THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SECTION
Since the start of the school year in September 2025, the French International School Boule & Billes has been offering a British International Section to its students from Grade 1 to Grade 5 (CP to CM2).
Since the start of the school year in September 2025, the French International School Boule & Billes has been offering a BIS (British International Section) to its students from Grade 1 to Grade 5 (CP to CM2).
The opening of this section was confirmed by the decree of December 18, 2024, establishing the list of international sections and classes leading to the French International Baccalaureate (BFI) in elementary schools, middle schools and high schools.
This system helps to strengthen the learning of the English language in an international school context.
It also allows students in our school to enroll in a coherent linguistic and cultural program that they can continue when they enter Grade 6 at the Marguerite Duras French International High School.
Presentation of the British International Section:
The British International Section is a bilingual and bicultural program, set up by the French Ministry of National Education, in cooperation with the United Kingdom.
Its distinctive feature is that it integrates, within the French system, teaching that relates not only to the language, but also and primarily to the culture and literature of the partner country.
BIS entry procedure:
Tests are done every year
with all our students from Final Year to Grade 4 (GS to CM1) in order to assess their ability to integrate into the system.
For Final Year and Grade 1 (GS and CP classes)
The tests focus on oral comprehension and conversation skills.
For Grade 2, Grade 3 and Grade 4 (CE1, CE2 and CM1 classes)
The tests focus on listening and reading comprehension skills.
For the start of the 2025-2026 academic year
40 students are involved in the program from Grade 1 to Grade 5 (CP to CM2), i.e. approximately 40% of the students
Starting in the 2026-2027 academic year
Your child is already enrolled at the school
- Placement tests will be held in May of each year to assess the suitability of continuing or stopping the BIS program for the student.
- The International Section Committee, responsible for reviewing applications, will meet at the end of May 2026.
- It is composed of members of the management, the teacher in charge of the BIS, a teacher and a representative of the Parents' Association (APE)
- Families will be informed of the opinions issued by the International Section Committee by email.
Your child is new to the school
- The BIS system will be presented to you during your school visit.
- A placement test will be organized during the first two weeks of the school year by the teacher in charge of the BIS.
- The International Section Committee will meet after the National Assessments to take into account the student's academic profile in French.
- Families will be informed of the opinions issued by the International Section Committee by email.
Continuation of the British International Section at Marguerite Duras French International High School
Important:
- Your child's integration into the BIS program at the school does not guarantee a place in BIS upon entering Grade 6 at middle school.
- As a reminder, entry into BIS at LFI Duras is done on request from families and submission of a file.
- Tests are organized to validate or not the students' ability to continue this demanding course.
- Places in Grade 6 BIS at LFI Duras are limited and all students from French schools who have applied must take an entrance test.
- It is important to remember that the selection is based primarily on the students' mastery of French and their work capacity, given that all applicants already have a very good level of English.
As a reminder: 6 students from Boule & Billes applied to join the BIS at LFI Duras for the start of the 2025-2026 academic year and 2 were admitted.
