BWA letter: bilingual provision from September 2027
Headteacher Séana Henry sets out Belleville Wix Academy's bilingual provision from September 2027: a 60/40 English–French split, CNED SCI, admissions, cost and secondary options
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From September 2027
New BWA Bilingual Stream
From September 2027, Belleville Wix Academy and École de Wix will each run their own bilingual offer on the Wix's Lane site. Here is how the new BWA bilingual stream compares with École de Wix's new International Class, based on the information available so far.
BWA vs École de Wix at a glance
For information only. This comparison is provided in good faith and to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. It may contain errors or omissions, details may change, and it is not official advice from either school. Please check with each school before making any decision. Spotted a mistake or something out of date? Let us know at [email protected].
Compiled by parents. The BWA column follows the headteacher's letter of 15 October 2026. A few rows still use earlier parent notes or the school's own web pages where that letter is silent. The École de Wix column comes from the LFCG presentation of 7 October 2026 and the APL and CIPL notes of that meeting. Where anything differs, each school's official communications prevail.
Topic
Belleville Wix Academy
New BWA bilingual stream
École de Wix (LFCG)
International Class
Who runs it
Belleville Wix Academy
Belleville Wix Academy, an English state school, will run its own bilingual provision from Reception to Year 6 from September 2027.
Source: BWA letter (15 Oct 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
École de Wix, part of the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle (run directly by the AEFE). The International Class replaces the parité horaire classes from September 2027.
Source: LFCG slides · APL minutes
Days in school
Belleville Wix Academy
190
days a year
Full school days Monday to Friday, Wednesday included. English and French day counts apply the confirmed 60/40 split to those 190 days.
Source: BWA letter (15 Oct 2026) · BWA term dates · Parent estimate
École de Wix (LFCG)
153
days a year
−37 days
No school on Wednesday afternoons: families need childcare or a club. The Lycée says clubs and childcare will be available. 136 full days plus 34 Wednesday mornings. English and French day counts apply 12 hours out of 26 to those 153 full-day equivalents; the rest of the week includes Mandarin.
Source: LFCG 2026–27 calendar · LFCG slides · APL minutes · Parent estimate
Weekly model & language split
Belleville Wix Academy
A confirmed 60/40 split: the English National Curriculum for 60% of the week and the French National Curriculum for 40%, from Reception to Year 6. English and French co-teachers share each class. The day-by-day timetable is not published yet.
Source: BWA letter (15 Oct 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
26 hours a week: at least 12 h in French and 12 h in English, plus a third language. Half-day rotation in nursery, whole-day rotation from CP; no week-on/week-off. Wednesday needs-based groups can shift the balance.
Source: LFCG slides · CIPL notes
Curriculum
Belleville Wix Academy
Two curricula, co-constructed: the full English National Curriculum, and the French National Curriculum via CNED SCI (Scolarité Complémentaire Internationale), covering French, maths, and history and geography (Understanding the World in the younger classes).
Source: BWA letter (15 Oct 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
One French programme taught in two languages, with a strong English component aligned with DfE recommendations, not two programmes side by side. English follows the British programmes; PSHE and British perspectives in history and geography; maths and science on the French programme with British methods.
Source: LFCG slides · APL minutes · CIPL notes
Third language
Belleville Wix Academy
Not part of the provision set out by the school.
Source: BWA letter (15 Oct 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
Mandarin, from 1 h a week rising to 2 h in CM1–CM2. Mandarin ranked first in a family survey that offered only non-Latin-script languages; no response rate was published.
Source: LFCG slides · APL minutes · CIPL notes
Teachers
Belleville Wix Academy
English and French co-teachers share each class and meet every week. BWA will employ native French-speaking teachers qualified to French national standards. CNED trains them on the French curriculum; Q1E and BWA provide English-style professional development.
Source: BWA letter (15 Oct 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
A French-speaking and an English-speaking lead teacher share each class. English-speaking teachers are UK primary-qualified, on local contracts. Dedicated PE and Mandarin teachers.
Source: LFCG slides · CIPL notes
Places
Belleville Wix Academy
One class per year group from Reception to Year 6, each admitting up to 30 pupils. The lease is being renegotiated, including classrooms; from September 2027 there will be 7 classrooms for the 7 bilingual classes.
Source: BWA letter (15 Oct 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
Wix expected to keep its current number of classes per year group; International Class from MS (no PS at Wix). Max 26 per class.
Source: APL minutes · CIPL notes
Assessments & next school
Belleville Wix Academy
Pupils sit all English National Assessments. CNED issues a Proficiency Certificate (attestation de niveau) each year. With the school report, the French Embassy then issues an Equivalent Level Certificate for a homologated French school, including the Lycée in 6ème, under the Lycée's published criteria. BWA is one of five feeder schools for Bolingbroke Academy. Pupils can also apply to Wandsworth state secondaries, including selective schools, and are supported for private-school applications.
Source: BWA letter (15 Oct 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
French national assessments; English phonics from MS. LFCG cannot enter pupils for the 11+ but supports families with absences and references. Pupils continue to the LFCG collège; the international section keeps its own entry test.
Source: LFCG slides · APL minutes · CIPL notes
Accreditation
Belleville Wix Academy
Each year CNED issues a Proficiency Certificate (attestation de niveau). For a homologated French school, the French Embassy Counsellor issues an Equivalent Level Certificate from that certificate and the BWA report. The French programme is CNED's complementary international schooling (SCI).
Source: BWA letter (15 Oct 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
AEFE homologation; the new model is designed to meet the criteria of the August 2025 decree.
Source: LFCG slides · APL minutes
Admissions & priority
Belleville Wix Academy
Current BWA bilingual pupils take a place automatically, unless parents say otherwise. Other children already in the bilingual classes may stay with their class as BWA pupils. A child who is out of year group on the English calendar can stay in that class if they are academically comfortable there. Any other child applies under BWA's published priority criteria, with a short dual-language assessment. Information evening on Thursday 22 October 2026, 7pm.
Source: BWA letter (15 Oct 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
Applications open from 8 October 2026. Parité horaire pupils move into the International Class. LFCG pupils have priority for transfers; partner-school pupils may apply but must enrol at LFCG and get no priority. Transfer form in November 2026, teachers' advice in December, class structures in January 2027, confirmation in February 2027.
Source: LFCG slides · APL minutes · CIPL notes
Existing streams
Belleville Wix Academy
The English stream of BWA is completely unchanged.
Source: BWA parent notes (Sept 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
Anglais Renforcé closes to new entrants at Wix: MS in 2027, GS in 2028, CP in 2029. Pupils already in AR keep their pathway and may request a transfer to the International Class.
Source: LFCG slides · CIPL notes
Clubs & wraparound care
Belleville Wix Academy
Premier Education wraparound care, about 25 WixKidz clubs and about 25 BWA clubs (of which 6 free for BWA pupils, max two per child, four for Pupil Premium), plus free after-school academic booster classes for eligible pupils.
Source: Premier Education · WixKidz (Magic Booking) · BWA clubs page · BWA parent notes (Sept 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
Premier Education wraparound care, about 25 WixKidz clubs and 4 Wednesday clubs.
Source: Premier Education · WixKidz (Magic Booking)
Canteen & school supplies
Belleville Wix Academy
£0
school meals and supplies
Free school meals for Reception to Year 6 (London universal free school meals, funded until the end of 2027–28) and free school supplies.
École de Wix (LFCG)
£799
a year for the canteen at Wix
Canteen paid on top of tuition. Families buy school supplies from the Lycée's published supply list.
Source: LFCG 2026–27 fees · LFCG Rentrée 2026–27
School fees
Belleville Wix Academy
£582
a year for CNED materials (Year 1 to Year 6); teaching is free
No tuition fees: teaching is free at a state school. CNED SCI materials cost £582 a year for each pupil from Year 1/GS to Year 6/CM2, at 2026–27 rates. A small rise is expected for 2027–28. Reception/MS is still to be confirmed, in the same range.
Source: BWA letter (15 Oct 2026)
École de Wix (LFCG)
£12,557
a year in CP–CM2 (£15,460 in MS–GS)
Same fee as today's parité horaire, 2026–27 rates including VAT, before annual increases. Plus a £1,800 registration fee.
Source: LFCG 2026–27 fees · APL minutes
Ofsted rating
Belleville Wix Academy
Last graded inspection: Good in October 2019, with Outstanding early years. An ungraded inspection in February 2025 found evidence the school may have improved significantly. Ofsted did not give a new grade.
Source: Ofsted: Belleville Wix Academy
École de Wix (LFCG)
October 2024 inspection of the whole Lycée, which includes École de Wix: Good overall, with Outstanding quality of education and early years.
Instructional time: a parent estimate
190
days a year at BWA
153
days a year at École de Wix
−37
days (−19.5%)
BWA follows the UK calendar: 190 full school days a year, as the school has confirmed. On the AEFE calendar, with Wednesday mornings only, École de Wix comes to about 153 equivalent full days (136 full days plus 34 half days): 37 fewer.
That is about 19.5% less instructional time at École de Wix than at BWA (37 ÷ 190), or about 24.2% more at BWA than at École de Wix (37 ÷ 153).
This is a parent calculation, not an official figure. The Lycée describes its year as 36 teaching weeks. Families on the AEFE calendar may also need childcare for Wednesday afternoons and the longer holidays.
Cost over seven years: a parent calculation
£4,074
at BWA, Reception to Year 6
£101,098
at École de Wix, MS to CM2
École de Wix breakdown
- Maternelle: 2 × £15,460
- £30,920
- Élémentaire: 5 × £12,557
- £62,785
- Registration fee
- £1,800
- Tuition
- £95,505
- Canteen: 7 × £799
- £5,593
- Total
- £101,098
BWA breakdown
- Tuition
- £0
- Canteen
- £0
- CNED materials: 7 × £582
- £4,074
- Total
- £4,074
BWA has confirmed that teaching is free and that CNED SCI materials cost £582 a year from Year 1/GS to Year 6/CM2 at 2026–27 rates. Reception/MS is still to be confirmed, in the same range, and a small rise is expected for 2027–28. The total above applies the published £582 rate to all seven years, before that rise.
École de Wix figures are based on the Lycée's published 2026–27 fees (VAT included), before annual increases. Supplies, clubs and childcare are not included.
Documents
- BWA letter: bilingual provision from September 2027 (15 October 2026)
- BWA bilingual stream: September 2026 update (parent notes)
- LFCG presentation: International Classes (7 October 2026)
- APL meeting minutes (7 October 2026)
- CIPL session notes (7 October 2026)
- CNED primary tariffs (applicable until 31/03/2027)
- École de Wix page on the LFCG website
- LFCG school fees 2026–27
- LFCG admissions
- BWA term dates
- LFCG school calendar 2026–27 (approved by the AEFE)
- BWA lunchtime and free school meals
- BWA clubs
Recent Updates
View Full TimelineÉcole de Wix presents its International Classes from September 2027
The Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle presented the International Class that replaces the parité horaire bilingual classes at Wix and Marie d'Orliac from September 2027
Read moreBWA bilingual stream from September 2027: parent update
Parents' updated summary of Belleville Wix Academy's independent, state-funded English–French bilingual stream: fees, curriculum, calendar, staffing and admissions
Read moreParent meeting: BWA plans for the bilingual stream from 2027
Summary of Belleville Wix Academy’s parent meeting outlining plans for a free bilingual English–French programme after the partnership with École de Wix ends
Read moreInvitation to meeting about the BWA bilingual stream from 2027
Letter from Belleville Wix Academy inviting families to a meeting on plans for the successor bilingual provision from September 2027
Read moreCampaign archive · 2025–2026
How we got here
Before the new offers were announced, parents campaigned to protect the shared bilingual stream at Wix. The petition is closed; this section keeps the record.
Campaign results · February 2026
The petition worked
Parent pressure helped secure a one-year moratorium: the shared stream continues through 2026–2027, an extra year beyond the initial decision, giving families and schools time to prepare.
Read about the moratorium →Final decision · June 2026
The partnership ends
The shared bilingual provision between Belleville Wix Academy and École de Wix will end after the 2026–2027 school year, one year later than first announced, after parents secured a moratorium. From September 2027 both schools remain on the Wix's Lane site with separate bilingual offers.
Key documents
- Letter from BWA alerting parents about LFCG's decision (December 2025)
- Letter from LFCG announcing the end of the bilingual stream (January 2026)
- Joint letter on the end of the shared stream (June 2026)
- BWA meeting invitation on provision from 2027 (July 2026)
- Summary of the BWA parent meeting (14 July 2026)
What the campaign achieved
Hundreds of parents and supporters stood up for bilingual education at Wix. The petition is now closed, but it helped win the moratorium that kept the shared stream alive for an extra year.
353 signatures collected
Full Petition Text
To :
- Mme Tréheux-Duchêne, Ambassadrice de France au Royaume-Uni
- Mme Morel, Conseillère Culturelle de l'Ambassade de France au Royaume-Uni
- M. Morellato, Conseiller Culturel Adjoint et Attaché de Coopération Éducative
- Mme Bellus-Ferreira, Proviseure du Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle
- M. Ventelou, Directeur de l’École de Wix
London, January 2026
FUTURE OF THE PARTNERSHIP ÉCOLE DE WIX (LYCÉE FRANÇAIS CHARLES DE GAULLE) / BELLEVILLE WIX ACADEMY
We are writing to respectfully express our strong opposition to the termination of the bilingual partnership with Belleville Wix Academy / Q1E Trust. While we understand the Lycée faces economic challenges, we believe this decision endangers the school’s future:
The success of the current bilingual stream lies in the genuine union of the French and English educational systems. This partnership integrates two distinct pedagogical approaches, broadening our children’s academic horizons beyond the limits of a single framework. Replacing this with an adapted French curriculum taught in two languages diminishes the educational richness for which parents specifically chose École de Wix. We want our children to have authentic exposure to the English system, delivered by UK-trained teachers, which complements the French program perfectly.
Ending the partnership reduces the number of students exposed to the French curriculum and the Francophonie, directly limiting the intake pool for the LFCG secondary school in South Kensington. Furthermore, it would be regrettable to forgo UK state-funded resources (teachers, facilities) to fund a duplicate team instead—without any guarantee of additional revenue. This partnership appears to be the best option to guarantee access to the French curriculum for the greatest number of students.
By withdrawing, the Lycée inadvertently places itself in direct competition with a free bilingual stream within the same building (raising further concerns regarding the lack of available classrooms). This situation creates a risk that may accelerate the departure of families from LFCG. Maintaining the partnership protects the Lycée's enrolment by ensuring the oversubscribed bilingual stream of the council remains a partner, not a rival.
With the applications for 2026 already underway, we respectfully urge you to place a moratorium on this decision and open a dialogue with our partners to find a solution that protects both the Lycée’s finances and the educational wellbeing of our families.
Signed, The Families of Ecole de Wix and Belleville Wix Academy
What Parents Said
Anonymous messages left by supporters of the campaign.
We have had our four children go through Wix Bilingual stream, with our eldest son being in the first cohort in 2006. This had been a truly enriching education in so many ways and a wonderful part of our community. We appreciate the hard work it takes for both schools to make this stream successful but the results and happy children speak for themselves.
3 February 2026
My daughter goes to a billingual nursery close to Wix school, and we would love for her to attend the bilingual stream in Wix in the future. We are really sad to hear that decision!
27 January 2026
We are English speaking parents who now have two bilingual daughters who have benefitted enormously from this experience, both educationally and culturally.
27 January 2026
My children all went to wix bilingual and it was great. Would be a terrible shame to lose this school
27 January 2026
My three children have attended the wix bilingual stream. It not only makes them very proud of their primary school and it’s uniqueness, but gives them an enormous advantage that they are starting to cash on now while applying for university.
26 January 2026
My children attended Wix bilingual stream before and it has been fantastic for them- this is the best stream we could wish for our children - reflecting both the French and British academic excellence for our small French children that are welcomed in Great Britain
26 January 2026
Our child is at Ecole Du Parc and we were hoping to send them to the bilingual stream.
26 January 2026
We had the most incredible experience of the bilingual stream for our eldest daughter. The complementarity of both systems was a real asset to her education. She thrived there. We would love to see this partnership continue moving forward for the interest of families and most importantly the children.
26 January 2026
Bilingual education has been a transformational experience, enabling our child to connect with both his English and French roots.
26 January 2026
We moved to Clapham as we wanted our children to attend the school, this is a big loss and disappointment
26 January 2026
Providing Bi-lingual Education provision for the community of English/French families in the area has been incredible opportunity and carves out a better future for the children who fundamentally should be at the heart of these decisions.
25 January 2026
I was in the bilingual section at Belleville Wix Academy. The academic level was so high in both languages meaning I was able to choose whether to pursue my secondary studies in an English or a French school. I really want my brothers and other children at Wix to have the same opportunity as me. It would be such a shame to loose this bilingual stream after so many years of amazing achievements.
25 January 2026
How are British/ French families who love France supposed to continue to educate their children in French? You have something unique here that works. Please treasure it.
25 January 2026
My family has been heavily impacted by the decision of LFCG to stop the bilingual strean so ubromptly
25 January 2026
Living locally, I wholeheartedly support this petition and the benefits keeping the very unique bilingual stream and education at WIX.
25 January 2026
Bilingual education such a plus on some many levels - brain development, openness, cultural understanding. A shame to lose this
25 January 2026
The bi-lingual class was a fantastic resource for our children and has led to life long skills and interest in another country.
25 January 2026
As a parent with two children in BWA’s bilingual classes, and hoping they will continue to LFCG afterwards, I support this petition for the continuation or extension of the BWA–EDW collaboration.
25 January 2026
Our 3 children, alumni of Wix, greatly benefited from the bilingual dual curriculum. What is being planned to replace it is inferior, onerous and rushed as a desperate move without any consultation. It will be a great blow to the currently enrolled and prospective children and their families.
25 January 2026
The international community at Belleville wix academy has been an incredible, positive influence in the schooling and socialisation of our son. It would be an unbelievable shame to dismantle this community and the positives it brings to all the children and families.
25 January 2026