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Education Change Record

France Approves New Science and Technology Programmes for Cycles 2 and 3 (France, June 2026)

France approved new science and technology teaching programmes for primary and lower-secondary cycles 2 and 3. The implementation is staged, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year for CP and CM1 and extending to other grades in 2027-2028.

FranceCountry
2026-06-05Announced
2026-09-01Effective
88Impact
NationalPolicy Level
ApprovedStage
HighConfidence
CurriculumArea

France approved new science and technology teaching programmes for primary and lower-secondary cycles 2 and 3. The implementation is staged, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year for CP and CM1 and extending to other grades in 2027-2028.

What Changed?

The Ministry of National Education fixed new science and technology programmes for cycle 2 and cycle 3 and removed the corresponding older programme sections from the 2015 framework.

Old System vs New System

Before

Science and technology teaching in the affected grades was based on the 2015 programme framework, including the cycle 2 area commonly organized under 'Questioning the world' and the previous cycle 3 science and technology provisions.

After

New official annexed programmes define the science and technology content for cycle 2 and cycle 3, with staged entry into force by grade level.

Who Is Affected?

Primary pupilslower-secondary pupilsprimary teacherscollège teachersschool leaderscurriculum inspectorsteacher trainersparents

Student Impact

Students in the first implementation grades will study revised science and technology content from the 2026-2027 school year, with other grades following in 2027-2028.

Parent / Family Impact

Families may see updated science learning expectations, classroom activities, and assessment preparation as schools introduce the new programmes.

School / Institution Impact

Schools must prepare teaching plans, resources, timetables, and staff support for the staged curriculum rollout.

Teacher / Staff Impact

Teachers need to align lessons, progression plans, and classroom materials with the new official programmes and implementation schedule.

Key Dates

  • 2026-06-05: order signed
  • 2026-06-09: published in the Journal officiel
  • 2026-09-01: first staged implementation for CP and CM1
  • 2027-09-01: implementation for CE1
  • CE2
  • CM2
  • and sixième

What To Do

  • Schools should review the new annexed programmes
  • identify grades affected in 2026-2027
  • update lesson progressions
  • and plan teacher preparation before the start of the school year.

What To Watch Next

Further guidance, teaching resources, inspection expectations, and classroom implementation support may follow through ministry or academic channels.

Global Context

This is a national curriculum update in a core STEM area and is relevant for international comparisons of early science education and curriculum modernization.

Source Record

Source type: Regulation

Source name: Ministry of National Education - Bulletin officiel n°24 du 11 juin 2026