Our alternative middle school prepares pupils for the French National Brevet Diploma with excellent results. The children's personal development and caring support in their learning, while offering them a very high academic standard.
A rigorous and ambitious middle school programme, supported by a caring approach that accompanies each student with rigour, listening and respect for their pace.
The French part of the school follows the official national curriculum, with special help for non-French speakers.
Our alternative middle school prepares students for the French National Brevet Diploma with excellent results every year.
Courses are either individual or group, depending on the subjects covered, with highly qualified teachers.
Our international school was the first in France to apply the Montessori pedagogy and today remains one of the few establishments to offer it...
At Montessori International ATHENA middle school , the human support of our students is a key priority. Adolescence is a period of profound change, marked by great sensitivity, questions about identity and increased emotional fragility. Aware of these challenges, the adults around the pupils adopt a position of listening, benevolence and respect, which is essential for their balance and development.
In this secure environment, each pupil is recognised for his or her individuality, encouraged to express him or herself and carefully supported in their learning and personal development. This relationship of trust enables teenagers to gain confidence, develop their autonomy and embark on their school career with confidence, while gradually building their identity and their sense of responsibility.
Autonomy
Self-confidence
Enthusiasm for learning
Differentiation and respect for individual rhythm
Thoroughness and good academic record
Preparation for the French National Brevet Diploma
Teaching with a minimum of 6 hours of English per week
Personalised support for each student
Demanding and caring teachers
Trilingual teaching continues at middle school with reinforced English and the learning of Spanish from grade 6.th.
Each week, in all middle school classes, students receive 6 hours of English instruction in language and literature..
English is taught in very small classes to enable everyone to understand and express themselves.
In an increasingly open world, mastering one or more foreign languages is a key to gaining access to the best international universities, and subsequently to being free to find a job abroad.
Every year, our students achieve excellent results in the Cambridge exams.
We prepare middle school students for the Cambridge English exams. As an examination centre, our courses are aligned with the level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The teaching of English is completely individualised, allowing each student to learn at their own level and pace:
For those who are native speakers and/or bilingual, The programme is tailored to their needs, enabling them to sit the exams they want.
For French people with an average level of education, The programme is also adapted to make them as bilingual as possible.
The aim is to enable each student to achieve a thorough command of the language, far superior to that generally acquired in a traditional course. This linguistic reinforcement is an integral part of basic learning and enables pupils to prepare effectively for the French National Brevet Diploma, while developing solid skills in expression, critical thinking and intercultural communication.
The French National Brevet Diploma is rigorously and progressively prepared, leading to excellent results every year.
From grade 6th, In addition to reinforced English, we are also teaching a second foreign language, Spanish.
Spanish is also taught in small classes and when students are ready, they can sit the Cervantes exams.
Our students have an excellent level of Spanish, often achieving top marks in their baccalauréat exams.
Our bilingual school has many bilingual students (foreign or expatriate), creating an authentic environment for practising languages on a daily basis.
As well as achieving good academic results, we support each pupil in their personal and social development.
Relations with families are essential to us: parents are kept informed on a regular basis, and are invited to attend many events at the school.
We attach great importance to developing our students' soft skills: self-confidence, tolerance, coping with failure and enjoyment of learning.
With between 10 and 15 pupils per class, each teenager is given individual attention and sympathetic support as they learn.
Regular cultural trips and educational outings to open minds and give meaning to learning.
A stable, committed and caring team to help every teenager succeed.
The teaching team is made up of qualified, experienced teachers who are deeply committed to their profession. All have chosen the Montessori teaching method out of conviction, in order to teach differently and to develop their teaching practices with rigour and innovation. Their kindness, attentiveness and daily commitment are an essential pillar of the support they provide to their pupils.
The team is also characterised by its great stability, with several teachers having worked at the school for many years, or even several decades. Some of them ensure continuity of teaching in the middle school and high school, thus guaranteeing a strong educational coherence. This is particularly true of the maths and physics teacher (see his testimonial), who has been at the school for over twenty years, the economics teacher, who is also the educational director of the middle school and high school, and the French, sports, music, English and Spanish teachers.
At middle school, the quality of the relationship between teenagers and teachers is an essential factor for success and balance. A relationship based on trust, listening and mutual respect enables pupils to feel secure, understood and supported at this key stage in their development. This attentive support encourages commitment to school, self-confidence and enjoyment of learning, while helping teenagers to gradually develop their independence and sense of responsibility.
At middle school Montessori, the freedom to be oneself and the freedom of expression are essential conditions for the well-being and development of adolescents. Being able to express themselves, to be listened to and to have their individuality respected helps each student to feel confident and recognised. In this secure environment, teenagers can build themselves up, develop their identity, assert their values and engage more calmly in their learning and community life.
The well-being and development of teenagers
Solid and lasting academic success
Genuine bilingualism (English/French) and a very good level of Spanish
Developing autonomy, confidence and critical thinking skills
Human, caring and individualised support to help you prepare for secondary school with confidence
An international outlook and strong values
Montessori teaching supports teenagers at a sensitive time in their development, encouraging autonomy, self-confidence and commitment in a structured, caring environment.
The teaching is rigorous and prepares students effectively for the demands of high school, while respecting their individual pace.
Small classes mean that students receive individual support, get to know each other better and develop a relationship of trust with their teachers. This environment fosters the well-being, involvement and progress of each student.
English and Spanish occupy a central place, with regular practice enabling natural oral and written communication and an international outlook.
The arts and drama develop creativity, oral expression, self-confidence and a spirit of cooperation - key skills for academic and personal success.
Students acquire the method, independence and self-confidence they need to tackle high school with confidence.
Educational trips, organised every year in France and abroad, enable pupils to discover the world, open up to other cultures and enrich their learning.
When you're a teenager, it's essential to get out of the confines of your school and put what you've learnt into practice. Local educational outings help to anchor knowledge in concrete terms, give meaning to the concepts covered in class and enrich the educational experience through stimulating real-life situations.
Our alternative middle school prepares students for the French National Brevet Diploma, achieving excellent results every year.
In addition to exam success, we ensure that our students develop strong study skills that enable them to enter the best general or international high schools.
The well-being of our students and a supportive approach to learning—while maintaining a high academic standard —remain our top priorities.
Answers to specific questions parents may have about Montessori middle schools
Yes, our students are registered for the French National Brevet Diploma by the school. The only difference is that they take all the tests in grade 9.th without continuous assessment. This is even an advantage: our students, who are very well prepared, do not risk having their average affected by a few bad marks in continuous assessment during the year.
The Montessori teaching method for adolescents, created by Maria Montessori herself, is specifically adapted to their developmental needs. It encourages autonomy, responsibility and identity-building, while maintaining rigorous academic standards. Teenagers take charge of their own learning, manage their own work plans and develop their critical faculties. This is exactly what they need at this age. As they grow up, they naturally stand out for their strong autonomy, their assertive creativity and their particularly well-developed capacity for analysis and critical thinking.
Confidence and motivation are built in an environment where teenagers feel recognised, encouraged and stimulated. At our school, small classes (10 to 15 students) allow for individualised support: each student is known, listened to and guided according to his or her strengths and pace. Our approach combines a relationship of trust, progressive academic requirements and a structured, caring environment. We help young people to identify their successes, develop effective methods and become more independent. Where necessary, personalised support, including distance learning, can be put in place. Because every student deserves an environment in which they can realise their full potential.
Absolutely. Our grade 10 students have an excellent academic level, solid work methods, a high degree of autonomy and an above-average command of English. These qualities enable them to enter the best general and/or international lycées in France or abroad. Many of them continue their studies at our school, but those who leave do very well elsewhere thanks to their rigorous preparation.
The academic level of our school exceeds French standards. Indeed, in international assessments such as PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) and TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study), France is poorly ranked. Our teaching methods are therefore designed to meet the highest international academic standards.
Do you have any other questions about our international Montessori school in Bailly?
Join our school and offer your teenagers a bilingual environment where they can develop their independence and prepare for secondary school.
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