WHAT? WHERE?

Jeannine Manuel School is in heart of Bloomsbury

A bilingual, co-ed school in the heart of Bloomsbury, Jeannine Manuel School has around 700 pupils aged 3-18. Founded in Paris in 1954 and opened in London in 2015, it offers a French-English education, with pupils going on to study either the International Baccalaureate (IB) or BFI (Baccalauréat Français International) in sixth form.

The school is spread across several handsome Bloomsbury buildings, including a Grade I-listed Georgian terrace on Bedford Square (once home to Bloomsbury Group hostess Lady Ottoline Morrell and former Prime Minister Herbert Asquith) and the former Faber & Faber headquarters in Russell Square, which included the office of T.S. Eliot. It’s a pretty amazing location – a short walk from the British Museum, surrounded by universities, galleries and cafés – and the school uses all of this as an extension of the classroom.

Despite the WC1 postcode, Jeannine Manuel is distinctly un-flashy. Think functional classrooms, white corridors, pupils in the school dress code (modern comfy tops) and very little in the way of performative ‘wow’.

The school was founded by Jeannine Manuel, a Franco-American member of the French Resistance who believed bilingual education could help foster international understanding after WWII. That mission still underpins the school today and feels more than just marketing rhetoric.

Children are clearly expected to work hard, but this doesn’t feel like a traditional hothouse. Debate and discussion seem to be prized as highly as academic success, creating an atmosphere that feels intellectually curious rather than narrowly exam-focused.

The biggest misconception? That this is all stern French teachers and rigid discipline. In reality, the atmosphere feels surprisingly relaxed. There are no detentions, pupils are encouraged to debate and challenge ideas, and the overall vibe is more Bloomsbury bohemian than traditional British prep school.

In London’s crowded independent school market, Jeannine Manuel occupies a fairly distinctive space: academically ambitious, but with a more international and discussion-led feel than many traditional London schools.

FACILITIES

SPORT

Sport is definitely an hors d’oeuvre rather than the main event at Jeannine Manuel. Families hoping for acres of playing fields, Saturday fixtures and a trophy cabinet groaning under the weight of silverware may find themselves wanting a little more.

That said, pupils are active and engaged. Climbing is particularly popular thanks to the on-site wall, while football is growing quickly through fixtures against other London and international schools. Fencing and taekwondo are also popular clubs.

Many pupils taking part in high-level sport, dance or music appear to do so externally rather than through the school itself – though the school is happy to support through adaptations as appropriate.

CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS

Drama and creative expression here happen in two languages, with creative arts still very much a part of school life. Drama isn’t a standalone pillar in the way it is at some schools; instead, performance and public speaking are woven throughout the bilingual curriculum.

There are three dedicated performance spaces, including a 200-seat theatre and a smaller studio theatre, while budding performers get started early through workshops with local children’s theatre specialists.

Music starts young, too. Nursery to Y1 pupils take part in Music Sparks every day – the school’s own programme designed to develop rhythm, listening skills and confidence through singing, movement and play. A recent highlight saw pupils take to the stage at the school’s annual gala at the Natural History Museum, performing everything from harp recitals and ballet to live singing. Not a bad venue for your first big performance.

Art is arguably the strongest creative strand. The Artist in Residence programme is excellent, with recent projects including stone carving and mosaic work, while IB Visual Arts students curate their own exhibitions. The school also makes full use of its Bloomsbury location, regularly bringing in visiting artists and academics and using London’s museums and galleries as an extension of the classroom.

SCHOOL

This is central London schooling, so don’t expect rolling playing fields or endless acres. But the school makes good use of its Bloomsbury footprint. The newest building, which houses the Primary School, opened in 2022 on a former SOAS site. It has decent space to run around in, plus an outdoor climbing wall (used by pupils from Y3 upwards), the building includes a new multi-purpose hall with a rooftop courtyard. The school also uses the local sports pitches, as part of its partnership with Corams Fields.

The Middle School site on Bedford Square has little in the way of dedicated outdoor space, though pupils can access a local park during lunchtimes. There is plenty of room indoors for pupils to relax and socialise, including communal areas with table football and other games, but the site can feel a little enclosed at times. That’s the trade-off for being in one of London’s most sought-after postcodes.

And really, central London itself is part of the offering. Museums, galleries and universities are regularly used as teaching spaces, giving pupils access to opportunities few schools can match.

LITTLIES

The atmosphere in Jeannine Manuel’s Pre-Prep feels noticeably different from many British nurseries. Classrooms are relatively minimal and uncluttered, with fewer of the brightly coloured displays, themed corners and carefully curated learning zones that have become commonplace elsewhere. The environment feels calm and understated.

During our visit, a group of children were enthusiastically tearing around the school on a “police hunt” – a reassuring reminder that there is still plenty of room for imagination and just the right amount of chaos. Children are introduced to bilingualism from the outset, and the school is experienced in supporting those who arrive with little or no French. Small class sizes (max 20 and less in the EYFS) and specialist language support help pupils settle quickly into the bilingual environment.

ACADEMICS

Jeannine Manuel is unapologetically academic. Currently ranked the top French school outside France within the global French school network, it delivers impressive results, with an average IB score of 38 points, 86% of students achieving Très Bien in the BFI and exceptional IGCSE outcomes, including 100% A*/A grades in Physics and Mandarin.

What’s perhaps more interesting is how those results are achieved. During our visit, the emphasis on finding the right fit came up repeatedly. Children are assessed, but parents are quietly assessed too. The school is looking for families who buy into its educational philosophy, not simply those chasing the highest grades.

Pupils follow the French national curriculum (except in English, science and Mandarin), but this isn’t all silent classrooms and copying from the board. We overheard a lively Shakespeare debate where pupils were encouraged to challenge ideas and think for themselves. Freed from the usual London 11+ treadmill, the culture feels noticeably more grown-up than many British schools, with less spoon-feeding and more emphasis on independent thinking, discussion and shared responsibility for learning.

The bilingual element goes far beyond language. Through the school’s Crossed Perspectives programme, pupils explore subjects through both British and French lenses, sometimes with two teachers leading the same lesson. By sixth form, the atmosphere feels more like a small liberal arts college than a traditional British school, with students choosing between the IB and BFI and benefiting from remarkably small class sizes. University destinations are suitably global, spanning top institutions across Europe, North America and Asia, alongside Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, UCL, Warwick and St Andrews.

The flip side? Jeannine Manuel knows exactly what it is, and not every child will thrive here. Pupils are expected to question, debate and think independently from a young age. Families looking for a more traditional, teacher-led environment, or a school where sport and performing arts take centre stage, may find the emphasis lies elsewhere.

SEND

Around 9% of pupils receive SEND support. Provision is largely delivered within the classroom, with teachers, learning support staff and external specialists working together to provide tailored interventions and exam access arrangements where needed. The ISI report noted that pupils receive effective individual support in lessons and make good progress.

One particular strength appears to be supporting pupils who are still grappling with either English or French. Inspectors praised the school’s close monitoring and targeted support in this area. That said, Jeannine Manuel is a highly academic school with significant language demands. Therefore, families needing highly specialist provision should discuss individual needs with the school in detail before applying.

PASTORAL CARE

Given the school’s academic credentials, it’s reassuring to see that wellbeing is taken just as seriously. During our visit, there was a clear focus on ensuring pupils are known as individuals rather than simply measured by grades. One particularly interesting feature is the conseil de classe system, where teachers, student representatives and senior leaders meet to discuss how classes are functioning both academically and socially, helping to identify concerns before they become bigger issues.

Pastoral care is woven into daily school life. A student-led Care Committee and designated Care Ambassadors help monitor friendships, integration and the overall atmosphere within each year group. It’s a thoughtful approach that gives pupils genuine ownership of their community and reinforces the school’s collaborative ethos.

Behaviour is managed without detentions, with the emphasis instead on reflection, responsibility and resolving issues constructively. Pupils also have a voice through the delegate system, with elected representatives meeting regularly with senior leaders to raise concerns and suggest improvements. For a school that places such value on independent thinking, it feels entirely in keeping with the wider culture.

THE HEAD

Jeannine Manuel School head Pauline Prévot

Founding Head Pauline Prévot opened the London school in 2015 after more than a decade at the Paris school. She arrived with what she describes as the “luggage” of the Paris institution – her challenge was not to simply launch a new school, but to recreate the ethos and academic model of the Paris institution in a very different city and educational landscape.

A decade on, the school has grown from around 185 pupils to almost 700 across multiple Bloomsbury sites. Despite that growth, it has stayed true to Jeannine Manuel’s principles – from the bilingual curriculum and discussion-led teaching style to its emphasis on internationalism and critical thinking.

Prévot is also keen to challenge stereotypes around French education. while expectations are high, she describes teachers as “guides on the side” rather than figures of authority simply delivering knowledge from the front of the classroom – an approach we saw reflected in lessons during our visit.

Perhaps the clearest sign of her influence is that the London school doesn’t feel like a British school with some French lessons bolted on, nor does it feel like a replica of the Paris campus. Over the past decade, it has developed a distinct identity of its own.

QUIRKS

The school has its own on-site beehive, which produces honey each year. A sweet way to learn about biodiversity, if you ask us.

WRAP AROUND CARE

There isn’t a formal breakfast club, but the school day gets underway early, with doors opening at 8.15am and lessons starting at 8.30am. The Primary School (Nursery to Y6) finishes at 3.15pm, while older pupils stay on until 4.30pm.

Beyond the classroom, plenty is going on. Around 60 after-school clubs run throughout the week, covering everything from coding, chess and cookery to Model UN, climbing and fencing. Clubs typically run from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, giving pupils plenty of opportunities to pursue existing passions or discover new ones.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Strict and refreshingly clear. Phones and smart watches are not permitted during the school day and Middle School pupils use dedicated phone pouches to keep devices out of reach until the end of lessons.

TRANSPORT

Families travel in from all corners of London, with plenty of internationally mobile and bilingual households among them. Despite its Zone 1 postcode, Jeannine Manuel is surprisingly accessible. The main Bloomsbury site is less than a five-minute walk from Tottenham Court Road station (Central, Northern and Elizabeth lines), while Russell Square and Holborn are both around 10 minutes away.

There are also numerous bus routes serving the area, including the 19, 38, 55 and 98, and the school operates its own private coach network connecting neighbourhoods such as Fulham, South Kensington, Notting Hill, Paddington and North London directly to the school. For a central London school, the daily commute feels far less daunting than you might expect.

FEES

Fees for 2026/27 start from £30,900 inc VAT.

ISI REPORT

The most recent ISI inspection (March 2024) singled out the school’s bilingual curriculum as a particular strength, praising both the support provided to pupils learning in French and English and the way British and French perspectives are woven throughout the curriculum. Inspectors also highlighted the broad curriculum, strong SEND provision, pupil wellbeing and the school’s culture of respect, noting that pupils develop impressive communication skills through regular opportunities to debate, present and collaborate.

It wasn’t a completely clean sweep, however. Inspectors identified areas within the Primary School where greater consistency in lesson quality and behaviour management would help ensure all pupils make equally strong progress.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Jeannine Manuel has a reputation as one of London’s most academically ambitious bilingual schools and parents are clear that places don’t come easily. Admissions are competitive, with families noting that while bilingual children may have an advantage, students need to be fluent in English from Year 7, but can join without French anytime. Yet despite the impressive exam results, the atmosphere isn’t described as a pressure cooker. One former pupil summed it up as “French in style” academically, while crediting the school with providing outstanding teaching and excellent preparation for university.

The most common caveat is practical rather than academic. Several families point to the limited outdoor space and sporting facilities compared with some London rivals, while others note that the school’s educational philosophy is distinctive and won’t suit everyone. The consensus? If you’re looking for a globally minded, intellectually curious education with bilingualism at its heart, parents are hugely positive. If you want a more traditional British independent school experience, there may be better fits elsewhere.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: Bright, curious children who love ideas, discussion and intellectual challenge, plus families seeking an international outlook without the 11+ treadmill.

NOT FOR: Those after a sport-first, traditional British school experience. If your child would rather be on the pitch than debating ideas in the classroom, there may be better fits.

DARE TO DISAGREE? The school holds regular open events and tours throughout the year. You can find out more here.

Jeannine Manuel Primary School, 20–24 Russell Square, London WC1B. Tel: 020 3829 5970.

Jeannine Manuel Middle School, 43–45 Bedford Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 3DN. Tel: 020 3829 5970.

Jeannine Manuel Upper School, 52–53 Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London WC1B 4HP.

Jeannine Manuel School, Bloomsbury, London

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