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Original poster

Are we letting DD down by not considering this school?

39 replies

castille · 05/01/2009 21:36

DD started secondary in September - a state school with a bilingual section (we live in France and DH is French). The school is in a disadvantaged area of the city and we had reservations but so far so good. She seems quite happy and settled there and doing fine.

However, a private school in the city also has a bilingual section and I'm wondering if we're letting her down academically by not sending her there. It gets excellent results, and friends whose children are there are impressed with the bilingual section in particular. We ruled it out mainly because it's very catholic, very bourgeois (we are neither of these) and with a high snob factor. But it offers opportunities she doesn't have in her current school...

Would you consider it? It couldn't be more different from her current school!

OP posts:
Original poster
castille · 07/01/2009 20:34

Both, I think. The school's reputation is demanding and academic and the social elite (and wannabes!) send their children there. But it also has a section for pupils who have fallen behind national requirements.

OP posts:
Katiestar · 07/01/2009 17:14

But are the private schools better results down to their teaching or a more able intake ?

Original poster
castille · 06/01/2009 21:06

If DH agrees it's worth a look (might be difficult) then I'll take her to the open day for starters. I agree she is old enough to have a say, but she might be too influenced by the prospect of being back with her old friends to make a decision based on academic criteria alone I fear.

OP posts:
smellen · 06/01/2009 20:54

Why don't you ask your DD to visit the other school and make her own choice. She is old enough and will get a feel for it, especially if they let her shadow another pupil for a day.

Original poster
castille · 06/01/2009 20:53

The international section seems more rigorous there and better adapted to native speakers (which her current school doesn't seem to be - there are too few of them). It also offers the foreign language she wants to do (Italian), and more musical and cultural activities which she is interested in.

I wouldn't be considering it if it wasn't for the international section to be honest, but we agree it is important for her to capitalise on her bilingualism.

DD wouldn't mind switching I don't think as she has friends from her primary school at the private one, but she's also happy to stay put. It's v hard to know in advance if the benefits would outweigh the downsides.

OP posts:
snorkle · 06/01/2009 19:55

If it aint broke no need to fix it imo. What academic benefits do you think she's missing out on? The catholic thing might be quite irritating if you're not that way inclined I should think. But I'd still go & look around and think it through properly.

floaty · 06/01/2009 19:29

Where abouts in France are you?Do you think that your dd would prefer it or is it just that you are worried that you are denying her opportuneties

ScummyMummy · 06/01/2009 19:24

are

ScummyMummy · 06/01/2009 19:24

What re the opportunities it offers, exactly? You haven't really said.

BellaDonna79 · 06/01/2009 19:19

Whatever you do don't consider the state school in your argument, your dd is the only person you must consider, if you feel the private school would be better for her, the move wouldn't affect her and th ecost isn't an issue then go for it.

good luck deciding!

Original poster
castille · 06/01/2009 11:23

I've just been talking to a friend whose sons are there, and now I'm having even more doubts

Oddly I'd feel as though we were letting her state school down by moving her. because we have no real problem with it. And yet...

OP posts:
Original poster
castille · 05/01/2009 22:14

Not expensive - the cost isn't a huge factor (though it's nice not paying!)

I might go to their open day, just to see. I can't see DH considering it though, his conviction that we are "doing the right thing" is stronger than mine!

OP posts:
27 · 05/01/2009 21:45

How expensive is the private school?

I think from what you have said I would probably go for the private one if it was affordable.

ScummyMummy · 05/01/2009 21:44

No- I would leave her where she is as she sounds like she's doing just fine. A Catholic ethos will be not a particular advantage for a non-Catholic and the snobbery sounds horrible. I can't see the attraction in a change really. Would be different if she was unhappy and not getting good results but it sounds as if that's not the case at all.