Joséphine Vigouroux
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While many countries have school programs that run five days a week, France maintains the tradition of a four-day week in primary education. Although this midweek break is designed to suit children's rhythms, it often poses a real logistical headache for working parents. How can this "day off" be turned into useful time without resorting to the easy option of screens?
But why do some French children not go to school on Wednesdays? This practice has its roots in historical, social, and educational considerations.
The Wednesday Club atÉcole M offers a bilingual immersion day (100% in English, sports, art, music) for children aged 3 to 10, open to all.
👉 Discover the Wednesday Club program
The practice of not sending children to school on Wednesdays dates back to the late 19th century. At that time, French pupils attended school six days a week. Over time, however, the need to reduce pupils' workloads and make adjustments to the structure of the school week emerged. In 1882, the Ferry law introduced compulsory schooling and established the principle of secular, free and compulsory education for all children. The six-day school week was reduced to five days, and Wednesdays were reserved for extracurricular activities and rest.
The decision not to have school on Wednesdays gives students the opportunity to participate in extracurricular, sports, and cultural activities. This promotes children's overall development by allowing them to engage in hobbies, sports, arts, and other activities that can contribute to their personal growth. Many families choose alternative childcare solutions for Wednesdays and take the opportunity to introduce their children to new activities. For example, a new language.
In Paris and its suburbs, more and more families are looking for English-language activities for their children on Wednesdays. The goal is to provide real exposure to the language without adding academic pressure.
A Wednesday 100% in English is a full day where children practice the language through sports, arts, and creative activities, guided by English-speaking facilitators. English becomes a natural tool for communication, used for playing, creating, cooperating, and expressing oneself.
This immersive approach is particularly suited to preschool and elementary school children in Paris, as it allows them to:
It is in this spirit thatécole M the Wednesday Club (a day spent entirely in English) at its locations in Paris 5ᵉ, Paris 14ᵉ, Paris 11, Paris 15, Paris 19, Paris 20, and Clichy. These bilingual immersion Wednesdays are open to all children, including those enrolled in other schools.
However, it is essential to note that changes have taken place in recent years. Some schools have experimented with four-day weeks in response to educational needs and parental expectations. These changes have prompted debate and discussion on how best to organize the school week, with arguments in favor of adapting to contemporary realities and concerns about the quality of teaching.
Although the tradition of school-free Wednesdays in France dates back over a century, questions continue to emerge as to the relevance of this organization of the school week. Advocates of the four-day week stress the need to adapt to today's educational needs, while others believe that the tradition of Wednesdays without school promotes children's well-being and offers opportunities for their overall development. Ultimately, the question of whether French children should go to school on Wednesdays remains a complex one, rooted in history and influenced by society's evolving needs.
*Some schools in the inner suburbs of Paris and some private schools without a contract continue to offer school on Wednesdays.
Yes. A full day of immersion is much more effective than a single class. By experiencing sports, games, artistic activities, and group life entirely in English, children learn without realizing it and quickly gain fluency in speaking.
No prerequisites are necessary. Beginner children are guided with kindness: English is introduced through play, gestures, and repetition, as in a natural bilingual environment. Discover the benefits
Not at all. The Wednesday program is open to all children, regardless of which school they attend. Many families choose Wednesdays to provide their children with additional exposure to English outside of traditional school.
Immersion Wednesdays are offered by École M several locations: Paris 19th, Paris 15th, and Clichy, in order to remain accessible to families in Paris and the inner suburbs.
The program is designed for children aged 3 to 10, in small groups, to ensure a safe environment and high-quality supervision.
A typical day alternates between playtime, sports activities, creative workshops, music, and quiet time, all in English. The goal is not academic performance, but the joy of learning and expressing oneself.
