Primary school

Introduction

CFBL has developed expertise in bilingual primary education from PSM to CM2.

Each class is taught half the time by a qualified teacher who is a native French speaker, and the other half of the time by a qualified teacher who is a native English speaker. Consequently, the classes receive 13 hours a week of lessons taught in French and 13 hours of lessons taught in English. The two teachers work in close cooperation to define the contents of the lessons.

All the subjects and programs defined by the French Department for Education are therefore studied in both languages in a perfectly balanced teaching timetable, managed by pairs of native French and English-speaking teachers.

CFBL’s bilingualism is further enhanced by the bicultural dimension of the teaching, as the English-speaking teachers use specific teaching methods and practices which are a positive additional contribution. CFBL is therefore the meeting point of two teaching cultures and, as a result, both classes and assessments bring to bear the most relevant aspects of both systems.

As a registered independent school we have applied to be exempt from the learning and development requirements of the EYFS. 

Parents’ Handbook & School Rules

We recommend that you read the Parents' Handbook (2024-2025), which addresses (almost!) all of the questions parents may have, and School rules for primary, which details all the rules of the school.

Curriculum

From PSM to CM2, CFBL’s teachings correspond to the guidelines set out by the French Ministry for Education. They are based on the Common Core of Knowledge, Skills and Culture, a programme articulated around 5 main domains:

  • languages to think and communicate

  • methods and tools to learn

  • the development of the person and the citizen

  • natural and technical systems

  • representations of the world and of human activity

Since September 2016, a new curriculum is in place for all of primary school and secondary school as part of the 2013 law on educational reform. Teachings are now organised in cycles:

  • Cycle 1 (ages 3-6) : PS, MS, GS

  • Cycle 2 (ages 6-9) : CP, CE1, CE2

  • Cycle 3 (ages 9-12) : CM1, CM2, 6ème

  • Cycle 4 (ages 12-15)  : 5ème, 4ème, 3ème

One of CFBL’s priorities being the success of its students, programmes are built over 3-year cycles in order to create continuity over the 9 years of mandatory schooling: The main innovation of this new curriculum is based on continuity and homogeneity of the subjects in order to better follow pupils’ progress. Cycle 3, which links primary and secondary, creates a transition between the two schools and enhances academic continuity.

School hours

During the school term, class run Monday through Friday – apart from 5 inset Wednesdays, the dates of which will be given during the school year – at the following times:

  • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8.45am-3.30 pm

  • Wednesday: 8.45am-12.15pm

Students are welcome to arrive from 8:30 am.

Breaks

There are two breaks during the school day: one in the morning, and one in the afternoon.
Primary school pupils have lunch at CFBL on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. During the midday break, pupils can have lunch and play on the playground, go to the library or go to lunch-time clubs.

Absences

If your child is absent, please email us (info@cfbl.org.uk) and mention their first name, last name, class and the reason for the absence.

In case of a scheduled absence (for example, a doctor’s appointment), please send an email to info@cfbl.org.uk at least 48 hours before the scheduled absence.

A medical certificate is required for an absence due to illness lasting more than one week.

School supplies

The contents of the pencil case are provided for all pupils, as well as a day planner from Year 3 upwards.

The PE uniform can be purchased from Ace Sports.

  • 2 large boxes of tissues.

  • a pair of plimsolls.

  • a small fabric bag with a change of clothes (pants/socks/top/trousers/jumper).

  • a small fabric bag with a small blanket, a little pillow or cushion (max 33 x 46 cm) for the nap.

  • a soft toy for comfort, if needed.

  • an ID picture of your child. At the end of August, we will provide you with the email addresses of the teachers so that you can send them the picture via email prior to the 1st day of school.

  • Please provide your child with shoes which are easy to put on and to take off (i.e. no laces).

  • No PE uniform needed, but please use comfortable clothes and shoes as your child will attend a sports session every day.

  • Finally, please write the name of your child on coats, cardigans, jumpers, indoor shoes, scarfs, gloves, etc. Thanks a lot.

  • 2 large boxes of tissues one pack of wet wipes.

  • A spare pair of shoes (trainers or sandals).

  • A small fabric bag with a full change of clothes (underwear, socks, top, trousers, jumper).

  • Please provide your child with shoes which are easy to put on and to take off (i.e. no laces).

  • No PE uniform needed, but please use comfortable clothes and shoes as your child will attend a sports session every day.

  • Finally, please write the name of your child on coats, cardigans, jumpers, indoor shoes, scarves, gloves, etc. Thank you!

  • a box of tissues

  • a pair of slip on indoor shoes (plimsolls) with your child's name inside

  • small fabric bag (with your child's name) with a change of clothes

  • plastic drinking cup with your child's name

Affaires de piscine

  • In a waterproof bag:

    • swimsuit

    • towel

    • swim cap

    • flip flops

For school:

  • 1 schoolbag large enough to hold several A4 folders.

  • 1 pencil case (not a metal box) filled with the following materials:

- 1 pencil

- 1 white rubber

- 1 pencil sharpener with container

- 1 glue stick

- 1 pair of round-tipped scissors

- 1 whiteboard eraser or 1 cloth

  • 1 box of thick whiteboard markers

  • 1 box of thin whiteboard markers

  • 1 pencil case with felt pens and coloured pencils

  • 1 art apron

  • 2 boxes of tissues

  • 1 comfortable headset with jack plug

  • 1 water bottle

  • For Sport: 1 CFBL uniform

For Home:

- 1 whiteboard

- 1 box of whiteboard markers

All equipment must be labelled with the child's first name.

  • Headphones

  • Pencil Case (empty) standard size or larger

  • Smaller pencil case or reclosable fabric bag (empty) big enough to hold a set of colouring pencils 

School diaries are provided by the school. Please make sure all of your child’s things are named.

PE:

  • School PE uniform

  • Kit bag for swimming things

  • One piece swimming costume

  • Swimming Hat

  • Goggles (optional)

  • Towel

Thank you!

  • A backpack of suitable size and weight to contain books of A4 size.

  • An empty pencil case to be kept in school.

  • Wired headphones with a bag for keeping it.

  • A water bottle with the name of your child written on it.

  • A cfbl sports kit with each item labelled with your child's name.

  • A pencil case to be kept at home (with a pencil, a blue pen a red pen, a green pen, a sharpener, a rubber, coloured pencils and a ruler)

  • A whiteboard and whiteboard pen to be kept at home.

  • Cloth for personal whiteboard

  • Pencil sharpener with space for sharpenings

  • A large pencil case

  • Water bottle labelled with child’s name

  • CFBL sports kit labelled with child’s name

  • Headphones (example) + box in which to store them.

  • 1 x wired headphones clearly labelled with name (to be left at school)

  • 1 x fountain pen (if pupils are comfortable writing with one - if not using blue/black Pilot Pen Frixion Erasable is fine).

  • 1 x water bottle 

  •  1 x Oxford Mini Dictionary and Thesaurus

Everything else will be provided for.

Please avoid bringing in art materials from home; coloured pencils, felt tip pens, paint pens, highlighter pens etc.  These will be provided as and when needed. 

Certificate of school attendance

Should you need a certificate of school attendance, please contact info@cfbl.org.uk. Do not forget to add the full name of the child, their date of birth, their class and the date of their first day at CFBL (or arrival and departure dates for former students).