Cities / Paris / SIS Paris Ouest
SIS Paris Ouest
One of the oldest bilingual programmes in France, running English and German international sections inside French public schools across Sevres, Boulogne, Chaville and Saint-Cloud since 1960.
In brief
One of the oldest bilingual programmes in France, running English and German international sections inside French public schools across Sevres, Boulogne, Chaville and Saint-Cloud since 1960.
SIS is not a private school in the usual sense. It is an associative structure that delivers extra English or German hours alongside the French national curriculum at partner state schools, with a UNESCO heritage and around 1,300 students across the network. Pupils work toward the Bac Francais International in the British or German pathway, with Cambridge IGCSE in English language and literature in the upper years. The German section offers a dual French Bac plus Abitur.
This structure delivers a bicultural French-anchored education at a fraction of the cost of a fully private bilingual school, taught by native-speaker teachers qualified in their home countries. Parents speak well of the teaching and the nationality mix. Families accept the rhythm and bureaucracy of state education, and admission depends on the catchment of the partner schools, so mapping the entry route carefully matters.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Association Fee (returning) | €170 | |
| Anglophone Wednesday Nursery/Primary | €1,026 | |
| Anglophone Wednesday Secondary (Grades 6-9) | €1,336 | |
| Primary integrated (1st child) | €2,611 | |
| Secondary/College integrated (1st child) | €2,880 | |
| Lycee integrated (1st child) | €3,464 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Active English/Deutschclub Registration | €116 | |
| Annual Association Fee (new families) | €220 |
Reviews
- The independent review pool is small but consistently positive. Parents on ischooladvisor describe dedicated teachers, supportive peer groups and a strong parent community.
- One parent said the school's "supportive environment, strong and cohesive peer groups and outstanding, invested, innovative teachers" gave their children the confidence to question and analyse.
- The structure is a French state school with international sections. English and German sections run alongside the French national programme, with native-speaker teachers in each.
- Some families use the school primarily to maintain English or German fluency for children educated mainly in French. One parent said their son crossed Paris each Wednesday afternoon to keep up his English.
- Limited critical signal online. With a small review pool, treat the warmth as directional rather than definitive.
Positives
- Teaching staff. Teachers are repeatedly described as dedicated, invested and innovative.
- Parent community. Parents value the cohesive SIS community and peer groups.
- Bilingual structure. English, German and French sections sit inside a French state school. Native-speaker teaching in each language.
Considerations
- Use as a top-up programme. Some families use it specifically to maintain English or German for children otherwise in French-medium schools.
- Small review base. Reviews are warm but few. Calibrate accordingly.
Leadership
Elisabeth Lau-Vanchet
Elisabeth Lau-Vanchet brings two decades of educational experience to her leadership role, including nine years as head of language and literature at SIS. She emphasizes developing students' diverse competencies - academic skills, resilience, emotional intelligence, creativity, and collaboration - alongside multilingual proficiency. Her vision centers on preparing students to navigate global complexity and build innovative solutions for the future through the school's multicultural, multilingual educational approach.