École Jeannine Manuel, London

Since 2015, Pauline Prévot. Degree in biology and science education from Versailles and Saint Quentin University and a DESS, or masters, in computer science. Celebrating 20 years with École Jeannine Manuel schools. Started out in École Jeannine

Not ‘which child’ but ‘which family’. School is looking for those who buy into its mission and are ready to embrace the demands of a bilingual education. Non-French speakers are welcomed into any year group; non-English speakers up to year 7. No long

Like all international schools, a few leave every year as families move around the world. A few also ship out ahead of sixth form to follow more creative or other paths.

Small graduating cohorts (around 25). About half stay in the UK, heading to

2024: IB average 38 with all students achieving a bilingual diploma. In AP: 4.4 average score.

School also offers the French International Baccalaureate (BFI) with 100 per cent success rate:100 per cent with mention Bien ou Très Bien and 86 per

‘The bilingual teaching is superb’, ‘I couldn’t recommend it more’, and ‘They are so comfortable in both English and French and seamlessly move between them’ were just some of the superlatives we heard. Parents highlight the bilingual programme as

Plenty of FAL and EAL support with drop-in AP (alternative provision or accompagnement P) sessions in lunchtimes (for maths too), and pull-out support for those needing one-to-one. ‘She quickly became fluent. I don’t know how they did it, but they

‘The curriculum is really packed so there’s less opportunity for music or sports, so we need to build this in ourselves,’ parents told us, continuing, ‘If you can’t accept this, then this isn’t the school for you.’ The official line from the school

With its central location, it’s hardly surprising that you won’t find rolling fields and numerous sport pitches here. The school makes the best of its limited space and supplements with external spaces/providers. Primary years enjoy a lovely, large

No reported discipline issues. ‘There are never any problems in the classroom, everyone behaves nicely and listens,’ parents told us. The small class sizes cited as the reason. Classes mixed up each year (that lunchtime supervision helps spot any

Attracts families who value languages and culture – international mindset over Euro-flash. Majority are longstanding London residents but of all nationalities. ‘It’s a good mix of families, many have one parent who is French or someone in the family

‘It is expensive, but we like it so much that we are prepared to pay more for it.’ Recognition that it is a private bilingual school so no French government subsidies (as with a school within the French Lycée network) but parents comfortable that

Its roots lie in France, but its shoots are multilingual and multicultural. If you are looking for a bilingual education within a high-achieving, internationally minded community in central London, this is it. A young school born of impeccable