The middle school certificate becomes the entrance ticket to high school

Its evolution deserves a chapter of its own in the history of National Education in France (See: The National Brevet diploma: a rite of passage for middle school students before high school). But this time, after having come close to disappearing altogether or in any case, being replaced by full continuous monitoring, the Brevet des Collèges is preparing to make a comeback. From 2027, it will be compulsory to enter high school. In fact, students currently in 5th grade will be the first to be affected by this change.

This is one of the two main measures planned under Act 2 of the “knowledge shock”. From now on, college students who have not obtained their certificate will be able to either go to CAP or join a second prep class. You should know that, last year, nationally, 14% of candidates failed the patent.

From this year, we will distinguish the history-geography grade and the EMC grade (moral and civic education) to restore value to this subject. And as soon as a student has more than 18 out of 20 in the Brevet, we will add the mention “Very good with congratulations from the jury” to promote their success.

Anne Genetet, Minister of National Education.

The baccalaureate reform implemented by Jean-Michel Blanquer had stripped this exam of the importance of mathematics. They had even been removed from sectors where they were not part of the dominant subjects.
First consequence, the weakening of the potential of the Grandes Ecoles, particularly intended for the training of engineers.

An observation which had already led Gabriel Attal to announce that the ministry would review its copy. Anne Genetet therefore announced that, in this Act 2 of the “Shock of Knowledge”, mathematics will now be present during the anticipated baccalaureate tests in 1ère. A measure which will be valid from 2026 for 1ère pupils who will take their final baccalaureate in 2027. According to the ministry, this will be a way of establishing a barometer to assess the level of mathematics of high school students in France.

These new steps intended to improve student results will not be achieved without resources. Organizational means first of all with the need groups established in colleges since the start of the 2024 school year for 6th and 5th grade classes. They should not be continued in 4th and 3rd as initially planned. But the students with the most difficulties should be assigned to classes with reduced numbers and benefit from targeted support, particularly for French and mathematics.

In this tailor-made support desired by the ministry, the middle school students who need it the most should have easy access to the “homework done” schemes and successful training courses.

Furthermore, the ministry hopes to allocate between 1000 and 1500 teachers to meet these new objectives. This, either by redeployment of positions, or through recruitment.

Recruitments also at the level of educational advisors and educational assistants (supervisors) since they are the ones who will be able to allow all these changes to take place most harmoniously in secondary schools.