Welcome to a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most dynamic British International Sections in the Paris Region. In this exclusive interview, we have the pleasure of speaking with Michele May, Head of Section at GrandChêne Section Internationale (formerly known as "Section Internationale La Celle-Saint-Cloud – Noisy-le-Roi").

With over twenty years of history, this pioneering institution offers a unique French-English bilingual program. Michele May sheds light on GrandChêne's core values, its distinctive educational offerings, its prime locations, and the diverse profiles of the students and families it serves. Discover how this school combines academic excellence with a warm community spirit, while remaining accessible to a wide range of families.

Tell us about the history of GrandChêne Section Internationale. What are the main values of your programme?

GrandChêne Section Internationale was initiated over twenty years ago by four families who wanted to offer their children a French-English bilingual education in their local community. The families all had international profiles. They started with a 6ème class of 4 students, then gradually expanded the programme, adding levels up and down. Fast forward 20 years and we now have 270 students in our Section Internationale programmes from Grande Section to Terminale, and 80 children in our non-native language programme, “Anglais Après la Classe”!

For many years, we have been known as the Section Internationale La Celle-Saint-Cloud – Noisy-le-Roi. This September, we launched our new name and logo to consolidate our identity across a growing number of partner schools, and strengthen our existing reputation as a leading British International Section in the Yvelines area.

Our values are excellence in the pedagogical programmes we offer students, community among our families and respect for all beliefs, backgrounds, and individuals. Respect is equally represented in our supportive and student-centered approach, where each child is nurtured to achieve their full potential in English. Community - among students, families, and our partner schools – also stands out as one of the aspects that makes GrandChêne unique.

The international school offering in Paris Region is quite diverse: How would you describe the specificities of your International Section?

Our Section Internationale is unique in many ways:

• Private in the public - We are a privately-run programme that operates within French public partner schools. Our status is approved by the French Ministry of Education and our official exams are moderated by Cambridge International Education. It is the perfect balance between the methodology and rigor of French public education, and the more personalised and encouraging approach of an Anglophone education.
• Small class size - We purposely limit the size of our teaching groups. All of our classes have fewer than eighteen students.
• Native English teaching staff - All of our teachers are native speakers and trained in their native countries. The majority have a degree in their subject area or an education credential.
• Community - We have a vibrant and dynamic Section community with both formal and informal events: play dates, potluck dinners, carpools, book clubs, parents’ night out, sports day, Christmas shows… the list is long!

Your programme is located on several sites, what are the advantages of these locations appreciated by parents?

We currently partner with public schools in the towns of La Celle Saint-Cloud and Noisy-le-Roi in the Yvelines (78):

• Groupe Scolaire Pasteur in La Celle Saint-Cloud, which includes Maternelle Pasteur, Primary Pasteur and Collège Pasteur
• Lycée Corneille in La Celle Saint-Cloud
• Collège la Quintinye in Noisy-le-Roi
• *NEW* Primary Jules Verne in Noisy-le-Roi: we are launching a pilot CM1/CM2 class in our newest partner school from September 2024. We are hoping that the programme will be confirmed the following year, opening more classes.

Therefore we offer students an integrated educational journey, from Grande Section to Terminale and the Bac Français International (BFI), which is highly-regarded by English-language universities in Europe and abroad.

The main advantage of La Celle Saint-Cloud is that it offers an entire curriculum from nursery school through senior school. This makes it an attractive programme for families with several children.

In addition, our partner schools are in residential areas with forests nearby. The town is dynamic with various amenities (sports, cultural events, clubs) and Paris is easily accessible by public transportation.
Noisy-le-Roi is a smaller community and is the perfect town for families looking for a country feel while being just an hour’s train ride to Paris! Noisy-le-Roi is a lively town for its size with a variety of houses and apartments, numerous parks and lots of activities on offer.

What profile of students and families does your programme cater to?

Our programme is intended for children who are bilingual in French and English, and we often have students who use more than 3 languages at home!
There are roughly three different profiles in our programmes:

• French families coming back from expatriation with bilingual children,
• Bi-national families with at least one English-speaking parent,
• And some families from other parts of the world who have traveled widely and wish to add French to the many languages they already speak.

What type of support or program is offered to students who do not yet speak French?

For novice French speakers, we are very lucky to have great partner schools.

In Primary, the focus is to make sure our students succeed in both languages. Therefore we can offer a place in our 3-hour/week Wednesday programme to children who do not yet speak French, so that they can attend their French classes full time. When they are ready - provided there is space - they can transition into our 6-hour/week integrated programme.

In Secondary, Collège Pasteur has a French immersion programme. If the student does not have sufficient academic French upon arrival, she/he can attend the UPE2A programme for up to a year and then transition into the Section Internationale. If the student speaks some French but needs to strengthen her/his academic French, she/he can enroll in Section classes while receiving additional support from the UPE2A teacher.
The Collège de la Quintinye does not have a formal UPE2A immersion programme but the school is happy to offer additional support in French should a student require it.

What are the access conditions, and what is the admission process like?

To meet with success on our entrance tests, the candidate must be bilingual in English and French. We want our students to thrive personally and academically, so our language expectations are quite high.

We organise an entrance test which includes both written and oral components. Each entrance test is age-appropriate. We also organise distance tests for families who live abroad.

Our entrance test for children coming from schools that are not recognised by the French Ministry of Education, also assess candidates’ French and Maths level. This is to ensure that the child is not taking on too much academically and to highlight any additional support she/he might need.

Finally, we take pride in offering a programme that is economically accessible. There are no fees for the public school system and, as a non-profit organisation, we ensure that rates for our fee-paying Section Internationale programmes are fair and competitive.

What kind of support or resources are available to expatriate families who enroll their children in the programme?

We have a very dynamic and lively community of parents! It is a parent-led association that is successful thanks to our Parent Committee’s active involvement. The Committee meets once a month to discuss the events organised by our active and wonderful class representatives. Our Parent Board provides oversight and guides our strategy.

Many parent-led events are organised throughout the year: potluck dinners, Halloween parties, an annual Quiz Night, and speaker evenings.

In terms of extra-curricular activities, the Primary Section organises theatre classes twice a week for children who sign up, a theatre outing, and two annual shows at Christmas and the end of the school year.

The Secondary Section organises overnight school trips for different classes to either the UK or Ireland. There is also an annual Shakespeare workshop with a trained Shakespearean actor, Debate Club, Model United Nations Conference, and the many opportunities offered by our partner schools (EcoClub, Eco-délégués, Club Solidarité, UNICEF, Concours d’Eloquence).

What do your students do once they graduate?

We are very proud of our graduates!
Half of them enroll in prestigious universities abroad (UK, Canada, the Netherlands), including McGill, Manchester, Bristol and Utrecht. Others pursue their post-bac education in France in “prépas” (Lycée Hoche, Janson de Sailly) or at selective French schools such as EDHEC, INSA-Lyon, ESTACA, and Paris Descartes in many different fields including literature, engineering, history, medicine, political science, and business.

How would you describe the Paris Region in 3 words?

Dynamic, green, evolving.

Whether you are newly arrived in Paris Region or considering starting a new family life here, visit our Living in Paris Region page for a wealth of tips and articles to support you in your new adventure. And for any questions about the international educational offerings available in Paris Region, contact us - we'll be happy to assist you.