Lycée Francais Charles de Gaulle

Since September 2023, Catherine Bellus-Ferreira. Former English teacher (as a second language in the French education system), she gained her first school headship in 2003 and since then, has directed various schools in France (in Normandy and the

Registration takes place online and opens one year before entry. Multiple opportunities to register within the year and strict criteria (all on school website) govern the allocation of places, but note that being French isn’t one of them. Exceptions

In 2025: UCL (21), University of Bath (21), Warwick (16), King’s College London (11), Queen Mary (8), Imperial (5), Exeter (5), Edinburgh (4), UAL (4), Bristol (4), LSE (4), St Andrews (4), Oxford (3), Cambridge (2), plus additional universities

In 2025, at GCSEs: 60 per cent 9–7; at A level, 48 per cent A*/A, 70 per cent A*-B. In the French Bac: 69 per cent Très Bien (highest distinction).

The Lycée is part of a network of around 500 schools that bring the French curriculum and a slice of French life to more than 130 countries worldwide. In this display of soft power, the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle is the jewel in the crown of

For students with special needs, the educational psychologist and speech and language adviser recommends what type of support might help (dyslexia is not uncommon) but the school itself does not provide much support in-house. School has disabled

English as a second language is taught from primary with streaming at college level and whilst other languages are available there is no mother tongue instruction except French and English.

Long days mean busy extended lunchtimes with a varied menu of activities and clubs to choose from but little going on after hours. Popular clubs run over a staggered lunch break to satisfy differing schedules and demand. Annual concert at Cadogan

An urban school where playground space doubles up as sports pitch – beware any wayward balls when visiting! No cricket, netball or lacrosse but lots of volleyball, basketball and football. Once a week, Collègiens head out on a 45-minute coach trip to

Negative marking used for non-submission of homework – it’s unpopular but effective. Saturday morning detention is usually only reserved for recidivists: ‘My son started to look forward to Saturday school,’ confessed one mother ruefully. ‘He would

Gatherings at the school gates indicate a noisy student body still full of life and fun, even at the end of a long school day. Lycée system of mixing students every year also means that despite its size, many students are at least partially

Fees have seen a sharp upward trend in recent years but still remain excellent value compared to other London private schools. Welfare grants and bursaries are available; parents association and charity also help. Lycée benefits from a French

Sophisticated, often well-travelled, and sometimes very well-heeled, Lycée students are a cosmopolitan crowd who enjoy school life. A place reportedly full of contradictions: tough, huge and laissez-faire but also caring, disciplined and friendly.