The holidays are not quite over yet but French TV and supermarkets are getting very excited about la "rentrée"(start of school). You should say "la rentrée scolaire", but everybody knows what you are talking about! Every French family has part of the summer holiday set aside to prepare for it. Children have a very precise list of stationary items to purchase, including quite large satchels even in primary schools.
Of course, there are no uniforms or dress code (see the kids in shorts and fli flops on the video)... but the stationary shopping list can be a nightmare (thickness of pencils, type of lines on paper, size and colour of folders, etc...), teachers are quite specific and parents stressed out! The price of a typical satchel and content is newsworthy. Luckily parents can receive a lump sum for their child who goes to school ( enfant scolarisé)!
La rentrée is a much more "celebrated" event... You can hear and read Bonne rentrée! (happy return to school!) in the media.The price of la rentrée, the new timetables, the state of the school buildings, everything is under scrutiny and a topic for conversation.
"Here in France, early September is known as la rentrée, and it’s a Big Deal. It’s when everything picks up again after the two month break that is summer holiday season – and as the French like to holiday en masse in July and August, it makes it well nigh impossible to get anything done until September. So now we’re all getting back to work, the children are going back to school with smart hair cuts, shiny shoes and new satchels, and with the holidaymakers gone, now is as good a time as any to ..."(extract from The Languedoc Review)
It is difficult to describe a typical school week as it differs from areas to areas, even to town to town. Each school seems to follow another pattern. Traditionaly, children would be off on Wednesdays and Saturdays in primary school but go to school on Wednesday and Saturday mornings in secondary school. The school day is much longer than in the UK as it starts much earlier and there up to 2 hours lunch breaks (of course!). But there have been trials all over the country trying to find more children and family friendly hours and "emploi du temps" (time table).
French educational system explained.
Typical school day.
Rentrée des 6eme.
