Bilingual middle school in Paris 7: ages 11–15
From sixième to troisième, our middle school combines French-English teaching, active learning and individual support. Pupils prepare for the French diplôme national du brevet and Cambridge English qualifications; preparation for IGCSE examinations can begin in troisième and continue in seconde.
Explore our Montessori approach and our educational pathway from ages 2 to 18.
Admissions and school visits
Contact our team to begin: a questionnaire, an educational meeting with parents and a school visit form part of the admissions process. Children aged 5 and over also spend time in a class.
School fees and admissionsRequest a school visit
Continue to our international high school: Cambridge and the IB Diploma.
CEMA, our alternative middle school in Paris, approaches education through differentiated teaching that places the learner at the centre of the learning process. Subjects in the French national curriculum are taught using active approaches inspired by Montessori, Steiner and Freinet, for pupils aged 11 to 15.
CEMA is the crossroads between the new foundations and the acquisition of the skills set out in the French National Education’s “common base”. Young people need to build up the key skills they need to succeed. Middle School is therefore built around 4 formal learning areas: Language, Mathematics, Sciences, and Humanities. Young people are then prepared to sit for the Brevet des Collèges and various certifications.
An international college for optimum preparation for high school
From 6ᵉ, students can learn up to four foreign languages if they wish. Our international college is dedicated to creating an inclusive and stimulating environment, where every student feels valued and encouraged to express their uniqueness.
From 6ᵉ, pupils can learn up to four foreign languages if they wish. Our international college s mission is to create an inclusive and stimulating environment, where every student feels valued and encouraged to express their individuality.
We prepare students for the Brevet des collèges exam by following the French national curriculum. Our teachers are trained to deliver comprehensive, structured curricula that validate all the academic skills required for entry into lycée.
Our schoolchildren are also prepared for Cambridge certifications Our middle school students are also prepared for the Cambridge English exams, which they can take in Troisième. These world-renowned certifications serve several essential purposes. Firstly, they attest to a high level of linguistic competence, which can be a considerable asset when applying for schools, universities or jobs, both in France and abroad. By passing these exams, students also gain confidence in their command of English, making them more at ease communicating in a globalized context.
How Montessori teaching works at the Middle School
New pedagogies are gradually entering the French educational landscape. These are all new, more active learning practices, focused on student development. Their aim is to teach young people to become independent adults with fully developed critical thinking.
Among these is the Montessori pedagogy. Although most commonly associated with preschool and primary education, it can also be adapted and applied at Middle School level, although this is less widespread.
The aim is to learn by following one’s natural curiosity, rather than trying to memorize the information provided. It’s a way of learning that’s much more open to the world and to others. Young people benefit from personalized support that enables them to progress at their own pace, without being subjected to competition or judgment. Their work is organized according to their needs, from individual projects to small group presentations. The projects presented are designed to encourage interest and discovery. These are hands-on activities that may include manual, scientific, or artistic work. Projects are interconnected to create a link between different learning areas. In this way, they enable students to develop a more global and coherent vision and openness to the world.
As part of our pedagogical approach, we place particular emphasis on introducing young people to economic independence. Between the ages of 11 and 15, young people gradually become aware of the economic and financial stakes of adult life. It’s therefore important to naturally instill in them a certain practical understanding of the economy and how money can be used. The aim is to make young people autonomous and responsible by encouraging them to make sound, conscious decisions when planning their future. This can include activities on the value of money, the creation of microenterprises and economic and financial activities within the middle school. All workshops are carried out with the intention of training teenagers in groups and social organization, cooperative work and independence.
Our Montessori school in Paris: bilingual, multidisciplinary teaching
Our Montessori school in Paris is made up of a community of 20 to 25 children. It includes a certified French speaking teacher, a native English speaker, a math teacher, and specialist support staff.
Under this scheme, young people receive bilingual teaching in a number of subjects from 6th to the 3thAs part of this program, students benefit from bilingual teaching in several subjects from 6th grade to 9th grade. We also prepare students for the prestigious Cambridge exams.
In order to prepare them for the “Brevet des Collèges” and their professional lives, formal subjects are taught: French, Mathematics, History and Geography, 3rd or 4th languages (Spanish and/or German), Science and Technology, Physical Education, Visual Arts and Music. These subjects are combined with informal lessons such as the presentation of projects based on interests, cooperation, organization and responsibility through a “council”, or the establishment of moments for reflection, discussion and sharing. These are moments that leave room for freedom, autonomy, a sense of morality and living together.
Concrete learning development
In conjunction with Cycle 3 and 4 subjects, we wanted to reinforce certain areas such as:
- Learning a 3rd and 4th foreign language is possible from 6th grade.th and 4th foreign language possible from 6th.
- Information technology for setting up a microbusiness
- The art of oratory
- The art of oratory
- The kitchen
All these courses are fully integrated into the timetable, without overloading it.
They give future adults a sense of responsibility and open them up to the world of work and daily life. Throughout their studies, they come into contact with experts in various fields through workshops.
At CEMA, our aim is to create an educational environment better adapted to the individual needs of teenagers, thus fostering their personal and academic development.
At CEMA, young people will be prepared for “the Brevet des Collèges” in their ninth year, and will have the opportunity to take the courses that will enable them to obtain the IGCSE in 10th grade.
Opening hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8h40 to 17h
- Wednesday: 8h40 to 12h
Request a school visit
Tell us the requested class, start date and languages spoken. Our team will contact you to discuss admissions. This enquiry does not constitute enrolment.
