Lycee Francais International

• Lycee Francais International location
• Grades offered
• Lycee Francais International curriculum
• KHDA rating
• How to apply?
• Fee structure
• Lycee Francais International scholarships
• Lycee Francais International transportation
• PTA and contact information

Lycee Francais International (LFI) located in Bur Dubai is a member of L’Association Franco-Libanaise pour l’Éducation et la Culture (AFLEC). The school started its operations in 2003.

LFI school follows the French National Curriculum, and there are over 2,500 students belonging to over 40 nationalities. Besides the French curriculum, the school teaches Arabic, Islamic studies and Social studies according to the UAE's Ministry of Education guidelines.

Lycee Francais International is divided into kindergarten, elementary and secondary. The school educates children in French and English – the ratio between the two languages is 60:40, respectively. However, the Arabic language for both native and non-native speakers starts from the elementary (primary) level.

LFI, Bur Dubai has 154 teachers and 10 teaching assistants. The teacher to student ratio is 1:15, which shows that each student receives undivided attention from teachers during school hours. LFI is an inclusive school offering quality education to around 130 students of determination.

Lycee Francais International offers education from Kindergarten (KG1) to Secondary (Grade 12), and children can get the National Diploma of French Brevet or baccalaureate.

After getting a good rating for nine consecutive years, Lycee Francais International’s current KHDA rating is very good.

• Location: Bur Dubai
• School fees: AED 26,922 - AED 56,936
• Curriculum: French
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-education
• KHDA Rating: Very Good
• Years Offered: PS - Terminale (Pre-KG to Grade 12)

Several communities are in proximity to Lycee Francais International. Some of the nearest family-friendly areas include.

• Al Karama 
• Umm Hurair
• Al Garhoud

Al Karama is the closest neighbourhood. The mixed-use development is also a buzzing shopping district.

Families looking to live near the school can consider:

• Apartments for rent near Lycee Francais International
• Apartments for sale near Lycee Francais International
• Villas for sale near Lycee Francais International

Lycee Francais International, Bur Dubai campus is spacious and has separate rooms for various facilities. There are 86 classrooms in total — 24 rooms are used for kindergarten, 35 classrooms are reserved for elementary school, and 27 rooms are dedicated to the secondary level.

You can easily find laboratories, art studios, a cafeteria, an indoor and outdoor playground, a library, a music room with the latest musical instruments and a cinema room/club. Students can make use of the gymnasium and swimming pools. They can also take part in table tennis, badminton, taekwondo and judo classes.

Lycee Francais International School is located in the district of Oud Metha. The area is home to some famous schools and has all amenities within a short drive.

Lycee Francais International follows core values that revolve around respect and multiculturalism to set itself apart.

Another aspect that makes Lycee Francais International a popular choice among parents is its support for students with special educational needs. The management reviews medical and school reports of students of determination to design the best educational experience.

Lycee Francais International offers a Personalised Support Plan (PSP) and Personalised Schooling program (PPS) to such students. A follow-up is done via the Personalised Program of Educational Success (PPRE).

Finally, students at LFI benefit from the presence of the school board and a governing board. The school board is headed by the principal and is responsible for school-related tasks, such as calendar, projects, educational structures, teaching material and methods and children’s safety and hygiene. The governing board is more concerned with the educational aspects of the school, such as rules, procedures, cultural programs, sports activities, school life and more. The board of governors is assisted by the Council of 2nd Degree, which has 15 members.

Lycee Francais International offers the French curriculum to its students. Teachings at the KG stage is based on five basic principles:

• Mobilising language in all its dimensions 
• Act, comprehend and expressing yourself through physical activity 
• Acting, expressing and understanding through artistic activity 
• Discovering numbers and different tools to shape your thought process 
• Exploring the world

The curriculum for Cycle 2 students includes French, Arts Education, Modern Languages (regional or foreign), Physical Education and Sports, Moral and Civic Education, Questioning the World and Mathematics.

Lycee Francais International, Dubai curriculum for Cycle 3 represents a more complex version of the subjects studied in previous stages, including French, Modern Languages (regional and Foreign), Sports and Physical Education, Arts, Moral and Civic Education and Mathematics. The new courses include Music Education, Visual Arts, History and Geography and Science and Technology.

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) supervises and assists all private schools operating in Dubai to achieve outstanding educational standards.

As of now, Lycee Francais International’s KHDA rating is ‘Very Good’. This is an improvement from the past nine years when the school had been constantly rated as ‘Good’. According to KHDA, the improvement is owed to the following strengths of the school:

• Students have shown great articulation in English and Spanish.
• Students at College and Lycee level show outstanding progress in Mathematics.
• There was a positive attitude toward individual learning and strong collaboration from the student’s side.
• Teachers in Lycee have maintained the highest levels of teaching.
• The school has set children’s safety and healthy lifestyle as their top priority.

Nevertheless, there are a couple of key recommendations that the report underlines.

• Better attention and progress toward Arabic and Islamic education. This can be done by:
  • Allowing students to take the lead in these subjects
  • Refining the curriculum so that it focuses on greater learning outcomes and challenges students to generate their interest.
  • Including further resources and a wide range of learning strategies
• Improve teaching and learning quality through:
  • Gathering and analysing data, then using results to enhance progress
  • Assessing the needs of students, especially students of determination, then planning the best route to development.
  • Applying and furthering the best teaching features across the school.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the school was not inspected for the academic year 2019 – 2020.

• The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December. It is followed by a three-week winter break.
• After the winter break, the second term starts in the first week of January and ends in the last week of March. It is  followed by a two-week spring vacation.
• The third term starts in the second week of April and ends in the first week of July. It is followed by a two-month summer break.

The academic calendar has several Muslim holidays subject to moon sightings. Parents can have a look at Lycee Francais’s academic calendar here.

Parents are encouraged to visit the school before starting the admission process. This visit is for parents to observe and analyse the way the school conducts teaching and other activities.

Guided tours are provided on Sundays at 02:30 pm. However, parents need to book an appointment by calling the school or emailing at accueil.lfi@aflec-fr.org.

For new admissions, Lycee Francais International, Oud Metha charges a non-refundable and non-transferable filing fee of AED 500 and a registration fee of AED 5,000. Lycee Francais International, Dubai also offers a 10% discount on tuition fees from the third sibling.

Parents are requested to submit the following mandatory documents:

• Birth certificate of the child in Arabic or English
• In case of divorce, a copy of the judgement
• Father’s (or child’s sponsor) passport and UAE residence visa
• Emirates ID of the father or the sponsor
• The student’s passport and residence visa (when established)
• Emirates ID of the student (when established)
• Exeat (Certificate of radiation)
• For students coming from Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain): the certificate must be stamped only by the Ministry of National Education.
• Pupils coming from other countries (Europe-America-Canada and Australia): the certificate must be signed and stamped only by the head of the school.
• For students applying from Arab countries outside the emirates, this certificate must be stamped by the Ministry of National Education, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country in which the school left is located and by the UAE embassy.
• Quarterly reports, transcripts and school record book for last and current years.
• A medical file must be provided to the nurse at the start of the school year.
• Nursery reports

The re-enrolment fees must be paid to the school’s accounting department through cash, cheque or bank transfer. The re-enrolment fees for different levels are:

• Kindergarten (MS, GS): AED 1,346
• Elementary (CP, CE1, CE2, CM1, CM2): AED 1,615 
• 6th-5th-4th: AED 1,908
• 3rd: AED 2,169
• Second: AED 2,711 
• First – Terminal: AED 2,847

Please note that the re-enrolment fee is deductible from the tuition fee for the first quarter. It is transferable if the parents show proof of definitive departure from the country or Dubai because of professional reasons.

The school has further set a few departure policies. These policies come into action when the child leaves school, as mentioned below:

1. French certificates will have to be collected by parents from the school if the child is leaving the school at the end of the year for a country outside the Gulf region. 
2. If the student is departing from Dubai permanently for another emirate or another Arab country, parents will have to pay AED 120 for a cancellation certificate in French and Arabic.
3. If the student is to remain in Dubai but is changing school, then the school will transfer the student’s file electronically. However, parents will have to collect French radiation certificates from the administration department.

Before seeking admission, parents must ensure that their child meets the following age placement guideline.

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: KHDA

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

Following is the most recent Lycee Francais International fees structure:

Optional services and their fee is mentioned here:

Lycee Francais International fees can be paid through cash, cheque or bank transfer.

Currently, no scholarships are offered at Lycee Francais International School, Bur Dubai. However, French nationals enrolled at the Consulate General of France can get scholarships available for all sections, provided the child is at least three years old.

The application form is to be signed by the principal before submitting it to the Consulate by appointment. The scholarship will cover the entire or parts of the tuition fee and is paid directly to the school instead of parents or students Parents can visit the official website of the Consulate General of France to know more about the scholarship program.

You can also visit the school’s website to remain posted about scholarship details.

The lunch facility at Lycee Francais International is quite impressive. The official food provider is ANSAMBLE Middle East Catering & Services. Students can bring their lunch from home.

Those who purchase food from the canteen have to follow a few guidelines. For the elementary section, a lunch box service is provided in recyclable bags and cutlery made of bamboo.

An application form has to be submitted to generate an ID and password for students to use online and pay for the lunch service. The school will provide bracelets against the acceptance of payment which students will have to wear to receive the lunch box. In case of lost bracelets, parents will have to request another one for AED 50.

At the secondary level, students are provided with a canteen card that needs a positive balance to avail of the lunch option. Issuing a new card as the replacement will cost AED 50.

The school does not allow students to get food delivered from the outside. Also, the following items are prohibited:

• Soft Drinks
• Energy Drinks
• Chewing Gum
• Peanuts and peanut-based foods

Lycee Francais School also offers a ‘Birthday Snack’ deal once a month. However, packed cakes are provided by the school. Similarly, candles and gifts are also prohibited on the school grounds.

The school provides school transportation at Lycee Francais International.

To register for the transport service, parents need to pay AED 8,500 in 3 instalments

• AED 3,400 in the 1st quarter
• AED 2,550 in the 2nd quarter
• AED 2,550 in the 3rd quarter

This payment can be made via cash, bank transfer or cheque in the name of LYCEE FRANCAIS INTERNATIONAL at the accounting department. However, a receipt of the transfer must be sent to the accounting department for the confirmation of registration.

If the parents don’t pay the transport fee on time, the LFI school has the authority to remove your child from availing of the bus service.

Parents can register online using the Parent Portal. Please visit the transportation section on the website for more details.

The school offers the most comprehensive programs and activities for students interested in sports.

Both boys and girls are encouraged to participate in physical activities and sports, adapt to numerous environments, express themselves artistically or acrobatically in front of an audience, and conduct inter-individual confrontations.

Sports facilities at the school include a basketball court, football pitch, indoor tennis, gymnasium, taekwondo and Judo, handball, volleyball court, swimming pool and an athletic track.

Apart from the many sports fields and courts, there are also outdoor classrooms and different sand and water play areas for younger students.

Since Lycee Francais International School wants its students to be well-versed in every field of life, extra-curricular activities planned for all three sections are quite impressive.

Kindergarten and elementary school students can engage in indoor and outdoor after-school activities.

Outdoor activities include football, running and tennis. College and Lycee students can take part in football, rugby, swimming and running.

Activity Fees

• Indoor Activity: AED 2,352 including VAT.
• Outdoor Activity: AED 1,764 including VAT
• Football (Real Madrid): AED 1,985 including VAT

Students of Lycee Francais International take part in school outings and international trips. In the past, students have taken foreign trips to the USA, Japan, Germany, Poland, Italy and Jordan.

Elementary kids are also provided with one-day trips.

All extra-curricular activities are held after school from 02:20 pm to 04:00 pm.

Lycee Francais International has on-site medical care that provides first-aid. The infirmary has locally accredited nurses and doctors who are also a part of the teaching team.

The school, along with doctors, conducts an annual medical examination day for existing and new students. Nevertheless, parents must provide all medical details and reports of their child at the time of admission.

At the kindergarten level, an adult will accompany a child in need of medical service to the infirmary, where details about the medical supervision required will be noted down. If the judge feels that the child needs to go home, parents will be contacted accordingly.

At the elementary level, a classmate will accompany children to the infirmary. A similar procedure will be carried out here.

At the secondary level, students will go to the Secondary Life office first. All the medical details, including first aid provided will be noted, and if required, parents will be contacted to pick up their child from the school.

Parents are strictly advised to provide the school with their current and correct contact information. In case the school cannot contact the parents, they will take the child to Rashid Hospital.

Apart from medical care, Lycee Francais International places heavy emphasis on personal hygiene. Therefore, parents will have to keep the school updated about any chronic illnesses, sick students, vaccinations and lice.

Lycee Francais International has introduced several ways through which parents can contact teachers and management. There is an online parent portal maintained by the school where parents and guardians can register themselves and provide key suggestions to the school while remaining informed regarding school events.

Parents can book an appointment to discuss their child’s progress or other school-related matters.

Lycee Francais International, Dubai is a member of Amicale des parents d’élèves du Lycée Français International (APELFI). It is a friendly association of volunteer parents who enrol themselves in this project to become ambassadors of the parents, the institution and the management.

Under this program, parents are required to:

• Learn more about the educational content
• Present parental views about the school to different councils and governing bodies working for the LFI
• Organise events during the academic year including Brocante, Kermesse, AFLEC’s Got Talent, the evening of college students, the promotion of Terminals, charity projects and class photos
• Make contributions to the school library, arts, music and sports activities

• Telephone Number: +971-4-379-5002
• Emails
  • General Enquiries: secretariat.lfi@aflec-fr.org
• Lycee Francais International Website
• Lycee Francais International Facebook
• Lycee Francais International Twitter
• Lycee Francais International Instagram
• Lycee Francais International LinkedIn

Note that the cover image belongs to Lycee Francais International.

What are the times of the school?

The official timings of the school are from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Does the school conduct after-school activities?

Yes, it conducts activities from 2:20 pm to 4:00 pm.  

How many years are there in the school?

The school offers classes from Pre-KG to Grade 12.

Does the school follow a co-education model?

The school has a co-education model.

How many students are currently studying in the school?

Over 2500 students are currently enrolled in the school. The student population includes not only French but Arabic students as well.  

Does the school have any special education programmes or learning plans for students of determination?

The school provides support to students with special educational needs.

Please describe the academic calendar of the school.

At Lycee Francais, the academic year starts in late August and ends in July.

Please mention the range of the tuition fee charged by the school.

AED 26,922 to AED 56,936.

How does the school communicate with parents?

Parents can register on the parents’ portal to remain informed about the school events and give their suggestions. They are also welcome to book their appointment to discuss their child’s progress.

Does the school have a cafeteria or a canteen on campus?

Yes, the school provides healthy food by ANSAMBLE Middle East Catering & Services and students can also bring their lunch from home.

How often does the school arrange field trips?

Students are taken on field trips every year including national and international trips.