School Holidays in France 2024-2025

Navigating the French school holidays can be challenging for expat families given the unique landscape of the French education system. Whether you’re planning trips, educational activities, or simply need to sync up schedules, we’ve got you covered! Read on to discover the 2024-25 school calendar with all public holiday, term break and other school holiday dates.

Overview of the Academic Calendar in France

In France, school term dates are decided by the Ministry of National Education. The Ministry sets the calendar for the entire country, but French schools are divided into three academic zones (Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C) to stagger holidays and manage tourism better.

Academic zones (A, B, C) in France

The general framework for the school year, including the start and end dates, as well as major breaks like the Christmas holidays and summer vacation, is consistent across the country. However, each academic zone has slightly different term dates and holiday dates, especially for winter and spring holidays. So keep reading to check your academic zone’s holiday dates!

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List of Public Holidays in France (2024 - 2025) 

The 2024-25 academic year in France is packed with public holidays that offer the perfect opportunities for family adventures, cultural experiences, and well-deserved relaxation. Here’s a list of the key dates you won’t want to miss:

1. All Saints’ Day (La Toussaint) - Friday, November 1, 2024
2. Armistice Day (Jour de l’Armistice) - Monday, November 11, 2024
3. Christmas Day (Noël) - Wednesday, December 25, 2024
4. St Stephen’s Day (*Alsace and Moselle only) - Thursday, December 26, 2024
5. New Year’s Day (Jour de l’An) - Wednesday, January 1, 2025
6. Good Friday (*Alsace and Moselle only) - Friday, April 18, 2025
7. Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques) - Monday, April 21, 2025
8. Labour Day (Fête du Travail) - Thursday, May 1, 2025
9. Victory in Europe Day (Fête de la Victoire 1945) - Thursday, May 8, 2025
10. Ascension Day (Ascension) - Thursday, May 29, 2025
11. Whit Sunday (Pentecôte) - Sunday, June 8, 2025
12. Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte) - Monday, June 9, 2025
13. Bastille Day (Fête Nationale) - Monday, July 14, 2025
14. Assumption Day (L’Assomption) - Friday, 15 August, 2025

These holidays apply uniformly across all zones (A, B, and C) and generally apply to all public, private and international schools. All public schools in France also generally close on the public holidays listed, along with most businesses and government offices, as required on national holidays. However, there might be occasional exceptions, particularly for religiously affiliated private schools or international schools that may have different holiday schedules. For the most updated information, keep checking official websites of the French Public Service and your child’s school website!

List of Public and Private School Term Breaks (2024 - 2025)

The official school calendar is typically published well in advance, allowing families to plan accordingly. In France, the school year includes four main holidays: Christmas, winter, spring and summer breaks, each with specific durations that families need to consider. In the 2024/2025 academic year, here are the dates of term breaks:

Public and Private Schools

In France, public and private schools generally follow the same official term break dates set by the Ministry of National Education, particularly for the major holidays such as All Saints’ Day, Christmas, Winter, and Spring breaks. These dates are consistent across both public and private schools to ensure uniformity in the education system. This ensures that families with children in different types of schools can plan holidays together without conflicting schedules. The French school holiday periods are especially important for travel planning, as key ski weeks often overlap with these dates, impacting booking availability.

For the most accurate information, it’s always best to check the specific calendar of the private school in question, as they may have minor variations from the standard public school calendar.

International Schools

International schools in France generally do not follow the exact same term break dates as public or private schools, as their calendars can vary significantly. These schools often cater to a diverse student population and may align their breaks with the academic calendars of other countries or international curricula, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) or the British curriculum.

For example:

• IB Schools: IB tutors in France highlight that schools offering the IB curriculum might have different term dates to accommodate the international examination schedules and holidays relevant to their global student body.
• British and American Schools: Schools following the British or American systems might align their holidays with those observed in the UK or the US, respectively. For instance, they may have longer summer holidays or specific breaks around Thanksgiving (in American schools).

According to an IGCSE tutor in France,

"Rest and breaks are crucial for teenagers, especially during the demanding IGCSE years. These periods of downtime not only help them to recharge mentally and physically but also enhance their ability to retain information and approach their studies with renewed focus and clarity."

Therefore, most international schools, whether following the American, British or the IB system, tend to grant more holidays to their pupils compared to their public school counterparts. For precise dates, always refer directly to the school’s academic calendar or website​, as these can differ not only from French public schools but also from other international schools within France.

List of Other Public and Private School Holidays (2024 - 2025)

Beyond the standard school breaks, there are additional public and private school holidays in France during the 2024-2025 academic year that offer even more chances for family time, special celebrations, and unique learning opportunities. The Easter holidays are particularly significant in school vacation schedules, often overlapping with peak skiing periods and travel plans. Here’s a rundown of the extra holidays you should keep in mind.

• Religious Holidays - Some private religious schools may observe additional holidays, such as specific feast days, which could include days like: Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8, 2024), Feast of St. Joseph (March 19, 2025)
• Mid-term Breaks - Some private schools might have additional mid-term breaks not observed by public schools.
• School-specific Events - Depending on the institution, there may be holidays or breaks for events like founder’s days or patron saint days specific to the school.

School Holiday Activities

As an expat parent in France, you’re always looking for ways to keep your children engaged and learning, even during school holidays. Consider planning activities during the spring holiday and summer holiday to make the most of this time. So here are four specific activities that can enrich your child’s holiday experience:

• Outdoor Adventures: Plan a family hike in the stunning French Alps, or explore the picturesque countryside by bike in Provence. Apps like Komoot or AllTrails can make planning Alpine hiking trips way easier!
• Language Immersion: Improve your child’s French with immersive courses at the Alliance Française de Paris, perfect for boosting confidence in language skills.
• Creative Workshops: Encourage creativity through hands-on art workshops specific curated for kids and teens at the Centre Pompidou, offering unique experiences for budding young artists.
• Private Tutoring: Is your child battling with challenging curricula such as the IB? Ensure your child stays ahead by scheduling sessions with an IB tutor in Paris. These professionals offer personalised support in a range of subjects and are among some of the Best Tutoring Companies in France.

Conclusion

With the 2024-2025 school holidays in France mapped out, you're all set to plan an exciting year ahead! Whether it's fun family trips, new learning adventures, or simply some well-deserved downtime, these breaks are perfect for making unforgettable memories.