French schools set for shake up

MAJOR changes to the French school system have been announced by François Hollande, including the return of the four-and-a-half day week for l'école primaire.

Speaking at the Sorbonne university in Paris, President Hollande also said that redoublement, a requirement that struggling students have to re-take a year, would be reduced as an option.

And he wanted to see more homework being done at school as well as an end to the use of notes between teachers and parents to highlight poor behaviour.

This announcement comes after a report outlined ways that the French school system needs to change to ensure that children are ready for the challenges of the 21st century.