The Système Éducatif Français is the education system in France, which is divided into several stages. It begins with école maternelle for children aged 3 to 6, followed by école élémentaire from ages 6 to 11. After elementary school, students attend collège from ages 11 to 15, where they complete their basic education and receive the brevet des collèges diploma. Following collège, students can choose to pursue lycée for three years, culminating in the baccalauréat exam, which is necessary for higher education. The system emphasizes a national curriculum, ensuring consistency across schools, and is overseen by the Ministère de l'Éducation nationale.