Local Schools in Brussels

[Recomecar16]

Hi Everyone,
I'm new to Mumsnet, We are moving to Brussels in June with our daughters 5 years old and 6 years old and our son 18 months old.
We have decided to enrol them on local French Catholic Schools. I have contacted a few Schools already but don't know which ones are better ranked. I would appreciate any feedback on Schools in WSP and WSL areas.
Thanks so much for any advice or experiences you could share!

[lifeisunjust]

Choose schools nearest to home and enrol, go on waiting lists, phone up every few weeks, just get a place.
Without naming which schools you've tried to enrol at, cannot help you further, but 9 out of 10 schools in WSP and WSL are fine. You will however have to name them.

[Recomecar16]

Hi lifeisunjust,
Thank you for replying to my message.
We are looking at Ecole du Bonheur, Mater Dei, Jean XXIII, Don Bosco, Parc Malou. I think we are working the other way around We are looking to get places in Schools and then find a home as the company will provide our accommodation for the first few months.
Also would you recommend any creches? I would love to enrol my son in a local French speaking crèche.
Thank you very much for your help I have been going around in circles until I found Mumsnet. Are there get togethers for Mumsnet? I would love to meet other Mums like me after settling down.

[lifeisunjust]

Why those 4 schools? There are 27 schools in WSL and WSP, I'd send to 25 of them. Parc Malou is not Catholic, but in any case choosing Catholic only is not a great option if you want to keep possiblities open.

There are 2 Jean 23 schools as well.

You aren't going to get places in Mater Dei and it's NOT the school to place children with no French.

Choose a general area. Then choose all those schools in the general area and target them all.

Instead you have chosen 4 schools out of 27 in 4 different areas.

The total list of 27 schools is on the Facebook BCT schools group and that is the best place to start.

I wouldn't like to recommend any of the 4 schools you have chosen without knowing a bit more about where work is and what sort of area you would like to live in, because all 4 areas are also very different.

[lifeisunjust]

This is where you can get advice about choosing both a location to live and schools in that location in Belgium.

www.facebook.com/groups/ParentsandBCTSchoolSupportNetworkinBelgium/

[Recomecar16]

Thank you for your help it is much appreciated.
We are looking to live in a residential area where there is a family orientated feeling.
We are Irish, living in County Dublin just outside Dublin city. My husband will be working in Ixelles but he doesn't mind the journey to work as here he spends 40min drive to work everyday. For us we think good Schools and a family orientated environment area is very important.
His company will provide a place for us to stay for the first 2 to 3 months until we find a home, that is why I am looking to find school places first
and a home based on the school area.
I have requested to be connected to ParentandBCT facebook page.
Again your help was much appreciated.

[2ManySweets]

A wonderful MNetter called Longtime added me to a group called Benelux Mumsnetters: maybe mail her? X

[lifeisunjust]

Don't consider driving to Ixelles.
Watermael-Boitsfort is a good choice for travel to work and for schools.
WSL will be further., WSP further still.
Does depend where in Ixelles though exactly.

[Imarriedaniceman]

Hi there

We are also an Irish family who moved to Brussels 4 years ago. We live in Watermael Boitsfort. It is a nice green area and has the 94 tram which goes into the city. We have had mixed experiences with local schools. I would say that in my experience the Belgian school system is very different from the Irish system. It depends on your children but not all children will find it an easy transition. I am just giving you heads up as it's not talked about much on these boards. On the other hand some children are fine. Your best bet might be to come out and visit some schools to get a sense of it for yourself. PM me if you want to ask me anything else.

Good luck.

[Recomecar16]

Hi 2ManySweets, thank you for your advice. I will try to mail her.

Hi lifeisunjust, he will check Watermael-Boitsfort.

Hi Imarriedaniceman, thank you for your advice and I'm glad to find someone who will understand where I am coming from regarding Schools. I am finding it quite daunting. I will PM you a few questions

[Longtime]

Watermael boitsfort is a nice area. There are some little hide away bits of it which have a real villagey feel to them. Not far from ixelles at all. I don't know much about the schools though.