The Lycée Français
Charles de Gaulle in Ankara

LCDG, Ankara is officially recognised by the French Ministry of Education and has an enrolment of around 750 pupils ranging from nursery to the Baccalauréat. The school is located in two sites, Ayranci and Incek, and provides a favourable and global atmosphere for every student to achieve success. The School boasts a diverse student body, with representatives from nearly 40 different nations.
The Baccalauréat acquired at the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle provides students with the opportunity to continue their education internationally.

News in brief

College Orientation Session for Careers in Hospitality

An orientation session was held at the lycée focusing on careers in hospitality, tourism, and culinary arts, presented by Ghizlaine Lahrabli. Students were introduced to Les Roches, a Swiss institution specializing in hospitality and tourism management; Glion Institute of Higher Education, a global reference in hospitality, luxury, and event management; and École Ducasse, a leading French school of excellence in culinary and pastry arts.
A rewarding session that helped students better understand academic pathways and international career opportunities.

A New AI Tool for Student Assessment

From November 24 to 28, our school took part in the Week of French Lycées Around the World, centered on the theme: “Cultivating creativity and critical thinking in the age of AI.” During this event, our teachers reflected on the rapid development of artificial intelligence within the field of education.
They had the opportunity to explore LOGBOOK, an innovative application designed to support teachers by automating certain assessment tasks. This tool aims not only to streamline the monitoring of student progress but also to bring greater clarity and transparency to the evaluation process.
Our teachers discussed the practical benefits that such a system could offer in their daily work: saving time, improving organization, ensuring consistent evaluation criteria, and enhancing communication with students and families.
This fruitful discussion represents another step toward integrating AI in a thoughtful and responsible way into our teaching practices.

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence – Class of 5ème A

The artificial intelligence (AI) initiation session took place on Friday morning with the students of 5ᵗʰ Grade, Class A. The session was organized progressively to familiarize the students with the fundamental principles of AI.
First, the students experimented with an AI designed to recognize two distinct colors. They then trained a model to identify various objects, before concluding with an activity on facial recognition.
This progression allowed the students to gain a concrete understanding of how a learning system works and to appreciate both its applications and limitations.

Overview: EVARS Training on Sexuality Education

This week, the lycée hosted a two-day training session, from Monday to Tuesday, focused on Sexuality Education. The training was designed for the members of the EVARS team as well as several teachers wishing to strengthen their knowledge and professional practices in this important educational field.
The session was led by two Upper Secondary Education Trainers (EF2D), Mrs. Pastor and Mr. Boudjemai, who provided their expertise and pedagogical tools throughout the training. They guided participants through the affective, relational, and sexual dimensions of the curriculum, relying on official guidelines, prevention strategies, and age-appropriate educational approaches.
During the two days, participants took part in interactive workshops, role-plays, and discussions that helped develop practical skills and a supportive professional posture. The active engagement of teachers and EVARS team members, combined with the high-quality guidance of the two EF2D trainers, contributed to a dynamic and constructive training experience.
This initiative strengthens the lycée’s commitment to offering a respectful, informed, and supportive environment for students, while equipping the educational team with valuable tools to address sexuality education with confidence and care.

A meaningful conversation with researcher Clotilde Djuikem

On Friday, November 21, 2025, our MATh.en.JEANS students from Première and Terminale had the opportunity to meet with their mentor, Clotilde Djuikem, a mathematics researcher at the University of Manitoba in Canada.
During the session, she talked with them about what it really means to do mathematical research: how to explore a question when the answer isn’t known, how researchers collaborate, and which tools they rely on to share ideas and work together across distances.
The students were also eager to discuss the impact of AI on scientific research and on future careers in the sciences. Clotilde Djuikem responded openly and offered a reassuring perspective: while AI is changing the field, it also creates new possibilities for students who want to pursue scientific studies.
A motivating exchange that is greatly appreciated by our students.

Orientation Session at the Lycée with CESI School of Engineering in France

Our students recently took part in an orientation session led by two representatives from CESI School of Engineering. During this meeting, they provided detailed information on the admission procedures, the various study pathways, and the support and guidance services available to help students make informed choices about their future.
The speakers also shared insights into the different cities where CESI campuses are located, along with advice on places students might choose to live depending on their professional goals. The aim was to help them better understand how to find companies for internships and gain valuable experience throughout their studies.
To conclude the session, students were given a thought-provoking assignment:
“Propose solutions to reduce food waste in your school cafeteria.”
This engaging activity encouraged them to think critically and creatively about a real-world issue.
Overall, the session was both enriching and inspiring, offering our students a clearer vision of their future academic and professional prospects.

Exclusive interview with Jacques Bouthier, the new principal of LCDG

This week, we are pleased to bring you an exclusive interview with Mr. Bouthier, conducted on Friday by Adel, a senior in High School. Through this warm and enriching exchange, discover our new principal’s career path, his vision of education, the missions that drive him, and the projects he wishes to pursue for the future of the school. This is an opportunity for both students and members of the educational community to get to know the person who is now taking over the leadership of our school.

Word from Jacques Bouthier, principal of LCDG

Dear students, parents, and members of the school community,
It is with great joy and a deep sense of responsibility that I welcome you to the start of the 2025-2026 school year at the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in Ankara.
The start of the school year is always a special time: a time for reunions, for welcoming newcomers, but also a time for new momentum towards ambitious and unifying projects, such as the opening of our American BFI (Bac Français International). Our mission remains clear: to offer each of our students an excellent, demanding, and caring education that combines academic rigor with openness to the world.
This is also a special start of the school year for me: after several years in Chile, I am honoured to join the educational community in Ankara. I recognize the importance and richness of this mission, and I am committed to working with conviction, enthusiasm, and a sense of responsibility to continue to uphold the excellence and values of our institution, which it has carried for more than 80 years.
Our school is fully integrated into the AEFE network and upholds the values of the French Republic – liberty, equality, fraternity. It is a place of cultural diversity, intellectual curiosity, and solidarity, where each student can develop their potential, creativity, and sense of commitment.


I would like to welcome all the families joining us this year: you are joining a community, a dynamic global network where the commitment and collaboration of everyone – students, parents, and staff – is essential to the success of all. I would also like to thank the families already here for their continued trust.
To our students, I offer a message of encouragement: be curious, persistent, and open to others. Make this year an opportunity for discovery, new encounters, and success.
I wish you all a wonderful start to the school year and a rich, stimulating, and promising academic year.
Happy start to the 2025 school year!

Jacques Bouthier
Principal of the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle

Pupils
700
Nationalities
30
Languages spoken
20
BAC success
90 %
Staff
100

Our History

  • A French school has been in Ankara for more than 80 years. At first it had a limited number of classrooms and was staffed by two instructors (Mrs. Rjobè and Mrs. Ménard). In the late 1950s, the school, situated in close proximity to the archaeological museum, accommodated a maximum of one hundred pupils.
  • La Petite École was inaugurated in September 1959 at the gardens of the French Embassy, which is still site of the nursery school. Lower secondary school lessons were initially conducted at a residence located on Bestekar Sokak, and later, starting from 1961, they were held on the premises of the French Institute.
  • In the late 1060s, the construction of a large dam project called Kurtbogazi resulted in the arrival of numerous French families to Ankara. The school underwent expansion and transformed into the « International Section of the Ankara Private Intermediate School » offering « international classes » attended by children of many nationalities.
  • Prior to 1981, pupils were required to journey to Istanbul in order to sit for the baccalaureate examination. During that period, The French Ministry of Education granted approval to education being offered.
  • Between 1981 and 2008, the school was managed by a parents of pupils’ association.
  • In 1979, the school was renamed « Classes secondaires de l’Ambassade de France ». In 1990, it was given the new name of Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle.
  • Since 2008, the Lycée Charles de Gaulle has been under direct administration and is situated in Incek, offering classes from CP to Baccalauréat. The nursery classes are situated on the premises of the French Embassy.
of presence in Ankara
70 years
Inauguration of the Petite École
1959
Approval by the French Ministry of Education
1981
Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle
1990
2 sites: Ayrancı and Incek
2008

Our Advantages

Instructing in accordance with the French curriculum

The Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle is an educational institution officially recognised by the French Ministry of Education. Pupils adhere to the French curriculum from PS to Baccalauréat. They are instructed and take the French exams (Diplôme national du brevet at the end of the collège and the baccalauréat at the 1ère and terminale of the lycée).

Studying abroad

The French baccalaureate is recognised internationally in numerous post-baccalaureate systems. Pupils at the Lycée Charles de Gaulle have the opportunity to continue their education not only in France and Türkiye, but also in many European nations such as the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Spain, etc. Additionally, they can also study in countries on the American continent, including the United States and Canada, etc.

Strengthening and improving the paths through which pupils acquire language skill

Starting from PS, pupils get instruction in French and continue to be exposed to the Turkish language. Pupils gain advantages from advanced language classes, which allow them to achieve proficiency in three languages during 3rd cycle (French, Turkish, and English) and four languages during 4th cycle (French, Turkish, English, German or Spanish). The implementation of the French International Baccalaureate is planned to commence in the beginning of the 2024 academic year.

Developing cultural understanding starting from nursery school

Pupils at the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle receive a comprehensive artistic and cultural education programmes. The students are exposed to several art genres starting with nursery school. French and Turkish cultures have significant influence, while students also embrace the cultures of all francophone, Anglophone and hispanophone nations.

Promoting sustainable coexistence within the school environment

The Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle has been awarded the sustainable development label. The aim is to promote all actions and projects that improve the well-being of pupils and staff. These actions and projects reflect an approach that mobilises the entire school community around the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), in particular through the use of innovative technologies.

Assistance for pupils with special needs

Consistent with the principles of inclusive education, all pupils enrolled in the LCDG program get support during their entire academic journey. Modifications and adjustments might be implemented for pupils who have specific needs. There are two telepresence robots that can be used by pupils who are unable to physically attend classes due to medical reasons.

Contact us

İncek Site

Elementary School, Collège and lycée :
Address : Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle,
Kızılçaşar Mah. 1209. Sokak n° 22, Incek 06830 Ankara – Türkiye
Tel: +90 312 460 19 98 / Fax: +90 312 460 19 97
Email : secretariat@lcdgankara.org

Ayrancı Site

Nursery School :
Address : Yazanlar Sokak – Kavaklidere
(in the park of the French Embassy) 06692 Ankara – Türkiye
Tel: +90 312 426 23 73
Email : secretariat@lcdgankara.org