Bilingual elementary · CP to CM2 (grades 1-5)
Building solid foundations in two languages, ready for middle school
From CP to CM2, in a 50% bilingual programme designed to prepare pupils gradually for middle school
From CP to CM2, pupils learn to read, write, count, reason, express themselves and work with method. Bilingualism enriches that path without replacing the fundamentals: the French curriculum remains the bedrock, while English gradually becomes a genuine language of learning.
The essentials
Everything you need to know about bilingual elementary
What grades are offered in elementary?
From CP to CM2 (grades 1 to 5), in a 50% French / 50% English bilingual program by full-day alternation. The school follows the French national curriculum and partially benefits from a simple contract (contrat simple) with the French State.
Does English become a language of instruction?
Yes. From elementary onwards, English is no longer a language to discover but a language of instruction used for science, arts, projects, reading and oral expression.
Which certifications are pupils prepared for?
Students are prepared for the Cambridge English Qualifications and sit them on-site when their level allows, at an age-appropriate level. Presentation is not automatic and success is not guaranteed.
Which middle schools do students go to?
Mostly Fénelon La Trinité (Lyon 6th) and Assomption Bellevue (La Mulatière), two schools New School works with to help pupils meet what secondary school expects. Each school sets its own admissions criteria and procedures; no place is guaranteed.
French national curriculum as foundation
Non-negotiable academic ambition
New School rigorously follows the French national curriculum. Fundamental learning is led with high standards.
- Fluent reading and deep comprehension
- Progressive, structured written production
- Mathematics and reasoning
- Working method
- General, scientific and artistic culture
English as a tool
Beyond a language: English as a tool
From elementary, English is no longer a language to discover. It is a language used to learn, explain, cooperate and produce.
- 50% of time in English with anglophone teachers
- English as instruction, not as an isolated subject
- Exposure to multiple anglophone accents
- Written and oral production in English
- Bilingual projects regularly presented to school and families
Cambridge English
A recognised certification, an external benchmark
Students are prepared for Cambridge English Qualifications and, when their level allows, sit those adapted to their age and level. Presentation is not automatic and success is not guaranteed.
These exams provide an external, progressive and recognised benchmark. Students are trained to understand, listen, read, express themselves and grow in confidence.
- Children see their effort rewarded
- Families have an objective measure of progress
- The trajectory toward middle school is mapped
Middle school readiness
What graduating from CM2 looks like
Our goal isn't simply that the child finishes CM2. It's that they leave with:
01
Solid foundations in French and mathematics
02
English used as a learning language, validated by Cambridge
03
A working method, autonomy and perseverance
04
The ability to respect a more demanding framework
05
The confidence and general culture that open the doors to demanding middle schools
Partner middle schools
Fénelon La Trinité and Assomption Bellevue
At the end of CM2, most of our students go to one of our two partner middle schools.
Partner
Fénelon La Trinité
Lyon 6th district
A recognised independent school under State contract, in Lyon's 6th district. The programmes offered and the admissions conditions are set by the school recognised by Anglo-Saxon universities at the end of high school.
Partner
Assomption Bellevue
La Mulatière
A recognised school in the Lyon metropolitan area, in La Mulatière. A practical location for families living on the right bank of the Rhône or west of Lyon.
Why it matters for New School families
Because it means that at the end of CM2, your child can continue their bilingual journey in an environment of equivalent caliber, with no pedagogical break, all the way to an international diploma that opens the doors of leading universities, both in France and abroad.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about elementary
Yes. Each case is reviewed individually based on level, available places and English level. The later the entry (from CE2 / grade 3), the more important the language assessment. Admission may be conditional on summer language support.
Yes, in reasonable, age-appropriate amounts. Homework helps install work habits. Supervised study with our teachers is available from CP, on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 5pm to 6:30pm.
Students are assessed according to the French curriculum, with regular report cards. English progression is measured by Cambridge certifications from an appropriate level.
Mostly Fénelon La Trinité (Lyon 6th) and Assomption Bellevue (La Mulatière), our two schools New School works with to help pupils meet what secondary school expects. Each school sets its own admissions criteria and procedures; no place is guaranteed.
English level is reviewed as part of the admission process. Admission may be conditional on prior language support.
