Groups according to needs, repetition, patent: developments in school organization

Repetition in elementary school, middle school and high school

At elementary school, repetition can now be “decided”, and no longer just “proposed”, by the teachers’ council (principal, school teachers, alternate teachers, members of the network of specialized assistants working in the school). Parents opposed to this decision may submit a written request, through the school principal, to the departmental appeal board within 15 days.

In kindergarten, repetition is still impossible.

In high school and middle school, repetition can, as was already the case before, be decided by the head of school after the class council has given its opinion on the subject and following a dialog with the pupil and his parents. On the other hand, it is no longer specified that the decision on repetition must be taken only ‘exceptionally’.

A student can redouble only once during his or her college education. A second repetition is only possible if he has experienced a period of interruption in his education.

Groups of students in mathematics and French in middle school

French and mathematics classes will be held in groups that are tailored to the needs and skills of the students:

• from the 2024-2025 school year for classes of 6^e and 5^e ;
• from the 2025-2026 school year for classes of 4^e and 3^e.

These groups will be composed by the head teacher and the teaching teams, who will have to take into account in particular:

• the results of the evaluations at the college at the beginning of the year;
• any evaluations common to the different groups carried out at different times of the year.

The composition of the groups will have to be reviewed during the school year to take account of:

• the progress of pupils;
• the specific support that each pupil may need depending on a particular chapter of the school curriculum.

The groups with the most disadvantaged pupils will have to be reduced in number; the Ministry of Education states that "the number of fifteen pupils may, in this respect, be a relevant objective".

For 1 to 10 weeks, which can be distributed throughout the school year, the organization into groups may be interrupted; students will then have French and mathematics lessons in their usual class. In particular, these times should allow teachers to examine the level achieved by the pupils and the needs of each of them; they will thus be able to compose the groups for the following periods.

The curriculum taught, as well as the list of skills and knowledge to be acquired at the end of the school year, will be the same for all groups.

A class preparatory to the class of second

A preparatory class for the second grade will be set up, on an experimental basis, during the 2024-2025 school year; it will be intended for pupils of 3^e who will not have obtained their patent but will have been admitted to the second class. The patent will therefore be essential to enter high school directly, whether in the general and technological or professional field. Preparatory classes for the second class will be set up within high schools. In each department, at least one school must offer one.

To be admitted to this preparatory class for the second class, a pupil must:

• have been identified by the educational team as being likely to benefit from such training;
• and be voluntary.

Parents of students identified by the teaching team will be notified ahead of the last class council of 3^e, the possibility of following a year of preparatory class for the second class. The family will then have to indicate their wish to benefit or not if the student fails the patent.

In the preparatory class for the second class, students will have 27 hours of classes per week, broken down as follows:

• 20 hours of consolidation of the expected end of middle school and preparation for the second class (French, history-geography, mathematics, science and technology, modern languages...);
• 7 hours of reinforcement of working methods or of discovery of trades and training (the nature of these lessons will not be the same depending on whether the student has been admitted as a second professional or as a second general and technological).

At the end of this training:

• either the student will continue in 2025-2026 his or her education in the training and institution in which he or she was originally admitted;
• or a change of direction will finally be decided, after the advice of the class council, upon written request of the parents of the pupil or of the latter if he or she is of age.

A student will not be able to complete another school year in the preparatory class for the second class.