General organization of elementary school

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Apart from teaching the children to read, write and calculate, the school offers the children a general culture, prepares them for their professional life and educates them in the ethical values of human rights and equality between girls and boys.

Primary education is governed by the relevant Luxembourg legislation.

Access to public education is free for every child living in the Grand Duchy. The municipality provides pupils with school textbooks and exercise books free of charge.

School begins each year on 15 September and ends on 15 July. The school year is divided into 3 terms.

Compulsory education

All minors who have reached the age of four before 1 September and have their habitual residence in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg are subject to compulsory education.

Compulsory education ends at the age of eighteen or, in certain cases, before the age of eighteen (for the exact conditions see the text of the law mentioned below).

The mayor informs the holders of parental custody of the beginning of their child’s compulsory education and of the enrollment in an elementary school in the school district of their residence.

If the minor is enrolled in another school in Luxembourg or is being educated at home, the persons holding parental custody must inform the mayor in writing.

If the minor is enrolled in a school abroad, the persons having parental care are obliged to send a certificate of enrollment to the Minister via www.edulink.lu/n72z or via QR code no later than eight days after the enrollment.

The holders of parental care are obliged to ensure that the minor complies with his or her compulsory education.

Monitoring compliance with compulsory school attendance is now the responsibility of the Minister. All information on school absences and exemptions can be found in the text of the law below.

The text of the law of 20 July 2023 on compulsory education, amending the amended law of 6 February 2009 on the organization of primary education and the amended law of 18 March 2013 on the processing of pupils’ personal data can be found at legilux.public.lu.

Way to school

Parents should set a good example when bringing their children to school by respecting the speed limits at school buildings, using the “Kiss’n Go” zones and parking only in designated areas for the safety of all children. Parents set an example by using the pedestrian crossings and crossing the street at green lights.

School holidays

On the day preceding the All Saints’ Day, Christmas, Carnival, Easter and Pentecost holidays the pupils are dismissed at the end of the afternoon classes, i.e. on Friday at 3.50 pm.

The day after First Communion, the 3rd-cycle classes of elementary education function normally. However, the teachers of these classes will be willing to accept any written apologies for the absence of pupils in the morning.

On the day of the pilgrimage to Notre-Dame de Luxembourg, all classes function normally. However, teachers are invited to accept any written apologies for pupil absences without the pupils being collectively released from class.

Further information

Cycles

The school is organized in four learning cycles.

Cycle 1, which corresponds to pre-school education, generally lasts three years and is aimed at children aged 3 to 5. The first year (early education) is optional.

Cycles 2 to 4 correspond to primary education:

Cycle 2 concerns children aged 6 to 7
Cycle 3 concerns children aged 8 to 9
Cycle 4 concerns children aged 10 to 11

Each cycle generally lasts two years. At the end of each cycle, the pupil must have acquired the basic skills, i.e. the learning objectives, in order to be able to continue on to the next cycle. The pupil can therefore complete a cycle in one year or need three years to reach the defined foundations.

Each class is cared for by a class teacher. The teachers work in pedagogical teams, but each class teacher retains their responsibility for the pupils in their class.

Cycle 1 – early education

A child who is three years old before 1 September can be enrolled in early education.

They can attend one of the following groups:

M (5 half-days a week, i.e. mornings)
C (8 half-days a week, i.e. all week)

The child will come into contact with other children of their own age, which will promote their social and language development.

Early education

Monday – Wednesday – Friday
morning: 8 am – 11.50 am
afternoon: 2 pm – 3.50 pm

Tuesday – Thursday
Morning: 8 am – 11.50 am

The building “École des garçons” in Oberkorn and the “Mathendahl” and “Im Mai” buildings in Niederkorn are at some distance from the other school buildings on the same campus. These schools have moved their bells and timetables 5 minutes ahead of the other buildings on the site to enable parents to bring and collect their children, who may not be enrolled in the same building, to their classes on time and without haste.

Supervision

Teachers provide regular supervision ten minutes before the start of classes and ten minutes after the end of classes in the morning and afternoon.

Additional supervision for cycle-1 pupils (early education and preschool) is provided by cycle-1 education staff after morning classes. For this supervision special registration with the class teacher is required at the beginning of the school year. This free supervision is intended primarily for children whose parents work.

Internal regulations of free school supervision

Additional supervision with registration:
Monday: 12 pm – 12.15 pm
Tuesday: 12 pm – 12.30 pm
Wednesday: 12 pm – 12.15 pm
Thursday: 12 pm – 12.30 pm
Friday: 12 pm – 12.15 pm

Cycle 1 – preschool

A child who is 4 years old before 1 September is under compulsory schooling and is automatically enrolled by the municipal administration in a cycle-1 class in the school of their residence. Parents are informed by letter.

Pre-school education

Monday – Wednesday – Friday
morning: 8 am – 11.50 am
afternoon: 2 pm – 3.50 pm

Tuesday – Thursday
morning: 8 am – 11.50 am

Supervision

Teachers provide regular supervision ten minutes before the start of classes and ten minutes after the end of classes in the morning and afternoon.

Additional supervision for cycle-1 pupils (early education and preschool) is provided by cycle-1 education staff after morning classes. In order to take advantage of this supervision, a special registration must be made with the class teacher at the beginning of the school year. This free supervision is intended primarily for children whose parents work.

Internal regulations of free school supervision

Additional supervision with registration :
Monday: 12 pm – 12.15 pm
Tuesday: 12 pm – 12.30 pm
Wednesday: 12 pm – 12.15 pm
Thursday: 12 pm – 12.30 pm
Friday: 12 pm – 12.15 pm

Cycles 2 to 4 – primary education

The child is automatically enrolled in the school of their residence.

Before the start of the school year, parents receive a letter from the local administration informing them of their child’s class teacher for the next school year.

Primary education takes place:
Monday – Wednesday – Friday
morning: 8 am – 12 pm
afternoon: 2 pm – 3.50 pm

Tuesday – Thursday
morning: 8 am – 12.30 pm

Supervision

Teachers provide regular supervision ten minutes before the start of classes and ten minutes after the end of classes in the morning and afternoon.

Welcome classes for newly-arrived children

If you come from abroad, you can contact the Ministry of Education’s integration and reception service, which will help you to direct your child to the appropriate class and give you all the necessary information about the Luxembourg school system, if necessary with the support of an intercultural mediator.

men.public.lu/en/systeme-educatif/scolarisation-eleves-etrangers

Your child is then cared for by the teaching staff of the welcome classes. The child is enrolled in a permanent class, but will take a certain number of lessons in the welcome classes, in order to learn German and/or French in intensive courses.

More information: www.enseignement-fondamental.lu