France: "Collèges en progrès" – A targeted initiative to reduce school failure in lower secondary education
Since January 2026, France has intensified its efforts to combat persistent school failure through the "Collèges en progrès" programme. This initiative targets approximately 800 lower secondary schools where at least 40% of students score below 8/20 in French and mathematics in the national diploma (brevet). The programme aims to prevent students from experiencing long-term academic failure and to foster their social and professional integration.
Rationale and objectives
The "Collèges en progrès" programme is rooted in two core principles:
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Localised solutions: Recognising that challenges vary by context, the programme empowers schools to design tailored responses based on a shared diagnostic of learning obstacles.
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Collective action: It mobilises both school teams and academic support units to create a multi-year roadmap with clear progress objectives and monitoring indicators.
Key innovations
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Shared diagnostic and customised roadmaps: Each participating school conducts a collaborative diagnostic to identify barriers to learning. This informs a pluriannual action plan, with measurable goals and follow-up indicators.
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Flexible pedagogical strategies: Schools implement targeted interventions, such as small-group work on specific skills, daily reading reinforcement, co-teaching in classrooms, tutoring, mentoring, and homework support, actions to improve school climate, health, and family engagement.
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Cross-disciplinary approach: Difficulties in writing or calculation are addressed across all subjects, not just in French or mathematics.
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Support for educational teams
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Dedicated time: Two full days or four half-days are allocated for collective planning and implementation.
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Expertise mobilisation: Inspectors, trainers, and social/health professionals provide on-site support.
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Leadership training: School principals benefit from a national training programme (webinars and seminars) to strengthen pedagogical leadership.
Implementation timeline
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January 2026 onwards: Schools and academic teams collaborate to define local strategies.
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September 2026: Full deployment of tailored solutions in participating schools.
For more information:
Source: Eurydice Unit France