PROSPECTUS
Table of Contents Jeannine Manuel: A Living Legacy............................................................................................................................. 5 School Structure................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Early Years.................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Primary School ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 Middle School.......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Upper School.......................................................................................................................................................... 14 Higher Education ................................................................................................................................................. 17 Historic Setting, Modern Facilities ........................................................................................................................ 18 Extracurricular .................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Admissions ........................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Illustrator: Lili Bé
Dear Families, Choosing a school is an important decision, and one that shapes far more than academic outcomes. At Jeannine Manuel School, we offer a rigorous bilingual education that develops intellectual excellence, curiosity, and empathy in equal measure. Guided by our founder’s vision, we nurture confident, open-minded young people who are prepared to engage thoughtfully with the world and to follow many possible paths with assurance. Having worked within the Jeannine Manuel schools for over two decades, and having had the privilege of leading the London campus since its opening ten years ago, I have seen first-hand how a rigorous bilingual education can transform young people’s lives. I hope you enjoy discovering more about our school in this leaflet, and I very much look forward to welcoming you in person in the near future. Kind regards, Pauline Prévot Head of School
Did you know? No prior knowledge of French is required to join our school, at any stage!
Jeannine Manuel A Living Legacy Jeannine Manuel was a visionary ahead of her time. A French-born Franco-American who joined the French Resistance in 1940 and later the Free French in London, she emerged from World War II with a profound conviction: “The more one knows, the less one fears.” She returned from the war convinced that ignorance breeds fear, and that education must therefore build the defences of peace. In 1954, she founded our school with a clear conviction: that bilingual, multicultural learning expands understanding and that every child can grow when given the right environment. Long before inclusion, innovation, or growth mindset entered the educational vocabulary, she was already putting these principles into practice. Her mission endures today: to nurture curious, empathetic young people from all over the world who are equipped to build a more peaceful world. Today, Jeannine Manuel’s pioneering spirit lives on in everything we do. From welcoming complete beginners in French at all entry points to continuously innovating our pedagogy, we carry forward her vision of education as a force for peace. Her legacy isn’t just our history - it is our blueprint for building the future of international education, one student at a time.
School Structure: One Journey, Endless Possibilities What sets Jeannine Manuel School apart is our all-through approach, from Nursery through Sixth Form, which fosters deep relationships and consistent growth over 15 years - though our open, caring community means that students joining at any stage quickly find their place and thrive. We combine academic excellence with genuine care, fostering high ambitions through a growth mindset approach that nurtures outstanding learners. Our fully bilingual EnglishFrench education adapts to every learner. Beginners in French are welcome at every level, whilst beginners in English can join us up to Year 7, ensuring no child is left behind, regardless of their linguistic starting point. Our Department for Education (DfE) recognition ensures we deliver exceptional British education, whilst our accreditation by the Agence pour l'Enseignement Français à l'Étranger (AEFE) confirms our excellence in French academic programmes. We are also an authorised International Baccalaureate (IB) school, meaning that we offer two outstanding, globally-recognised leavers’ diplomas - the IB and the French BFI, that open doors to universities worldwide. This unique combination of accreditations reflects our commitment to academic rigour and our ability to prepare students for success, whether they pursue higher education in the UK, France, or anywhere across the globe.
Academic Principles At Jeannine Manuel School, learning is far more than the acquisition of knowledge: it is an active, lifelong transformation of our representations of the world. Guided by cognitive science and over seven decades of innovation, our academic approach, from Nursery to Sixth Form, reflects our belief that intellectual ambition and personal growth go hand in hand. Key Principles
Fully bilingual instruction in English and French Academic excellence within a caring, nurturing environment A personalised approach where every student is known A growth mindset approach that builds resilience and confidence An international perspective is woven throughout the curriculum Small class sizes ensure individual attention at every stage
Early Years Nursery to Reception
At Jeannine Manuel School, our youngest learners step into a warm, caring environment where curiosity, creativity, and confidence flourish. From their first days in nursery, children aged 3-5 experience true bilingual immersion with native-speaking teachers guiding daily learning in both French and English. Our exceptional outdoor facilities include three play areas with a distinctive rooftop playground and dedicated messy play zones designed specifically for Early Years, spaces that allow children to explore, create, and grow through joyful, hands-on discovery. With our strong focus on social-emotional development, early literacy, and active learning, we nurture happy, confident children who are eager to embrace every new adventure in school and beyond.
SPOTLIGHT ON
MUSIC SPARKS - OUR EARLY YEARS MUSIC PROGRAMME -
From Nursery to Year 1, all of our students enjoy daily music sessions led by specialist music teachers. Born from our innovative approach to teaching and learning and inspired by the Kodály method, Music Sparks nurtures a lifelong love of music whilst developing skills in listening, rhythm, coordination, and collaboration. Through joyful singing, movement, and play, our youngest learners grow as musicians - and as confident, creative, and curious thinkers across all areas of learning.
Primary School Year 1 to Year 6
In Primary School, pupils continue their bilingual journey with native-speaking teachers in French and English, aiming for the same high level of fluency in both languages. Following an ambitious curriculum, embedded with our own innovations and inspired by global best practices, children explore a broad and rigorous programme across languages, mathematics, science, and the arts, with Mandarin introduced from Year 4. Our state-of-the-art Primary building opened in 2022 with two performance halls shared by the entire school community, a specialised science lab, a dance and yoga studio, a climbing wall, and three outdoor spaces, including a distinctive rooftop playground.
SPOTLIGHT ON
MANDARIN From Year 4, pupils begin learning Mandarin. As one of the world's most widely spoken languages, Mandarin opens doors to Chinese and Asian cultures - key players in the world of tomorrow. Beyond language acquisition, however, Mandarin study develops listening skills, sharpens memory, and enhances fine motor coordination through calligraphy practice. Our playful, oral-based approach ensures children engage naturally and joyfully with this new language. As they progress to Secondary School, students may continue with Mandarin or explore Latin, continuously building on strong foundations of curiosity, empathy, and cultural understanding.
Middle School Year 7 to Year 10
Middle School is a time of transition, discovery, and growing independence - whilst retaining the qualities that make our school unique: an ambitious bilingual curriculum taught in a caring environment. With daily learning in French and English guided by native-speaking teachers, students continue their bilingual journey, while our French+ specialist programme ensures complete beginners in French can thrive alongside native speakers. Distinctive programmes such as Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) nurture a love of reading, and shared common rooms provide new spaces for students to socialise, collaborate, and take on responsibility. During these formative years, students begin preparing for official exams, including IGCSEs and the French Diplôme National du Brevet International (DNBi), steadily building the skills, confidence, and maturity that will carry them into Upper School.
SPOTLIGHT ON
CROSSED PERSPECTIVES - DEBATE THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS -
From Year 2 and up to Year 13, pupils take part in “crossed perspectives” classes, a hallmark of our innovative bilingual approach. In these sessions, French and English speaking teachers lead lessons together, inviting students to explore the same topic, ranging from the Norman Invasion to literary classics, from two cultural viewpoints. This unique dialogue sharpens critical thinking, broadens vocabulary in both languages, and nurtures empathy by showing that different perspectives can enrich understanding. Crossed perspectives are more than lessons: they are a powerful way for students to experience the value of diversity and to practise international understanding every day.
Upper School Year 11 to Year 13
Upper School is where students prepare for life beyond school, both academically and personally. At Jeannine Manuel School, students can choose from two prestigious pathways: the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) with Advanced Placement (AP) courses, or the International Baccalaureate (IB), alongside a broad choice of IGCSEs in Year 11. This breadth of choice reflects our commitment to matching each student's strengths, interests, and ambitions. Our expert, personalised university counselling supports each family through the university application process, whilst our supportive environment balances academic ambition with genuine care for student wellbeing. This combination leads to exceptional outcomes: our graduates thrive at leading universities around the world - from Oxford to Sciences Po, Princeton to Imperial, and many more - ready to make their mark as confident, capable, globally-minded young people.
SPOTLIGHT ON
COLLEGE COUNSELLING FINDING THE RIGHT PATH
Our dedicated Higher Education team guides students and families through every stage of the university application journey. From Year 10 onwards, pupils explore courses and countries, gaining the knowledge and confidence to make informed choices amongst the many pathways open to them. With expert, individualised support for applications to the UK, France, the US, Canada, and beyond, we ensure that every student finds the right fit. The result: graduates who not only enter the world's top universities but also step into the next chapter of their lives ready to thrive as independent, adaptable, and globally minded young adults. The impact of this approach is evident across our global network of more than 20,000 alumni. Former students build meaningful careers and lives that reflect the values they developed here, becoming entrepreneurs, doctors, researchers, diplomats, artists, engineers, educators or changemakers in fields we have yet to imagine. They launch ventures across countries, pursue graduate study at the world’s leading institutions, work in international organisations, and contribute to their communities in ways both visible and quiet.
Exam Results
Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) 17.1 average 100% success 75% mentions TB
Advanced Placement (APs) Average scores between 4.5-5 out of 5
International Baccalaureate (IB) 100% success 37 average
Jeannine Manuel School is ranked #1 French School Abroad
#1
Beyond School: Universities & Alumni Popular University Destinations
Each year, our graduates go on to study at leading universities in the UK and around the world - including on highly selective dual-degree programmes - reflecting their academic ambition, intellectual curiosity and cultural diversity. They pursue a wide range of disciplines - from engineering, medicine and the sciences to economics, humanities, the arts and emerging interdisciplinary fields - at institutions that suit their individual strengths and aspirations. Popular destinations in recent years have included: UNITED KINGDOM
FRANCE
OTHER
Durham University
CPGE Lycée Henri IV
Bocconi University, Italy
Imperial College London
CPGE Lycée Janson de Sailly
University College Utrecht,
King’s College London
École Polytechnique
Netherlands
London School of Economics
Paris-Dauphine
ESSEC Business School,
and Political Science (LSE)
Sciences Po
Singapore
School of Oriental and African
NORTH AMERICA
IE University, Spain
Studies (SOAS)
Carnegie Mellon
EPFL, Switzerland
University College London
Georgetown University
EHL, Switzerland
(UCL)
McGill University
Universität St. Gallen,
University of Bath
New York University
Switzerland
University of Bristol
Northeastern University
Mohamed bin Zayed
University of Cambridge
UCLA
University of Artificial
University of Edinburgh
University of Toronto
Intelligence, UAE
University of Oxford University of St Andrews
DUAL DEGREES
University of the Arts London
CentraleSupélec – McGill
(UAL)
University
University of Warwick
Sciences Po - UCL Sciences Po - Columbia
Click here for more information on university destinations.
Historic Setting, Modern Facilities Learning Spaces That Inspire Independence Early Years & Primary School
Ages 3-11 | 21 -24 Russell Square
Our newest building sets the standard for early years and primary education in central London. Purpose-built facilities include three outdoor play areas with a distinctive rooftop playground, a rarity in the heart of the city that gives our youngest learners space to explore, create, and grow through active outdoor learning. Two multi-purpose performance halls serve the entire school for PE, assemblies, performances, and community-wide gatherings, while light-filled classrooms in this beautifully renovated Georgian building provide the perfect environment for bilingual learning from Nursery through to Year 6. Outdoor spaces ensure active play throughout the school day, supporting our belief that learning happens everywhere. This site also hosts our two climbing walls, used for physical education from Year 4 to Year 13.
Middle School Years 7-10 | 43-45 Bedford Square
As students grow into greater independence, our Middle School facilities support both their academic and social development. The Main Halls and Black Box Performance Space offer flexible settings for assemblies, performances, and creative learning, while the Library serves as a central hub for study and collaborative work. Student social lounges with table tennis and games also create a welcoming break-time atmosphere. This historic setting offers the ideal balance of age-appropriate autonomy within a supervised, supportive environment. Upper School Years 11-13 | 52-53 Russell Square
Our Upper School creates a dedicated Sixth Form environment that bridges school and university life. Students enjoy independent study areas and common rooms designed for mature, self-directed learning, alongside a comprehensive library space that supports their academic ambitions. This focused setting prepares students for exam success and university life while maintaining the caring community that defines Jeannine Manuel School.
Growing Beyond the Classroom Beyond our exceptional facilities and inspiring location, what truly brings our campus to life is the vibrant community of learners exploring their passions after lessons end. Research consistently shows that extracurricular activities are essential to student development, fostering the growth mindset, resilience, and collaborative skills that extend far beyond academic achievement. At Jeannine Manuel School, we offer more than 60 clubs and activities designed to nurture every interest and help students discover new passions. From our youngest learners in Early Years to our Upper School students, these programmes provide opportunities to take healthy risks, develop leadership skills, and build confidence in supportive environments. Whether your child gravitates towards sports, creative expression, technology, or leadership opportunities, our diverse offerings ensure every student finds their place to shine and grow.
Extra-Curricular Activities
Leadership Development
Technology & STEM
Primary
Primary
Sports & Physical Activities
Secondary
Early Years (EYFS)
Capoeira Multi-Games Yoga Primary
Capoeira Climbing Cricket/Rounders Dodgeball Fencing Football Gymnastics Handball Jiu-Jitsu Karate Lacrosse Netball Taekwondo Volleyball Yoga Secondary
Climbing Fencing Gymnastics Table Tennis Taekwondo
Debate Young Reporters Model UN School Newspaper
Creative & Performing Arts Early Years (EYFS)
Ballet Mini Artists Story-Telling Primary
Ballet Choir Circus skills Drama Illustration Music Production Needle Crafts Pottery Street Dance Stop Motion Young Architects Young Artists
Engineering Lego Creators Robotics Science Scratch Coding STEM Secondary
JavaScript & Python STEM
Other Activities Early Years (EYFS)
Cookery Playclub Primary
Chess Cookery Gardening Quiet time Secondary
Chess Some clubs are conducted in French, others in English. Club offerings are reviewed and updated regularly, so availability may vary.
Secondary
Arts Choir Improv Street Dance
HOME LANGUAGES PROGRAMME For students in Years 1–10 who are already fluent in Arabic, Italian or Russian (subject to sufficient registration)! Ask us for more information.
Admissions Team
Contact Us admissions@jmanuel.uk 020 3829 5970 Primary School (Nursery - Year 6)
20-24 Russell Square, WC1B 5EA Sophie Geer
Head of Admissions
Middle School (Year 7 - Year 10)
43-45 Bedford Square, WC1B 3DN Upper School (Year 11 - Year 13)
52-53 Russell Square, WC1B 4HP
Sophie Meagan
Admissions Officer
Find out more, meet us and start an application
Key Stats #1 World Ranking FRENCH SCHOOL ABROAD
3-18 Years
700 Students
SEAMLESS EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY
IN OUR CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY
57 Nationalities
2 Minutes' Walk
ONE CARING FAMILY
TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM
2 Languages
20 Students
OF INSTRUCTION: ENGLISH & FRENCH
MAXIMUM CLASS SIZE
1 Unified Campus
60+ Extra-Curriculars
IN CENTRAL LONDON
CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
3 Historic Buildings
5 School Bus Routes
STEEPED IN HERITAGE
ACROSS LONDON