Programme development

The curricula for general and technological secondary schools are defined nationally by the Higher Council for Curricula (CSP). This council is composed of parliamentarians, representatives of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) and ten qualified individuals appointed by the minister for their expertise in the education system. The CSP is consulted by the Minister of Education and makes proposals on the general design of the curriculum taught in secondary schools, as well as on the introduction of digital technology into teaching methods and knowledge building. The CSP is consulted by the Minister of Education and makes proposals on the general design of the curriculum taught to students in secondary schools, as well as on the introduction of digital technology into teaching methods and knowledge building. The proposals, revised as necessary by the Ministry's departments, are submitted for consultation to teachers and inspectors, then to the Higher Council for Education for its opinion. They are finally approved by the Minister. According to  Article L311-3 of the Education Code, for each cycle, the programmes define the knowledge and methods that must be acquired.

The current programmes were defined by decree during the reform of general and technological education in 2018 and were implemented at the start of the 2019 academic year in September.

Programme content

In secondary school, teaching is divided into cycles: the determination cycle (Year 10) and the final cycle (Years 11 and 12), as well as by stream (general or technological) from Year 11 onwards. Teaching timetables are set nationally and there is no horizontal or vertical flexibility for schools.

Determination cycle (second year of general and technological secondary education)

The general and technological second year is a decisive year that includes subjects common to all pupils and optional subjects to choose from.

Timetables and curricula for core subjects are identical for all students in the second year of general and technological secondary education. They total 26.5 hours per week (or 954 hours per academic year) in the following subjects:

• French;
• History and geography;
• Modern languages A and B;
• Economic and social sciences;
• Mathematics;
• Physics and chemistry;
• Life and Earth Sciences;
• Physical education and sports;
• Moral and civic education;
• Digital sciences and technology.

In addition, 54 hours per year (as a guideline and depending on students' needs) are dedicated to career guidance. These hours are devoted to developing a plan leading to the choice of a training path and specialised subjects in the final cycle, followed by higher education.

In addition to core subjects, pupils have the opportunity to choose up to two optional subjects. These subjects enable pupils to discover new fields of study and prepare them to choose a specialism or stream in their final year.

Optional courses include:

• Scientific and technological courses (engineering sciences, sciences and laboratory work, etc.);
• Literary studies (Languages and cultures of Antiquity: Latin; Languages and cultures of Antiquity: Greek; Modern language C);
• Artistic subjects (visual arts, music, circus arts, etc.).

Details of the timetables for the general and technological stream determination cycle (compulsory and optional subjects) are available in the appendix to  the decree of 16 July 2018.

Final cycle of the general stream (first and final years)

Since the start of the 2019 academic year in September, there are no longer any streams in the general education programme. All pupils follow a common core curriculum. This common core curriculum consists of the following subjects:

Since the start of the 2022 academic year, mathematics has been reintroduced into the core curriculum. This optional 90-minute course is part of the core science curriculum for students who did not choose mathematics as a specialised subject in their first year of sixth form and who wish to take the complementary mathematics option in their final year. Mathematics will become compulsory from the start of the 2023 academic year.

In the final cycle of the general stream, in addition to core subjects, pupils take compulsory specialised subjects of their choice. In Year 11, pupils must choose three specialised subjects from a list of 12 possible specialisations. In Year 12, pupils choose to continue with two of the three specialised subjects they chose in Year 11, based on their interests and plans for further education.

The following specialised subjects are available:

• Arts;
• Biology-ecology (agricultural secondary school only);
• History-geography, geopolitics and political science;
• Humanities, literature and philosophy;
• Foreign and regional languages, literature and cultures;
• Literature, languages and cultures of Antiquity;
• Mathematics;
• Digital technology and computer science;
• Physics and chemistry;
• Life and Earth Sciences;
• Engineering sciences;
• Economics and social sciences.

The teaching time allocated to specialised subjects is the same for each subject but varies between the first and final years: 4 hours per specialised subject in the first year, 6 hours in the final year. In the first and final years, specialised subjects therefore represent 432 hours per year.

Finally, in addition to core and specialised subjects, pupils can choose optional subjects. First-year pupils can choose one optional subject worth 3 hours per week (108 hours per year) from a list of 9 possible subjects:

• Modern language C (foreign or regional);
• Ancient languages and cultures: Latin;
• Ancient languages and cultures: Greek;
• Physical education and sports;
• Arts (choice of visual arts, film and television, dance, art history, music or theatre);
• French sign language;
• Horse science and riding (agricultural secondary school only);
• Agronomy, economics, territories (agricultural secondary school only);
• Social and cultural practices (agricultural secondary school only).

In the final year, three new optional subjects, also lasting three hours, are added. These subjects are:

• Complementary mathematics (for students who did not take mathematics as a specialised subject);
• Advanced Mathematics (for students who have taken Mathematics as a specialised subject);
• Rights and major issues in the contemporary world.

Final-year students may choose up to two optional subjects, one from the list already offered in the penultimate year and one from the list offered in the final year.

Details of the timetables for the final cycle of the general stream (compulsory core or specialised subjects and optional subjects) are available in the appendix to  the decree of 16 July 2018.

Final cycle of the technological stream (first and final years)

Unlike the general stream, the technological stream has retained its different series. There are seven of them:

1. STMG series (management and administration sciences)
2. ST2S series (health and social sciences and technologies)
3. STI2D series (science and technology for industry and sustainable development)
4. STL Series (Laboratory Science and Technology)
5. STD2A series (design and applied arts science and technology)
6. STHR Series (Hospitality and Catering Science and Technology)
7. S2TMD Series (Theatre, Music and Dance Sciences and Techniques)

However, since the start of the 2019 academic year in September, all students in the final cycle of the technological stream have been following a common curriculum with identical teaching hours. This curriculum consists of the following subjects:

In each stream, pupils take specific specialised subjects for that stream (there is no choice). As in the general stream, they take three in the first year and two in the final year. There is a wide variety of timetables for specialised subjects depending on the stream (see decree below).

Finally, in the first and final years, pupils may choose a maximum of two optional subjects from among the following:

- Modern language C (foreign or regional);

- Physical education and sports;

- Arts (choice of visual arts, film and television, dance, art history, music or theatre);

Details of the timetables for the final cycle of the technological stream (compulsory core or specialised subjects and optional subjects) are available in the appendix to  the decree of 16 July 2018.

The programmes put forward proposals for teaching methods and tools for teachers to use in each cycle, stream and series of general and technological education in secondary schools. Numerous resources are also made available to teachers. All these elements are presented on éduscol,  dedicated ministry website.

There is no formal obligation to use textbooks. Accessibility to digital textbooks depends on the regions, which are responsible for equipment at secondary school level. Many regions have put measures in place to help families (free distribution to pupils, provision to schools, direct subsidies to pupils, etc.). Finally, there is no official recommendation on schoolwork at home.