Best boarding schools in France 2025

In order to enter a boarding school, following documents are required:

• A copy of the student's passport or ID card
• School grades for the last 2 academic years + quarterly / trimester grades for the current academic year
• Language certificates (preferably as new as possible)
• Recommendation letters from teachers of English and Mathematics
• Motivation letter (not always)
• Registration forms and school forms
• Skype interview with the student or a personal visit to an educational institution

In addition to the above list, it's also required to pass internal tests of the school in mathematics and English. Such tests determine the level of preparation to enter a private school.

Please, don't hesitate to contact SMAPSE experts at any time as they are always ready to help you and answer all questions.

Nadya Shupta

Regional Marketing & Recruiting Manager at London International Academy (until 2021)

Why are Canadian schools so popular with families around the world?

Canadian schools are distinguished not only by the quality of their education, but also by their approach to respectful personal development. In a Canadian school, you will not hear rudeness or shouting, which, unfortunately, are so familiar to our schools, they are great at preparing for Western universities.

• High quality of education.
• Individual approach to each student.
• Learning two foreign languages or more. The main ones are French and English, you can study others as an option.
• Prospects for admission to leading French (and not only) universities in the future.
• Strict selection of teaching staff. All teachers and educators are highly qualified specialists who have experience working with foreign students and are fluent in English and French.
• Small classes are up to 15 people.
• Flexible enrollment system: a child can start from any grade.
• High quality equipment and developed infrastructure: libraries, multimedia and sports centers, studios for creativity, etc.
• A multicultural environment that allows you to learn diplomacy and tolerance.
• Accommodation – there is no need to deal with this issue if your child attends a boarding school.
• Affordable price compared to schools in Switzerland and England, as well as a number of other European countries and the USA.
• Security. On the territory of boarding schools in France, children are under the constant supervision of adult staff (teachers and educators).
• Living in France, where every city has unique attractions and an atmosphere of sophistication, creativity and freedom reigns everywhere.

Jake Wilson

Russia, the CIS and Europe Students Admission Regional Director at the National Mathematics and Science College

What is important to consider when choosing a school, in addition to ratings and the professionalism of teachers?

Location, student and extracurricular activities – clubs, communities. The type of education is joint or separate (only for boys or only for girls), of course. Religious affiliation (whether there is one , as clearly as expressed), a single policy, the presence of a curfew and a uniform.

All private educational institutions in France can be divided into 2 types:

1. Schools operating under contract with the state (sous contrat d'association). These educational institutions receive some financial assistance from the state, so the tuition fee is more affordable. Such institutions adhere to the national educational plan. The main language of instruction is French, but some subjects are taught in English. Many contracted boarding schools in France provide their students with a choice of a French BAC certificate or an International Baccalaureate (OBI).
2. Independent schools (école libre) are bilingual and international. Usually, education in such schools is conducted according to the American or British standard and in English. Graduates receive certificates depending on the educational program: IB (international) or GCSE and A-level (British). The student can opt for taking exams under the French International Baccalaureate program.

Independent schools can also include religious (mostly Catholic) schools. Despite their orientation, they accept children of any religion. Students at these schools attend religious education classes, but none of them are forced to pray or take other paraphernalia of the Catholic faith.

In all private boarding schools in France, the emphasis is on the holistic development of the individual: in addition to academic knowledge, sports and creativity (dance, painting, theater, music, etc.) are held.

Accommodation in private schools in France for foreign students can be organized in several options: full board or half board. In the second case, the child is directly at school 5 days a week, and spends weekends with a host family, which becomes a French guardian for the duration of school. This accommodation option allows the student to get to know the culture of the country better, to improve his French in everyday life. Full board usually accepts foreign students who are at least 10 years old to make it easier for them to adapt to new conditions.

• International Bilingual School of Provence in Aix-en-Provence. The institution is designed for 500 students. Founded in 1984, the school has a primary and secondary section with 950 students from more than 75 different countries each year. In addition to French students, who make up 50%, IBS welcomes students from five continents – both in boarding and full-time settings. They study in English, French, or both languages. The school also offers seven "native" languages to help the student maintain their language skills. The International Bilingual School of Provence awards International baccalaureate diplomas to graduates. The main subjects of the program are languages: German, Latin, Arabic, Hebrew. Annual fees start from €9000.
• Notre Dame International High School in the suburbs of Paris enrolls foreigners from the age of 15. The private institution is one of the few in the republic where 2 programs are combined: French and American. In training, the emphasis is on good knowledge of languages, mathematics, and natural sciences. The main goal of teachers is to prepare teenagers for admission to university. Notre Dame International High School has a 13-hectare school park and research and linguistic laboratories. The price per year is €24,000.
• SVIS – Sainte Victoire International School is an IB international school located near Aix-en-Provence in the south of France. The school offers both the International Baccalaureate programme and the Cambridge GCSE exams, providing education to students from primary school to high school. Teaching is bilingual, starting at the primary school level, allowing students to realise their academic potential in both French and English. SVIS also provides boarding schools for middle and high school students. The school is located in the heart of an international 18-hole golf course, opposite Mount Sainte-Victoire. SVIS offers an innovative approach to teaching and learning, including interdisciplinary subjects, a range of off-campus learning opportunities. These include an ecological park where students can grow fruits and vegetables, a wide range of local and international trips, and a variety of extracurricular activities. Annual fees start from €9900 (1st grade.
• Ecole de Tersac is located in Marmande. Students here are 11-18 years old. The institution issues French Baccalaureate diplomas and helps students pass the TOEFL test. High school students are trained in the USA, China, New Zealand. 100% of graduates pass exams with high scores. The teachers of the school devote a lot of time to the education of good manners. In their free time, children go horseback riding, golf, and music. The cost of an academic year is from €20,000.
• Excellencia in the suburbs of Paris is aimed at foreigners: children from 60 countries study here. Students are accepted from the age of 11. Schoolchildren independently choose the main direction of education: economics, humanities, natural sciences, applied sciences. Excellencia graduates receive a French Baccalaureate diploma. Extracurricular activities are mainly represented by sports sections: golf, swimming, gymnastics, football. The price per year is from €22,000.
• The Ecole des Roches in Verneuil-sur-Avre enrolls foreigners from the age of 6, even with zero knowledge of the French language - the institution guarantees the full adaptation of the child in one school year. There are extra classes to pracrise students' native languages. There are scientific laboratories and creative studios on the territory of the school. At the Ecole des Roches, they study the following languages in depth: Spanish, English, Arabic. A year of education costs €22,200 and above.