Walid and Adam are in second class at Lucie Aubrac high school in Pantin, in Seine-Saint-Denis. And every morning, they come to class… with enthusiasm!
“It’s going well, it’s quite easyensures the first. It’s interesting.” The second recognizes it, “the teachers’ way of learning is quite catchy, really captivating.”
This high school is one of the 4,300 public and private establishments under French contracts observed under the magnifying glass by the National Education. And its results are satisfactory according to the ministry, which retains different criteria: the results of the baccalaureate, but also the access rate, that is to say the ability of the establishment to support its students throughout their schooling. And finally, what is put forward is also the “added value” of each high school. Understand the difference between the results obtained and those expected, given the context of the socio-economic life of the students and their school level when they arrive in second.
Lena, 15, also appreciates the tutoring, between students, which has a large place in this school. She likes to help her comrades in more difficulty: “Since I know them personally, I try to adapt to them, give them methods, do research, watch videos… and I try to explain to them in my own words.”
In this establishment of modest size, which welcomes 750 pupils, where the social mix is very strong, individualized support is put forward. “It is above all necessary to succeed in stimulating them academicallyconfides Malika Ayadi, French teacher for 18 years in high school. I think that the school appetite is not innate in them.
“We always have to give them this taste for learning, the taste for effort, having a good relationship with the teachers in the class.”
Malika Ayadi, French teacher at Lucie Aubrac high school in Pantinat franceinfo
Students “need reassurance, they need a helping hand”, continues the teacher. To develop this motivation, she sets up radio workshops, takes her students to the theatre, to the cinema, to meet professionals… But all this in return for a strong personal commitment on her part, often outside of school hours. “Yes, but I always say that this investment, the students return it to us a hundredfoldtempers Malika Ayadi. It will contribute to a better atmosphere, it will engage them in their learning and it is always an added value for the class.”
What is the miracle recipe for advancing students? It is a combination of several factors according to the principal, Jocelyn Garnier. External contributors, for example, often come to the school. “In particular, we have associations that will very specifically help young girls to enter scientific and technological careers”he explains.
“We have other associations that allow each student to have more self-confidence and that can trigger a dynamic of success for the students.”
Jocelyn Garnier, principal of the Lucie Aubrac high school in Pantinat franceinfo
Long-term work: the professional path of this comprehensive high school has been showing very good results indicators for the past ten years. Moreover, through these results published by the ministry, we discover that the most prestigious establishments are not necessarily those with the best ratings. The Parisian high school Henry IV for example, a symbol of excellence, has neutral indicators: 100% pass in the baccalaureate, which remains excellent but corresponds to expectations given the profile of the students.