Being happy today and every day
“At school I was asked to write what I wanted to be later on in life, I answered “happy”. They told me that I did not understand the question, I replied that they did not understand life. John Lennon
Enjoying learning
At La Jonchère, students are encouraged, listened to and supported daily. Mistakes are not punished, but considered as learning opportunities, failures are seen as a way to grow (FAIL: First Attempt In Learning).
We prioritize solidarity and collaboration. Our objective is to offer each student an environment where he feels at ease and supported, which in turn promotes learning. We also wish to help our students feel more self-confident because it has been linked to greater happiness.
Our main goal is to build confidence in each student by creating a relationship of trust with their teachers. We want to ensure our students feel empowered and happy at school.
Being inspired by the best pedagogies and innovative approaches
The absence of tests and subsequently a grading system in the first years of schooling has been found to have a positive effect on Finnish pupils as they have been found to be the least stressed when it comes to going to school and learning.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Maria Montessori created a new school of thought based on kindness, autonomy, freedom of learning, and respect for a child’s pace.
Kind and respectful support from staff
Furthermore, “soft communication” is at the heart of our pedagogy.
The entire Lycée La Jonchère team is trained in this method that dates back to the middle of the 20th century, and is modeled by Thomas GORDON. It establishes a climate of trust, open exchange and collaboration to overcome each disagreement with a shared solution moving forward.
Our pedagogy places the teachers on an equal footing with the students, there are no more power struggles, no authoritarian leadership, but instead a relationship of trust and assertiveness.
Personalized learning
In addition, some students arrive in our school with a great thirst for learning, if they are interested in a concept that is not in the curriculum for their grade level, the student will not be held back, on the contrary, the teachers will provide additional resources to best support the student to learn these new concepts.
On the contrary, some students may have some trouble in certain subjects, even if the concept is supposedly already acquired by their grade level, teachers will provide additional resources to review the basics with them so that they do not struggle, and they can build upon the basics.
English and business studies are at the heart of our program
We are convinced that schools must teach their students the soft-skills that society will need, this includes, the ability to adapt, being creative, being innovative, and being able to build strong relationships with others. Studies have shown that socio-behavioral skills have an impact on professional success. Therefore, we want to give our students all the tools they need for professional and personal success.
Learning English is also a key factor for integration into the professional world—and more broadly, today’s global society. Unfortunately, the traditional curriculum falls short: too much time wasted on artificial exercises, an often insufficient level by the end of schooling, and that stubborn idea that “anyway, the French are bad at English.”
That’s why we offer intensive English learning from Grade 6. Concretely, this means:
- Up to 8 hours of English per week—twice as much as in the standard system.
- Several subjects taught in English: science, math or PE in English for natural immersion.
- Fun workshops and cultural immersion: board games, cooking, role-playing… Thanksgiving celebrations, Halloween, themed days—living the language is more than just conjugating it.
- Real-world projects: trips, international exchanges, pen pals…
- Three native English-speaking teachers on the team, from English-speaking countries, for authentic learning.
Internationally recognized qualifications:
📌 The IGCSE (Cambridge), an international certification our students take in English, literature, math or science. A motivating challenge and proof of their strong language skills.
📌 The LLCER specialization for high school students preparing for the French baccalauréat, with a deeper focus on English-language literature and culture.
The result? A generation of students who speak, understand, and live English with confidence and enthusiasm. Because English shouldn’t be a barrier—it should be an open door to the world.
Discover in this article how we organise English classes in our school.
