Frequently Asked Questions
Basics
The school provides education from pre-primary to 12 grade, 3 to 18 years old.
For KG and Primary school students, classes are held
- Mornings : Monday to Friday from 8 am to 12 noon
- Afternoons : Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 2 pm to 4 pm
For Middle and High School students, classes are held
- Mornings : Monday to Friday from 8 am to 12 noon
- Afternoons : Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 2 pm to 4 pm
Wednesday afternoons are off for all students
Friday afternoons are off for KG and Primary students
Lunch break is from 12 pm to 2 pm. During the lunch break, students can eat at the school canteen and remain in school or those who wish can go home, have lunch and return to school.
A school week consists of 24-26 hours of schooling which includes 3 hours of compulsory physical education.
We have 3 terms; September to December, January to March and April to June.
After 7 weeks of classes students have 2 weeks of holidays for them to reflect upon their learnings.
The average teacher-student ratio is 1: 20.
We have around 415 students enrolled from pre-primary to 12th grade.
LFIP has around 10 different nationalities represented. Currently, approximately 25% of the students are Indian nationals and the rest are of other nationalities.
The French Question
We have a bilingual medium of instruction, although the majority of the subjects are taught in French. To begin with, all students build a strong French base. Post that, students can opt for the international section wherein some subjects will be taught in English. By graduation, students are fluent in English, French and a third language (Tamil, Spanish or German).
Students are taught French by trained and certified language teachers with years of experience in teaching French as a second language. Being immersed in a French environment, students hear the language on a daily basis and train their minds to learn the language. New students are offered extra French classes to accelerate their learning.
We follow a bilingual medium of instruction which involves both French and English. By enrolling in the international section, students will have a more intense and higher level of English language learning. Our experienced teachers make sure that our students are well versed in both the languages.
Newly enrolled students are offered extra French classes in order to accelerate their learning and we make sure the students have no obstacles in communicating their thoughts and ideas in class.
Entry / Exit
Admission registration is possible all year round. Please contact admission@lfpondichery.net or pro@lfpondichery.net for details.
We accept new non-French speaking students till 8th grade (13 years old). Every student is asked to write an entrance test in English & Mathematics which helps our teachers plot the student’s learning and understanding.
Yes, LFIP’s Transfer certificate (T.C) is recogonized by every other school in India.
LFIP’s Certificate is equivalent to a 12th Standard Degree in India. The MoU signed between the Prime Minister of India and the President of France guarantees mutual recognition of degrees at all levels. This permits students to enroll in any university or college in India as well as sit for any entrance exam.
Grading
We have only 2 exams from KG to 12th grade. The first is the 9th grade exam and the second the 12th grade exam which is split across 2 years, 11th and 12th, to ensure the exam burden is shared over 2 years allowing students to continue living a normal life and not be pressured. Apart from that we do not have any monthly/quarterly examinations.
Our students are evaluated through the Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) method which helps the teachers evaluate students in a well rounded manner. There are constructive comments written by teachers on Pronote, the Learning Management System we use, which can be viewed by parents and students alike. Further, for Kindergarten students, a portfolio is maintained to track their progress.
Additionally, if a parent wants to speak to a teacher, they can do so by writing to them.
The teachers are given great autonomy in evaluating their students through various methods. This enables the students to express their learnings and understandings in various manners and the teachers to evaluate them in a much more individualized manner which also helps the parents understand where their children stand at regular intervals.
Methodology
Yes, all government schools in France follow the same curriculum (French International curriculum) and the full autonomy given to the teachers helps them design assessments for their children.
LFIP provides an education of excellence in the 2 regular streams: General and STMG (Management and Commerce). In the General Stream, students get to select subjects from a basket that allows them to create their own set of disciplines they would like to specialize in. For example they can choose philosophy, physics and economics.
The PRIO (Personal Resource in Information and Orientation) with the Class Teacher and the rest of the teaching team, works to provide knowledge on professions and higher education.
Board
LFIP follows the French International curriculum.
French International Curriculum
- Focuses on student autonomy and independent thinking.
- Provides structural thinking and freedom for students.
- Emphasis on core knowledge and skillsets.
- Taught in 139 countries and recognised across the world.
CBSE
- Focuses more on preparing students for the final examinations.
- Focuses more on analytical skills.
- Prepares its students for higher education in India.
- Taught and recognised in 28 countries across the world.
International Baccalaureate
- Student-centred curriculum.
- Focuses on critical and creative thinking.
Comparatively very high standards.
Taught in 3000+ schools in around 140 countries.
Ref: https://world-schools.com/which-curriculum-is-best-for-my-child/
The French International curriculum is recognized around the world. The network we belong to, has schools spread across 139 countries which shows how widely it is recognised.
Degree / Certification
LFIP awards the French Baccalaureate which is recognised all over the world for higher education.
Yes, the French Baccalaureate is recognized by all universities in India irrespective of what stream the student chooses (Arts, science, business, engineering, medical).
The French International curriculum is considered to be one of the best curriculums in the world. The level of mathematics and science taught in LFIP will definitely equip the students to appear for entrance tests for various universities and colleges and get enrolled in them.
The French Baccalaureate is recognised across the world and it enables our students to pursue his/her bachelor’s degree in France and other countries across the globe.
Yes, LFIP’s French Baccalaureate will help our student get a student visa to France to pursue his/her higher studies.
Extra curricular
LFIP has a number of clubs run by the students which are involved in various activities. Some of the clubs are gardening club, citizenship club, feminist club and so on.
Hostel
As of now, we do not offer any residential/hostel facilities. However you may contact us we do have host families that may accommodate your child. These families are those of existing students and have a spare room to offer to your child.
Meals
We have a student cafeteria that serves lunch every day which can accessed by purchasing a term wise canteen subscirption or a booklet of 10 tickets. The cost of these can be found in the School Fees section. Please refer to this link to know more and view the menu.
Sports
We host various sports and games such as badminton, volleyball, basketball, Football and cricket to name a few.
Faculty
The teachers are directly posted by the French government and they are chosen after conducting multiple background checks and interviews which focus on their area of specializations.
All the teachers at LFIP are well qualified and are experienced and have met the required standards set by the French Education ministry.
Misc
We have partner schools in India with whom we have student exchange programs and pedagogic exchanges. They are, The Future Foundation School, BD Somani School, South City International School.
Admission process
For all students:
- Identity cards: Aadhar/Passport
- Birth certificate
- Parents identity cards: Aadhar/Passport
- Visa for foreign students
- School report cards for student in 1st grade and above
- Transfer certificates
The school calendar is attached here for the current academic year
Multiculturalism has been the one key factor which sets FISP a league apart from the other International schools in India. FISP student composition of Indians and foreign nationals is 1:3. This allows for an immense cultural exchange to happen and open the students to a new culture and a wide variety of opportunities in an earlier stage itself. *
