sixième

Sixième is the first year of the collège, the French state secondary school, and is part of the national education system overseen by the Ministry of National Education. It is typically attended by students aged about 11 to 12 and follows the last year of primary school, CM2. Along with cinquième, quatrième and troisième, sixième makes up the collège. The year marks the initial transition from primary to secondary education, with a broader emphasis on independent work and subject integration.

The curriculum is defined at the national level and centers on a core set of subjects: French, mathematics, science (covering life and physical sciences), history-geography and civics, physical education, and at least one foreign language (usually English). Arts education and technology are also typically part of the program. Classes are organized to gradually increase the level of difficulty and the expectations for assessment, and students are evaluated through a combination of written work, tests, and continuous assessment.

There is no diploma awarded specifically for sixième; the Diplôme National du Brevet is awarded at the end of troisième (the final year of collège). The name sixième literally means “sixth” and designates the first year of secondary schooling in the French system. The transition to collège also introduces new timetabling, room changes, and a greater emphasis on student autonomy as pupils progress through sixième and beyond.