For various reasons most our children ended up in the Catholic school system which is semi-private ( the fee is 150€ a term and the school meals are more expensive ) but our youngest  Xav has done most of his time in the state school. I don't think there is any difference in educational standards its just  in the state sector you lose about 2 weeks each year due to strikes so the teachers set a good example. A couple of weeks ago they had a one day strike protesting against the director's decision to close down a course CERP ( a vocational course )  in "technicien  d'usinage "  and merge it with the  Bac pro "systemes electroniques numerique". After this disruption which didn't go  down to well with the students there was a lot of grumbling  and resulted in the boarders  (most lycees have some students who live in as its too  far to travel each day )  escaping at 6.30 in the morning and organising a " blocus"  ( lockout ) so the next two days were spent picketing the school stoping students going in and the Thursday and Friday were spent demonstrating in Lannion, blocking a few roads. Its almost a French gene  the art of protest,  the revolution , the communes ,1968  and now Lannion it almost makes me wish I was at school again!

I saw an amazing sight last weekend , driving the car just a field away from the Coat , we saw a sanglier ( wild boar )  cross the road in front of us and disappear into the woods. Its the first one I have seen as they are very nocturnal creatures and it looked so majestic running at full bore around 15kph  it would have weighed over a 100 kilo and the damage it could have done to you on a head charge with its tusks doesn't bear thinking about. There were a few shots in the woods later but am sure nobody shot it  and its nearly the end of the shooting season.