collèges

Collège is a stage of secondary education in France and some other Francophone countries. It typically follows primary school and precedes lycée, which is the final stage of secondary education leading to the baccalauréat. In the French system, collège is usually attended by students aged approximately 11 to 15, covering grades six through nine. The curriculum at collège is designed to provide a broad foundation of knowledge across various subjects, including French language and literature, mathematics, history, geography, science, foreign languages, and arts.

The primary goal of collège is to ensure that all students acquire a common core of knowledge and skills. At the end of collège, students typically take a national examination known as the Diplôme National du Brevet (DNB), although passing this exam is not strictly required to progress to lycée. The structure of collège aims to foster critical thinking and intellectual development, preparing students for more specialized studies in lycée. The transition from primary school to collège marks a significant step in a child's educational journey, with a greater emphasis on academic rigor and a wider range of subjects. The term "collège" can also refer to higher education institutions in some contexts, such as university colleges or specialized schools, but in the context of French secondary education, it specifically denotes the middle school years.