Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$13K - US$27K
Curriculum: French
Age Range: 3-18
Students: ~3,450
Location: South Kensington, Central London, London
Updated April 2026
In Brief
The Lycee is the only option in London for families committed to the French national curriculum at full scale - and at these fees, it is extraordinarily good value. If your child will sit the Baccalaureate or you are relocating between French-speaking countries, this is an easy decision. If you are not tied to the French curriculum, explore the bilingual and IB alternatives in this guide before committing.
The Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle is the official French state school in London, funded partly by the French government and overseen by the AEFE. With around 3,450 pupils across five sites - the main Cromwell Road secondary in South Kensington, plus primary schools in Fulham, Ealing, Clapham, and a bilingual primary in South Kensington - it is by far the largest French-curriculum institution in the UK. The fee structure reflects the state subsidy: secondary fees of GBP 12,311 per year are well below comparable independent schools and make it the most affordable full secondary option in this guide.
The school runs several curriculum tracks. The standard French national curriculum leads to the Baccalaureate. A bilingual stream (50/50 French-English) is available from nursery. An intensive English-bilingual track runs at primary level. The British Section is a separate parallel school-within-a-school at the secondary site, offering GCSEs and A-Levels taught in English at GBP 21,120 per year - designed for non-Francophone families who want a rigorous British curriculum with a continental cultural context. Families comparing the British Section against independent London day schools will find the fees competitive and the academic record strong.
The practical reality of the Lycee is scale. With 3,450 pupils across multiple sites, the experience is more institutional than at smaller international schools in this guide. Secondary classes typically run to 24 pupils. The Cromwell Road building is a landmark but not architecturally suited to large modern school numbers. Waiting lists at primary level, particularly for the bilingual tracks, can be significant. The head changes on a French ministerial cycle every few years, which affects institutional continuity.
What parents value
- –Fees of GBP 12,311 per year for the standard secondary track make the Lycee the most affordable full secondary option in this guide by a considerable margin. British Section fees at GBP 21,120 are also below comparable independent London day schools.
- –Official French government school with AEFE accreditation, giving full recognition for onward transfer to French schools worldwide. For families on French corporate postings or expecting future relocation within the French school system, this is irreplaceable.
- –Multiple curriculum tracks - standard Baccalaureate, bilingual 50/50, bilingual intensive, and British Section GCSE/A-Level - mean the school can serve different family priorities within a single institution. The bilingual stream is popular with non-French families who want their children to become genuinely bilingual.
Points of consideration
- –The school is large and multi-site: coordinating siblings across different campuses requires planning. The Cromwell Road secondary site in SW7 is central but served by tube at South Kensington - manageable for most London postcodes but time-consuming from north or east London.
- –Waiting lists, particularly for bilingual nursery and primary tracks, can run to two years or more. Apply early - ideally before your child turns two if you are targeting the bilingual nursery track at South Kensington.
- –The head is appointed by the French Ministry of Education on a rotating basis, typically every three to five years. Families who are accustomed to long-tenured independent school heads may find this affects the sense of institutional continuity.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery - Petite Section (ages 3-4) | 3 | 17,512 |
| Pre-primary English intensive bilingual (MS/GS, ages 4-6) | 4 | 17,416 |
| Pre-primary 50/50 bilingual (MS/GS, ages 4-6) | 4 | 20,077 |
| Primary English intensive bilingual (ages 6-11) | 6 | 13,374 |
| Primary 50/50 bilingual (ages 6-11) | 6 | 16,308 |
| Secondary - College and Lycee (ages 11-18) | 11 | 16,308 |
| Secondary SI-BFI track (ages 11-18) | 11 | 16,712 |
| British Section - GCSE and A-Level (ages 14-18) | 14 | 27,977 |
Fees converted from GBP. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial registration fee (Nursery) | 1,987 |
| Initial registration fee (all other levels) | 2,384 |
| Baccalaureate exam fee | 179 |
Academic Results
The standard curriculum track leads to the French Baccalaureate, a qualification with strong recognition at UK and European universities. The British Section offers IGCSEs and A-Levels taught in English alongside the French secondary culture of the school - a distinctive combination that appeals to anglophone families who want a rigorous British qualification pathway without an entirely British school context.
The bilingual primary tracks - intensive English and 50/50 - produce students who are genuinely bilingual by secondary entry. For families planning international careers for their children, the depth of the bilingual programme compares favourably with standalone bilingual programmes at smaller schools.
Extra Curriculars
Facilities: Main secondary campus at 35 Cromwell Road, South Kensington SW7 2DG · Primary school Andre Malraux, Ealing W5 · Primary school Marie d'Orliac, Fulham SW6 · Primary school Wix, Clapham SW4 · Bilingual primary South Kensington (Ecole de Wix and linked sites) · Sports and arts provision across sites
School life follows the French academic calendar and French school culture - longer lunches, Wednesday afternoons lighter, the rhythm of the Baccalaureate year for older students. The British Section runs a parallel pastoral and activity programme reflecting the English-medium teaching environment.
The multi-site structure means that siblings at different year groups may be at different campuses, which is a logistical factor families underestimate at the outset. The Cromwell Road secondary site is well-placed for central and west London families but is not a large campus by independent school standards.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
No published inspection details are currently available.
Accreditations
Accreditation details are not publicly listed.
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
Around 3,450 pupils, predominantly French, Franco-British, and broadly European. French government employees and corporate relocating families form a significant share of the community, particularly at primary level. The bilingual and British Section tracks attract a broader nationality mix, including families with no French connection who want affordable bilingual or British-curriculum education in central London.
The school community is shaped by the transience of French diplomatic and corporate postings. Many families are at the school for two to four years before returning to France or moving to another AEFE school. This creates a well-functioning system for new arrivals - the school is experienced at integrating pupils at any point in the year - but long-term community cohesion relies more on the British Section and locally based French families.
Leadership
Proviseure - French Ministry Appointed
The Proviseure of the Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle is appointed by the French Ministry of Education and typically serves a 3-5 year posting. The school is part of the AEFE (Agence pour l'Enseignement Francais a l'Etranger) network of French state schools abroad.