To open my own french school/private school outside London?

[RainbowBabyDreams]

There are British schools all over the world and not just in capital cities.
I'm struggling (failing) to find a school (primary at this stage) for DC which would be like a French international school, all I can find is London, and then I think Edinburgh and Bristol. I'm more Manchester way. Ok, West of Manchester.

The London areas served by these schools are in naaaice (too expensive) territory anyway even if i lived in the big smoke.

I do know however that the north west is home to plenty of French people. What do you all do? Can the French curriculum be home schooled? Argh! I feel like the network of French people outside London is not very well connected.

Seems like it would be a massive endeavour. Would you have the funds, time and skills to open a school?

No, probably not the funds. Time and skills, yes I think if I weren't alone. I wish some lovely London school would read this and open a satellite up north!

I think a lot of private schools are at very great risk right now. On that basis not a great time to try to start one up.
And you really need to research the demand for this in your area as I'm not convinced it's too many more than just yourself. Sorry.

are you French? I am in greater manchester and teach French - there is definite demand to learn French but not sure that extends to children wanting to be schooled in French and/or learn the French curriculum.
There are definitely some (not a huge) number of French families about but the ones I know are relatively happy with the English state school system. Not sure they'd be happy to pay for a properly French education when the English version is acceptable to their eyes.

Is difficult to understand but I know a 'British-style' education is very much sought after abroad hence the large network of British schools. Don't ask me why (not) but a French education is not regarded in the same way.

I read London is the biggest French speaking city outside France/Canada - there are hundreds of thousands of French in London and I imagine many of them are not necessarily in the UK indefinitely hence wanting a (possibly short term) French education for their kids before they return to France. They are also probably a lot richer than their friends up north,

If you don't have masses of money I honestly don't see how realistic this would be. I would have thought that the cost of a suitable property, furnishings, equipment and staff would be considerable.

Have you tried googling 'Private schools in Manchester'? There appear to be quite a few, so maybe have a look at those before spending hundreds of thousands of pounds that you don't have. Here's just one link: www.schoolsearch.co.uk/independent-schools-in-greater-manchester

A French Saturday school might be a good option? That would be easier and cheaper to set up than full time school, but could still provide really good learning.

Thanks frazzled.
DC is French. I was a French teacher. I was thinking a bilingual school to get a bit of both as these do exist in some places.
The Airbus factory pulls in a lot of French families. I know two non airbus French families in my immediate vicinity but yes none of us is very rich.
I think many elements of french schooling are valuable if dc were to opt for a career in France.
Never mind I guess. X

Is it just the French language you’re keen on teaching or are other subjects very different in France? What’s on the French curriculum that the English curriculum doesn’t cover?

Yeah gaviscon that's a good idea xx

Amyandphilip
As a starter I'd say French as a first language. I've always found it disappointing how French children are in some schools asked to join the French AS a foreign language class.

A saturday french school would probably work well. There was one round here my kids did for a little while and it was very popular

@Branleuse

A saturday french school would probably work well. There was one round here my kids did for a little while and it was very popular

That sounds positive :-) does it still run?

Opening a school because you can't find a suitable one for your own children doesn't seem to be the best motivation to be honest.

As a retired teacher, I met loads of parents who thought they could do a better job, and I often felt like handing them a piece of chalk and telling them to get on with it, knowing full well that if they did, they would direct all their efforts towards their own child.

The French curriculum is largely viewed as being quite narrow, compared to the English system. There is very little in the way of extra curricular, and lots of rote learning.

As others have said, it would take a huge investment to fund such a project, and you need to bear in mind that thousands of people have lost jobs at this time and wouldn't have the ability to pay for private education.

I just checked and yes it does, even though its been quite a few years since we used it. Ill DM you the link

Thanks branleuse

For what it's worth I disagree that the French system is narrow. I prefer a levels to the bac personally but prior to that i like the French system

I have taught in private schools for years so it's not a case of me thinking I'm better. It would be a case of working with colleagues to give a great service to the children.
French and languages in general aren't very well supported here and any French children at the school would just be sent into my class to "help". They'd inevitably get bored very fast.

But yes, budget wise it's a pipe dream. The more pertinent part of my question really was the second part - sorry i should perhaps have asked it in French to direct it a bit but didn't want to come across as exclusionary iyswim. Sorry xx

I think a Saturday school would be a fabulous idea. My DD goes to one for my DH's native language, they run it out of a local primary school and it's very popular. It's a best of both worlds.

You could put out feelers on social media and rent a space (classroom, church hall or some other meeting space) for a couple of hours a week and start it out small as a Saturday club, all in French, with activities and games etc.

If enough people come and you get a wide age range, then you could start dividing it up into age groups, recruit a couple of francophone volunteers to run side by side groups, and grow it from there?

If you can't find a SINGLE school in Manchester that would be suitable for your child... Maybe the problem isn't the schools...

Just sayin'

Seems like a bit of an over-reaction! You could start a French social grp for kids or similar involving native French speakers, homeschool or just talk to your kids in French all the time while the other parent speaks English.
I teach my children history and cultural stuff from my home country, buy them books, take them there frequently but the reality is they live in England and will therefore focus on the English curriculum for the most part.

I have friends and former colleagues with children at some of the London French schools.
In many cases, the families are very wealthy so the type of concerns that would vex the rest of us don't feature as much (entrance to top notch universities, careers). Some of these are tipped for entrance to the écoles supérieures and hence the French curriculum is perfect.
I know one family at a different French school who wish they hadn't gone down that road. The mum says her child isn't academic and is more arty and hence she prefers the UK system with a wider choice at GCSE. Her career choices will be UK based for sure so that makes a difference.
So in response, I think that if there are enough wealthy French families in your area who see their futures in France for university and beyond, go for it!! If they see their lives as being UK based they may not want to pay the premium.

Zing Omg lol!

Squirrel that sounds brilliant! It could be a place where everything is done through French, I think it could work and it wouldn't need to cost much I guess.

I would love my child to be schooled in a French medium environment. I’m a French teacher, and languages are less and less popular in schools, so the opportunity of native speaker fluency would make me put my hand in my pocket.
You would need big financial backing to buy a school - there are agencies that specialise in selling schools - do you have any minted friends in the city?

Misstheodore
Alas no. There could be grants or something from the French government but as pps have said I should probably start with a Saturday school.

If there was such a great need for a French school up North, surely there would be at least one by now.

French.... Up North...

Smart I'm not sure why it's funny but there's one in Edinburgh 😊

Echoing what others have said, setting up some kind of social group for French speaking families, maybe on a Saturday morning - where kids can actually speak French to other French speakers- could definitely be worth thinking about.