Richmond Road School was recently awarded the label FrancEducation as recognition by the French Government of the excellent French / English bilingual education provided by this Auckland school through its francophone section, “L’Archipel”.
The prestigious label was presented by H.E. M. Francis Etienne to the school principal, Mrs Stephanie Anich, during a reception at the French residence on May 15th. Also in attendance was Mrs Anne Jackson, Deputy Secretary Schooling for the Ministry of Education, and Mr Ewen McKenzie, Chairperson of Richmond Road school board of trustees, as well as Mrs Zoe Chamel, representing the association FRENZ, which is in charge of the bilingual section.
The Label FrancEducation was created in January 2012 by a joint decree of the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the French Ministry of Education. This new award of highly demanding criteria is designed to improve the diversity and quality of French teaching abroad. It gives the institutions recognition for their quality, as well as access to a whole range of services.
Richmond Road School is one of eight schools worldwide that have been awarded the label in the first stage of the scheme. Its bilingual section, “L’Archipel” was created in 1996 and receives today 78 students. In response to an increasing demand for French / English bilingual education, FRENZ has opened a second program called “L’Etoile du Nord” at Birkdale North Primary School in North Shore (Auckland).
