Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
Préfet (des études)
English translation:
Head of Year
Added to glossary by
Catharine Cellier-Smart
Dec 15, 2017 12:44
6 yrs ago
34 viewers *
French term
Reunion
The Smart Solution
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: French to English, Creoles & Pidgins (French-based Other) to English, English
Préfet (des études)
French to English
Social Sciences
Education / Pedagogy
Letter of recommendation
This is the job title for someone writing a letter of recommendation.
It is NOT 'prefect' in the British school meaning of a pupil appointed with certain responsibilities, nor does it have anything to do with typical French usage of 'leader of an administrative area', so I'm extremely wary of translating it using 'prefect'.
Has anyone come across this term before?
Here is a definition of the person's duties on Wikipedia: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Préfet_des_études
It is NOT 'prefect' in the British school meaning of a pupil appointed with certain responsibilities, nor does it have anything to do with typical French usage of 'leader of an administrative area', so I'm extremely wary of translating it using 'prefect'.
Has anyone come across this term before?
Here is a definition of the person's duties on Wikipedia: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Préfet_des_études
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +3 | Head of Year (Préfet des études) |
ph-b (X)
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| 4 | dean of students |
Drmanu49
|
| 3 | Provost |
Daniel Liberman
|
Proposed translations
+3
3 hrs
Selected
Head of Year (Préfet des études)
Speaking from my experience of both the French and UK (state) education systems, it’s very unlikely that the exact equivalent exists in the UK (assuming this is the target country/language) and I suspect that the French term will have to be kept anyway.
My suggestion may be a far cry from the original French but the job description in Catharine's ref. made me think of what heads of year do in state schools in the UK.
The following description from Catharine’s own ref. (which is also found on the website of the French Education Secretary):
1) le suivi individualisé des élèves du point de vue éducatif et pédagogique, en liaison avec le Conseiller Principal d’Éducation et le professeur principal
2) la relation avec les parents d'élèves
3) le respect des règles communes
4) la coordination du travail éducatif et pédagogique en équipe
5) la communication et la mise en place de projets avec différents partenaires internes et externes à l'établissement scolaire
Chaque établissement ECLAIR compte un préfet par niveau (which I take to mean ‘per year’) au collège et un pour les secondes en lycée.
more or less matches things like:
'hold accountable and develop a team of tutors focusing on high standards of social, personal and academic development of students
To monitor the quality of learning experienced by the year group, liaising with heads of departments and offering support and guidance where necessary.'
etc.
more of which can be found here:
http://www.bishopstopfords.enfield.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads...
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Note added at 4 hrs (2017-12-15 16:49:19 GMT)
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As I said, I was thinking of England and Wales - I've no idea how you'd translate this for other English-speaking countries.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2017-12-15 16:52:02 GMT)
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Oops - for 'UK' (above), please read 'England and Wales' - no offence meant to my friends in Scotland and Northern Ireland (or any one else for that matter)
My suggestion may be a far cry from the original French but the job description in Catharine's ref. made me think of what heads of year do in state schools in the UK.
The following description from Catharine’s own ref. (which is also found on the website of the French Education Secretary):
1) le suivi individualisé des élèves du point de vue éducatif et pédagogique, en liaison avec le Conseiller Principal d’Éducation et le professeur principal
2) la relation avec les parents d'élèves
3) le respect des règles communes
4) la coordination du travail éducatif et pédagogique en équipe
5) la communication et la mise en place de projets avec différents partenaires internes et externes à l'établissement scolaire
Chaque établissement ECLAIR compte un préfet par niveau (which I take to mean ‘per year’) au collège et un pour les secondes en lycée.
more or less matches things like:
'hold accountable and develop a team of tutors focusing on high standards of social, personal and academic development of students
To monitor the quality of learning experienced by the year group, liaising with heads of departments and offering support and guidance where necessary.'
etc.
more of which can be found here:
http://www.bishopstopfords.enfield.sch.uk/wp-content/uploads...
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Note added at 4 hrs (2017-12-15 16:49:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
As I said, I was thinking of England and Wales - I've no idea how you'd translate this for other English-speaking countries.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2017-12-15 16:52:02 GMT)
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Oops - for 'UK' (above), please read 'England and Wales' - no offence meant to my friends in Scotland and Northern Ireland (or any one else for that matter)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
philgoddard
: Yes, this is a reasonable approximation given that it's about a secondary school. We're not looking for a UK equivalent.
1 hr
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Thanks Phil
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| agree |
Charles Davis
: Just right. Same as "coordinateur de niveau", a term some schools prefer (resistance to connotations of "préfet"). Niveau certainly means niveau de classe here (6ème, 5ème, etc.). PS. HoY exists in Scotland and NI too.
17 hrs
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Thanks Charles - also for the info about Scotland and Northern Ireland
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| agree |
Neeraj Jain
5 days
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you!"
2 hrs
Daniel Liberman
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Translator Pt, Fr & Sp-En; En-Pt
Native in: Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian) 
, English
Works in: Portuguese to English, English to Portuguese, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
Provost
I am wondering if it could referring to a provost.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2017-12-15 15:39:05 GMT)
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Correction: I am wondering if it could be referring to a provost.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2017-12-15 15:39:05 GMT)
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Correction: I am wondering if it could be referring to a provost.
56 mins
dean of students
IMO is the closest
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Note added at 1 heure (2017-12-15 14:09:32 GMT)
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https://deanofstudents.umich.edu/
Traduire cette page
The Dean of Students Office promotes student development and enhances the Michigan experience of undergraduate and graduate students through programs, services, partnerships/connections, and policy development that promotes an inclusive campus climate and facilitates the successful navigation of campus life.
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Note added at 1 heure (2017-12-15 14:09:57 GMT)
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Dean of Students | American University, Washington, D.C.
https://www.american.edu › Campus Life
Traduire cette page
Student Services. Help with personal difficulties such as hospitalization, injury, extended illness, family problems or mental health concerns that affect one's academic success. Students wishing to take a medical leave of absence must provide documentation to the Dean of Students Office supporting such action and must ...
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Note added at 1 heure (2017-12-15 14:20:52 GMT)
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Yes it is the same in prep schools ie secondary-school level
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Note added at 1 heure (2017-12-15 14:21:36 GMT)
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Dean of Students High School Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com
https://www.indeed.com/q-Dean-of-Students-High-School-jobs.h...
Traduire cette page
Serves as the main point of contact for students, ensuring a positive student experience with the ultimate goal of high student engagement.... Sponsored - save job. Assistant Dean of Students. Legal Prep Charter Academy - Chicago, IL. Assist Dean of Students:. Assists students in establishing high standards of conduct.
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Note added at 4 heures (2017-12-15 17:12:16 GMT)
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It seems a lot of my peers are not aware that English terms are NOT restricted to the UK.
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Note added at 1 heure (2017-12-15 14:09:32 GMT)
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https://deanofstudents.umich.edu/
Traduire cette page
The Dean of Students Office promotes student development and enhances the Michigan experience of undergraduate and graduate students through programs, services, partnerships/connections, and policy development that promotes an inclusive campus climate and facilitates the successful navigation of campus life.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 heure (2017-12-15 14:09:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Dean of Students | American University, Washington, D.C.
https://www.american.edu › Campus Life
Traduire cette page
Student Services. Help with personal difficulties such as hospitalization, injury, extended illness, family problems or mental health concerns that affect one's academic success. Students wishing to take a medical leave of absence must provide documentation to the Dean of Students Office supporting such action and must ...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 heure (2017-12-15 14:20:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Yes it is the same in prep schools ie secondary-school level
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 heure (2017-12-15 14:21:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Dean of Students High School Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com
https://www.indeed.com/q-Dean-of-Students-High-School-jobs.h...
Traduire cette page
Serves as the main point of contact for students, ensuring a positive student experience with the ultimate goal of high student engagement.... Sponsored - save job. Assistant Dean of Students. Legal Prep Charter Academy - Chicago, IL. Assist Dean of Students:. Assists students in establishing high standards of conduct.
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Note added at 4 heures (2017-12-15 17:12:16 GMT)
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It seems a lot of my peers are not aware that English terms are NOT restricted to the UK.
Note from asker:
| Préfet des études is at secondary-school level, not higher education. |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Chakib Roula
: In my opinion, the dean is rather an admin/managerial role than academic/educational and pedagogical one.
26 mins
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Disagree with you on that one.
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| neutral |
Sheri P
: I don’t think so. The préfet plays much more of a direct role in a student’s academic work than does a dean of students.
40 mins
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Not in my school.
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| neutral |
writeaway
: a dean is a dean at one specific school and definitely not in secondary. It's a university position./dean of students is something else anyway. private schools like to play around with terms
3 hrs
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Definitely not, in my prep school there was a dean of students.
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Discussion
"Membre de l’équipe de direction, chaque préfet des études est, sous l’autorité du chef d’établissement, le responsable pédagogique et éducatif du niveau de classe qui lui est confié. Selon le nombre de classes par niveau, un préfet des études peut s’occuper d’un ou de deux niveaux."
"Cependant, la tonalité un peu archaïque de l’appellation "préfet des études" provoque de nombreuses réticences chez les enseignants et candidats. D’ailleurs plusieurs académies, dont celle de Paris, ont préféré retenir le titre de "coordonnateur de niveau"."
http://www.ozp.fr/spip.php?article11656
"Niveau" is used in more than one sense in French education, but here it certainly means year group, as it does in the following Ministry document, for example:
"Au collège la sixième est la dernière année du cycle 3, les autres niveaux constituent le cycle 4."
http://www.education.gouv.fr/cid214/le-college-enseignements...