Compulsory education

Parent information leaflets

Parent information leaflets translated in various languages are available online :

Other documents, shown under the link «<link themes formation enseignement-obligatoire-et-pedagogie-specialisee parent-information-and-translated-documents-documents-traduits-dinformation-aux-parents schemas-comparatifs-par-pays>Schémas comparatifs par pays», allow the reader to compare the school structures of the canton of Vaud and the countries of immigration, in particular the relation between the age of the pupil and the corresponding school level and cycle as well as the various types of compulsory and post-compulsory education and the various stages of evaluation and orientation.

Organisation

Primary school

Primary school consists of eight academic years for children aged between 4 and 11.

Secondary school

Secondary education, the next three years, which is open to all children aged between 12 and 15, represents the last phase of compulsory education.

It teaches a general curriculum and paves the way for post-compulsory courses: école de maturité (grammar school/high school, leading to the federal certificate), écoles de culture générale et de commerce (high schools providing general studies) or école professionnelle (vocational school offering course-based or company-based training).

Support of non French-speaking students

Non French-speaking students are offered different types of structures and cares to make integration easier in public schools of the canton:

Support courses (French, German or other subjects- appui)
Intensive French courses (CIF – cours intensif de français)
Integration groups (groupes d'accueil)
Integration classes (classes d'intégration)

School hosting

The choice of a school to host a new student depends on the place of residence.

Directories of compulsory schools of the canton

Before attributing a specific level and course of study, the following parameters have to be taken into account:

Student’s age
Student’s education level (must be assessed by an exam - “examen d'admission en voie prégymnasiale” - from 9^th grade on, or by the evaluation of previous school records and files provided by the parents)

More information and examples of exams can be found here :

Other services in public schools

The following services are offered (free of charge) as part of public schooling :

<link themes formation pedagogie-specialisee psychologues-psychomotriciens-et-logopedistes>School psychological support
<link themes formation pedagogie-specialisee psychologues-psychomotriciens-et-logopedistes>Logopedics
<link themes formation pedagogie-specialisee enseignement-specialise>Child development support
<link themes formation sante-a-lecole equipes-psps infirmieres-scolaires>School medical support
Career counseling (in French, German and Italian)