Ecoles indépendantes

Churches are of course free to establish their own independent schools, and can use denominational forms of worship and conduct religious education in accordance with their own requirements. In fact very many church schools are in effect provided jointly by the state and the church, the state paying running costs and most of the building costs ; these are subject to the relevant provisions of the Act. The churches have also made a major contribution to the training of teachers through church Colleges of Education. These are now reduced in number by a process of amalgamation (sometimes with non-church colleges) but offer a range of higher education courses often in association with a university.