Ringing school bells marked the start of the new year academic year in France on Tuesday. This year, the government has introduced a string of unprecedented measures, including a ban on mobile phones in primary and secondary schools, as well as new steps to tackle sexual violence.
For the first time, France's annual school questionnaire on bullying — which has been handed out to pupils since 2023 — will include questions on sexual violence. Pupils will be able to choose whether or not to they wish to remain anonymous in this questionnaire, which will be distributed in November.
Speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV on 25 August, France's education minister Édouard Geffray, said that around 10 million pupils, ranging from primary to secondary school, would complete the form, designed "with school staff, parents' associations and a committee of experts, including child psychiatrists". According to the minister, the results could be "seismic".
Teachers will collect the forms first. If any responses raise concerns, school leaders are then expected to step in, either by reporting the case to the relevant regional education authority or, in more serious situations, referring it to the justice system.
