French education recap: Bac exams, school swap deadline, careers help

Bac ‘speciality’ exams set for May

‘Speciality’ exams for this year’s Bac, in both general and technological schools, remain set for the deferred dates of May 11-13 in response to disrupted schooling because of Covid.

They were originally scheduled for mid-March.

Following recent reforms, the Bac is no longer split into distinct literary, scientific or social sciences versions, but consists of a common core plus individual choices of specialities.

Read more: Changes for the new school year in France

Internat d’excellence deadline

Applications are open for children to change school to an internat d’excellence – full-time boarding schools deemed to have high academic standards.

The applications are received throughout March and April, depending on the institution, and families are informed at the end of May or beginning of June.

The scheme is aimed at students struggling to achieve full potential in their current environment.

Read more here.

Career guidance

New contrats d’engagement jeune will give young people without training or a job, and aged under 26 (30 for disabled workers), help and financial support to find employment.

Read more: Jobs boom: which sectors are recruiting most in France?

Organised by Pôle emploi agencies and missions locales, youngsters will benefit from a dedicated adviser, an activity programme of 15-20 hours a week and up to €500/month, dependent on means and their following of the programme.

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