Read on to find out the basics of the French education system, how it compares to the British system, and what the options are for British expats if your children’s French isn’t fluent (yet!).
It is compulsory for children in France to attend school between the ages of 3 and 16.
Children attend primary school (École primaire) between the ages of 3 and 11. This part of the school system includes nursery school (Maternelle), where they spend three years, between the ages of 3 and 6, and École Élémentaire, where they spend 5 years between the ages of 6 and 11. French pupils then move to Collège at the age of 11, where they spend four years, before finally transferring to Lycée for the final three years of school from the ages of 15 to 18.
Beyond the age of 18, students can choose to study at one of France’s state funded or private universities, or at privately funded higher education establishments, such as business or engineering schools or those specialising in training for specific careers, such as journalism.
Expats moving from England have three main options. Firstly, children can join the French state education system where teaching is in French. State education is free in France, and if your children already speak French, or are young enough to learn, and you’re planning on moving to France for the long-haul, this can be a great option and your children will receive an excellent standard of education. The French state system also offers a programme specifically to help non-French speakers to integrate into the school system.
France also has French-speaking private schools. And as is the case in most European countries, many of them offer a religious element to the curriculum. Early application (up to a year in advance) is advisable as it can be very difficult to get a place.
The third option is to enrol your children into a fee-paying international school. France’s big cities, including Paris, Lyon and Nice to name a few, have an excellent selection of bilingual or foreign-language schools. Those offering a purely British curriculum (such as the British School of Paris in Croissy-sur-Seine) are fully fee paying. These can be very expensive, but may be the best option if your children are older and don’t speak French or if your stay in France is temporary.
However, many of the international bilingual schools operate ‘sous-contrat’ (under contract), meaning that they provide education in line with the French state curriculum. In addition, they offer a private element that makes up the international curriculum. This part is taught in English (or another language), and fees for these schools are much more affordable as you only pay privately for the international element. There are plenty of these bilingual schools in and around France’s larger cities, such as L’Ermitage International School in Maisons-Laffitte in the western suburbs of Paris. Children may, however, find it harder to integrate if they are older, as a good level of French is required to be able to keep up with the French side of the curriculum.
Those that are lucky enough to live close to one of France’s ‘Lycées Internationales’, such as the Lycée Internationale in Saint-Germain-en-Laye, can attend one of France’s unique, state-funded international schools. For a small financial contribution, your children can study in the British Section (or the German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, etc., sections if they are fluent speakers and nationals of these countries) and will receive an excellent standard of education. The fees are a fraction of the price of other international options and the schools rank among France’s top state schools. However, competition for entry is fierce so it’s best to have a backup option.
For the expat in France, there are some surprises when it comes to school holidays, but once you get used to how the system works, your only worry will be to decide whether to spend your summers on the beaches of the rugged Atlantic or the French Riviera!
Find your zone!
The French “Ministère de l’Education Nationale” or Ministry for Education fixes school holiday dates each year, and each part of the country is placed into one of three zones, known as Zones A, B and C. There are many websites, such as Vacances Scolaires, with a handy map to help you to find out which zone you’re in. French state schools will all follow these dates, and most of the international schools follow suit, though do check with your school to be sure.
Holiday dates
There are five main school holidays in France, and something different happens at each.
Now you know what happens when, get your calendar, get your guidebook, and decide which part of France you’re going to head to for skiing or sunshine during the Vacances Scolaires this year!
Children, especially younger children, are incredibly resilient and have a phenomenal ability to learn a language once immersed in the country and the culture. Your children will be fluent in French far quicker than you’ll believe (and far quicker than their parents will be!). There are plenty of options for your children’s education all over France, and in particular in France’s biggest cities.
Planning a move and need help with finding the right school for your children in France? Get in touch with AGS Movers today!
Every summer, the island’s Old Fort transforms into centre stage, while fringe events are held in the city centre. The festival has become Zanzibar’s main tourist attraction. The 19th edition took place from 11 to 13 February 2022 around the theme “Amplifying women’s voices”.
In total, some 50 groups introduced the world to the sound of Swahili music. This year’s artists hailed from 20 African countries – from Algeria to South Africa, via Ivory Coast and Kenya.
“It is a very important event. For expatriates, the festival is an opportunity to discover Swahili culture and to have a good time with the locals”, underlines Nathalie Jeanneau, Director of the AGS Africa Network. The AGS Group has been present in the Tanzania since 1996, with a branch in the capital Dar es Salaam.
Each year, 20,000 music lovers from around the world flock to join the festivities, making Sauti za Busara an important source of income for the Tanzanian economy. The United Republic of Tanzania is a parliamentary republic in East Africa. Covering 947,303 km², the country shares borders with eight neighbours (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique).
In the 2000s, Tanzania’s then president Benjamin Mkapa initiated the Vision 2025 development strategy, which prioritised infrastructure construction. Implementation is ongoing and has resulted in the country being upgraded from a “low-income country” to a “lower middle-income country” by the World Bank in 2020.
The new President of the Republic, Samia Suhulu Hassan, recently set new priorities, including better economic and fiscal governance, with a rapid improvement in the business climate and an increased fight against corruption.
Sauti za Busara is also an opportunity for artists and organisers to promote peace, human rights, gender equality and diversity. According to festival chairman Yusuf Mahmoud, the collaboration between local and international partners promotes exchanges, encourages good governance and brings about changes in belief systems.
In addition, the festival serves as a networking event for participating musicians, who meet up during the “Movers and Shakers” sessions.
For this pandemic edition, organisers implemented comprehensive protective measures to safeguard festivalgoers. The 2021 festival aimed to increase the visibility and accessibility of African live music, develop skills and opportunities in the music industry and strengthen regional and international artistic connections.
Does relocating to Zanzibar sound like music to your ears?
Contact Nathalie Jeanneau, AGS Network Director for Africa, to start your adventure: [email protected]
In recent years, increasing conflicts with farmers and shortages of food and water have led the Botswanan government to repatriate thousands of the massive mammals back over the border.
Under the guidance of wildlife management experts, authorities have removed kilometers of fence line, creating wildlife corridors to allow the elephants to naturally migrate back to the prime habitat of southern Angola. Keen to bolster their paltry wildlife numbers, Angolan authorities are removing landmines left behind after decades of conflict.
AGS Botswana branch manager Vincent Pilpre is familiar with the giants’ destructive habits, but says they also have a positive effect on the environment: “By destroying vegetation, they make pathways that allow access for other animals,” he explains. “Elephant dung is also an excellent fertilizer, rich in nutrients for germinating seeds that go on to create new habitats.”
The elephants also play a big role in tourism, a sector that employs 8% of the population and contributes 13.1% of Botswana’s GDP. Little wonder then that the country is willing to explore unprecedented measures to ensure a viable population of pachyderms.
Looking to put down roots in Botswana? Contact us for a quote!
]]>“Our aim is to increase the children’s tolerance, interest and respect for their friends, who may have different levels of ability, come from other cultures, speak a different language, or practice a different religion. Football is a great vehicle for learning these values in a fun atmosphere,” he explains.
The AGS Prague team has been involved with League5 from day one, providing much of the logistical support needed for events. However, this September they assisted Andrew in another matter.
The League5 Kids Academy had held a charity market to raise money for Root For Mums, a Prague non-profit that provides material support for single mothers based on their specific needs. “By inviting the children to sell their toys at the market, we managed to raise 2,500 euros,” says Andrew. But although the market attracted more than 300 visitors, there were still many toys looking for a new home by the end of the day.
Learning of Andrew’s dilemma, the AGS team mobilised their resources. Soon, a truck, loaded with 700 kgs of toys and all manner of baby paraphernalia, was pulling up outside Family In Need, a charity that welcomes single mothers and their children who find themselves without a home.
By offering temporary accommodation and other forms of assistance, Family In Need supports its residents until they can once again ensure proper care for their children, reintegrate back into society and live a full life. To do this, the centre relies heavily on donations: baby food, cleaning products and, of course, toys.
Family In Need’s operations manager, Michaela Zdzieblová, took delivery of the donation. “These toys will travel with their new owners when they leave here. In a way, they represent a new beginning for the children and the mothers who pass through our doors,” she says.
For the AGS crew, delivering the toys to Michaela and her team is in keeping with the family values of the AGS Group. “The future is top of mind at AGS,” notes the group’s European network manager Eric Ponchaut. “These children are our future, and if the AGS Group can support the important work of the Family in Need team, then of course we will.
]]>As a partner in the event, the French Embassy of South Africa called on the French-owned AGS Group to ship the pieces from Johannesburg to the foundation’s Cape Town headquarters, the auction house for the occasion.
The AGS team readily donated the services of their specialised art transport division.
Be it a sculpture or a painting, protecting art in transit requires more than bubble wrap. In fact, the moving industry staple is to be avoided at all costs, according to AGS Johannesburg branch manager Morne Rudolph. “Since bubble wrap is made of plastic, it traps moisture which could damage the canvas, particularly in humid climates,” he explains.
Instead, each piece is suspended in a tailor-made skeleton frame before being packed into another custom-built crate that has been lined with foam to reduce jarring during transport. With oil paintings especially, it’s important to keep packing material away from the canvas. Depending on how many layers the artist has applied, the paint can take years to dry, and packaging may stick to the surface.
These precautions may seem extreme, but it’s this level of care that ensures the works remain in pristine condition during their journey – quite important when you’re trying to raise as much money as possible.
Local and international bidders did not disappoint, raising 3.9 million rands ($257 000). The best-performing lot was West of Sutherland, a landscape in oils by renowned South African realist John Meyer, which fetched R850 000 ($56 000). Wine estate experiences and luxury items were also up for grabs, including a black and white diamond-encrusted ring which went under the hammer for R40 000 ($2 300).
The foundation’s development officer, Edwin Arrison, confirms the funds will be allocated to various projects, including developing and implementing leadership programmes built on the Archbishop’s values, providing a platform for difficult but necessary dialogues, and advocating for peace and social justice.
Edwin notes, “For over 40 years, the Archbishop tirelessly campaigned for peaceful activism, love and reconciliation, favouring no political party or religion – that was his great contribution to the world. Now it’s time for us to honour his memory and take over his work.”
We pay tribute to the buoyant and impish clergyman who dedicated his life to serving humanity.
To support the good work of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Foundation, visit https://www.tutu.org.za/get-involved/.
Roses in the Big Glass, an etching by well-known artist William Kentridge, fetched more than R300 000 ($19 000).
Titled Dancing Tutu, this 42cm bronze figure by sculptor Barry Jackson found a new home for R91 040 ($6 000).
]]>The festival began in 1910 with camel trekking marathons and traditional games, growing year by year until its first international edition in 1967. Through the decades, it has retained its authenticity, however. “Living in Tunisia allows you to discover ancient customs and traditions that are still important in the community,” says Michel Vuillin, AGS Tunisia Director. “All the ambassadors and their staff attend the festival, which has become an unmissable occasion in Tunisia.”
Following an official opening ceremony, festivities get underway. The main events take place in an amphitheatre set up in Henich square, which is surrounded by Bedouin tents. Festivalgoers are treated to camel racing and wrestling, traditional Bedouin ceremonies and Sloughi hunts. Exhibitions, book and date fairs and documentary screenings complete the programme. Evenings are organised around song and dance.
The Douz festival allows visitors to discover the “gateway to the great Sahara”. Traditionally the town was an important stop for camel trains transiting from the Sahara to the north of the country. Located in the centre of Tunisia, 500km south of Tunis and a 3h30 drive from Djerba, Douz is the largest oasis in the region, boasting a palm grove that is widely regarded as the most beautiful in Tunisia.
Do you need help or advice to prepare your move to Tunisia? Contact us!
]]>After completing my studies in business administration, accounting, and finance in London in 2009, I started working in SMEs, doing auditing and accounting. When I returned to Guinea-Bissau in 2017, I wanted to take on both an operational and managerial role. I submitted my CV to a recruitment agency and a few months later AGS called. I had never heard of AGS before my interviews with them.
I was branch manager! It was quite a challenge as I only had experience in accounting at the time. I decided to take on the role because it was an exciting opportunity to work in a new environment and develop my skills. My previous experience had taught me to have a global vision of sales and business operations, which turned out to be a real asset when I started at AGS.
I am in the same position, but my duties have changed completely. I have learned a lot thanks to my curiosity and my presence in the field. I am also lucky to have the support of my five colleagues and the head office. They have instilled in me the knowledge that is essential to perform my duties. It is sometimes nerve-wracking, but so rewarding!
One way or another, I participate in all the activities of the branch! I work extensively in administration, accounting to a certain level, human resource management and client communication, which is an essential part of our responsibilities at AGS and my main motivation. Customer satisfaction is one of my major goals, as well as developing my skills and facilitating the professional growth of my colleagues. My long-term goal is to grow the company in a sustainable way by capitalising on our clients and the quality of our services.
Not one specifically. Each assignment is unique and offers a new learning opportunity. In Guinea-Bissau, we work primarily on removals and records management, but we also have jobs related to cargo and logistics. Because each case is different, you need to analyse the regulations to find logistics solutions that meet clients’ needs. Every day is a challenge!
Working at AGS is extremely exciting. I get to do so many different things which I am fully in control of every day. Our group is a company with family values, dedicated to assisting clients with their unique requirements and solving their specific problems. It’s a demanding job, full of surprises. Working at AGS means enjoying challenges and defeating them! Join us!
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The golden rule? Have your goods packed and ready before the movers arrive to avoid any delays!
Find out how you can prepare for your international move.
Unplug the fridge 48 hours before the move. After you have wiped away any excess water and removed all contents, shelves and loose parts, leave the fridge door open to completely dry out. This will prevent any build-up of bacteria and mould.
Disconnect the washing machine and dryer 48 hours before the move. Empty the water out from the drawer, and keep the door open to completely dry out. Secure and block the drum prior to transportation to prevent drum misalignment. It is best to hang on to the drum screws when you purchase the washing machine.
If possible, remember to keep the original boxes and packaging of your electronics and appliances. These items usually come in customised boxes which can be useful during the move. While most items can be packed in standard boxes, make sure to keep the original box of your TV, as well as fragile items like wine glasses. Speak to your move coordinator about your box and packaging needs.
This makes the entire moving process a whole lot easier. Use labels and stickers to identify each box’s destination, for example, kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom, as well as a description of the contents, pots and pans, cleaning products, or games and toys. Knowing exactly where each box needs to go saves you and the movers a lot of time.
Keep empty shoeboxes to store your shoes for the move. To keep their shape during long-term storage, stuff the shoes with tissue paper.
Books can be extremely heavy and can tear or break the boxes they are packed
in. We recommend stacking books in small-to-medium sized boxes (this also prevents breaking our movers’ backs!)
If some boxes are not completely full, try to fill up the empty spaces. Use blankets, sheets, pillows, old clothes or any other material that can be placed in between your items to prevent them from moving around and/or breaking during the move.
Make sure to pack a box of your most essential goods last, so it can be the first box unpacked from the truck. Essentials can include bedding, towels, toiletries, coffee, sugar, snacks, pet food, first aid kit, scissors, and important documents for the move. Label this box as “Essentials Box’ and inform the movers.
Use ‘fragile’ stickers and tape to ensure these boxes stand out. Wrap the fragile items individually in bubble wrap, newspaper and brown paper to prevent them from moving around and breaking.
Keep your valuables in a separate, locked room that you can access after the move. This will ensure that your valuables are safe, and the movers do not accidently pack them in the truck.
The day of a move can be challenging and exhausting. Organising a sitter to take care of your children and pets will help reduce the stress of a busy day and allow you to dedicate your energy and concentration to the move (without any distractions!). If you cannot organise a sitter, read our Moving with Children article.
It is highly recommended that you look for a professional moving company, and book them in advance. It is important to cover all the details to ensure a smooth, stress-free move. While most companies offer similar moving services, some, like AGS Movers, provide customised and tailor-made services, such as: storage facilities, all-risk insurance, groupage shipping, fine art shipping, specialised parcel shipments, pet and vehicle transportation, and virtual visits to estimate the volume of your items.
As every move is different, it is important to explain the details to your move coordinator. Details can include your specialised moving needs (international or domestic moving, professional packing, insurance, storage facilities, vehicle transport, etc.) or showing the movers any specific requirements, for example, fine art that needs specialised packing.
The moving process begins with a home (or virtual) visit to estimate the volume of your items for the moving quotation. Once the move is booked, important documents like customs forms, passports and visas will need to be prepared and submitted. Your move coordinator will know which documents you need.
And lastly, make sure you have your belongings and essentials ready before the movers
arrive. Last minute planning and preparing can delay the entire moving process.
Planning a move and need help packing for the big day? Contact AGS Movers today!
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But, as Jon soon realised, ensuring sustainable supplies of water, food and energy were challenges islanders were already facing, particularly since the acceleration of climate change.
“As the sea level rises, it contaminates island water tables, salinizing the drinking water,“ he explains. “And because the sea level is rising faster than the surrounding coral reefs can grow, storm surges cause more damage.”
A chemical engineer by training, Jon had ideas on how to tackle these issues but nowhere to put them into practice. For three years he searched for a suitable testing site but found that few islands were open to the kind of research he wanted to do. Even fewer were affordable. Then he heard about Rodrigues from a friend who had gone there on holiday.
Most people fly to the 108 km² island for a visit, but Jon wanted to relocate there permanently with a container of his earthly possessions. An unusual move, he discovered: “Of the five removal companies I contacted, only AGS Movers UK could ship my things all the way to Rodrigues. The others stopped in Mauritius.”
“I had never moved anyone to Rodrigues before I met Jon,” concedes AGS UK Business Development Manager Ben Jones, “but I contacted our AGS branch in Mauritius to ask what was possible. They researched it and came back with a proposition.”
But just as Jon was poised to depart for Rodrigues, the coronavirus struck. With international borders closed and unable to extend his lease, he was forced to book into a hotel at the last minute while Ben swiftly made space for his furniture at the AGS UK storage facilities.
After 13 interminable weeks and several false starts, an undaunted Jon finally touched down in Mauritius, just as his furniture was beginning its 12,700km journey to meet him. Fresh out of quarantine, he met up with AGS Mauritius move coordinator Frederick Haggoo, who had sent Ben the removals quote months before.
A Mauritian native, Frederick knows Rodrigues well. And with 15 years’ experience in logistics, he also knew exactly who on the tiny island had the right truck to transport Jon’s container from Port Mathurin to his new home.
As an islander, Frederick is proud to have been involved in Jon’s move. “We are only too aware of the challenges we face,” he notes. “What Jon is setting out to do promises little return on investment for him but a great return on investment for the world and for the next generation.”
Protecting the present to ensure the future has long been a goal of the MOBILITAS AGS Group as well. To help combat climate change, the company has partnered with the NGO Planète Urgence since 2009. Through reforestation projects around the world, the nonprofit helps communities develop their local economies in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner.
Currently, Planète Urgence is working in the Mahakam Delta of Borneo, Indonesia, a project to which AGS has contributed more than 95 000 trees to date. The delta’s mangrove forest plays a key role in regulating global climate thanks to its carbon storage capacities. It also forms a barrier to local tropical storms, tsunamis, and rising sea and river levels.
Jon didn’t know about this partnership when deciding on a removals company, but was pleased to learn that the AGS ethos aligns with his own.
“I moved with AGS because they were the only company who could offer me peace of mind all the way to my final destination, but that I made the right decision was underscored by the service I received.” He adds with a smile: “I certainly wouldn’t recommend moving to a sparsely populated island in the middle of a pandemic, but if you have to, move with AGS Movers.”
Is your new home also off the beaten track? With 148 locations in 97 countries, AGS can get you there. Get your free removals quote today.
]]>Six family-owned and operated French companies wanted to offer their employees training courses that addressed the reality of their specific business challenges. In 2017, Mobilitas, GT Logistics, GT Solutions, Poclain, Radiall and Terideal decided to pool their training and management resources to create ALETIA and offer their employees the training that met for their exact needs.
“The development of our companies cannot be separated from that of our employees,” assures Christophe Mordelet, MOBILITAS HR Director and General Secretary.
The creation of a trustworthy space, where employees can share good practices and field experience, fully equips them to face the daily challenges and managerial culture encountered in family-owned companies.
ALETIA’s objective is to actively take part in the development of its founder SMEs by offering inter-company training, intra-company modules and individual management coaching.
Training programmes are jointly developed by the founding members to incorporate their specific requirements. Some key ALETIA training courses have been created through this collaboration, including, “Being a manager in a family business”, “Developing your network” and “The agile change manager”.
“In addition to the training they receive on a particular subject, employees also appreciate exchanging their views and sharing the challenges they face in similar positions but very different professional environments,” says Christophe Mordelet. “Above all, these training sessions are dedicated to sharing views. As such, ALETIA welcomes new shareholders, family-owned or owner-operated SMEs, in sectors that are different to those of the current members, to diversify and boost exchanges.”
Each year, the organisation innovates with two to three new training modules on topics requested by the founders. They strive to keep course content as relevant as possible to the reality on the ground.
In 2021, ALETIA is considering developing courses related to remote working, crisis management, or team and project management to meet the current needs of employees and develop their skill sets.
By gathering employees from different sectors in the same training course, ALETIA enables them to compare their perceptions of global developments and find new ways of working.
In total, the institute trains more than 500 employees per year from the six founding companies. In 2021, 115 French Mobilitas employees participated in the training courses.
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