Rentrée 2020: Back to school in France

Going back to school in France has been a little different this year. Here is what you need to know about the 2020 rentrée in France, including those all-important holiday dates

Changes in the French baccalauréat

International schools in France

After lockdown disrupted the last school year in France and schools partially reopened during deconfinement, but all students returned to school as of 1 September 2020. A number of schools quickly closed again due to rising coronavirus numbers.

Covid safety

The Ministry of National Education and Youth in France established a new health guide for the start of the new school year, which includes the following:

Students over 11-years-old must wear a protective face mask whenever a one metre distance cannot be guaranteed including when out in the playground, while masks are not to be used by nursery school students.

Parents are asked to keep their children home from school if the student or family member has a fever (38 ° C or more) or Covid-19 symptoms.

There are no longer compulsory restrictions on student groups mixing or keeping physical separation but schools are to employ the best distancing possible that allows all students to attend.

Classrooms should be ventilated regularly and floors and surfaces cleaned once a day.

Students and staff should wash or sanitize their hands frequently.

Shaking hands and hugging should be avoided but use of shared equipment such as books and games is once again allowed.

Back to school allowance

The Back to School Allowance (L’allocation de rentrée scolaire – ARS) will be increased by €100 this year to help low income families in these exceptional circumstances. The amount depends on the age of the child. This year it will be €469.97 for six to 10-year olds, €490.39 for 11 to 14-year olds and €503.91 for 15 to 18-year olds. The allowance is a once per year, means-tested payment for families with at least one child in school aged six to 18 years.

Rentrée littéraire

Coinciding with the return to school, the annual rentrée littéraire sees 511 novels planned for publication between August and October 2020 according to Livres Hebdo.

Holiday dates

Finally, while all students returned to school on 1 September, they will all be on holiday again come 18 October. Download the full school holiday dates schedule here.