Teaching

The prep-second class will be sustainable from the start of the 2026 school year

Publié le 24 juillet 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

The preparatory class for the second grade is intended for third-graders admitted in second grade who need to consolidate their achievements, especially when they have not obtained the national diploma of the patent. Established on an experimental basis in the 2024 school year, it is now included in the education code by a decree published in the Official journal of the French Republic of 12 July 2026.

Illustration
Image 1Crédits: Xavier Lorenzo - stock.adobe.com

Each academy can open one or more prep-second classes in high school (general and technological, professional or versatile).

The system is no longer restricted to pupils not having obtained the national patent diploma (DNB). Decree No. 2026-625 of July 10, 2026 provides that the preparatory class for the second one is to receive, on the basis of volunteering, students admitted to the general and technological second-year, professional second-year, special second-year or first-year craft certificate classes, without making failure to obtain the certificate a condition of access.

For which students is the prep-second class intended?

To enter prep-second class, a student must:

  • have been admitted to a second-year general and technological class, to a second-year class in the technological series ‘hotel and catering sciences and technologies’ or to a second-year professional class;
  • have been identified by the teaching team of their institution as being likely to benefit from a stint in such training;
  • be willing to join this class.

What is taught in the pre-second class?

As part of the pre-second classes, students have 27 hours of classes per week which are distributed as follows:

  • 20 hours of consolidation of the expected end of college and preparation for the second class (French, history-geography, mathematics, science and technology, modern languages…) in order to consolidate the mastery of the expected end of third and anticipate the acquisition of skills necessary to succeed in the second class.
  • 7 hours of reinforcement of working methods, or discovery of trades and training (the nature of these teachings is not the same depending on whether the student was admitted in second professional or second general and technological).

Students can also take part in the activities and optional courses offered by the high school.

At the end of their school year (non-renewable) in pre-second class, students continue their schooling in second class in the training and institution to which they had been admitted at the end of the third year. A change of orientation is also possible, after consulting the class council, upon written request of the parents of the pupil or of the latter if he is of legal age.

Please note

The following shall not be covered by the preparatory class for the second class:

  • pupils in apprenticeship training or enrolled in a CAP;
  • students wishing to benefit from a bridge to a second class of the general and technological path or the professional path after another course in high school.

On the other hand, apprenticeship candidates who have not been able to find an employer can be welcomed in the pre-second class, after the start of the school year.

Additional topics

Agenda

See all due dates

Une remarque ?