France's Baccalaureat Reform and Grandes Ecoles — 2026-09-08

Top developments

PISA 2025 Results Hit Record Lows for French Students

On September 8, 2026, the OECD published PISA 2025 results showing French students achieved their lowest-ever scores in reading, math, and science. Education Minister Edouard Geffray acknowledged the decline as a "deep-seated phenomenon," attributing it partly to social media exposure and calling for clearer learning objectives for families. These results intensify pressure on the government to justify recent reforms to the Baccalaureate and middle school curriculum, as the results remain below the OECD average.

Teacher Shortages Persist in 53% of Secondary Schools

A survey by the Snes-FSU union, published on September 7, 2026, revealed that 53% of public colleges and lycées lacked at least one teacher at the start of the school year. When including all educational staff (psychologists, counselors), the figure rises to 69% of establishments with incomplete teams. This shortage directly impacts the quality of instruction leading up to the Baccalaureate exams and raises concerns about support for students aiming for competitive Grandes Écoles.

Union Calls for National Strike on September 29

In response to the persistent lack of staff and deteriorating working conditions, major education unions have called for a national strike on September 29, 2026. The strike aims to highlight the failure of recruitment efforts and could disrupt the early phase of the academic year, potentially affecting preparation for end-of-year assessments and university admissions planning via Parcoursup.

Demographic Decline Forces School Closures Planning

Le Monde reported on September 1, 2026, that France is facing an "unprecedented challenge" from accelerating demographic decline, with fewer students entering the system. Local authorities and the Ministry are developing strategies to prevent "school deserts," which may lead to the consolidation of smaller institutions. This shift could alter access to specific high-school specialties required for certain Grandes Écoles tracks.

Local view

Local media outlets like Midi Libre and Sud Ouest have highlighted regional disparities in the teacher shortage, with some academies reporting up to 57% of schools affected by vacancies. In the south of France, parents and teachers are expressing frustration over the gap between government promises of full staffing and the reality of missing teachers, particularly in specialized subjects critical for the Baccalaureate.

Context & numbers

• PISA 2025: French results are at their lowest recorded level since the survey began, though still close to the OECD average.
• Bac 2026 Pass Rates: The general Bac pass rate was 90.6% (down 0.5 points from 2025), while the professional route saw a slight increase to 84.3%.
• Teacher Vacancies: 53% of colleges/lycées lacked at least one teacher; 69% lacked at least one educational staff member.
• Enrollment: The 2026 school year began with 11.6 million students, a decrease reflecting long-term demographic trends.

On the radar

• September 29 Strike: A potential nationwide shutdown of schools and administration offices, which could delay administrative processing for student files.
• Parcoursup 2027 Preparation: High school juniors (Première) are currently navigating the new bilingual Baccalaureate sections launching this fall, which may impact future application profiles.
• Regional Language Recruitment: Despite new initiatives, recruitment for teachers of regional languages remains critically low, affecting the viability of bilingual sections.