Private bilingual school · Lyon 8th · Since 1979
Bilingual school in Lyon
since 1979
A structured bilingual setting that builds foundations, method and confidence
50% French · 50% English · A clear framework · Small classes · A trajectory toward Lyon's leading middle schools and demanding paths
Since 1979
46 years of bilingual schooling in Lyon
Bilingual 50/50
French / English alternating by full days
20–25 students
Human-scale classes · 2 adults per class in preschool
Cambridge on site
Preparation and exams sat on site depending on the pupil's level
Partnerships
Preparing entry to Lyon's leading middle schools
2,200 m²
Brand-new premises, opened in 2023, for excellent learning conditions in central Lyon
Our project
A school that knows what it wants to pass on
At New School, care does not mean the absence of a framework. It means a clear, explained, consistent and respectful framework. Children know what is expected of them. Families know what the school expects from them. Teachers share a common language.
Our conviction is simple: a child progresses when they grow in a stable, legible, demanding and warm environment.
Discover our educational project→Bilingual education
The 50/50 model, explained simply
One day in French. One day in English. Wednesday mornings alternating one week in two. Native or internationally-trained anglophone teachers. A progression built level by level, from oral language in preschool up to Cambridge English certifications by grade 5.
- 50% of teaching time in French, 50% in English
- Native or internationally-trained anglophone teachers
- English used as a language of instruction, not just a subject
- Preparation for Cambridge English certifications; sitting organised on site when the pupil's level allows - presentation depends on age and level and is not automatic
PBIS framework
Positive discipline,
structured, consistent
Children need a clear and predictable framework to learn well. At New School, we have made a clear choice: structured positive discipline (PBIS, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports).
Concretely: children know how to enter class, how to speak to a peer, how to ask for help. Adults speak the same language. Families know what the school expects.
The framework does not prevent care. It makes it possible.
School life
A school that shapes children beyond lessons
At New School, school is more than a place to study. It is a place to live, produce, present, celebrate, go outside, create, and learn to live together.
Tangible projects
Cookbooks, frescoes, art exhibits, oral presentations, bilingual cooking projects
Field trips
Musée Lumière, Musée des Confluences, shows, parks. At least 3 outings per year, per class.
Outdoor classes
At the bois des Essarts forest, to learn in direct contact with nature. School gardening.
Weekly sports
A dedicated PE teacher and a featured sport each year: swimming, climbing, fencing, ice skating, athletics.
Shared traditions
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Secret Santa, St Patrick, Christmas, International Sharing Week
Wednesday workshops
Mandarin, manga, cooking in English, world cultures, arts (with Dragon Kids School from 2026)
Supervision
Rare learning conditions in Lyon
20–25
Students per class (max)
Deliberately limited to preserve individual attention
2 adults
Minimum per class
A teacher and an assistant to differentiate and track progress
5 days
School week
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am-4:30pm and Wednesday morning
7:30 → 18:30
Daily time window
Drop-off from 7:30am included, after-school care available until 6:30pm
Middle school preparation
A trajectory toward
Lyon's leading middle schools and demanding paths
Our goal is not only for the child to speak English. Our goal is that they know how to learn, express themselves, respect a framework, cooperate, produce careful work and enter middle school with solid foundations.
At the end of CM2, our students can continue their bilingual journey in demanding Lyon institutions, notably Fénelon La Trinité and Assomption Bellevue, which offer an international section and prepare for the international dual diploma.
Partner middle school
Fénelon La Trinité
Lyon 6th district
Recognised institution with an international section and dual-diploma preparation.
Partner middle school
Assomption Bellevue
La Mulatière (west of Lyon)
Reference institution in the Lyon metropolitan area, also with an international section and dual-diploma preparation.
Institutional backing
The same educational group as EPIN, a shared culture of progress
New School belongs to the same educational group as EPIN, an institution regularly recognised for its results. The EPIN middle school was ranked #1 in France by Le Parisien in 2026.
This proximity feeds New School's pedagogical leadership: a clear framework, progress tracking, academic ambition and serious preparation for the next stage of schooling. New School keeps its own identity: a human-scale bilingual primary school, focused on the foundational years of preschool and elementary.
Source: Le Parisien, 2026 middle-school ranking.
In summary
Why families choose New School
Real bilingualism: 50% French, 50% English, with English used as a language of learning.
A structuring framework: Explicit cues, a student posture and age-appropriate expectations.
Solid academic foundations: French curriculum, fundamentals, working method.
Preparation for what comes next: Leading middle schools, French, private, bilingual or international paths.
A human-scale school: Limited class sizes, individual follow-up, a real family-school relationship.
A clear vision: Opening doors, without locking the child into a single system.
International
A French school open to the world
CIS - membership application in progress
Council of International Schools
CIS membership application under review - the first step in aligning with the international standards of the Council of International Schools. New School Lyon is not yet a CIS member or CIS-accredited.
International outlook
A bilingual culture open to the world
Real bilingualism, English- and French-speaking cultures, international traditions, citizenship projects and environmental awareness: New School builds a concrete, progressive openness to the world.
Frequently asked questions
Five common questions
No. New School is a structured private bilingual school which partially benefits from a simple contract with the French State and follows the French national curriculum, applying an explicit educational framework (PBIS). The approach is not Montessori.
Real. Teaching time is split 50/50, with full days in each language, native or internationally-trained anglophone teachers, and a structured progression up to Cambridge English certifications.
Because New School funds reinforced supervision in preschool (a teacher and an assistant), deliberately small classes, the full bilingual program, Cambridge preparation, 2,200+ m² of facilities, on-site catering, weekly sports with a dedicated teacher, and family support.
Case by case. The later the entry, the more important the assessment of English level and adaptability. Admission may be conditional on summer language support.
Genuine 50% French / 50% English alternation by full days, the PBIS framework explained and consistently maintained, two adults per class in preschool, on-site Cambridge preparation, membership in the EPIN group (Le Parisien's #1 middle school in France 2026), and partnerships with Fénelon La Trinité and Assomption Bellevue for the dual diploma.
Admissions 2026 - 2027
Places are limited by class size at New School
Applying early increases the chances of securing a place for the desired entry year.
