Lycée Sainte Agnès Public School

• Location: central Angers, France,
• City: fairly large, 270 thousand people,
• Travel to Paris: about an hour and a half by train,
• Format: French boarding school,
• School type: Catholic,
• Visiting program participants: ages 15–18,
• Programs: elementary school, middle school, high school, science preparatory classes, Lycée Nouveau Départ,
• Local traditions: art of weaving, long-standing tapestry production,
• City museums and exhibitions: numerous, devoted to tapestry,
• Gardening: extremely developed,
• International events: constantly held competitions, exhibitions and displays,
• Local partnerships and associations: many known all over the world.

The Catholic school accepts both French citizens and foreign students (15 years and over) for studying programs of senior classes (10-12 years). The total number of students is about 500 people. All students, regardless of nationality, study together: this is the way to achieve faster and more sustainable academic progress, and international students are able to learn French better and faster.

Saint-Benoît welcomes students regardless of their beliefs. Its educational divisions are located on three sites in central Angers. The complex comprises two elementary schools, a middle school, a high school, science preparatory classes for French grandes écoles, and Lycée Nouveau Départ. It offers general and technological education with specializations in science, digital technology, and languages.

The high school in France is divided into two levels:

• The College (grades 6-9),
• The Lycee (grades 10-12),
• The final stage prepares students for the French baccalaureate.

The main emphasis in teaching is done in the lessons of the French language, economics, literature and scientific disciplines. The list of subjects can vary depending on the chosen level of studying (from the class), but the basic, fundamental disciplines are generally the same:

• Mathematics,
• French,
• Physics,
• The first foreign language (usually choose English),
• The second foreign language (often Spanish or German),
• Art,
• Biology,
• Geography,
• Sport and physical culture,
• History.

Also, international students become not just educated citizens, but also full-fledged active participants in the modern world community, real cosmopolitans and responsible personalities. Schoolchildren are taught respect for others and tolerance, responsibility, independence. Students constantly work on common global projects and research, interacting with each other, learning to find a common language with representatives of any nationality. For foreign students, the assistance and support of a special employee and consul is provided.

The visiting program is designed for high school students ages 15–18. It has a duration of three to nine months, during which participants follow the complete curriculum with their French classmates.

The school does not work during the school holidays, public holidays and weekends. Students can spend this time in host families. Classes on weekdays start at 8 a.m. and end at 5-6 p.m.: there is a lunch break (1 hour) and short breaks between lessons. Some classes are held in the mornings on Saturday or Wednesday.

Usually the schedule for the day is as follows:

• 7:00 - morning rise,
• 7: 10-7: 45 - breakfast,
• 8:00 - residences for living close for daytime,
• 8:30 - 12:00 - morning block of academic studies,
• 12:00 - 13:00 - lunch,
• 13:00 - 16:00 - afternoon academic block,
• 17: 00-18: 00 - free time, visiting electives and student clubs,
• 19: 00-19: 30 - dinner,
• 20: 00-21: 00 - free time, independent work and study,
• 21: 00-22: 00 - free time for rest and entertainment, communication and games with friends,
• 22:15 - end of the day.

Sports classes and physical education lessons are not included in the compulsory curriculum - students are choosing additional activities at their own discretion and for their own pleasure. Usually, weekends or evening hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays are devoted to sports (when students are in a host family).

Sainte-Agnès has 12 classes, 14 teachers, two language assistants for English and Spanish, and five ASEM preschool staff members. Saint-Martin has 10 classes, 13 teachers, one English language assistant, and four ASEM staff members. Class teachers discuss each child's situation with parents. Elected family representatives serve on the school council. Teaching teams support students through the transitions from elementary to middle school, high school, and higher education. Particular attention is given to students with special educational needs or disabilities.

Both elementary schools introduce English in the first preschool year, with an English-speaking assistant working in every class. Sainte-Agnès teachers develop their own English skills and incorporate the language into lessons. At Sainte-Agnès, preschool English sessions have a duration of 30–45 minutes. The program provides 2–3 hours for grades 1–3 and 3–4 hours for grades 4–5. Students in grades 4–5 prepare for English-language exams from université de Cambridge. Sainte-Agnès offers an introduction to Spanish, while Saint-Martin introduces German and Spanish. Saint-Martin preschoolers have music sessions with a music teacher each week, followed by music and rhythm activities in elementary school.

Sainte-Agnès conducts projects in English with Université Catholique de l’Ouest, International School of Arizona, bibliothèque anglophone d’Angers, and the city's ambassadors. Supervised independent work is available for Sainte-Agnès students in grades 1–5 from 16:30 to 17:30, and for Saint-Martin students in grades 2–5 from 16:45 to 17:30. At middle school, teachers provide homework support at the end of the day on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Evening periods for independent work under the supervision of vie scolaire staff are also available.

Middle school English conversation sessions are conducted in groups of 15 with an English-speaking assistant. In Parcours Anglais, students in grades 6–7 are divided into two groups by proficiency. Grades 8–9 receive an additional hour and a half of English literature and cultural studies, with the opportunity to attend conversation sessions with an assistant. Native-speaking teachers use American teaching methods in the SIA international section. In the European sections, history and geography are conducted in English, German, or Spanish, and science in English. Preparation for the Diplôme Européen de Compétences through UCAPE combines education about European institutions, conversation with native speakers, and a language trip abroad.

High school students can practice conversational English and Spanish with assistants who are native speakers of the respective languages. An intensive English course with Irish teachers combines cultural activities and hosting an Irish student in partnership with Living Language. The visiting program provides five hours of French as a foreign language each week and a full DELF preparatory course at the CIDEF institute. Foreign high school students are assigned a student mentor when they join a class. Dual Diploma education is delivered online in English in parallel with the French school curriculum. About 50 students participate in long-term immersion abroad each year for a trimester, semester, or full year.

Middle school physical education and sports association activities use municipal facilities in Angers. Bus trips are supervised by physical education teachers. High school students pursuing intensive arts or sports activities are offered an adapted timetable in grade 10, special boarding arrangements, and academic support. Sports partners include Angers natation course, Angers nautique aviron, and Angers hockey club amateur. The pré-CPGE course builds on final-year material, introduces new knowledge, and familiarizes students with the working methods and requirements of preparatory classes. Sessions are conducted in small groups by high school teachers and teachers from the MPSI–PSI classes at Saint-Benoît.

• Sainte-Agnès and Saint-Martin welcome children from the first preschool year through the end of elementary school. The Sainte-Agnès international program accepts bilingual children, foreign students, and children whose first language is not French from the first preschool year,
• Middle school students in grades 8–9 can choose LCE Anglais for two hours, or LCE Allemand and LCE Espagnol for an hour and a half each. Cambridge English A2 Key is offered to grade 8 students who voluntarily choose LCE Anglais, with lunchtime preparation supported by an English language assistant,
• The high school's English-speaking international section prepares students for the Baccalauréat Français International through linguistic and cultural immersion in American English,
• The high school offers European sections in English, German, and Spanish. Students have the opportunity to obtain a European section endorsement on the French baccalaureate, the Diplôme Européen de Compétences, and an additional language certification aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages,
• High school students can choose Arabic as a third foreign language. Preparation is available for English First from université de Cambridge, the German DSD1 certification, and the Spanish DELE from institut Cervantes,
• Individual immersion abroad for high school students has a duration of two, three, or six months. Families organize these stays with international partners in agreement with the school. Lycée en 4 ans provides one year or two semesters of school and family immersion between grades 10 and 11 in one or two countries,
• Dual Diploma combines the French baccalaureate from Saint-Benoît with an American High School Diploma from the Academica network in Florida. The program has a duration of three years when started in grade 10, or four years when started in grade 9 at Saint-Benoît middle school,
• Prépa Saint-Benoît offers MPSI in the first year and PSI in the second. PSI offers the opportunity to enter approximately 220 engineering schools in France, Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) Cachan, military grandes écoles, and universities,
• The science pré-CPGE course is open to high school students from any school who plan to enter MPSI, MPII, PCSI, PTSI, or BCPST,
• Lycée Nouveau Départ helps young adults who left school before obtaining their baccalaureate prepare for it over two years. Options are the general French baccalaureate and the technological ST2S program in health and social sciences and technologies.

• Sainte-Agnès and Saint-Martin joined the Saint-Benoît school complex in September 2018,
• The ALUMNI ESSB association brings together current and former students of Saint-Benoît, Saint-Martin, and Sainte-Agnès. Staff and volunteers can also participate,
• Saint-Benoît is the only private institution in Maine-et-Loire with an English-speaking SIA international section,
• Japanese as a third foreign language is offered exclusively by Saint-Benoît high school within Maine-et-Loire,
• Seven new international partnerships began in 2025, involving South Africa, Canada, China, Slovakia, Ireland, and Finland.

International cooperation involves the following partners:

• United States: Magnificat High School, St. Michael’s High School, Baylor School, Liberty North High School,
• Spain: Colegio Sagrada Familia in Valladolid, Colegio Corazonistas de Vitoria, Colegio Santa Ana y San Rafael, Colegio Sagrada Familia in Camargo, Cantabria,
• Mexico: Collegio Teresiano, Instituto Césare, UDEM Preparatory School Monterrey,
• Ireland: Old Bawn Community School, Rockbrook International, Villiers School,
• India: Woodstock School, Jankidevi Public School,
• Australia: Catholic College Bendigo, St Monicas College,
• China: Shenzhen Sanai Education,
• Japan: Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School,
• Argentina: St Matthew’s College – Sede Norte,
• Switzerland: Kantonsschule Alpenquai Luzern,
• Poland: II liceum Ogolnokstalcace,
• Germany: Kardinal-von-Galen-Gymnasium, Klaus-Groth-Schule, Ratsgymnasium Osnabrück,
• South Africa: Herschel high school,
• Slovakia: Gymnázium in Bratislava, Tisovec Lutheran High School,
• Italy: I.I.S. Galilei-Pacinotti, I.S.I.S. Oscar A. Romero,
• Netherlands: Calvijn Groene Hart,
• Sweden: Hagagymnasiet,
• Austria: Bundesgymnasium Babenbergerring,
• Belgium: Sint-Jozef Humaniora,
• Finland: Urjalan kunta, Urjalan yhtenäiskoulu ja Väinö Linnan lukio,
• Lithuania: Silo gatve,
• Lebanon: École Mar Abda, École Notre Dame de Louaizé,
• France: the city of Angers, Institut Confucius, Maison de l’Europe, DAREIC, Groupe EUDES, Pôle Européen et International de l’Anjou.

Students who choose the school residence live on campus from Monday evening to Friday morning during term time and attend academic classes. They spend weekends, school vacations, and public holidays with host families. For each student the host family is selected individually, constantly checked and controlled by the school staff. In addition to a cozy room and meals, the pupil has the opportunity to use the laundry in the family. Family members have the right to monitor the academic success of the student, help to solve any domestic or administrative issues, and in case of illness or injury - to provide support and to call for medical help.

The school residence provides cozy, fully equipped single rooms with private bathrooms. Meals are organized on the full board basis. Each room has a desk, bed, washbasin, shower, and toilet. The residence accepts students in grades 10–12, including high-level athletes and foreign high school students. A manager and their team run the residence.

The school residence has a common lounge, relaxation room, piano, television room, and outdoor patio. Residents have access to a supervised study room, computer rooms, Wi-Fi upon registration, the library and information center, and high school workspaces. Breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack, and dinner are provided on site Monday through Friday.

The second accommodation option for high school students is the Wresinski shared residence, used by Saint-Benoît and three partner high schools: Wresinski, Sacré-coeur, and des Buissonnets. It is open on school days from Monday evening to Friday morning. Rooms accommodate one, two, or four people and have work and sleeping areas, a washbasin, shower, and toilet. Shared spaces offer games, a conversation area, television, and Wi-Fi. A supervised study room and computers are also available. On weekdays, residents have breakfast and dinner at the residence, with lunch and an afternoon snack at Saint-Benoît high school. Places in both accommodation options are limited.

Foreign visiting students can also live with a host family full time.

Since the start of the 2025 school year, a partnership with Action Logement Podeliha has offered Prépa students accommodation in a new student residence on the Université site, a 100-meter walk from their classes. Students can stay on weekdays, weekends, and during school vacations. The residence provides 68 accommodation units, including seven shared units, with accessibility for people with reduced mobility. Each unit is fully furnished and equipped with a microwave and refrigerator. There is also a common room, laundry, and 13 parking spaces. The residence accepts students from Prépa Saint-Benoît and other institutions. The school complex helps students find accommodation in Angers, including in the city center near their classes.

Prépa students have access to accommodation under CROUS criteria.

SCOLAREST provides on-site lunches at Sainte-Agnès and Saint-Martin. Sainte-Agnès preschoolers eat in a separate room, with table service by ASEM staff. Saint-Martin has a separate dining room for preschoolers and students in grades 1–2, where ASEM and service staff assist with meals.

Subject list: business mathematics, chemistry, design, drama, economics, geography, history, Information Technology, music, physical education, physics
Activity list: badminton, basketball, fencing, Sports running, swimming

At Sainte-Agnès, educational trips provide opportunities to practice English. Students visit museums in Angers, attend educational concerts by Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire and stage performances, and participate in Chant’Ecole and sacred art workshops. Sports activities offer ice skating and swimming, and health education workshops are also conducted. The APEL parents' association organizes after-school theater, sewing, chess, and introductory Spanish.

Saint-Martin offers a choir workshop and music sessions from the Musicollège association at lunchtime or after school. Children participate in Chant’Ecole and educational concerts by Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire. The cultural program offers museum visits, cooperation with bibliothèque Toussaint, and sacred art workshops at the bishop's palace. The elementary schools offer an introduction to faith, catechesis, Christian culture, religious celebrations, and Masses.

The high school offers workshops in Chinese at levels 1 and 2, Italian at level 1, and French Sign Language. High school students participate in PEIA interschool meetings and regional, national, and European sessions of PEJ, the European Youth Parliament. School boarders have organized events, outings, and arts, sports, and language activities. Prépa students usually take an educational trip to visit engineering schools and industrial companies.

In grade 8, each class has its own language trip, with destinations such as Great Britain and Andalusia. Grade 9 students are offered exchanges with Germany and Spain, and a trip to Italy for those studying Latin.

In 2025, students took part in three-week individual educational trips to the United States, visiting Portland and New York, and to Mexico, as well as Erasmus+ trips to Dublin, Bratislava, Vienna, and Spain. Group trips abroad went to:

• The Netherlands,
• Slovakia,
• Belgium,
• Italy,
• India,
• China,
• Chattanooga in the United States,
• South Africa.

• Sainte-Agnès and Saint-Martin elementary schools belong to the Angers-center Catholic network, are under diocesan supervision, and operate under a contract of association with the state,
• Prépa Saint-Benoît classes have fewer than 30 students,
• Sainte-Agnès has received level 1 of the Catholic education Ouverture international label,
• Saint-Benoît high school at the Collégiale and Université sites, and Saint-Benoît middle school, hold the EUROSCOL label awarded by the rectorate of Académie de Nantes,
• Saint-Benoît participates in the European Union's Erasmus+ program,
• The complex's international activities are supported by 40 partnerships, with about 600 mobility activities each year.

Lycée Sainte Agnès has a modern computer classroom, functional scientific laboratories for practical classes, equipped with classrooms, an extensive library, classes for music or art. There is an opportunity to attend additional French courses - this right is actively used by foreign students.

Parents manage the Sainte-Agnès school library. The Sainte-Agnès and Saint-Martin sites are served by the BusTram IRIGO public transportation network.

Middle school sports facilities provide a sports area, an indoor table tennis hall, and a martial arts room. Since the start of the 2023 school year, all Saint-Benoît grade 10 students have attended classes on the Collégiale site.

The Université site and the school's own residence are served by BusTram IRIGO and are a ten-minute walk from the bus and train stations. Accessibility for people with reduced mobility at the Notre-Dame, Collégiale, and Université sites was a priority of the 2021–2026 construction program.

Trimester runs from August 24 to December 18 (the required date of arrival for studying is indicated). The fall semester is from August 24 to February 12, and the full academic year is from August 24 to June 18.

Note the official and state weekend when the school is not working:

• Christmas holidays (two weeks from the end of October to the beginning of November)
• Christmas (two weeks, including Christmas and New Year itself)
• Winter holidays (two weeks from mid-February to mid-March)
• Spring break (two weeks from mid-April to mid-May)
• Summer holidays (two months, beginning around the beginning of July).

Christmas holidays and holidays, as well as summer holidays are unified for all schools in France. The other dates of the holidays can vary depending on the location of the institution (zone A, B, C).

Tuition fee already includes:

• Administrative fee
• Accommodation on the basis of the school and the host family on weekends, holidays and vacations;
• 24-hour support and security guarantee, emergency telephone line 24/7.

Some services are paid additionally:

• Air tickets in both directions
• Visa costs and fees
• Medical insurance
• Additional excursions, sports and creative entertainment
• Additional language classes
• Personal, pocket expenses
• Language courses E-learning
• Transfer in both directions
• Studying aids, books and materials.

Open days offer an opportunity to explore the Saint-Benoît high school and science preparatory classes.

Admission to Sainte-Agnès and Saint-Martin elementary schools depends on available places. At Saint-Benoît middle school, availability is taken into account.

• It is necessary to have a personal interview before you arrive in the country and school. Students must complete their studies in the last grades of the French school (level A2), demonstrate excellent academic achievements and  success, prepare a recommendation letter from the teacher of the French language.
• In order to begin studying in August, the application must be submitted before March 31, to begin classes in January - until October 31.

Families of middle and high school students may receive national scholarships and assistance from social and solidarity funds. In some cases, middle school families may receive support from the APEL parents' association. This assistance is also available at high school, where management reviews individual circumstances.

Prépa students have access to higher education scholarships under CROUS criteria, departmental and European scholarships, and the APL accommodation allowance. Prépa Saint-Benoît's own solidarity fund scholarship can cover all or part of tuition for students experiencing financial difficulties, with support assessed individually. Accommodation in the new student residence on the Université site is eligible for APL.

Lycée Nouveau Départ students have access to all scholarships offered by the French Ministry of Education.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision