L’ecole de battersea

[MrsT75]

Having read a lot about the lycee in South Ken and the French system (how some consider it “rigid”, doesn’t promote “outside the box” thinking and based on negative criticism), I was wondering whether l’ecole de battersea is the same?
We are thinking of l’ecole for primary then English private (most likely day but possibly boarding) school for secondary. What are your thoughts on DD sitting the entry exams for the English secondary after l’ecole de battersea? Will she be totally unprepared? Will she be okay in the English system after a French primary?
Would love to hear your thoughts and experience if any

[MrsT75]

Anyone?

[Trailedanderror]

No experience bar that of a London parent/ done the Prep school/ 11+/ 13+ thang, but why? Are you French or French speaking?

[cakeandteajustforme]

I live near the school and our neighbours send their kids there and are very happy.

A French friend visited it last week to see if she’d like it for her child and said it was ‘very french’ to the extent that only the couples who wanted a full IB French education were considering it by the end of the viewing. They do the English side of things over and above the French so it’s quite intensive.

[cakeandteajustforme]

And if it matters, I like the idea of bilingual children despite being an anglophone household, but will not be considering it for my child (thomases, Newton, Eaton house etc would come first).

[MrsT75]

Thank you for your replies, we like it but are just not sure.
All fully French families we know are sending their children to English primary then French (lycee) secondary. We’re are considering of doing the opposite; our thinking is that it would be a better mix...

[princessna]

I have some purely anecdotal evidence... We spoke to the head of a boys prep in Swiss Cottage who is originally French (and sends his children to a Lycee in London). He commented that by the age of 11, the children at the French schools about 1 1/2 years behind those at English prep. schools. This is not meant as a judgement of the quality of the education, but merely as an indication of the slower start in the French system and higher expectations at a younger age in English prep. schools. Am sure by end of high school education things even out. I have no specific experience of this myself so this is to be checked via your own sources.

[presentcontinuous]

I don't know the Battersea school, but my son went from a French primary to English secondary and he's been more than fine. He hated the rigidity of French primary and is much happier and more engaged in his new school.

My older children had a mix of French and English education and the French secondary system very clearly favours the purely academic and those who fit the mould. Anyone who struggles or who doesn't respond well to lecture-style teaching is left to sink slowly, in my experience.