Repeating a year: can I refuse?

MY YOUNGEST son’s primary school says he needs to repeat a year - is there any way I can challenge this? T.K.

Whether or not you can contest a decision by your child’s teachers that he or she should repeat a year (called redoublement) depends partly on which year is concerned.

At the end of CE1 (age 7-8), CM2 (10-11) a redoublement decided on by the teachers is in theory imposed on the child and parents.

These school years are ones said to be at the end of certain educational “cycles,” and particularly important ones, to ensure learning at a certain level has been consolidated before moving on.

It is nonetheless possible to contest a decision within 15 days of being notified of the decision by the school.

Véronique Fouillen of parents’ federation PEEP in La Rochelle said you should speak to the school about how to do this – usually there is a special form to fill in.

This is forwarded by the school to the inspection académique (local education authority) and a committee there will take a decision.

When contesting the decision, it is a good idea to write down any unusual circumstances which explain why your child struggled that year.

In the other school years a redoublement can be recommended by the school, but the parents have the right to refuse it, which should be done in writing.

It is only possible to repeat one year in primary school, as children should not stay any longer than age 12.

It is estimated about half of children redo a year at some point, though current government policy is to try to cut down on the practice.

Some French people look back at a redoublement as being stigmatising and unnecessary, while others think it gives useful breathing space to help pupils develop at their own pace.