Everything parents need to know about the British International Section at Collège Voltaire.
An International Section (SI) is an optional curriculum within the French state-school system, offering additional classtime in a particular language in addition to the standard national curriculum.
A British International Section (SIB) provides a free bilingual education with 6–8 hours of English language and literature per week, plus one-and-a-half hours of history and geography taught in English.
Within Paris, there are British International Sections at six schools: Camille Sée (15th), Montaigne (6th), Voltaire (11th), Balzac (17th), Raymond Queneau (5th, new in 2026-2027), and Maurice Ravel (20th).
To be accepted into a British International Section, a student must pass a written and oral test designed to determine whether they can follow grade-level instruction in English.
As the programme is educationally demanding and most pupils must travel some distance each day, teachers also review school reports and geographical location. They look to assess which pupils will be successful — and happy — in the SIB. As class size is limited, not all applicants can be admitted.
Pupils must be capable of following a demanding academic programme comprising grade-level language study in both French and English. Successful students tend to be both bilingual and bicultural, often with at least one parent who is fluent in English.
A student can attend an International Section for all or part of middle school (collège) to consolidate their bilingualism, then go on to a regular lycée and take any French baccalauréat. There are also SIBs at lycée level, though not yet at Voltaire.
Please note that admission after 6e is exceedingly difficult as few, if any, spots tend to be available. Furthermore, please note that admission at the collège level does not guarantee a spot in a lycée SIB. Students must take the admission exam like all other applicants.
Yes — a written test and an oral component. The written test typically includes an extract from a work of children's literature, with reading comprehension questions and a short essay. The oral part is based on a text given on the spot (a poem, a passage from a novel, or an article), followed by a ten-minute interview with the English teachers.
The SIB teachers also take into consideration the child's school record and attitude. The pupil typically sits their entrance exam at the school listed as their first choice, but the Rectorate makes the final selection.
The one-hour exam is aimed at children who already have a good command of written and spoken English. If your child is used to a bilingual environment and has solid reading comprehension skills, the test should be manageable.
Past exam papers are not available, but written papers typically ask students to read a classic children's text (Roald Dahl, Judith Kerr, Michael Morpurgo, RJ Palacio) and answer comprehension questions. For the oral, the examiners may give the child an age-appropriate poem or text, then chat about books, activities and school.
The best advice is to encourage independent reading in English at an age-appropriate level. You can also prepare your child by discussing topics with them in English and setting simple comprehension questions on the books or texts they have read. For the oral test, encourage your child to relax and be themselves!
If you live in North-Eastern Paris (11th, 19th, 20th arrondissements) or surrounding areas (Montreuil, Bagnolet, Pantin…) then Voltaire is the nearest collège offering an SIB.
Voltaire is one of Paris' oldest secondary establishments, with prestigious alumni ranging from Roland Barthes to singer Julie Zenati. It has beautiful buildings and a wide range of activities, including a very popular AS (sports association).
The SIB teachers organise numerous activities, which change from year to year. In the past, these have included London and Normandy trips, the Beauville Arts musical workshop, Halloween flashmobs, theatre outings, and more. The cafeteria is renowned for its excellent on-site cooking. And students agree: it's a friendly place with a real sense of community.
Yes. The six Paris collèges with a British International Section are:
Many parents accompany their children in the first few weeks, but they rapidly become independent. With students coming from across North-Eastern Paris, there's a good chance classmates will be on the same routes.
Currently, phone use is not permitted within the collège. Devices must be kept in schoolbags or lockers and switched off during school hours. Please note that these restrictions may become tighter in 2026-2027.
Many parents feel more secure knowing their child has some means of contact for travel, but smartphones are by no means universal, especially in 6ème and 5ème.
Many parents prefer a basic phone or no phone at all. In an emergency, the collège can be reached by phone, and staff can be contacted via the school's dedicated app. So don't feel you must get your child a smartphone — they won't be the only one without one! 🙂
Still have a question?
Email ASIBRAVO