British international schools and citizenship

[akuabadoll]

Any thoughts or experiences gratefully recieved regarding the relevance of British citizenship and entry into British international schools (in general not in any particular location). In French schools it really makes a big difference but I'm not sure if the same is true of British schools or whether perhaps it's dependant on the individual schools.
I'm British but my two children are not, we live overseas and have to move every 4 years or so. I'm wondering if I should apply for British passports for them with regard to school places specifically.

[fatowl]

I think it depends on the school.
At our school (large non-profit international school in Asia) will take passports from UK, Ireland, Australia and NZ) as a priority as they were the founder nations way back and it's in the constitution.
But they take all nationalities, it only becomes an issue if there are waitlists for certain years

[MyFriendsCallMeOh]

We are at a British international school and it's part of the Nord Anglia group. There are 55 nationalities in our school although it follows British curriculum. I think we've been asked for passports as part of the registration process but all nationalities, cultures and ethnicities are welcomed, making it a richer school. I know of other British international schools that have quotas for nationalities ie minimum 50% of the population must be British or no one nationality can have more than 30% of the population.... but not one that only accepts British passports. Where would you be applying?

[akuabadoll]

Thanks both. Yep depends on the school then, do not so easy to tell if it would ever be a benefit. My husband has been mentioning it but it's based on knowledge of the French system which really privileges French nationals. My elder son is currently in Year 1 of a British curriculum school in SE Asia, I'm thinking ahead to school places on our next move, wherever that may be.

[fatowl]

You're in the same part of the world as me then!

[Iflyaway]

If both nationalities allow dual citizenship I would do it, you never know when it might come in handy in the future.

[Laptopwieldingharpy]

No priority in kellet & Harrow HK. You only priority get with debentures. Sames goes for Tanglin trust in Sg.
For french nationals, they only get priority in the french stream, not bilingual or international sections that follow the IB.

[Laptopwieldingharpy]

I'd say if HK is even a remote possibility, do get their names down on the waitinglists anyway. It's brutally competitive unless your company garantees placement rights!

[akuabadoll]

Yes other country does allow dual so no problem there although I have one birth child born outside of the UK and one non-Hague adopted with no UK involvement - so not completely straight forward.... fly I hear you, I will apply for both kids at some point as it could be useful in some way we haven't though of yet. laptop we have no placement rights but HK will not be on the cards for us.

[Laptopwieldingharpy]

Not sur it is relevant to you but US & canadian schools usually prioritise nationals too.

[akuabadoll]

Ah interesting laptop I hadn't heard that (not relevant for us). We know more Francophone families than Anglo and have lived overseas for many years hence hearing the French school places stories over and over.

[BoboChic]

You don't need a passport to have nationality. Birth certificate will do fine for proof of citizenship for British DC when applying for a school place.

[yakari]

The French priority is because Lycées are funded by the French government through subsidies - they top this up with fees especially from the international streams. They have also historically been first choice for diplomats because the funding dictates the curriculum so you can pitch up in any lycée and pretty much find its at the same point in the curriculum as your previous school.

So the same doesn't apply to the British schools which tend to be completely private. I know most of our friends who are set to move regularly find they just need to pick an education system be it French, British or American and then stick to it as they move. The French as I say is pretty standard across countries, I understand American and British you can find schools teach the curriculum in different orders.

Also find that moving schools and getting places often becomes less of an issue as kids get older as kids board or families 'go home' but the early years can be a nightmare.

How old are yours? Will you soon be past the worse in which case nationality may matter for other reasons and not just education? The reason I say this is I have a non British passport but right of abode for the UK for over 30 years through my British mother but wanted to retain my birth passport. I've renewed my passport this year and they have tightened up considerably even on renewing right of abodes never mind issuing new ones. So depending on your circumstances it may be harder than anticipated. I'd start the process regardless of whether you jump waiting lists for schools.

[ThenLaterWhenItGotDark]

Bobo is right. At first glance to me, both your children would already be British so you don't need a ppt.

[akuabadoll]

As mentioned neither of my children were born in th UK or have British birth certs. Yes, your observations on the French system via-a-vis the government make total sense yakari this holds true, in our experience, even in French (nursery) school outside the funded, accredited schools. The bottom line for us is while we want to hold on to the French language, beyond nursery we prefer them to be in an Anglo school system. Our eldest had moved from French nursery to British primary.

[ThenLaterWhenItGotDark]

Were you born in the UK? You don't need a British birth certificate to be British.

[akuabadoll]

Yes I was.

[ThenLaterWhenItGotDark]

Your first child is already British then. Depending on where the second child was adopted, he might be eligible for registration as a BC. You'd need to check the gov website though.