If you love Maths – We love You!
Our Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) is a French baccalaureate with a twist.
École Jeannine Manuel is the only UK school offering the American Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus BC curriculum in substitution for the mathématiques expertes option of the French bac with an increased coefficient of 20 (instead of 2 for mathématiques expertes).
Most importantly, top-ranked universities recognise AP Calculus BC as a world-class course whose successful completion shows an exceptional aptitude for maths. This is true in the US, of course, but also in the UK and even in France. Cambridge University’s website, for example, notes that “for Cambridge courses that ask for Mathematics and Further Mathematics A Level, Calculus BC is strongly preferred.”
Although French recognition might seem surprising, AP Calculus BC constitutes an excellent preparation for CPGE (MPSI, MP2I, and PCSI). Indeed, Henri IV and Louis-Le-Grand prépas teachers recently produced a 184-page document to help students prepare for the most demanding prépas « dans une optique assez proche du calculus anglo-saxon » (p.2).
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Please note that AP Calculus BC involves two 45-minute periods of weekly instruction – taught in English – in Year 12 and three periods in Year 13. This course, exciting and rewarding for maths lovers, is a superb preparation for the most demanding university courses in mathematics, engineering, computer science and economics, and a useful transition from French to English-language mathematics. It involves, however, a rigorous and challenging curriculum, significantly beyond the level expected of spécialité mathématiques and mathématiques expertes.
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Background: École Jeannine Manuel in London offers both a French bac track (BFI only) and an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) track in sixth form. In 2022, 100% of French-track students earned mention Très Bien or Bien (average 16.4) and 100% of IBDP students were awarded full bilingual diplomas (average 39,4). Furthermore, 11% of students benefit from bursaries covering an average of two thirds of their school fees and we aim to grow this to 20% over the next five years. Visit our dedicated admissions page to find out how to apply.