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Original poster

International IB schools uk

68 replies

BBEA · 07/05/2016 19:03

Hello,
We are moving from Luxembourg to the UK. My child is 14; coming from the bilingual ( French/English) school. Previously at IB school.
I am looking for academic, challenging IB education, north London/Hertfordshire location.
I would appreciate any advices, I need to find something suitable before summer 2016.

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Original poster
BBEA · 10/05/2016 22:12

Mary21; I heard about Newlands college. Looks like a really nice school. Not sure how good they are going to be since they just opened. Have you heard anything about the school.?

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mary21 · 10/05/2016 16:51

Don't know it but here is another www.dwightlondon.org/

mary21 · 10/05/2016 16:26

We have friends whose DS is at ACS Hillingdon and are happy with it. There is also a new school called New lands College that do myp newlandcollege.co.uk/ Don't know whether Mill hill international /MillHill is worth a look?

Original poster
BBEA · 09/05/2016 21:30

Hockerill is great but no places, need the address in the catchment area otherwise cannot even apply. But the admission told me than even with address they won't take anyone, full classes. Talked to them last week.

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YellowPrimula · 09/05/2016 21:25

What about Hockerill Anglo European College which is in Herts not sure what the difference is with Ingatestone but there are definitely a few mumsnet terms with children at Hockerill, if you do a search you might find a thread or two .

Original poster
BBEA · 09/05/2016 21:13

Will check Queenswood. Thank you.

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Original poster
BBEA · 09/05/2016 21:12

Reg anglo - I was impressed by their 16 plus IB program.
But not before that.

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Original poster
BBEA · 09/05/2016 21:09

Dear Blondie1984
One of the first schools I looked at was ANglo European in Ingatestone ( my husband grew up in Essex , so it is local to him). I visited the school and we had few days there. Lovely , very welcoming teachers and admin people, nice and Open minded ambiance.
I felt really well there. But it is not for my child, she is used to 14-16 kids per class. Classes at Anglo were big and discipline very poor. Lots of kids disturbing during the classes and teachers couldn't keep kids motivated.n Also( such a shame but it is true) the rubbish on the floor was everywhere!!!, hygiene at the school very poor and the canteen was just horrible.
However surroundings of the school and the location -AMAZING! One of the nicest villages I saw in the UK.

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bojorojo · 09/05/2016 17:58

I honestly think that your DD will get to know British children. It would be the same if a British child had to go to school in France - you adjust. Actually going to a school is very different to a taster. She may find she has more in common than you, or she, thinks. You could also look at Queenswood near Potters Bar, no Saturday school.

Blondie1984 · 09/05/2016 00:56

Actually having re-read some of your comments I'm not sure your daughter would fit in there - if have were to get a place at all

Blondie1984 · 09/05/2016 00:53

BBEA what is your opinions of the Anglo European School based on?

SoGodhelpme · 08/05/2016 21:20

OP, they don't do lessons all day. Most independent schools finish lessons at 4pm everyday. (Except Wednesday when most finish lessons around 1pm followed by games), The rest of the day is spent doing extra curricular activities e.g football, netball, clubs and societies. No school does lessons for all those hours!
Same with Saturday's, lessons usually last till about 12pm followed by matches.

Original poster
BBEA · 08/05/2016 20:46

Lifeisunjust- I may just do that.
I a, visiting again ACS schools in May. But I will start looking at local schools in north London too. Thanks so much.

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lifeisunjust · 08/05/2016 19:29

Why don't you just pick a northern London borough well known for its secondary schools, such as Barnet, and just well apply for any place and move as close to the most "successful" ones. There are plenty of private schools in that area too. If you can afford to consider 17k per year school fees, then living in that area won't be financially challenging and if you get a school place at a state secondary, then you win financially

Original poster
BBEA · 08/05/2016 19:13

I know they have fantastic facilities but what about academics. Are they push enough to motivate kids or is rather relaxing international environment of rich parents?

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Original poster
BBEA · 08/05/2016 19:11

MrsSchadenfreude, so happy someone from ACS schools.
This is my huge dilemma - ACS or normal UK schools, my DD is 14 so she has 2 years before GCSE. With very intensive research I could maybe get her a place in the UK system, even private is only 17-18000£ comparing to ACS day student ar 25-25000£.
Do you feel that the school is not worth this money?

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Original poster
BBEA · 08/05/2016 19:08

I just wonder how much they can learn during those long days and Saturdays?

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Original poster
BBEA · 08/05/2016 19:07

Exactly, very long week days plus Saturday.
I guess my daughter wouldn't talk to me if I put her into this kind of system, after being in EUrope and having school till 4 pm the latest and often toll 1.30 pm only. This is too big shock for her. Cannot do it.

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MrsSchadenfreude · 08/05/2016 17:47

DD1 is at ACS Cobham. She is bilingual (English and French) and they've supported her very well. I think of the ACS schools, only Egham does the IB MYP, the other two follow a broadly American curriculum with elements of the UK system and MYP.

The fees at ACS are eye watering -full boarding is around £44K next school year. We get help with fees from my employer - if DD1 hadn't been 15 when we returned to UK and too late for GCSEs, I'd have put her back into the UK system with no question!

lifeisunjust · 08/05/2016 17:34

It looks like classes finish at 11.25 at Haileybury on Saturdays, as Saturday afternoon is just activities. It does however have very late finishes on other days. That is the downside to private schools with boarders.

lifeisunjust · 08/05/2016 17:27

Schools which do boarding and day do usually have the children on the same timetable. Saturday school is only usual in state or private boarding schools. My son's school is Saturday to 13.00 but school on Wednesdays and Fridays equally to 13.00. It's boarding only, so it can do this, wouldn't work if it had day students. I too would not be too pleased with Saturday to 16.00. Is there another day where school finishes early to compensate?

I wouldn't dismiss a school because of apparent non high standards though. My son goes to a UK school where results are fine but not outstanding. However, he's taking 5 A levels (4 if you don't count GS waste of time). He's expecting A, A, A, B/A. If a child is academically competent, so long as the school is not completely incompetent, the final grades should be a reflection of the child not the school.

Original poster
BBEA · 08/05/2016 17:11

Maybe is a silly question- but do day kids must go to school on Saturday as well like boarders ( looking at haileybury again). Really loved this school apart of Saturday

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Original poster
BBEA · 08/05/2016 17:09

Anglo European school in Essex - not very high standard.
We are not considering boarding at all.

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Original poster
BBEA · 08/05/2016 17:05

Thank you so much for all help. I really appreciate it. Big help.
I will check culham Europ school ( this is exactly same system as she is now in).
I did look at Haileybury - great school but Saturday school till 4pm- absolutely unacceptable , never heard in Europe about going to school 6 times per week. Certainly not for us.
Crazycatguy, what is the name of the school you mentioned, location would be great for us. I would love to check this school.

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lifeisunjust · 08/05/2016 16:51

Or European School Culham?
www.esculham.eu/