IBS of Provence

IBS of Provence: A Bilingual, International School Built Around the Individual Child

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Founded in 1996 in Aix-en-Provence, South of France, the school celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. It now welcomes more than 1,000 students aged 2 to 18, drawn from over 75 nationalities. For a school of its size, it offers an unusually wide set of pathways under one roof.

Truly bilingual, from the age of two

IBS of Provence is fully bilingual (English and French) from nursery up to the graduating year. Throughout the week, students learn French and English in equal measure through a balanced programme of instruction in both languages. Younger students absorb both languages naturally in the classroom and the playground, while older arrivals join a school where bilingualism is woven into campus life in lessons, in sport, and in clubs and activities.

From Year 10 (3ème), students in the Pre-IB and IB sections may, if they wish, study entirely in English. This is a genuine advantage for teenagers who arrive without French or who are aiming for an English-speaking university: they can continue to progress academically while still picking up French through everyday campus life. Those who prefer a bilingual route can opt for the French Baccalauréat section, where roughly a third of lessons are taught in English.

For relocating families, this matters in practice. A child entering at three or four will absorb both languages in the classroom and the playground. An older arrival is placed in an environment where both languages are part of daily life, rather than being sent to a separate language unit. And because the student body is so international, English and French are often the shared languages among children whose home languages are many and varied.

Two routes to university: the French Bac or the IB

One of the school’s strongest points of difference is that it does not force families to choose a single educational philosophy. From Year 10 (3ème) onwards, students follow one of two tracks.

The French Baccalauréat section is a mixed-language programme. Around a third of lessons are taught in English, while the curriculum follows the official French national programme, leading to the Brevet and the French Baccalauréat. It suits families who plan to stay in France long term, or whose children may continue into French higher education.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is the alternative, preceded by a Pre-IB year in which students can sit IGCSEs. The IB is a globally recognised qualification built around continuous assessment, six subject groups and a broader programme of personal development. It is a natural fit for families who expect to move again, or who are aiming at universities abroad.

Few schools in the country can offer both routes, and fewer still within a single community. It means siblings with different needs, or a family whose plans change, can stay in the same school.

Exam centre credentials that open doors abroad

The school’s accreditation list is long and practical. It is an IB World School and a Cambridge International exam centre, offering IGCSEs.

For families with American university ambitions, IBS of Provence is an authorised test centre for the Digital SAT, as well as the PSAT, AP. It is also a member of the European Council of International Schools (ECIS), the Fédération Nationale de l’Enseignement Privé Laïque and the Fédération Européenne des Écoles.

In practical terms, students can often sit major admissions and language exams on their own campus, without travelling to another city. That convenience is easy to overlook until you are managing exam registrations for a teenager.

A boarding option with a family feel

The school’s boarding section is open to students from Year 7 (6ème) to their graduating year, and it is one of the most distinctive parts of the offer. Rather than a single large dormitory block, boarders live in a collection of smaller houses: Le Mas de Fontaines, Matisse, Sybaris, Le Relais Sainte Victoire and Le Clos des Oliviers. The school describes them as off-campus family homes with an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.

The structure of the day is clear and published openly. Boarders are woken at 6:45, taken to school by bus, and have a full school day followed by a break, a supervised study session or activity, and dinner at school. Back at the houses there is a compulsory study period, followed by free time and lights-out staggered by age. The result is a routine that builds independence while keeping a firm academic framework.

Weekends are active. Saturday mornings are set aside for schoolwork, with free time in Aix-en-Provence in the afternoon. Sundays bring sports or excursions around the region, with examples including skiing, boat trips in the Calanques, climbing parks, and visits to Avignon, Arles and Les Baux-de-Provence. For international families, there is also a practical touch: on Fridays and Sundays, shuttles connect the school with Aix train and bus stations, Aix TGV, and Marseille Provence airport. Laundry is included, and rooms are allocated with cultural mix in mind.

For families who relocate for work and then face a posting elsewhere, or for parents based abroad who want their children educated in France, this is a genuinely useful option.

IBS-of-Provence-children

A serious Sport-studies programme

IBS of Provence also runs a Sport-Études programme, open to all sports and designed around each student’s training load. It is aimed at students considering a university or professional sporting career, as well as those who simply need flexibility to pursue a sport seriously.

The adaptations are concrete. Pre-IB students can take six subjects instead of nine, and IB students can spread their diploma over three years rather than two. Younger students can free up around six hours a week by stepping back from school sport and art. When lessons are missed for training or competition, small catch-up study groups of no more than six students are available, with up to three hours a week.

The school hosts a Tennis Academy led by former world top-ten player Thomas Enqvist, as well as basketball, dance, golf and football academies.

A full life outside the classroom

At IBS of Provence, the school day doesn’t end when the last lesson does. The school treats sport, art and clubs as part of a child’s education, and the campus is built to support them. Its facilities include a gymnasium, a 25-metre pool, 6 tennis courts, a cardio and a cross-fit room. There are also a dance room, several art rooms, a library and a large amphitheatre that hosts presentations and performances.

After-school clubs. Clubs run on several evenings each week and on Wednesday afternoons, which is when French schools traditionally free up time for activities. For day students, this means a child can stay on campus for an activity rather than rushing home. For boarders, it gives the supervised evening a real shape, with study time followed by something they have chosen. The school also provides a garderie (after-school childcare) for younger children, which is a practical help for working parents.

Education with a purpose beyond results

Beyond curriculum and facilities, the school’s stated mission is to prepare students as informed and responsible global citizens. Its objectives include developing critical thinking, encouraging respect between cultures and beliefs, and fostering leadership, honesty and self-control, with sport and the arts integrated as essential pillars of education rather than optional extras.

That approach shows up in the school’s day-to-day culture: a school uniform, extracurricular clubs, arts and music, trips and visits, and school meals and transport. For relocating families, the school bus network and the school restaurant remove a lot of the logistical friction that comes with a new country.

IBS-of-Provence-campus

Beyond the main campus and into the holidays

IBS of Provence is at the heart of a vibrant educational network. Alongside the Luynes campus, the school lists an IBS West Campus, and the International Schools of Marseille and Montpellier. It also runs holiday language courses, which is a practical bridge for families who want a child to gain confidence in English or French before the start of the school year.

Who is it for?

IBS of Provence is likely to appeal most to families who:

• want genuine bilingual education from nursery to final year;
• value a choice between the French Bac and the International Baccalaureate;
• seek preparation for unviersites worldwide, with the convenience of on-site exam facilities;
• need a boarding option with a structured, family-style set-up;
• have a child who is serious about sport and needs a flexible timetable.

Open days

As with any school, the right fit depends on the child. The best way to judge is to visit. The school holds an open day on Saturday 14 November 2026 and Saturday 20 March 2027, and also offers individual visits. Fees and admissions procedures are published on the school’s website, and families are encouraged to contact the admissions team directly. Register here