A bilingual middle school where your child learns in English and French every day, in an independent international school 5 minutes from Paris. Admission is non-selective, with dedicated support for students who arrive without one of the two languages.
Notre bilingual middle school in Boulogne-Billancourt welcomes students from 6e to 3e, that is, from Year 7 to Year 10 in the British system. Lessons are taught in English and French by native-speaker teachers. French, history and geography, and PE are taught in French; maths, science, ICT and English are taught in English. Spanish is added from Year 9 (4e). Business Studies is taught in English from Year 10 (3e).
From September 2027, our students will also be able to prepare for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) in a bilingual French-English version. Open Sky International is an independent international school, privately run and not under contract with the French state (hors contrat), based in Boulogne-Billancourt since 2012. Its middle school is non-selective: we welcome every child wherever they are in their learning, including children who do not yet speak one of the two languages.
The middle school's teaching approach, year by year, is presented on the page for our bilingual middle school in Paris.
Whether your child comes from a French school, an international school or from abroad, they can join our bilingual middle school in Year 7 (6e) or partway through the cycle. Mid-year entry is possible until May, subject to places being available in the class, with no entrance test.
Admission begins with an online application, followed by a conversation with the admissions team and a visit to the school during lessons. An assessment in French, English, maths and science is then used to place your child in the middle school class that suits them, not to select them.
The steps and the documents required are set out on the How to apply page
A middle school student who arrives without one of the two languages follows a language support programme, EAL (English as an Additional Language) or FAL (French as an Additional Language), built into their week until they can follow lessons in both languages.
This programme is designed according to the results of the student's placement assessments on enrolment. Its length and intensity vary according to the student and their needs.
In middle school, intensive EAL lessons take place in small groups, and students can usually follow lessons in both languages after 6 to 9 months.
The first year of the bilingual middle school program focuses on consolidating foundational skills in both languages, developing study habits, and providing an initial introduction to experimental sciences in English. Science subjects—biology, chemistry, and physics—are taught separately, each by a dedicated teacher. Students also have one hour of visual arts per week, conducted in English.
Each year, a one-week school trip is organized. This serves to strengthen friendships while, more importantly, offering a different way to learn through an educational project designed by the teachers.
Students have recently travelled to the Euro Space Center (Belgium) or to Barcelona.
Subjects are explored in greater depth as the curriculum continues.
The activities started in primary school and in Year 7 carry on: capoeira, drama, chess, art and sport.
Spanish is introduced as a third language, along with preparation for the exam cycle that begins in Year 10 (3e).
The final year of middle school and the first year of the GCSE/IGCSE cycle, which concludes with the Year 11 exams. A new subject is studied in English: Business Studies.
The subjects studied for GCSEs and IGCSEs are: maths, French, physics, chemistry, English literature and English language, biology, Spanish and Business Studies.
Students have the option of sitting the French Brevet (Diplôme National du Brevet, DNB, the national exam at the end of French middle school) as an independent candidate. French, history and geography are studied in preparation for the Brevet.
In French: French, history and geography, and PE.
In English: maths, biology, chemistry, physics, English and English literature, ICT, and Business Studies from Year 10 (3e). Activities (drama, capoeira, chess, art) are in French and in English.
Spanish from Year 9 (4e).
The table shows where each middle school year group sits in the French, British and American systems.
| Age | France | United Kingdom | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 - 12 | 6ème or Sixième | Year 7 | 6th Grade |
| 12 - 13 | 5ème or Cinquième | Year 8 | 7th Grade |
| 13 - 14 | 4ème or Quatrième | Year 9 | 8th Grade |
| 14 - 15 | 3ème or Troisième | Year 10 | 9th Grade |
Our bilingual middle school does not stop at Year 10 (3e). In Year 11 (2de), the following year, our students sit GCSEs and IGCSEs, British qualifications recognised in more than 80 countries. The exams take place in our own accredited Pearson Edexcel examination centre since 2022, making us one of the few schools in France to hold this accreditation.
GCSE/IGCSE results in 2026: students sit GCSEs/IGCSEs in 9 subjects. The results were excellent once again in 2026 :
After Year 11, our students continue into Sixth Form (Year 12 and Year 13, 1re and terminale) towards A Levels, recognised by universities around the world.
A Level results in 2026: our first cohort, in 2026, of which we are very proud: 33% of students achieved A*–A (England average: 28%) and 100% achieved A*–E (England average: 97%).
The middle school and the high school share the same campus: your child keeps the same teachers and classmates from one stage to the next.
A 45-minute tour of the middle school with the admissions team, during lessons.
You leave with an answer on whether a place is available for your child.
Middle school is the age when work habits are formed. We expect four things from students at our bilingual middle school, and we work on them together :
Each middle school student is followed by their form tutor. Progress reviews are carried out regularly with the teaching team. 5 class councils (conseils de classe), 4 school reports (markbooks) a year and 2 full reports a year allow parents to follow their children's schooling closely.
Parents attend parent-teacher meetings twice a year. Individual meetings with the school's leadership are arranged when necessary. We do not wait for the class councils to act if difficulties arise.
Finally, an online parent portal allows parents to follow homework, marks and comments, and to access a range of resources.
Doors open at 8:10 am. Middle school hours: 8:15 am to 5 pm. The day begins with form time, as in British schools, so that lessons can start at 8:30 am. On Wednesdays, lessons run in the morning until 12 pm, with an optional afternoon: the school week is 4.5 days.
Supervised study and after-school care until 6:30 pm. After-school clubs and activities are organised each year according to demand from students and families (sport, chess, journalism, singing).
Lunch on site provided by the school, with a choice of two menus each day (except Wednesday), or a lunch box provided by the family.
Wearing school uniform is compulsory at Open Sky International and we encourage all students to take pride in their appearance at school and in their uniform. Open Sky International works with Morgane Diffusion, located at 2 rue Liot in Boulogne Billancourt, 5 minutes walk from the school.
Yes. In middle school, they take intensive EAL (English as an Additional Language) lessons in small groups, built into their week, and can usually follow lessons in both languages after 6 to 9 months. How long this support lasts depends on the student, their commitment and their work. On average, it takes two years for a beginner to become bilingual in English.
Yes, entry to our bilingual middle school is possible mid-year, until May, subject to places being available in the class. An assessment in French, English, maths and science is used to place your child in the class that suits them.
From Year 10 (3e), your child prepares for GCSEs and IGCSEs, which they sit in Year 11 at our accredited Pearson Edexcel examination centre, then for A Levels in Sixth Form. A Levels are recognised by universities around the world and give access to French higher education. Your child also sits the French Brevet (DNB) at the end of Year 10 (3e). If they wish to continue their studies in France, they will have access to Parcoursup, the French higher-education admissions platform, just like other European students.
At our bilingual middle school, French, history and geography, and PE are taught in French. Maths, biology, chemistry, physics, English, ICT and Business Studies (from Year 10, 3e) are taught in English. Spanish is added from Year 9 (4e). Drama, chess, art and capoeira are taught in both languages, French and English.
We guarantee a maximum of 20 students per class.
Tuition fees are presented by the admissions team during your first conversation.
Book a meeting with our admissions team or submit an online application: we will reply within 24 to 48 hours.
Quelques places disponibles pour 2026 !
Préparez votre rentrée 2027 !
Some available places for 2026 !
Prepare your 2027 school year !
