Most schools in Luxembourg are run by the state and are free. School is mandatory between ages 4 to 16 years old
and nearly every school is a multilingual melting pot of French
German
Luxembourgish and some English. This guide will take you through the options and routine of Luxembourg’s fundamental education from age 3 to 11 years old and secondary education from ages 12 to 17 or 18 years old.
Fundamental Education
Fundamental Education in Luxembourg (enseignement fondamental) is a concept combining pre-school and elementary (primary) schools that was adapted in 2009. There are four ‘cycles’ or grade levels each child goes through beginning at about age 3 or 4 and ending at age 11. The enrolment age for each cycle look something like this:
Cycle 1: children ages 3 to 5
Cycle 2: ages 6 to 7
Cycle 3: ages 8 to 9
Cycle 4: ages 10 to 11
Luxembourg education: Cycle 1
Cycle 1 is an early childhood education that begins with an optional year and ends with two mandatory pre-school years. These pre-school years consist mostly of working on a child’s social skills and learning Luxembourgish as a way to communicate. Gradually
topics covered include logic and mathematical reasoning
sensory development
learning about health and body
cultural and life values. Cycle 1 courses are usually Mondays
Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am to 4pm
and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to 11:45am. Children come home for lunch
but if both parents work then lunch is provided at the ‘Maison Relais’ (‘Foyer du Jour’) day care facility located nearly on school grounds. The school year begins roughly on 15 September and ends on 15 July each year.
While the first year
known as “early childhood education”
is optional
once your child is enrolled it is important to maintain their presence in class for the remaining time. The two mandatory years
known as pre-school
are compulsory for children turning four years of age before 1 September (basically a few weeks before the upcoming school year). Admissions usually begin in August
but if a family moves to Luxembourg later in the year
admission begins at the upcoming quarter. The norm is to register your child at least three months before school begins. To enrol you must go to your commune’s education department (Service de l’Enseignement) and bring family residence certificates
the child’s birth certificate
and the necessary filled in registration form (given by the department).
Luxembourg Education: Cycle 2 to 4
These primary school or elementary school cycles last two years each. At the end of each cycle students must have acquired a set of key learning skills in order to advance. Up to age 6
the learning focus is about increasing attention span
motor skills through games and puzzles
with light sums and lettering. After age 6
education focuses on literacy and learning German
French and Luxembourg. All schools are taught from the same textbooks of mathematics
science
natural science and history.
Music
culture
community life and behaviour are other taught fields. Other classes like art and recreational activities are a part of the school system
and some optional classes after school hours focus on specific topics are known as “controlled studies”. Also
two hours of study will be either on religious studies or moral social studies. Before and after-school care is offered by the ‘Maison Relais’ with activities scheduled out daily (and longer activity hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays).
Like Cycle 1
the school year begins in principle on 15 September and ends on 15 July. School transport is provided for free throughout Luxembourg. Classes run Mondays
Wednesdays and Fridays 8am to 4pm (with a break between noon and 2pm)
and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8am to noon. Like Cycle 1
to enrol you must go to your commune’s education department (Service de l’Enseignement) and bring family residence certificates
the child’s birth certificate
and the necessary filled in registration form.
These cycles are offered through public
private and international schools in Luxembourg. There are just over 150 fundamental schools in Luxembourg. To register
parents must go to the municipality secretary
or service of education of the school district
depending on the location. The family must provide the registration certificate
the child’s birth certificate
and the filled registration form. Like Cycle 1
changing schools is possible provided a written letter of request.
Moving forward in just one year
or needing to prolong a cycle for two or three years are both possibilities and are met with support and flexibility. There is support for students with learning disabilities
as well as individual plans developed by the school to help.
