High school careers guidance
Careers guidance at the LFM
The LFM careers guidance programme is fully aligned with the school’s strategic plan (“Projet d’établissement 2025-2030”), which, in its second priority, affirms our ambition for all students to build diverse academic pathways with an international outlook. This policy is based on the creation of pathways tailored to each year, the organisation of career guidance events, the presence of staff specifically trained in careers guidance, and readily accessible resources.
Pathways built around 6 core priorities
At the Lycée Français de Madrid, careers guidance is based on a solid framework organised around six complementary priorities forming the backbone of the “Pathway for the Future” (“Parcours Avenir”) programme, which spans from Year 11 (“Seconde”) to Year 13 (“Terminale”). This framework ensures a balanced and progressive approach, allowing each student to gradually build an informed and ambitious pathway.
- Self-knowledge: This priority aims to help students better understand themselves by identifying their interests, skills, and values. This reflective step is essential for building a future path which each student truly identifies with.
- Building a coherent high school pathway: This involves learning to align choices of specialty subjects, electives, or specific pathways while taking into account academic performance and skills.
- Field experience: This priority emphasises direct, hands-on experience through company visits, internships in Year 11 and Year 12, and university open days.
- Exploring higher education: specifically focusing on post-baccalaureate studies in France, Spain, and internationally. The goal is to ensure a solid understanding of the educational systems specific to each country: public and private systems, general or vocational studies, specialised schools, universities, 2-year intensive preparatory courses after high school (“classes préparatoires” in France), sandwich courses, gap years, and more.
- Understanding post-baccalaureate admission procedures: Often complex and different in each country, these procedures play a significant role in helping students make informed choices, particularly regarding specialty subjects.
- Introduction to the professional world. This final priority focuses on exploring the professional world through various meetings with professionals and career forums.
Progressive pathways from year 11 to year 13 (“Seconde” – age 16, to “Terminale” – age 18)
Each year focuses on specific key stages in careers guidance helping students personalise their pathway both throughout high school and for their post-baccalaureate future—whether in France, Spain, or internationally.
- Year 11 (“Seconde” – age 16) is the year of exploration. The focus is on self-knowledge and the choice of specialty subjects. Students explore careers guidance resources, participate in support sessions organised by their form tutor, meet students in Year 13 and professionals, attend conferences, and develop their internship project.
- Year 12 (“Première” – age 17) is the year of consolidation. The emphasis is on developing a coherent academic and career plan and exploring higher education programmes, through workshops on writing personal statements, and personalised career counselling sessions. This includes deciding which specialty to pursue at the end of the year and choosing potential new electives for the final year (such as Advanced mathematics, Additional mathematics, or Law and major contemporary Issues).
- Year 13 (“Terminale” – age 18) is the year of decision-making. Students learn to navigate with application procedures (Parcoursup, UCAS, Spanish universities), participate in Higher Education Fairs, and attend personalised guidance interviews and self-reflection sessions in order to make well-informed choices. This proactive approach should help students choose a successful career plan.
Personalised pathways with form tutor support
A weekly hour of personalised support led by the form tutor (“professeur principal”) is integrated into the schedule of every LFM high school student. This ensures that careers guidance remains an ongoing process built on trust and support.
Form tutors work on careers guidance topics linked to the key stages of each year group, through a variety of formats: whole-class sessions, half-group sessions, targeted small-group workshops, or individual interviews.
The advantage of this system is twofold:
1. It offers continuity in support, reaching beyond one-off events like fairs or forums.
2. It enables the specific needs of each class to be addressed, as form tutors know their students personally and can adapt sessions to their questions.
This dedicated hour serves as the backbone of the programme “Pathway for the Future” (“Parcours Avenir”), guaranteeing that every student benefits from close, personalised guidance support adapted to their individual pace, questions and concerns.
Higher Education Fair
It is organised every year in November. The 2025 Higher Education Fair (“Salon des études supérieures”) brought together approximately one hundred participants from French, Spanish, and international higher education institutions. More than 2,100 visitors—including LFM students and families, students from other schools in the AEFE network in Spain, and Spanish high schools offering the Bachibac programme—had the opportunity to meet directly with representatives from business schools, engineering schools, universities, 2-year intensive preparatory courses after high school (“classes préparatoires” in France) and vocational schools.
The fair is more than just an information space: it features conferences and workshops on topics such as medical studies, Franco-Spanish dual degrees, and the specific characteristics of the French higher education system.
Careers fairs and work experience placement
The careers fairs organised for Year 10 and Year 11 students play a key role in introducing students to the professional world. In Year 10, students meet professionals from a wide range of sectors – healthcare, law, engineering, communication, technical trades – often including parents of pupils or partners of the school. These exchanges, combined with a compulsory work experience placement, provide students with valuable insight into the workplace.
In Year 11, the fair has a more specific focus: it aims to help students link their subject choices to possible future career paths. Students are encouraged to ask questions about educational pathways, required skills, and future opportunities. These fairs, prepared in advance through sessions with form tutors, are part of an active careers guidance programme, which culminates in June with a two-week compulsory work experience placement for all Year-11 students.
Both the careers fairs and the work experience placement also help involve families and the former students, who are invited to share their experiences. The aim is clear: to provide a realistic view of different careers, challenge stereotypes, and highlight the diversity of possible professional pathways.
Meetings with Alumni
Alumni talks have become a highly anticipated event for Year-13 students (“Terminale” – age 18). They give students the opportunity to learn about their university life, their chosen fields of study, their successes and their challenges. Some testimonials help debunk common misconceptions—for instance, the idea that a particular “specialty subject” closes doors or that a certain academic pathway is reserved for the elite.
These exchanges complement the official information provided about post-baccalaureate procedures and give a human dimension to careers guidance. Thanks to its dynamic network of former students, the LFM cultivates a sense of community and helps its students look towards their future with greater confidence.
Presentations for students and families on post-secondary admissions procedures in Spain, France and the United Kingdom
As post-secondary admissions processes vary from one country to another, the LFM places great importance on explaining them clearly. Group information sessions are organised for students and their families. Each year, the Parcoursup platform is presented, including application strategies and updates. Spanish procedures – admission threshold grades, subject equivalences, access to vocational pathways – are also explained.
Students wishing to study in the United Kingdom also receive careers guidance on using the UCAS platform. All these sessions aim to offer clear, up-to-date information, ensuring a balanced understanding of the different systems so that each pupil can make informed choices.
A follow-up of Alumni
For several years, the LFM has developed a rigorous tracking system for its alumni, which is a valuable tool for academic guidance. Each graduating class is surveyed during the autumn term following the Baccalaureate: with a response rate of nearly 98%, it allows for a precise overview of their higher education choices. This data represents a valuable resource for informing current students and their families by providing concrete examples of potential career and academic paths.
Form tutors
Form tutors (one per class in Year 11 and Year 12 , and two per class in Year 13) serve as the primary point of contact for careers guidance, particularly through the weekly hour of personalised support led by the form tutor (“AP-PP”).
In Year 11 (“Seconde” – age 16): They help students structure their initial academic and career choices.
In Year 12 (“Première” – age 17): They support the development of personal career plans.
In Year 13 (“Terminale” – age 18): Each tutor follows half a class of students, guiding them through their strategies for the French application platform (“Parcoursup”) or specific international application procedures.
To support them in this mission, tutors benefit from regular meetings, targeted training sessions, and resources provided by the Careers advisers (“Équipe PRIO”). Their close relationship with the students is a major asset, ensuring that each individual needs are carefully considered.
The Careers advisers
The careers advisers are supported by the Student Guidance Office of the AEFE (“BPEO”). Under the leadership of the Headmaster, the Careers Advisers – namely Amélie Cheval, Stéphane Estrade and Jennifer Lepoutre – design and coordinate careers guidance initiatives in collaboration with the teaching staff.
Their role is wide-ranging: organising key events (fairs and forums), supporting and training form tutors, conducting individual guidance meetings with students and their families, and developing partnerships with external organisations. Students and families can contact them via this email address and meet them in a dedicated guidance space located in the new library.
Spanish studies department
The Spanish studies department, led by Mrs Marisol Belló, supports students wishing to continue their studies in Spain, representing nearly half of the LFM students. It provides expertise on admissions procedures – admission threshold grades, subject equivalences, vocational schools and university access – and maintains close communication with families. Students and families can contact the department via this email address to arrange an appointment or request further information.
Librarians
The four librarians provide extra help through their role in information guidance and research skills development. They welcome classes in the library for dedicated sessions and contribute to the careers portal available via Pronote. They also ensure that available resources – well-informed magazine articles, special reports from the official French agency on careers guidance called “Onisep”, leaflets on Spanish studies – are updated, visible and easily accessible. Their expertise is essential in helping pupils develop independent research skills while ensuring the reliability of the information they use.
The multimedia library
The LFM’s new multimedia library includes several spaces designed to support careers guidance. An open-access area with brochures, magazines, and comfortable seating welcomes students from all year groups. The resources available cover both French higher education (Onisep guides, career fact sheets) and Spanish studies (such as the Y ahora qué? magazine), offering a balanced overview of both education systems.
Individual cubicles also allow form tutors to carry out one-to-one guidance interviews. Finally, the first floor offers a work space dedicated to Careers Guidance.
General online resources accessible via Pronote
The LFM provides easy and free access to a range of digital resources available through Pronote. The Onisep digital hub plays a central role, offering students, parents, and teachers detailed information on courses and careers. The GPO3 tool, used in both lower and upper secondary school, enables students to explore careers through interactive careers guidance scenarios, particularly during dedicated guidance sessions with their form tutor.
The careers guidance portal, available via the multimedia library section (CDI), gives access to useful links, up-to-date guides, and themed resource collections.
Specific resources for studying in Spain
The Spanish Studies Department provides students and families with a comprehensive range of resources dedicated to higher education in Spain. These include an overview of the key stages, regulatory requirements, admission procedures, and the specific details of access to Spanish universities—all designed to bring transparency to the process. The resources also include the admission threshold grades (Notas de Corte) for various universities and degree programmes, helping students better understand the requirements for entry into public universities. Additionally, the Coeficientes de Ponderación for public universities in Madrid are also available. They show how different subjects are weighed for specific degrees, helping students understand how to optimise their results. All documents can be accessed here.
Presentation videos produced by LFM staff
The video capsules produced by the teaching staff are a unique and highly valued resource. They offer a clear and dynamic presentation of the specialties, electives, and language pathways available at the lycée. Aimed at both students and their families, these videos will help them better understand the curriculum. They are available via Pronote and the school website, ensuring easy access at all times.
The Agora Platform
Agora, the AEFE platform dedicated to exchanges between students and alumni, allows students to ask questions to former students, explore international career paths, and participate in online events. The platform is accessible upon registration at .
Useful information