As a new resident at Parc du Cap and new to the South of France, you may be wondering what educational opportunities there are for your children in the region. We are very lucky to have several excellent and prestigious schools and universities in the Côte d’Azur. These include both quality French schools as well as private and international educational establishments where kids can thrive in the local language or in English speaking schools and universities.
In this blog, we speak to one of the best local primary schools and located in close proximity to Parc du Cap – ICS Côte d’Azur School.
Tell us about ICS Côte d’Azur School
ICS Côte d’Azur is the only bilingual IB World school on the French Riviera offering the IB Primary Years Programme in French and English, for children ages 3-11. The school is located in the heart of Sophia-Antipolis – Europe’s leading technology park and located 20 minutes from Nice.
Alongside ISN Nice and Mougins British International School, ICS Côte d’Azur, is a member of Globeducate, one of the world’s leading premium bilingual and international schools. These school have a shared mission to prepare each student to be a global citizen who can shape the world.
What are the main benefits of attending an international school?
There are multiple benefits of attending an international school, including:
- Exposure to different languages and cultures
- International mindedness, encouraging of collaboration and communication
- Excellent offer of extracurriculars, facilities and exchange/travel opportunities
What can students expect from attending an international school in France?
Something children can look forward to is making friends with fellow students from all over the world. In addition, if they are not already an English or French speaker, they can expect to grasp a strong understanding of both languages.
We also frequently hear feedback from universities that international students tend to be more confident and open-minded than their peers, and already have gained some important skills in research and presentation. This combination of academic excellence and soft skills means many career paths open.
What can students expect for their future after attending an international school?
Attending an international school is a passport to further studies worldwide. Many of our students join ISN Nice or Mougins School for their secondary education, which both have a dedicated university counsellor to help students and their parents navigate the pathway into higher education. From these schools, we have graduating students enter top universities worldwide. And, every year some students also choose to remain in France to continue their studies.
What type of courses do you offer?
The school nurtures students to develop linguistic competencies in two languages, within an inquiry-based framework driven by The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP). ICS Côte d’Azur promotes a flourishing STEAM programme – an interdisciplinary and project-based approach to teaching science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
What are the entry requirements and when can students enrol?
We are currently enrolling for the September 2023 academic year and applications for September 2024 will open in January 2023. We have various open mornings and also offer private visits in-person or online all year round. We also accept in-year applications from globally mobile families depending on space in the classes.
Whilst ICS Côte d’Azur School does not have academic entrance exams, the admissions team and head of school will meet with the family either in person or online before enrolment to ascertain if there are any additional needs such as EAL (English as an Additional Language) or FLE (Français langue étrangère) support.
Your top tips for parents/children looking to attend an international school in the region…
Every school in the region has its own unique approach to international and/or bilingual education, so it’s important to:
- Take time to research and visit different schools
- Arrange to speak with the admissions manager, Head of School, or another senior member of staff
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