Below you will find the answers to some of the most common questions. Should you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school at +1-604-924-2457.

What is the difference between French immersion, the provincial Francophone schools and EFIV?

French immersion is offered by various local school districts and is principally aimed at Anglophone children who wish to learn French as a second language. The curriculum mirrors the provincial English curriculum. Francophone schools operated by the province-wide Francophone school board are reserved for children from francophone families, and the curriculum again mirrors the provincial English curriculum. EFIV teaches a significantly different curriculum, primarily set by the Ministry of Education of France, enriched with local content and English language classes to meet the Group 1 Certification of the BC Ministry of Education.

We don’t speak French at home. Can my child still enrol in EFIV?

Since our curriculum is primarily taught in French, we welcome children who are willing and able to study in French. Admissions to Elementary and Middle School will therefore require a demonstrated fluency in French. However, non French-speaking children can apply for admission until the age of 5 (KG).

Can my children switch to a local English-speaking school after attending EFIV?

Yes, many of our students switch to English schools after graduating from EFIV. Our curriculum exceeds the BC Ministry of Education requirements and our students generally do very well after leaving EFIV.

Can my children switch to a French school elsewhere in the world?

Yes, many of our students are from expatriate families who will eventually move to a next assignment elsewhere in the world.  EFIV is affiliated with a network of more than 410 French schools worldwide, which all follow the same rigorous curriculum of the Ministry of Education of France. Students can freely move from one school to the next.

You offer a full-day pre-school program. How does this program compare to the typical day-care in BC?

The school system in France starts at an earlier age and our pre-school program therefore already includes significant learning components, such as first steps towards reading, writing, science and mathematics.

Do you offer extended hours to accommodate working parents?

Yes, students can arrive as early as 8am and can be picked up until 5.30 pm. We also offer supervised study assistance after hours. These are fee-based services.

Where do EFIV families live?

Most families live on Vancouver’s North Shore (North and West Vancouver), but we have students coming from all over the Lower Mainland. We have a bus service from/to downtown Vancouver.