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.
A small fabric bag with two changes of clothes (underwear/socks/tops/trousers/jumpers).
A small fabric bag with a small blanket, a small pillow or cushion (max 33 x 46 cm) for nap.
A soft toy for comfort that will stay in the classroom.
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 first day of school.
Please provide your child with Velcro shoes (i.e. no laces).
No CFBL PE uniform needed, but please use comfortable clothes as your child will attend a sports session every day.
Finally, please write the name of your child on all his/her indoor and outdoor clothes, as well as his/her nap kit.
Thanks a lot.
Two large boxes of tissues and a pack of wipes
A spare pair of shoes (trainers or sandals).
A complete change of clothes in a small cloth bag to be kept in the school locker (underpants/socks/t-shirt/trousers/jumper).
Please ensure that children wear shoes that are easy to remove, put back on and close (no laces).
Sports uniform is not required in the Moyenne Section. However, we do physical activities every day. Please dress the children comfortably.
Finally, please note your child's name on coats, jumpers, cardigans, slippers, scarves, gloves, etc. Thank you very much.
• A box of tissues
• A closed bag labeled with your child's name and class, containing a change of clothes: t-shirt, trousers, underwear, socks
• A plastic cup labeled with your child's first name
• A hair tie for children with long hair
Please make sure your child's name is written on all clothing items (jumper, cardigan...).
Swimming gear:
In a suitable bag:
a swimsuit
a towel
a swimming cap
flip-flops or pool shoes
1 school bag big enough to hold several A4 folders.
2 pencil cases (no metal boxes)
2 packs of 6 HB ‘Grip 2001 Graphite Pencil, silver’ Faber-Castell pencils
3 white erasers
2 pencil sharpeners with reservoir
5 glue sticks
1 pair of round-tipped scissors
1 cloth
2 boxes of coloured pencils
2 BIC VELLEDA whiteboards with Séyes lines (please do not buy whiteboard markers)
1 box of tissues
1 water bottle
For Sport: 1 CFBL uniform
All materials (pencils, glue, etc.) must be labelled with the child's first name.
Headphones
Pencil Case (empty) standard size or larger
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.
Legami pens are not permitted.
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.
Legami pens are not permitted.
If your child already has these items (or something similar) by all means feel free to use them instead of making an unnecessary new purchase.
1 x wired headphones clearly labelled with name (to be left at school)
Water bottle
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).