New competition for middle school students

A new general competition has been introduced for middle school students, designed to recognize their excellence and diverse skills across the territory. This initiative is separate from the DNB exams, which are standard assessments for students at the end of middle school.

Historical context of the competition

The competition has a long history, having existed for secondary school students for over two centuries. It is now opening to middle school students for the first time, on a voluntary basis, marking a significant expansion of its scope.

Registration details for 2027

For the 2027 session, student registrations will be accepted from October 12 to November 19, 2026. This period precedes the national exams, which are scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, 2027.

Participation limits and disciplines

Each school is allowed to register a maximum of 10% of its third-grade students, with a strict requirement for equal participation between girls and boys. Students must select one exam from five available disciplines: French and general culture, mathematics and sciences, history-geography, visual arts, and computer science.

Criticism from teacher unions

The competition has faced strong criticism from teacher unions, including SNES-FSU, CFDT, and UNSA. They argue that the initiative is elitist and disconnected from reality, especially given the overall lack of resources available to schools.