International Schools Outside Paris: Expat Family Guide

For many executives, the decision to accept a regional assignment is made at the school gate, not in the office.

Paris has a wide choice of international schools. Outside the capital, the offer is good but smaller, and seats in specific year groups can be scarce. This guide to international schools outside Paris covers the three types of schooling available, the main options in Lyon, on the Côte d'Azur, in Toulouse and in Bordeaux, and how to plan admissions alongside housing.

Three Types of Schooling

1. Private international schools

These schools teach mainly in English and follow international programmes such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the British curriculum (IGCSE, A-Levels). They suit families on assignments of a few years and teenagers who need continuity for university.

2. International sections in French schools (BFI)

Some French schools, often public, run international sections. Since the 2022–2024 reform, they prepare the Baccalauréat français international (BFI), which replaced the former international option (OIB). Most subjects are taught in French, with additional teaching in English. They suit bilingual children and longer stays.

3. Bilingual private schools

Mostly at nursery and primary level, these schools split teaching between French and English. They help young children transition into either system.

Lyon

• International School of Lyon (ISL), in Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon: an independent IB World School for ages 3 to 18, with the IB Primary Years Programme, Cambridge IGCSE and the IB Diploma.
• Cité Scolaire Internationale (CSI): a public school with several international sections, including English.
• Ombrosa: a private multilingual school.

Côte d'Azur and Sophia Antipolis

• Mougins British International School: British curriculum (IGCSE and A-Levels) for ages 3 to 18, close to the Sophia Antipolis technology park.
• International School of Nice (ISN): an English-language IB school.
• Centre International de Valbonne (CIV): a public school with international sections, at the heart of Sophia Antipolis.

Toulouse

• International School of Toulouse (IST), in Colomiers: an IB World School founded to support the region's aerospace workforce, close to the main industrial sites.
• Public schools with international sections also exist in the area; check the current list with the local education authority (rectorat).

Bordeaux

• Bordeaux International School (BIS), in the city centre: an English-language international school from nursery to secondary.
• International sections in French schools complete the offer.

Comparison Table

Region

School

Programmes, ages and fees change: confirm details directly with each school before shortlisting. For Paris, see our guide to the elite international schools of Paris.

Plan the School and the Home Together

Choosing a home before securing a school place is a common mistake outside Paris, where commutes depend on roads, bridges and ring roads more than on the metro. Shortlist the school first, then search for housing within a reasonable drive. For a regional view of housing, see our guide to executive housing outside Paris.

Admissions Checklist

• School reports for the last two or three years
• Teacher or headteacher references, if requested
• Language assessment for international sections
• Passports and birth certificates
• Vaccination records: children born since 1 January 2018 must have the 11 compulsory vaccinations to attend school
• Employer letter confirming the relocation
• Confirmation of who pays the fees (employer or family)

Tax Note on School Fees

When an employer pays school fees for an employee's children, the payment is generally treated as a benefit in kind subject to social contributions and income tax. Check the treatment with payroll, especially if the executive benefits from the impatriate regime.

When to Start: a Simple Timeline

As soon as the assignment is likely. Contact schools, ask about places in each child's year group and request admission files. Independent schools often admit on a rolling basis, but popular year groups fill early.

Two to three months before arrival. Submit applications, school reports and references. Arrange any entrance assessment, sometimes possible remotely.

Before signing a lease. Confirm the school place, then search for housing within a realistic commute.

First weeks in France. Complete enrolment formalities, canteen and transport, and plan language support if needed.

Questions to Ask Each School

• Which curriculum and qualifications does the school offer at each age?
• Is there a place in my child's year group, and if not, is there a waiting list?
• What level of French or English is expected on entry?
• What support exists for children arriving mid-year?
• What are the fees, and what do they include (registration, transport, meals, trips)?
• How do students usually travel to school from the main residential areas?

Primary vs Secondary Age

For younger children, bilingual schools and French schools with strong support can work well, and children often adapt quickly. For teenagers, continuity matters more: changing curriculum close to final exams can be costly. That is why families with older children often prioritise an English-language school with the same programme they followed before.

How Le Mendèlle Helps

Le Mendèlle's Family team supports bilingual and international school searches across France and aligns them with the housing search, alongside support for the accompanying partner and older relatives, through a single point of contact.

FAQ

Sources: IBO – Find an IB World School · Service-Public.fr – Compulsory vaccinations