French Language Primary Schools in London

[BeetleBum3]

Bonjour!
My children (3, 5) attend an école maternelle in Paris and are practically bilingual, though we only speak English at home.
We return to London Sept ‘26 and will be looking to move to a new house (we have a flat in Lambeth) and enroll them in primary school (years R and 2).

We desperately want them to keep their french going. I’m not sure if we need / can afford an au pair and I don’t think weekend French classes will do enough to keep them fluent (?).

I’m a little nervous of a full Lycee enrolment (even though I’d be able to foot the fees) because I’ve heard the teaching can be very 1950s and lack creative options later on. I also would love a friendly school parent community and my French would not be strong enough to enjoy this if everyone was francophone. To be clear, I may go overseas again in 5-6 years so I don’t need to worry too much about Secondary options yet.

I’ve looked at Wix Academy bilingual primary, but have heard they are very over-subscribed. I’ve also seen Shaftesbury Park in Battersea which looks fabulous but I imagine has similar over-subscription issues. It’s all rather overwhelming!

We will base our house hunt on school choice, hence wanting to get some advice early on. We’re willing to relocate to any area of London really. Grateful if anyone can give me some wise words:

1. Thoughts on the best way to keep French going when it’s not spoken at home (good weekend clubs etc)?
2. Thoughts on French lycées in London - which ones are known as slightly ‘warmer’ or have your children had a good experience regardless?
3. Other state/private French or bilingual options in London?

Many thanks

Have you looked at Fulham Bilingual / Marie d'Orliac Primary School in Parsons Green? This is another state option but not local to Lambeth. A friend sent her child through a few years ago and they became fully fluent, with two British non-Francophone parents.

I would suggest you join this Facebook group, « Mamans françaises à Londres ».

We know a couple of French families whose children attend École Française Jacques Prévert at Brook Green and are happy with it.

The L'École Jeannine Manuel in Bloomsbury ( they also have bursaries that if your combined income is up to 150K is likely to get - this is according to their website) cost per year is £ 23,970 up to year 11. Worth a look. I have a friend that her son is starting there soon.

Shaftesbury Park is a big school and is usually not over subscribed - especially not now with declining birth rates across central London. Not sure about the bilingual section but you might still qualify on distance even with a Lambeth address. Depends where you flat is.

If you are planning to move elsewhere there are quite a few rentals available very close to the school.

There is La Fontaine in Bromley (state).

Actually it looks like the French element has been significantly watered down.

https://www.lafontaineacademy.org/curriculum/subjects/item/4/french here's the blurb.

EiFA in central London does bilingual education.