Lycée Français Théodore Monod, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi

Lycée Français Théodore Monod (LTM), also known as Théodore Monod International French High School, is one of the two French schools in the capital city. The other French curricular school is its sister branch on Saadiyat Island. The Lycée Français Théodore Monod Al Bateen was founded in 2006 to provide quality education to the ever-increasing French-speaking community in Abu Dhabi.

LTM is named after Théodore Monod, a French scientist, biologist and humanitarian. He was considered one of the greatest specialists of the deserts and has over 1,200 publications. It follows the French National Curriculum, which is approved by the French Ministry of National Education and Youth. The Al Bateen branch offers kindergarten and elementary stage education to students. The LTM Al Bateen campus has over 850 students from 43 nationalities. Most students are Lebanese, followed by a considerable number of French and Tunisian passport holders. They are taught by an experienced team of 60 teachers and 13 teaching assistants resulting in a student-to-teacher ratio of 1:14. Around 4% of the total student force at this school requires additional learning support.

Besides the regular curricular activities, the school offers a comprehensive extra-curricular programme. LTM encourages students to explore the world around them to discover the hidden potential. Read this comprehensive guide by Bayut to learn more about this school.

The school is situated in one of the key neighbourhoods in Abu Dhabi Island – Al Bateen. Al Bateen has many high-end amenities, making it an attractive option for residential and commercial activities. It is also home to several major fishing ports joining UAE with other countries. Other residential communities surrounding LTM are:

• Al Tibbiya
• Al Danah
• Al Mushrif

The small yet self-sufficient community of Al Tibbiya is closest to LTM Al Bateen. It is a sub-community of greater Al Manal home to several amenities. Residents of Al Tibbiya have easy access to mosques, hotels, restaurants and healthcare facilities. In terms of residential options, once can find several low to mid-rise buildings with spacious apartments. Other nearby options for those seeking residential units near the school are Al Dannah and Al Mushrif.

• Apartments for rent near LTM School
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The Lycée Français Théodore Monod School at Al Bateen has a well-resourced campus. Some of the noteworthy features of the campus include spacious classrooms, laboratories and specialist facilities, such as music room, art room, drama room and auditorium. The walls of the classrooms are decorated with students’ artwork and informative posters.

The school emphasises on scientific education. Therefore, the school has science laboratories equipped with modern apparatus. To promote reading, the school has two libraries with a plethora of books on academic and non-academic topics.

An incredible feature of this school is the technology available for students. Classrooms are equipped with digital resources to aid in students learning. iPads are necessary for students from CM1 (Grade 4) onwards.

The school also has a cafeteria and an outdoor play area with wall climbing equipment.

Lycée Français Théodore Monod School is located near the Japanese School Abu Dhabi on Al Ghuwahi Street, Al Bateen. Those interested in visiting the school can access it King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street and Al Bateen Street connecting the nearby areas with the school.

Several reasons make Lycée Français Théodore Monod School an incredible option for education.

It is one of the two French curriculum schools in Abu Dhabi established to meet the educational needs of the French community living in the capital city of UAE. Before the establishment of this school. French expatriates had the option to either enrol their kids to French curricular schools in Dubai or other international curricula in Abu Dhabi.

The school follows the French National Curriculum that is approved by the French Ministry of Education and Youth. Thus, students studying at this educational institute are accepted in top French colleges and universities around the globe. Additionally, LTM integrated the use of technology throughout the curriculum. An iPad is a requirement for students in CM1 and above.

Despite following the French National Curriculum, LTM is a multicultural school embracing international-mindedness. It is managed by Franco-Lebanese Association for Education and Culture (AFLEC) which encourages this educational institute to be open-minded towards other nationalities and cultures. As a result, students at LTM are exposed to French, Arabic and Anglo-Saxon cultures. Besides, students learn French, Arabic and English languages to remain competitive in the modern-day world.

Students from different countries are part of the Lycée Français Théodore Monod School Al Bateen. Most students at this school are Lebanese, followed by Frenchs and Moroccans. Some local students are also part of this school, making it an international school with students from all over the world. A total of 43 nationalities co-exist at this school.

The Lycée Français Théodore Monod School in Al Bateen is a kindergarten and Elementary School that has children aged 3 to 9 years old. The following phases of education are available at this school:

The school follows the French National Curriculum. The French Ministry of National Education and Youth has accredited the school. Thus, students from this school are accepted in schools and colleges following the National Curriculum of France. The main features of the curriculum of each phase in this school are given below:

Kindergarten Curriculum

Kindergarten is the first phase of education at LTM Al Bateen. The French Ministry of National Education approves the curriculum followed in the kindergarten stage. One of the key skills to establish among students in kindergarten is language and communication skills. For this purpose, the school mobilises the language in all its dimensions. Furthermore, students are taught about numbers and their usage, including basic mathematical operations.

Most learning at this stage revolves around play-based activities. The school uses shapes and movements to facilitate the learning process. Outdoor physical activities are arranged where students explore the world around them.

Elementary School Curriculum

LTM Al Bateen focuses on developing a common base of knowledge, culture and skills. The school’s curriculum meets the educational needs of all the levels of Cycle 2 (CP, CE1 and CE2) and some levels of Cycle 3 (CM1 and CM2). The subjects and topics taught in the elementary stage are as followed:

Cycle 2

French

The syllabus for French in Cycle 2 is split into four groups: oral language, reading-writing comprehension, writing and language study. Students are expected to understand oral messages and texts from others, identify words and read confidently, produce and review writings and understand the principles of the French language.

Mathematics

In cycle 1, the school focuses on developing numbers and calculations skills, ability to understand space and geometry and calculate sizes and measurements.

Plastic Art

A vital part of the elementary phase curriculum is plastic art. In this subject, the school helps students to understand the world and express their emotions. Also, students are encouraged to narrate their emotions and representation of the world through images.

Music

Musical education is also provided to students at a young age. Here, students learn the art of signing, listening, comparing and exchanging ideas through music.

Physical and Sports Education

Students in the elementary stage are given opportunities to participate in sports activities. The goal of LTM is to allow students to express their talents via artistic and acrobatic performances.

Moral and Civic Education

Moral and civic education is an important part of modern-day education. The subject allows students to be socially responsible and empathic toward others. Also, students understand how the laws work and how to act individually and correctly.

Question the World

It encourages students to practise scientific approaches by realising and imagining solutions to real-life problems. They also practise language, adopt responsible and ethical behaviours and use appropriate tools and methods.

Cycle 3

French

In Cycle 3, the French language also has the same four groups. Students listen to stories and can show their understanding by answering questions. Furthermore, students can read and understand the library text and react to the reading. The school also works on the writing skills of students and helps them in building a sound vocabulary and spellings. Besides, students can understand the complex aspects of the French language, including verbs, determinants, adjectives and nouns.

Mathematics

The skills taught in CM1 and CM2 are:

• Search
• Calculate
• Model
• Communicate
• Reason
• Represent

Plastic Art

In cycle 3, students are able to identify themselves in the field of plastic art. Students in CM1 and CM2 can implement an artistic project and analyse practices of their peers.

Music

LTM focuses on developing the following skills in CM1 and CM2:

• Singing and performing
• Explore, imagine and create
• Listen, compare and comment
• Identify, analyse and locate
• History of art
• Exchange, share and argue

Physical Education

In this stage, the school provides opportunities for students to lead individual and collective sports and performances.

Moral and Civic Education

In cycle 3, the school focuses on law and rule principles, judgement and sensitivity to self and others.

Foreign Languages

The foreign languages taught to students in CM1 and CM2 are:

• German
• Spanish
• Chinese

LTM aims to develop listening, understanding, reading, speaking and writing skills.

History and Geography

In cycle 3, the school teaches students to identify themselves in space and understand various historical events that took place over the years.

Science and Technology

Students in cycle 3 use different tools and models to understand scientific principles. For more information, check out the curriculum of Lycée Français Théodore Monod School.

Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is a governmental entity that regulates the education sector of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan established ADEK in 2005. Through the Irtiqaa programme, ADEK inspects the performance of schools every 18 to 24 months and issues a detailed report on its performance. The inspection is based on the following six performance standards:

• Students’ achievements
• Students’ personal and social development and innovation skills
• Teaching and Assessment
• Curriculum
• Leadership and Management
• The care, guidance, protection and support of the students

ADEK uses a 6-point rating scale that varies from outstanding to very weak. A brief explanation of each rating in this scale is exhibited below:

The school was last inspected by ADEK for the academic year 2017-2018. In this report, ADEK rated the performance of the school as acceptable. The individual rating for each performance standard is as followed:

• Students’ Achievement – Acceptable
• Students’ Personal and Social Development, and their innovation skills – Good
• Teaching and Assessment – Acceptable
• Curriculum – Acceptable
• Protection, Care, Guidance and Support of Students – Good
• Leadership and Management – Acceptable

The key strengths of this school are:

• Achievement in Science, French and Arabic as a second language
• Students’ positive attitude to learning and respectful relationship with staff and others
• Positive engagement of parents with school

Whereas, the key areas of improvement are:

• The school needs to raise students’ achievement across core subjects. For this, teachers need to use assessment data to identify students’ needs and device plan accordingly. Teachers also need to develop a model to teach writing in English and Arabic. The school also needs to provide opportunities to students and benchmark school data against international standards.
• LTM Al Bateen also needs to enhance students’ learning by asking open-ended questions and make provisions in teachers’ planning to ensure independent and collaborative learning. Also, provide opportunities for students to apply high-order thinking skills and include additional challenges for gifted and talented students.
• The school also needs to improve teaching strategies to meet the needs of all groups of students. For this purpose, provide training to teachers, share successful teaching stories with colleagues, and monitor the quality of teaching. Arabic and English teachers must also collaborate to manage students’ abilities effectively.
• LTM School should use the UAE inspection framework, including the accurate feedback on strength and improvement for development.

The academic year at Lycée Français Théodore Monod School at Al Bateen starts in the first week of September and ends in the first week of July. The academic year at this school has three terms with the following important dates:

• The first term starts in the first week of September and ends in the second week of December. Students expect a mid-term break in the third 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 term concludes with a two- week spring holiday. Students go on a mid-term break In the third week of February.
• The last term starts in the second week of April and ends in the first week of July. There are no mid-term breaks in the last term.

The school remains closed on several national and religious events. To know the exact dates of these events, check out the academic calendar of Lycée Français Théodore Monod School.

The admission process for a new academic year generally starts in early January. Parents have to complete five steps to get admission in this school. The steps are as follows:

Step 1 – Online Pre-Registration

For new families, create an Eduka account and submit the online application form. Please fill the form with authentic information. In case of any discrepancy, the school reserves the right to cancel the admission. If any of your children are already part of this school, log into Eduka account and create a file for the new students. It also requires you to submit documents necessary to start the admission process. For quick and efficient processing, the school advises parents to submit the documents in PDF format.

Step 2 – Acknowledgement of your application

The school will contact you via email to inform you if your file is complete or not. It will attach a receipt with the email for parents. Print out the receipt as it may come in handy in subsequent processes.

Step 3 – Appointment and Admission Test

Afterwards, the school will arrange a meeting with the parents and the student. The meetings are usually held for new admissions.

Please note that they will not arrange the meeting if your child is already enrolled in an approved French school.

Those applying from Abu Dhabi, the school asks both parents and students to attend the meeting. The meeting usually carries out for half an hour. An admission test is carried out for those applying for CP (Cours Préparatoire) Terminal. Whereas, those applying for outside can join the meeting online. They conduct an online entry test for those enrolling in CP Terminal.

Step 4 – School’s Response to Application

The school informs parents regarding the status of the application via email. Parents have to pay the required deposit usually mentioned along with the deadline in the email. If parents cannot submit the required deposit within the deadline, they will award the seat to the next students on the waiting list.

Parents are requested to apply for the admission at earliest, as the school has a few seats.

Step 5 – Final Registration

After receiving the email, parents need to complete the registration process by providing any documents that were not submitted before. The registration service will email once they complete the admission. For more information, read the admission process of Lycée Français Théodore Monod School.

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)

The fee structure is given below:

The banking details are as follows:

• Account name: Theodore Monod French Private School
• Account Number: 7771004022428017
• IBAN: AE570357771004022428017
• Swift Code: NBADAEAA
• Bank: First Abu Dhabi Bank
• Branch Name: Khalifa Street, Abu Dhabi, UAE

For more information, check out the fee structure of Lycée Français Théodore Monod School.

The school currently has no scholarship programmes.

There is no canteen at the Al Bateen campus. Parents are advised to send their kids to the school with a lunch box. The school advises parents to mix vegetables and meat for a balanced and nutritious diet. The school nurse will look at the lunch box and will share ideas for a better meal. Food items, such as sweets, nuts, doughnuts, fizzy drinks, nuggets, chips and chocolate bars, are prohibited. Students enjoy their meals in classrooms and the cafeteria. For more information, contact the school’s administration.

The school has a transportation service that offers door-to-door transport facilities to students. Elite School Buses offers the transport service for both campuses and fully complies with the regulations by the Department of Transport (DOT).

Register your child by submitting an online application form.

Lycée Français Théodore Monod School is a day-only school and does not offer hostelling or boarding services to students. Those living far from the school and finding it hard to reach it on time can opt for the school transport service. Parents interested in relocating to a new community should read the nearby residential communities section mentioned at the beginning of this guide**.**

Currently, the school does not offer any holiday camps to its students. Parents may opt for the external holiday camps providers to keep their children busy during seasonal holidays.

The school has taken an initiative to promote sports activities at LTM School. ESTM (Entente Sportive Théodore Monod), supported by cultural and sporting activities programmes at the school. The programme was first initiated in the academic year 2018-2019. Sports-related training sessions are offered to students on Tuesday from 3:20 pm to 5:15 pm. Students are given opportunities to enrol in a wide range of sporting activities, Besides, students can also apply for the roles of junior officials, such as referee, coach, organisers, reporters and photographers.

For more information, check out the ESTM programme at Lycée Français Théodore Monod School.

The school has an extensive extra-curricular programme dedicated to discovering the hidden potential among students. Sporting and Cultural Activities (ASC) programme is the major source of extra-curricular activities. They offer these extracurricular activities every day from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The activities are split into two sessions. The first session usually takes place from October to January, while the second session takes place from January to April. the activities available for students are:

The school also participates in various national and international competitions. Some noteworthy competitions are as follows:

For more information, check out the ACS programme offered to students at Lycée Français Théodore Monod School.

The school arranges several national and international field trips for its students. The national field trips are for students at Al Bateen campus. The Al Bateen campus arranges field trips throughout the year to support the outdoor learning of students.

The international field trips arranged by the school include visits to:

• China
• London
• Spain

The after-school programme at this educational institute is based on the ESTM and ACS programme.

Several modes of communication are available for teachers and parents to communicate with each other. The school arranges several parent-teacher conferences throughout the year. These meetings serve as an opportunity for parents and teachers to discuss the progress made by children.

The school also has a parent-teacher association, called the Association des Parents d’Elèves du Lycée Théodore Monod (APELTM), that engages parents in the decision-making process.

Other sources of communication at this school are the official website, social media accounts, email addresses and telephone numbers.

Address: Al Ghuwahi Street, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Email Addresses

• Extra-curricular activities: asc.ltm@aflec-fr.org
• Admissions: inscription.ltm@aflec-fr.org
• Direction – Management: secretaire.ltm@aflec-fr.org
• Infirmary: nurse.ltm@aflec-fr.org
• Accounting: accountant.ltm@aflec-fr.org
• Human Resources: ressourceshumaines.ltm@aflec-fr.org
• School transport: siva.prakash@aflec-fr.org

Telephone Numbers

• For general information: +971 (0) 589800525
• For technical details: +971 (0) 52954146

Official Website and Social Media

• Official Website
• Facebook

Note that the cover image belongs to Lycée Français Théodore Monod (LTM) Al Bateen