Educating English speaking children outside the UK

[tonker]

Dear all

My one last concern about moving to a well known Biz Jet firm that would allow me to move from the UK is my 3 childrens education.

I currently live in the north of England and send my 2 older boys 5 and 3 to a private school, purely because the local schools are appalling. I am thinking about moving to Southern France/Northern Spain and would appreciate any advice on schools or the systems for moving my kids to these areas.

Like most people i want my cake but don't want to pay for it.

1 Are there English speaking schools in the countries or areas that are state sponsored?

2 If not what is the general cost of private primary schooling and are there any allowances or grants etc

Basically if they are happy so will i be, but i can't over extend myself financially like i currently am just to get a half decent disciplined school.

Hope you can help. I have researched as much as one can on the net, but there is nothing like real world experience.

Regards in advance Tonker:ok:

[dan1165]

Hi ,

Where do you go ?

[CL300]

In southern france, the only full english schools are all private, there is no state school in english for the obvious reason that we are in france :rolleyes:


If your boys are 5 and 3 , put them in a normal public school, there is some english lesson and they will learn french in no time.

In mougins (near Cannes) for primary schools pricing is around 1200euro a month , in Montpellier around 700 euro a month ( Montpellier is actually trilingual, but primary language is french)
For english expats , there is a bigger english community near Cannes, MOugins, Sophia, Mandelieu.

Have fun...

[Taxi2parking]

Just to echo CL300, my daughter started in the local village school at age 4 and was coping fine with the French language in a couple of months. She was completely fluent in 6-8 months and now of course refuses to speak in French to her parents because she finds our accents embarrassing :rolleyes:. If your lads are 3 and 5 then they will be absolutely fine I'm sure. The schooling seems better than in the UK with more emphasis on the basics. All the kids seem to be very polite and well disciplined at school (and outside it to be honest). If you are here long term then the secondary and tertiary education are also good.

On the other hand I have a couple of friends living in NE Spain, around Barcelona, who have not had good experiences with the local schools and funnily enough one has decided to send his to a private French school nearby.
The bottom line of course, if you need further convincing, is that moving here and not becoming bi-lingual would be denying your boys one of the really great things about living abroad and something which they will find really useful in later life.

By the way, would the well known firm be NetJets?

[WhyFlare]

What about Italy?? Any news on schools would be appreciated.

[Fakawi]

Why rob your kids of the chance to quickly learn the language of the host country by simple immersion ?
And public schools are cheaper too !

[CL300]

In france they cannot be cheaper they are free !!

[nautilusboats]

How about secondary schools in the South of France for 11 year olds ?

[CL300]

if they do not speak french you will be left with private schools, I know only the rate for primary , 1200€/month/kid, i do expect more for secondary.

If fluent in french it is a no-brainer.

May be around Monaco there is something, but for me this is too far out...

[BelArgUSA]

For tonker -
xxx
I would not worry about school and languages for your 3 kids.
Enroll them in public schools, it is free in France or Spain, secondary schools included.
Private schools are expensive.
Do not worry if they do not speak the language now, kids learn fast.
xxx
In Northern Spain, while Castillan is the official language, Catalan is also used in schools.
English and French are also part of normal secondary school curriculum in Spain.
xxx
:)
Happy contrails

[tonker]

Thank you all for the excellent factual responses that are often so lacking on this website.

Of course everyone is right about young children learning new languages, but coming from a military public school background where the only foreign language they thought we needed was "hands up" etc you often lump your own vices upon the poor soles!

Thanks again

[Lightheart]

Be careful if coming to Spain. In Catalunya, Catalan is the first language (that is spoken by the teachers to children in school and environment...castellano classes are like a foreign language). Many Spanish parents are becoming increasingly frustrated that their children are being forced to learn a language, as a first language, that has absolutley no use anywhere else.

The nationalism is so bad that shop keepers in Barcelona are fined if their signs are in Castellano. They could be in Arabic, Italian or any other language and that would be OK. It is a very sensitive topic here.

I live in the comunidad Valenciana region. My neighbour's daughter is being taught Valenciano, albeit not as a first language, at school (which again has no use oustide this area). If her parents asked the school to stop with these classes, her English lessons would also be taken away.

If you settle in Spain, make sure that Castellano is the FIRST language taught in schools. English can be learnt at home, talking to you and if needed, pay for extra classes by a native teacher.

[BelArgUSA]

De acuerdo con vós, Lightheart.
xxx
tonker - a typical child, and teenager, can learn to communicate in 3 months.
After 6 month, they will speak fluently, and master language after 1 year.
Including the local accent...! They probably will teach you at home...
xxx
When I settled in Buenos Aires, at 49 of age, I did quite good after 3 months.
Asking my way around, ordering in restaurants, conversations in pubs with locals.
Of course, I "immersed" myself with the language.
Newspapers, television, tango song lyrics, Asterix cartoon books for kids.
And a little dictionary in my pocket... ¡Momentito Che! - ¿Puedo mirar aca?
Then I met my wife, she was my best teacher. Included all dirty words.
She spoke no English whatsoever, except YES and NO...
After 1 year, I could insult every cab driver in Lunfardo, the city's dialect.
15 years gone by, I sometimes forget English, and think in Castellano.
Your kids will appreciate the opportunity, even if it will be hard the first weeks.
xxx
Now moving to retire in Brazil, and age 64, learning Portuguese...
:ok:
Happy contrails

[Squeegee Longtail]

... but beware of the French socialism in French state schools. If they plan to live their life in France and so aspire to public service as the epitome of their career, put them in state schools. If however, you want them to survive in the 'real' world, don't.
The private school in Mougins is a bit pricy, but is worth it.

(off to don the flak jacket and helmet!...incoming!!)

[IFPS man]

We have four boys who have all been educated, at some time, in schools in France. Be VERY careful about "the private system" in France; it does not mean the same as private schools in the UK! Quite often, French kids were kicked out/failed exams at the "State" schools, and, because the parents had money, were able to transfer to a smaller school.
Also, teachers at French private schools are still employed, (and redeployed) by the French Educational administration and so you would not necessarily get better qualified teachers at a school.
Have you enquired about any International schools in your prospective area. I would also suggest you do a "surf for schools" in France.
Bon Chance!!

[tonker]

Thanks again everybody

I suppose my problem is that after paying 40% tax here i also end up paying £1500 per month to educate 2 little boys with number 3 shortly to start.

I want to move somewhere where i'll hand over my tax with one hand but don't want to sub an innept system with the other. Canada maybe, if they'd let us in.

[CL300]

you will not pay 40% of taxes in france with 3 kids and being married, a mere 10% maybe....

[tonker]

Vive la France then:ok:

[LH2]

Be careful if coming to Spain. In Catalunya, [blah blah blah]

Sorry to jump in, but the above post is straight out of one of Spain's ever so popular hate radio stations. Why they have such a big chip on their shoulders is totally beyond me, :confused: but that's what puts me off from what would otherwise be a perfectly fine country.

(BelArg, you really should know better, sir)

Everyone else's advice pretty much spot IME (I went to school in both countries).