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France : Curricula (age 3-19)

• 5.1 First phase: Pre-compulsory, age 2 - 6
• 5.2 Second phase: Primary, age 6 - 11
• 5.3 Third phase: Lower secondary, age 11- 15
• 5.4 Fourth phase: Upper secondary, age 15 - 18

Last updated: 20-Nov-2008

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Socle commun de connaissances et de compétences, (common basis/foundation of knowledge and skills)

In July 2006, the decree instituting the provisions of the Act on the Future of Schools was published. This laid the foundations for the introduction of the socle commun de connaissances et de compétences which determines the skills and competences to be acquired by all students at the end of compulsory education. ¹⁸⁸

The socle commun defines fundamental knowledge; it is not intended to be a minimum core curriculum but to be the starting point from which the curriculum is built.  It aims to give an overall meaning to all compulsory education, showing its main themes, purposes, objectives, and essential content. In addition to knowledge and skills, the socle commun also highlights attitudes. For example, in mastering a foreign language a student is expected to become more open-minded and to have a desire to communicate with his/her European neighbours and other foreigners.  ¹⁸⁸

The socle commun has seven pillars; each is divided into knowledge, abilities and attributes/attitudes. The pillars are:

• Mastering the French language 
• Speaking a modern foreign language 
• Acquiring basic knowledge in mathematics and science
• Developing a humanist culture 
• Mastering information and communication technology
• Acquiring social and civic skills
• Developing autonomy and initiative.¹⁸⁸

Changes following the publication of the socle commun will include revising curriculum documentation for each phase of education and the introduction of a modern foreign language in CE1 (7- to 8-year-olds).¹⁸⁸

Students' acquisition of knowledge will also be regularly assessed by testing.  Three stages have been defined:

• At the end of CE1 (age 8, the end of the second year of elementary school), students will be expected to read and write fluently and will be tested on their ability to read out loud and to understand the texts they analyse.
• At the end of primary education (age 11), students will be expected to provide evidence of their knowledge of the fundamental rules of grammar and elementary arithmetic.
• At the end of lower secondary education (age 15), a brevet (diploma) will be used to assess mastery of the socle commun.¹⁸⁸

In light of this monitoring of the acquisition of knowledge, it is necessary to have systems in place to help students who are not making adequate progress. As a result, 'personalised programmes for academic success' will be implemented in all CE1 classes. Such programmes already exist in some sixième classes (11- to 12-year-olds in the first year of compulsory lower secondary education).¹⁸⁸

One of the first priorities in implementing the socle commun is to introduce a new primary curriculum based on its principles.  Following extensive consultation with parents and teachers, a revised document has been produced.  See section 5.2 and its sub-sections for further detail. Once revisions to the primary curriculum aare complete, the secondary curriculum will be revised.

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