Why is French lower secondary school College?

Do le Collége mean middle school and Lycèe high school when the 15-18s are the preparing to go on to University? In the UK or England and Wales Sixth Form are often Sixth Colleges. I am not really sure if anyone here can actually give a clear answer about that?

Reply 1

Talkative Toad

Lycée= Sixth Form (and it also includes Year 11)
Collège= Secondary school (however only Year 7 to Year 10, so it doesn’t include Year 11 - 13)
Élémentaire (Year 3 to Year 6)
Maternelle (Nursery to year 2)

https://www.welcometofrance.com/fiche/fiche-synthese-decouvrir-le-systeme-scolaire-francais The website is in French

Edit:
https://www.welcometofrance.com/en/fiche/the-french-education-system
English version here but they are using American terms.

https://www.encouragingparents.com/post/school-years-in-france-understanding-the-french-education-system

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 2

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by us3481jd

You can't assume how one country uses a particular term will be the same as another country (especially for a country speaking another language!). By way of comparison, in the US "college" refers to university (undergraduate specifically).

Toad has given a helpful breakdown above for the French system :smile: