Lycée Français Louis Massignon, Abu Dhabi

Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) is a French curricular school catering to the educational needs of French expatriates in Abu Dhabi. Established in 1972, it offers quality education to students from Maternelle (KG 1) to Terminale (Grade 12). The school is in Zone 1 of Abu Dhabi.

The school has an experience of nearly 50 years educating young talents to reach their full potential. The staff members have 82 full-time teachers and 27 teaching assistants. LLM has over 1700 students, predominantly French citizens. The school also students from 40 nationalities, including Lebanese and Canadians passport holders. A small proportion of students i.e. 5% of the student force are Emirati students. About 6% of students at Lycée Français Louis Massignon require special education and support. The teacher to student ratio is 1:21.

The school became the part of the renowned French network – Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) in 1992. Several local and external bodies appreciate the school’s performance. ADEK rated the performance of the school as very good. Equipped with academic and non-academic resources, LLM offers an enjoyable experience to its students to help them achieve their goals. Read this comprehensive guide on Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) by Bayut to learn more about the campus, education and facilities.

Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) is located in Al Saadah – Zone 1 of Abu Dhabi. The area has several residential and commercial opportunities. Residents have easy access to restaurants and cafes, hotels, schools and other lifestyle amenities. The residential communities located near the school are:

• Al Mushrif
• Al Bateen
• Al Manhal

Al Mushrif is the nearest residential community from LLM Abu Dhabi. The community is an ideal locality for residence, as one can find both spacious apartments and villas. Also, the proximity of essential amenities further adds in the comfort of residents. Other residential options include Al Bateen and Al Manhal. The school is also located close to the Capital Centre, Abu Dhabi. It is one of the major mixed-use developments of Abu Dhabi ideal for commercial activities.

• Apartments for rent near LLM

Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) is located on a massive 1.6 hectares of land in Abu Dhabi. The school building was first constructed in 1982, which was first renovated in 1985 and then in 2010. The school modernised its campus by adding a new primary section that is enough for 600 students.

The campus has a simple and compact architecture. The school uses modern bioclimatic solutions, such as canopies and shaded structures, to offer a relaxed environment. In terms of facilities, the school has spacious and airy classrooms, well-equipped science labs, libraries, music and art rooms, drama rooms and an auditorium.

The school also has a range of sports facilities to promote a healthy and active lifestyle among students.

Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) is located on the intersection of Al Aman Street and Al Rabdan Street in Zone 1, Al Sa’adah. Those interested in visiting the school can access the school via Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Street and Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street. These major streets of Abu Dhabi connect the school with the nearby residential communities.

The school takes pride in developing students with sound academic and moral skills. LLM ensures each student reaches his or her full potential. Dynamism, freedom and culture are core values of this educational institute that are well integrated into every action taken by the management.

Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) School has an experience of nearly 50 years educating French expatriates in the capital city. It follows the National Curriculum of French and the guidelines set by the Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) School. The school that started its journey with 40 students in a room is now a top-notch French school teaching a diverse student body.

LLM is one of the highly-rated international schools in Abu Dhabi. It is the only French school in Abu Dhabi that is rated ‘very good’ by ADEK. The quality of education at this school is impressive and exceeds the expectation of the UAE. Additionally, the school is a part of AEFE, which supports the French curricular schools throughout the globe. Students completing their education from this school are accepted all over the world.

The school has an impressive range of academic and non-academic facilities. The facilities fully support the educational requirements of the French curriculum. Moreover, students are exposed to extra-curricular opportunities resulting in the development of all-round skills.

It is a K-12 school catering to the educational needs of students aged 3 to 18 years old. The stages of education at this French school are:

The school follows the National Curriculum of France for its educational programme. The programme is under the international standards for French schools throughout the world. The school operations and educational standards are managed by the Agency for French Schools Abroad (AEFE).

In the elementary (primary) stage, the core subjects are:

• Mathematics
• French
• Music
• Art
• Physical and Sports Education
• Social Studies
• Moral Education
• World Education

Other subjects taught to students from CM1 (Grade 4)  to 6ème (Grade 6) include:

• History
• Geography
• Science and Technology
• Modern Languages

Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) School teaches the following subject in the middle school:

• Art
• French
• Mathematics
• Music
• Physical and Sports Education
• UAE Islamic/Social Studies
• Moral Education
• Modern Languages (Arabic and others)
• Information Technology
• Geography
• History
• Life and Earth Sciences
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Information and Media Studies

The school has recently made amendments in its education programme for the secondary section. These amendments are under the changes to educational standards in 2020-2021 by the French Ministry of Education. The changes include lessons common to students taught weekly.

• French (Première or Grade 11 only) (4 hours per week)
• Philosophy (Terminale or Grade 12) (4 hours per week)
• Geography and History (3 hours per week)
• Modern Languages A and B (4.5 hours per week)
• Science (2 hours per week)
• Physical and Sports Education (2 hours per week)
• Moral Education and Social Studies (18 hours per year)

At the end of Seconde, the school offers speciality lessons to students. Students have to take three speciality lessons, each for 4 hours per week. The speciality lessons include:

• Mathematics, Numerics and Computer Science
• Physics and Chemistry
• Life and Earth Sciences
• Engineering Sciences
• History and Geography
• Economics and Social Sciences
• Geopolitics and Political Sciences
• Modern Foreign Languages, Literature and Cultures
• Humanities, Literature and Philosophy
• Ancient Literature, Languages and Cultures
• Art

Students can also choose additional subjects in the Terminale (Grade 12) stage. These subjects are:

• Law and Major Issues of Contemporary World
• Complementary Mathematics

The school also has an international section in which students have the opportunity for cross-curricular learning in English.

Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is a governmental body established to regulate the education sector of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. It was founded by Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2005 to regulate the school, colleges and other educational institutes. Through its Irtiqaa Programme, ADEK inspects the performance of schools every 24 months and issues a report based on its performance. The overall rating is based on the individual ratings for the following six performance standards:

• Students’ Achievements
• Students’ Personal and Social Development and innovation skills
• Teaching and Assessment
• Curriculum
• Protection, Care, Guidance and Support of Students
• Leadership and Management

ADEK uses a six-point rating scale to rate the performance. The scale ranges from outstanding (best) to very weak (worst) rating.

ADEK last inspected the performance of LLM School for the academic year 2018-2019. In this inspection report, the school’s performance was found to be very good. It is the second-best rating in the scale and indicates that the school’s overall performance is beyond expectations. The individual rating for each performance standard is as follows:

• Students’ Achievement – Very Good
• Students’ Personal and Social Development and Innovation Skills – Outstanding
• Teaching and Assessment – Very Good
• Curriculum – Very Good
• Protection, Care, Guidance and Support of Students – Outstanding
• Leadership and Management – Very Good

In the latest inspection report, the following strengths of the school are observed:

• The principal and staff have a very clear vision that resulted in several improvements in the school.
• Students have shown commendable achievement in most subjects, especially in mathematics, French and science.
• Students demonstrate excellent behaviour and responsible attitude that contributes to their achievement
• The teaching at this school results in the development of independent learning skills
• LLM also provides opportunities for students to take part in cross-curricular projects.
• The school has a very effective health and safety system and effectively communicates with parents.

ADEK also issued a set of recommendations to assist Lycée Français Louis Massignon to improve its performance in the future. These recommendations are:

• The school should raise the students’ achievement to outstanding in all subjects, particularly in Arabic and Islamic Education. For this, LLM must provide opportunities for students to learn collaboratively, collaborative in-depth discussions and increase the use of technology. Teachers should develop a strategic plan to improve students’ achievement.
• Teachers must extend best teaching and assessment strategies across the school to improve students’ attainment. For this purpose, the school must extend the role of subject leaders, share best practices with teachers and ensure learning activities meet the needs of all students, including SEN students.

The Academic year at Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) School starts in September and ends in July.

• The first term starts in the first week of September and ends in the second week of December. Students expect a midterm break in the fourth week of October and a three-week winter break in December.
• The second term starts in the first week of January and ends in the fourth week of March. The holidays in the second term include a mid-term break in the third week of February and a two-week spring break in late March and early April.
• The third (final) term starts in the second week of April and ends in the first week of July. There are no mid-term breaks in this term.

Moreover, the school closes on several national and religious events. The tentative dates of these events are exhibited in the academic calendar of Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM).

The admission process for French schools in Abu Dhabi starts in early January. The admission process for all the AEFE-based French schools in UAE is the same.

If you are applying for any of the French institutions for the first time, create an online account on Eduka Platform. After creating an account, parents need to fill out the details. Once all the details are submitted, you will receive an automated response on the provided email address provided on the platform. The email confirms the registration of the candidate.

If you have already enrolled your child in any of French schools in Abu Dhabi, then log into the Eduka account and add a new entry for your child. Parents can also send the request to transfer students from one French school to the other.

The age-grade guideline is as follow:

This is based on the age of the students on 31st December (for schools beginning in September). Source: ADEK

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

Students have to clear all the requirements, including an entrance test, to get an admission. Parents of successful candidates need to pay the required deposit to secure the seat for their child. For more information, read the admission process of Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM).

The fee structure of Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) is as follows:

Besides, parents need to pay AED 100 for DNB, AED 410 for BAC (1st) and AED for BAC (Tle) as examination fee. The registration fee for the international section is AED 3,000.

For more information, check out the fee structure of LLM.

Currently, the school does not offer any scholarship programmes to students. Students can apply for the scholarships offered by the French Embassy.

The school has a clean and hygienic canteen where hot and cold food items are available at affordable prices. The canteen also has tables and chairs for students to enjoy their meals with their friends. It prepares all the food items in a hygienic environment with fresh raw materials as per the health policies of the government of Abu Dhabi. The school canteen offers food in environmentally friendly recyclable plates and cups. Parents need to submit the registration form to avail the canteen services. The forms are available on the school’s website.

Lycée Français Louis Massignon offers a comfortable and reliable transport facility to students. The school buses are well maintained and equipped with many safety and security features. The transportation charges are as follows:

• First child: AED 5,500
• Second child: AED 5,500
• Third child: AED 4,150
• Fourth Child: AED 3,000
• Fifth Child: AED 1,400

Register your child for the school’s transportation service by submitting an online application on Eduka platform. For more information, view the school transportation by LLM.

Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) is a day-only school that does not offer boarding or hostelling facilities to students. Those finding it difficult to reach school on time or need a nearby accommodation can opt for the school transportation service or read the residential communities near Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM) at the beginning of the guide.

The school does not offer holiday camps to its students. Parents interested in keeping their children busy during seasonal breaks can enrol them in camps arranged by external providers.

Lycée Français Louis Massignon School in Abu Dhabi considers sports as an opportunity for students to learn and grow. Sports and physical education are also part of the school’s curriculum. To support the academic and non-academic aspects of sports, the school has a wide range of sports activities.

There is a gymnasium where students can train and work on their fitness and indoor games. There also exists an outdoor sports field where students play football and other outdoor games. A swimming pool is also available at the campus for those fond of swimming.

The school also arranges several sports facilities throughout the year under the management of the Union des Jeunes Sportifs (UJS).

LLM School offers a plethora of extra-curricular activities to develop all-round skills among students. The enrichment programme covers activities ranging from sports to academics. Some popular extra-curricular activities at the school are:

• Celebration of national and international events
• Young Reporters
• Sports day
• Eco and Pro
• Field Trips
• Theme celebration days

Young Reporters is one of the key initiatives taken by LLM School. Students in Grade 3 to Grade 12 are given opportunities to cover events managed by the school. Students then transform their coverages into appropriate audio and video sources that can later be shared with the school’s community. Submit the form to enrol your child in this activity.

Another popular extra-curricular opportunity for students of LLM is Eco and Pro. Two former students of this school establish Eco and Pro. Students enrolled in this activity take part in projects aimed towards sustainability and recycling. It also promotes a sense of responsibility among students.

The school arranges several field trips throughout the year to expose young minds to the outside environment. Field trips are an ideal source for students to explore the world and learn different things around them. Most field trips arranged by Lycée Français Louis Massignon School are educational. One of the popular field trips planned by the school was the visit to Louvre Abu Dhabi. It is an art and civilisation museum located at the capital of the UAE. In this trip, students learn about the civilisations that existed before us.

Lycée Français Louis Massignon Abu Dhabi has an extensive after-school care programme. The school has recently revamped its enrichment programme to develop a range of skills necessary for students in the modern-day world.

For kindergarten students, the school has set up a new reception from 12:40 pm to 3:00 pm. Parents that cannot pick up their kids at 3:00 pm because of work commitments can pick up their kids at 5:00 pm. Till then, students will be engaged in fun-based activities aimed towards their development.

Students in the petitie section will be given lunch by the catering service provider at 12:40 pm. After that, students will be able to take a nap under the supervision of experienced caretakers.

Middle school students can participate in a range of activities after lunch. The activities include:

• Reading
• Painting
• Ball games
• Small Crafts

Students can also take part in sports activities after regular school hours. The sports activities available to students are:

• Athletics
• Handball
• Dance
• Gymnastics
• Basketball

The school has also collaborated with a digital programming school to teach coding to students aged 7 to 17 years old.

For more information, read the after-school care programme of Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM).

The school has a medical clinic to take care of the illnesses and medical emergencies at the campus.

Several modes of communication are available at Lycée Français Louis Massignon. The school arranges several meetings throughout the year in which teachers and parents discuss the progress made by students.

LLM also has a parents association named Association Des Parents D’ELÉVED (APE) in which a group of volunteering parents manage the administration processes. The APE acts as a bridge to ensure effective communication between parents and school management. There also exists CAPE, which is an Autonomous Committee of Parents of Students in LLM. It is a non-profit and independent body that represents the schools on different levels.

The official website of the school provides a generic overview of the admission process, fee structure, school details and other valuable initiatives taken by the school. The school website is in French.

The school also has an active social media presence on famous platforms. Here, they share images and videos of recent events and the latest developments.

Also, parents and teachers can communicate with each other in WhatsApp groups. These groups are managed by the school and include teachers and parents of students studying in the same classroom.

• Address: Al Aan Street, Zone 1, A Sa’adah, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Telephone Number: + 971 2 4448085
• Email Address: recipes@louismassignon.com
• Official Website
• Facebook
• YouTube

Note that the cover image belongs to Lycée Français Louis Massignon (LLM)