the Diplome National du Brevet (DNB), International Option. The DNB written exam will be undertaken in French, but an additional Language & Literature oral exam (15 minutes in duration) will be in English for the international option. Starting in 3ème, students follow a combined two-year course in English Langauge. IGCSE English Language Coursework - Imaginative Writing and a Critical Response to Reading Examination - Reading Nonfiction and Transactional Writing. Although oral skills are not formally assessed in the IGCSE examinations, students are given many opportunities to participate in a wide range of speaking and listening activities in our lessons. Wider reading is also encouraged and students are required to read at least three books during the year. HISTORY / GEOGRAPHY The collège teaching programmes in History / Geography follow the requirements of the French programme. Aims & Objectives To develop history / geography skills: understanding maps; selecting appropriate evidence from texts and using evidence to support a point of view; collecting, identifying and analysing data; adapting writing to suit different purposes and audiences; debating, presentation and public-speaking skills. To encourage students to become independent learners through active and cooperative participation in individual and group work such as creative writing, using drama / film and indpendent research projects. To promote inquiry-based projects, ICT and research skills, and critical thinking. To foster an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of human experience across time and place. History Topics USA 1920's and 1930's, Germany - The Interwar Years, Aspects of WWII, International Politics post-1945, Cold War 1945-1989, Decolonisation Geography Topics The European Union: Construction, Diversity, Migration, Energy. In 3ème all of our students will take the French Diplôme National du Brevet (DNB), International Option. The DNB written exam will be in French. In addition to the written exam, Anglophone Section students will take a 15-minute oral exam in History: this will be in English.
  • 6ème (year 7 / 6th grade)
    LANGUAGE & LITERATURE Pupils spend four hours per week with their English Language & Literature teacher. The programme in 6ème is based on the learning objectives of national English programmes in a range of anglophone countries. The following strands are developed through the first three years in secondary (6ème to 4ème): Reading literature from different genres, historical periods and cultures Reading non-fiction and media texts Writing for different audiences and purposes Spelling, punctuation and grammar Speaking and listening ICT skills HISTORY / GEOGRAPHY The collège teaching programmes in History / Geography follow the requirements of the French national curriculum. Students at collège level are taught two hours of the programme by Anglophone Section History / Geography teachers and two hours by their French teachers. Aims & Objectives : To develop history / geography skills: understanding maps, essay writing, debating and decision-making, making presentations and problem-solving. To encourage students to become independent learners through active and cooperative participation in individual and group work such as creative writing, using drama / film, class debates and presentations. To promote inquiry-based projects, ICT and research skills, and critical thinking. To foster an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of human experience across time and place. History Topics Historical change and its impact on society; evidence, interpretation and bias; the concept of historical time and the role of individuals; the Neolithic revolution; the fall of Rome and Roman Britain; Anglo-Saxons and the Norman conquest Geography Topics The concept of place and region; the relationship between human activities and the natural environment; describing, measuring and representing spatial information; sustainable development and environmental protection; understanding geographical concepts (biosphere, ecosystem, adaptation); natural hazards, hot and cold zones, map skills
  • 2nde Drama option
    'I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms, the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another the sense of what it is to be a human being.' Oscar Wilde The Anglophone Section Drama Option is a one-year course taken as an optional subject in 2nde, which encourages students to explore their creativity and build their confidence all while learning the craft of acting. Students develop a range of skills such as voice projection and modulation, effective body language and movement, improvisation, character development, staging technique, and text interpretation in preparation for live performance. In addition to producing work of their own creation, students also perform scenes from mainstay playwrights like Euripides, Shakespeare and Chekhov and study important movements in theater history as a means of increasing their general knowledge of theater culture. Other opportunities have included a week-long trip to London to watch acclaimed theatrical productions and preparation for an assessed performance certificate from LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts). N.B. There is a supplement to Tuition Fees for those choosing this option to cover the extra 3hrs/week of specialised teaching.
  • 5ème (year 8 / 7th grade)
    LANGUAGE & LITERATURE Pupils spend four hours per week with their English Language & Literature teacher. The programme in 5ème is based on the learning objectives of national English programmes in a range of anglophone countries. The following strands are developed through the first three years in secondary (6ème to 4ème): Reading literature from different genres, historical periods and cultures Reading non-fiction and media texts Writing for different audiences and purposes Spelling, punctuation and grammar Speaking and listening ICT skills HISTORY / GEOGRAPHY The Collège teaching programmes in History / Geography follow the requirements of the French national curriculum. Students at collège level are taught two hours of the programme by Anglophone Section History / Geography teachers and two hours by their French teachers. Aims & Objectives To develop history / geography skills: understanding maps; selecting appropriate evidence from texts and using evidence to support a point of view; collecting, identifying and analysing data; adapting writing to suit different purposes and audiences; debating, presentation and public speaking skills. To encourage students to become independent learners through active and cooperative participation in individual and group work such as creative writing, using drama / film and indpendent research projects. To promote inquiry-based projects, ICT and research skills, and critical thinking. To foster an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of human experience across time and place. History Topics Life in Medieval Britain, Islamic Civilisations, Renaissance, Exploration and Global Expansion in the 15th and 16th Centuries, the English Civil War. Geography Topics Human Development, the Global North / South Divide, North & South America, Sustainable Development / Pollution / Exploitation of Natural Resources.
  • 4ème (year 9 / 8th grade)
    LANGUAGE & LITERATURE Pupils spend four hours per week with their English Language & Literature teacher. The programme in 4ème is based on the learning objectives of national English programmes in a range of anglophone countries. The following strands are developed through the first three years in secondary (6ème to 4ème): Reading literature from different genres, historical periods and cultures Reading non-fiction and media texts Writing for different audiences and purposes Spelling, punctuation and grammar Speaking and listening ICT skills HISTORY / GEOGRAPHY The Collège teaching programmes in History / Geography follow the requirements of the French national curriculum. Students at collège level are taught two hours of the programme by Anglophone Section History / Geography teachers and two hours by their French teachers. Aims & Objectives To develop history / geography skills: understanding maps; selecting appropriate evidence from texts and using evidence to support a point of view; collecting, identifying and analysing data; adapting writing to suit different purposes and audiences; debating, presentation and public-speaking skills. To encourage students to become independent learners through active and cooperative participation in individual and group work such as creative writing, using drama / film and indpendent research projects. To promote inquiry-based projects, ICT and research skills, and critical thinking. To foster an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of human experience across time and place. History Topics American Colonies, the American Revolution, Slavery & the Slave Trade; the Industrial Revolution Geography Topics Globalisation and the US as a Global Power, Development, Migration.
  • 2nde (year 11 / 10th grade)
    LANGUAGE & LITERATURE Pupils spend four hours per week with their English Language & Literature teacher. In 2nde students complete the IGCSE English Language course and take the written exams at the end of the year. Final grades are based partly on coursework (40%) and partly on examinations (60%). IGCSE English Language Coursework - Imaginative Writing and a Critical Response to Reading Examination - Reading Nonfiction and Transactional Writing. Although oral skills are not formally assessed in the IGCSE examinations, students are given many opportunities to participate in a wide range of speaking and listening activities in our lessons. Wider reading is also encouraged and teachers provide recommendations and reading lists for the students. HISTORY / GEOGRAPHY Students in 2nde are taught two hours of the History / Geography programme by Anglophone Section teachers and two hours by their French colleagues. The programme taught by the Anglophone Section follows the division of the French national curriculum, as well as developing pedagogical aims (skills, methods) proposed by the English national curriculum. Students are assessed on a regular basis to determine their progress and identify areas for improvement. Aims & Objectives To develop history / geography skills: understanding maps; selecting appropriate evidence from texts and using evidence to support a point of view; collecting, identifying and analysing data; adapting writing to suit different purposes and audiences; debating, presentation and public-speaking skills. To encourage students to become independent learners through active and cooperative participation in group work and during independent research projects. To promote inquiry-based projects, ICT and research skills, and critical thinking. To foster an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of human experience across time and place. History Topics The Medieval Period: Religion, Humanism, Age of Discovery, Conquest and Colonisation The Renaissance, Reformation and European Colonialism Historical change and the impact on society Geography Topics The concept of place and region (uniqueness, specificity, similarlity Human activities and the natural environment Environmental problems and sustainable development Geographical enquiry / problem-solving / decision-making Geographical processes: cause and consequence
  • 1ère & Terminale (years 12 & 13 / 11th & 12th grades)
    LANGUAGE & LITERATURE Students follow a two-year programme in literature running through 1ère and Terminal. 1ère students spend 4,5 hours per week with their literature teacher. Terminale students spend 4 hours per week with their literature teacher. Students can choose to follow either the American (US) or British (UK) Option in the BFI: American (US) Option – Students read thirteen texts over two years, which include literature and nonfiction from both American and international writers and a range of literary genres. The approach is comparative and in both the final written examination and the oral, students are encouraged to make links between the texts that they have read. British (UK) Option – Students read six works over the two years and study them in depth. The works reflect a range of literary genres from different historical periods and culture, and are all written originally in English. The final written exam focuses on the individual texts while the oral exam is based on the discussion of a thematic topic. Students are strongly encouraged to read widely, especially during the summer, and teachers will make recommendations to help them. HISTORY / GEOGRAPHY Students follow a two-year programme in History / Geography running through 1ère and Terminal, which is adapted from the framework of the French national History and Geography curriculum. 1ère students spend 2 hours each week with their Anglophone Section History / Geography teachers. Terminale students spend 2 hours each week with their Anglophone Section History / Geography teachers. As outlined above, students choose to follow either the British or the American Option in their BFI. Both options study the same themes (presented below) but incorporate British or American examples and case studies, respectively and where appropriate. Aims & Objectives To develop history / geography skills: understanding maps; selecting appropriate evidence from texts and using evidence to support a point of view; collecting, identifying and analysing data; adapting writing to suit different purposes and audiences; debating, presentation and public-speaking skills. To encourage students to become independent learners through active and cooperative participation in group work and during indpendent research projects. To promote inquiry-based projects, ICT and research skills, and critical thinking. To foster an understanding and appreciation of the diversity of human experience across time and place.
  • Will my child need to come to the Anglophone Section for testing?
    All applicants to the CSI Lyon will need to be tested as part of the application process. Applicants to Primary will generally be required to attend the school in person for testing. Applicants to collège and lycée may be required to attend the school in person for testing: for overseas applicants an online testing proceedure may be put in place. More information is available on our Before you Apply and How to Apply pages.
  • How do I apply for my child to join the Anglophone Section?
    Please refer to our Before You Apply and How to Apply pages.
  • What are the deadlines for applications to the CSI Lyon?
    The deadlines for applications change from year to year, and can be found on our How to Apply page.
  • Registration deadlines for Early Applications / Decisions
    Certain institutions or courses of study impose earlier deadlines for the submission of applications, and often require extra steps in the application process such as tests, interviews etc. This includes: - Applying to Oxford, Cambridge or any American universities - Applying to study medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry at any institution. - Applying to the Sciences Po Dual Diploma programme at UCL, Columbia or Berkeley As a result, students who want to apply to any of the above institutions / courses should ideally register with the UG service during their 2nde year, and must register by the Toussaint holidays in their 1ère year. They should aim to have a first meeting with the UG adviser before the Christmas holidays in their 1ère year.
  • Registration deadlines for Regular Applications
    Students who plan to apply via the regular admissions process should aim to register with the UG service early in their 1ère year and must register by the end of May in their 1ère year. Students should aim to have at least a first meeting with the UG adviser before the end of their 1ère year, at which point they will provide a shortlist of the courses / institutions that they are interested in applying to. At the start of Terminale, students can make some changes to this shortlist, but their choices should be confirmed to the UG adviser by the end of September in Terminale.

The French secondary curriculum​

The French national curricula for collège and lycée can be found here. 

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Bac specialité choices for 1ère students

In Première students will be required to choose which specialités they want to follow in their Bac. The options that are available at the CSI Lyon can be found here along with presentations about the course content and requirements. 

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Further information about the Bac specialités is available from the school by contacting lycée@csilyon.fr 

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