Choosing between two maternelle-primary schools in Brussels

[Outofnappies]

Hello everyone, I am new to mumsnet, new to posting but have read many of the previous threads on this subject. I am so impressed with all your wisdom and advice, so I'm putting my dilemma ' out there ' for your thoughts please! We moved to brussels 18 months ago, children, aged 4 & 2, go to french crèche and are thriving. I need to find maternelle (where he wil also prob stay for primaire) for 4 yr old son this sept, dd to follow next year, have had my head set on the BICS but also live in WSP very close to Joli Bois. Do any of you know anything about BICS -seems great on paper, we have visited and all is good, and it's bilingual, which is great, but I cannot find anyone who has children there or who knows anything about what it's really like! Religious part not likely yo be a problem, I don't think it's oppressive (!), bilingual aspect ideal for us, fees ok, not prohibitive at least, but but but... Someone has told me Joli bois is a very good school, and we have option of a place there - would I be missing a trick not to take it? Apart from this one person, I don't have any lowdown on that school either. we need to make our minds up this week and I feel I could do with some insider info! Please share your thoughts...many thanks.

[Ruthchan]

Hi Outofnappies

I'm afraid I can't answer your question, but I have posted a note on the Brussels MN facebook page and I'm sure someone who can will be along in a minute.

Do you use facebook?
If so you might be interested in joining our group on there too.
Message me if you'd like an invitation.

[natation]

hi there, take a look at your mumsnet inbox for my answer.

[Longtime]

You have the world's expert there in natation - she'll be able to provide you with any information you need!

[Outofnappies]

Thank you all so much for your replies, and on a Sunday too! I am most grateful. Have replied to my messages with messages, I hope that works, I am still finding my way round the site :) Ruthchan I have emailed Longtime to add me to the spreadsheet, I'm not on facebook sorry...

[Malcho2012]

Hi Natation, can you please share your email with me as well? I am under the same dilema. Tks!!!!

[natation]

Have sent you a pm Malcho2012.

[unobtanium]

Hi outof, have you looked at the Good Schools Guide International website? I believe you have to subscribe, but not before you have a chance to see if the school(s) you're interested in are covered in depth. If they are covered in depth, then I imagine those reports will be very useful, as the publication accepts nothing from the schools and their reports are supposed to be unbiased and written by other parents.

If there's any "low-down" on a school, the GSGI gets it across one way or another (without being defamatory in any way -- you will have to sort of read between the lines...)

Might be worth a look?

[natation]

Oh it would be pretty amazing for any of those schools to be in a good schools international website, they are all excellent local schools but I'm not sure their reputations go any further! I'm off to have a look now.

[natation]

:-( not even a review of any of the international schools on that website, never mind the local ones.

[unobtanium]

Ah, yes, terrible coverage for Belgium, sorry for duff advice.

Much better for other countries...

[Outofnappies]

Well thank you all for your suggestions.... update is that we decided to send DS to the Ecole Communale in Stockel (French section) and he has been there 3 days now and is loving it!! Very nice school, I liked the Directrice, and also my son's class teacher, whom we met on our visit back in May. He absolutely adores her (already) and immediately settled into his class and new routine. 20 in his class though more may come I suppose. Fingers crossed we continue in this vein! I am very glad with our choice, and couldn't have reached it without the input of the wise Belgian MNers! Thank you...

[natation]

Great to hear so far so good, outofnappies. You must come around the corner for a coffee some time! And you're really lucky to get only 20 in a class!

[Ballet]

hi Outofnannies,I would liek to knwo more about the school in which you are sending your son.
where is it located?
actually I am also looking out for school for my daughter.

[natation]

Ballet, take a look at this schools map, try and visit all the schools within 1.5km of your intended housing in Etterbeek and choose on of these schools. WSP is far too far to go if you're living in Etterbeek.
batchgeo.com/map/1f1bf2b3b6e4ad41fe67c1a57d56a826