Lycee Francais Rene Goscinny is the French language anchor among the international schools in Warsaw, and one of the oldest foreign schools in the city. It traces its origins to 1919, when the French government opened a school in the newly independent Poland as a symbol of renewed French and Polish ties, and it took its present name in 1995 in honour of Rene Goscinny, the writer behind Asterix, whose family roots were Polish. Today it is part of the AEFE network, the agency that runs French education abroad, which gives it the accreditation and continuity that French educated families look for wherever they are posted.
Lycee Francais Rene Goscinny at a glance
| Curriculum and exam | French national curriculum through the AEFE network, to the French baccalaureate; mainly French medium |
|---|---|
| Stages | Maternelle, elementary, college and lycee, ages 3 to 18 |
| Founded | 1919; renamed Rene Goscinny in 1995 |
| Network | AEFE, the French government agency for French education abroad |
| Community | Close to 800 students from around 40 countries |
| Campuses | Secondary and head office at ul. Walecznych 4/6; maternelle and elementary at ul. Konstancinska 13 |
Curriculum and academics
The school delivers the French national curriculum, accredited by the French Ministry of Education through the AEFE network, from maternelle right through to the French baccalaureate. This means a child follows exactly the programme they would in France, with the same stages of maternelle, elementary, college and lycee, and sits the baccalaureate at the end. For families moving between French network schools around the world, that continuity is the central attraction: a transfer in or out lines up with the same year groups, syllabus and examinations.
Teaching is mainly in French, with language support structured for children who are building their French, and the school places weight on languages and on the academic rigour the baccalaureate demands. Families who are not Francophone should weigh this carefully against the English medium and international curriculum schools, since immersion in French is the point rather than a side benefit. The full range of Warsaw options across languages and curricula is set out on the Warsaw city hub for comparison, so you can see where the French route fits alongside British, American and IB schools.
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Lycee Francais Rene Goscinny fees
As a French network school the lycee follows the AEFE overseas fee model, which is generally more moderate than the premium English medium international tier in Warsaw. Our guide to international school fees in Warsaw puts the premium senior tier at 65,000 to 110,000 zloty a year, and French network schools typically sit below that, which is one reason French educated families often find the lycee good value as well as familiar. Fees rise across the stages from maternelle to the lycee years, as they do everywhere.
Treat any number you find online as illustrative until you have the school's current schedule, since fees are set and revised by the school each year and there may be registration and annual contributions to add. French families should also check whether they qualify for any AEFE scholarship support, which is administered through French channels rather than the school directly. The fee calculator is a useful way to model the full cost of a place, including transport between the two campuses and the central districts, and to compare the lycee against the city's other schools.
Admissions
Admission is handled by the school and shaped by place availability and, in the senior years, by a child's readiness to follow the French programme rather than by a single competitive entrance test. Children transferring from another French network school slot into the corresponding year group, while families new to the French system are assessed for the right placement and any language support. Priority and process can reflect the AEFE framework, so it is worth asking the school early how places are allocated across the maternelle, elementary, college and lycee.
The main intake follows the French and Polish September start, with mid year entry possible when families relocate on a posting, which is common in the French diplomatic and corporate community. Because the school is well established and sought after by Francophone families, popular year groups can fill, so apply as early as your move allows. For alternatives across the city while an application is in train, the Warsaw city hub lists schools by curriculum and stage.
Location and who goes there
The school operates on two campuses. The administration, college and lycee sit at ul. Walecznych 4/6 on the Praga side of the river, while the maternelle and elementary school are at ul. Konstancinska 13 in the south of the city. Splitting the early years from the secondary school is common for French network schools and lets each campus be tailored to its age group, though families with children at both stages should plan for the journey between them.
The community is built around French and Francophone families: diplomats, employees of French companies and institutions, and Polish families with French connections or ambitions for a French education. With close to 800 students from around 40 countries it is genuinely international within a French frame, and it functions as a hub for French speaking life in Warsaw as much as a school. Families choose it for the seamless fit with the French system and the security of the baccalaureate at the end.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
How much are Lycee Francais Rene Goscinny fees?
As an AEFE network French school the lycee follows the French overseas fee model, which is generally more moderate than the premium English medium tier in Warsaw. The Warsaw fee guide puts the premium senior tier at 65,000 to 110,000 zloty, and French network schools typically sit below that. Confirm the current schedule, registration and any sibling terms directly with the school.
What curriculum does Lycee Francais Rene Goscinny follow?
It teaches the French national curriculum, accredited by the French Ministry of Education through the AEFE network, from maternelle through to the French baccalaureate. Teaching is mainly in French, with structured language provision, so it suits Francophone families and those who want a French education and the baccalaureate.
What ages does Lycee Francais Rene Goscinny take?
The school runs from maternelle, the French preschool stage, through elementary, college and lycee, so it educates children from age 3 to 18 across its two campuses and takes students through to the baccalaureate.
Where is Lycee Francais Rene Goscinny in Warsaw?
The school has two campuses. The administration, college and lycee are at ul. Walecznych 4/6 in the Praga area, and the maternelle and elementary school are at ul. Konstancinska 13 in the south of the city.
Is Lycee Francais Rene Goscinny a French government school?
It is directly operated within the AEFE network, the French government agency for French education abroad, and was founded in 1919 and renamed in 1995 after the French comic writer Rene Goscinny, who was of Polish origin. It has close to 800 students from around 40 countries.
