German School in London

[snegulja03]

Hello,

Does anyone have kids currently enrolled in the DSL? I am very keen to have my 5 year old son start the school (he gained admissions for the coming school year)...I am a single parent who does not like UK educational system, and we have german speaking aupairs, although with the covid and brexit situation it may be more challenging to find the ones who want to come to UK..

Anyhow, I thought that German school is the best option to receive a good education while living in UK.

I would very much appreciate if there is anyone here whose kids attend DSL, to share their experiences with school. I am curious about any experiences others have related to the educational opportunities, and how the non-german kids are treated in the school and anything that you think would be good for me to know before my son starts school there. I plan to keep him in this school until University level studies...

Thank you so much for any help or advice you can provide me with.
Looking forward to hearing from you!

I came from Germany. Why do you think German school is the best for him? Do you speak German at least well enough to support him? Au pair won't stay with you forever, so you should be careful about it.

The educational system of these two countries are different. My children struggled to adopt themselves at a prep school in England when they transferred from a very happy Kindergarten in Germany. If it doesn't fit him or you change your mind, it would be a big challenge for him to move to a normal school in UK.

Also, it would be necessary to check the school hours because many schools finish around lunch time in Germany. If they offer after school activity for working parents, it would be better to see the details. If they provide just childcare, it would be better to avoid it. Because your son will just play around while British kids study afternoon.

In addition, please check if your child can choose only one between abitur and IB. I know they offer both programs but please check if he can choose just one. Abitur is tough and not useful here. IB is also tough, and it is so much pressure for him if he need to do Abitur if he wants to do IB although Abitur is just waste if he does not go to German uni. Also, I would say their IB result is not high compared with other private secondary schools in UK.

I understand you don't like the negative points of English educational system but you need to see the negative points of German school in UK as well and compare both pros and cons before you make a decision.

Dear pippa289,

Thank you so much for your message. I am originally from former Yugoslavia (now days Serbia), which has a very similar educational system to the one in Germany, which provides a well rounded education, and sure you struggle a lot, but then the first two years at the university I did not have to study much, after finishing gymnasium...I work at the University in UK (one of the better ones, at the medical school, where I am shocked at the lack of basic knowledge amongts the students who come from high profile private schools in UK, which I realized are good for social engineering, and propagating almost feudal system in this ex colonial power), but I really was just hoping for some decent education without the whole purpose of life being to pass the test without having a clue about what they study...I wish I could move out of the UK, but at the moment I am stuck with my job here, which is not so easy to find, especially in Germany or Austria, but I will keep trying over the years

I spoke to DSL, they are nonselective school, hence their scores would reflect the fact that they have students from all abilities...my son is so small, i have no clue what he will like or be interested in. I just know he loves to play with kids and is not ready to be locked into the formal education at the age of 5 (he started reception already, and (luckily for him) the school closed down in the second semester as otherwise, I feel he would hate the school forever, being so frustrated by being forced to read and write when he is not ready for it at his age, which is developmentally normal especially for boys, and mine started speaking late etc, so i really want him to enjoy being a kid for as long as possible, and kindergarten would allow for this hopefully)...

I have spent last 2 years thinking about pros and cons and i still have no clue which way to turn, he gained admissions to DSL, so my vanity is satisfied so to speak, but in long terms, it would be a nightmare commute for me (I work in Brighton),but I am so deeply disappointed in UK educational system, that I am ready to do whatever it takes to save my kid from this insanity...and now i finally understand why when I became a high school exchange student in USA (which has similar strange approach to education like in UK), I won an award for the best essay in the whole high school, after being there only 3 months straight from serbia...

Anyhow, sorry for this long rant, but did you child actually attend DSL? Or do you have any first hand information from other parents in this school? Thank you so much for taking time to help me with this!

I should also mention one of my main concerns is that I speak no german at all, but was thinking i could support him in science subjects but not the german language-related stuff for sure.

but how on earth can you get a 5 year old to school in london, if you work in brighton ?
i understand some of what you say about educational systems.
but what about trying some more alternative/progressive schools.
there is a montessori school in brighton. have you thought of that.
frankly i think your idea about the german school is unrealistic ,it would be making other problems for your son, in trying to avoid uk schools.

This is an interesting thread. My child is half German and half English and raised with OPOL.

I often talk to my partner about the differences between the UK and German systems (he was in a gymnasium). What are the pros of the German system and the cons of the UK system to you?

I see lost of issues with UK education mainly because the quality of the schools is very hit and miss and linked to parents being able to afford living in a good area or going private. However, I think the German system sounds very restrictive and doesn't celebrate creativity in the same way and Germans are encouraged to be much more conformist that we are here.

I have no idea about Brighton, but there are bilingual German/English schools in London and there are also German Saturday schools.

I'd be astonished if you couldn't find something more alternative, to your taste in the Brighton area, without all these language issues. Do some more research? One of the advantages of education here is schools vary a lot.

@snegulja03

I should also mention one of my main concerns is that I speak no german at all, but was thinking i could support him in science subjects but not the german language-related stuff for sure.

This is a mad idea! Assuming the school teaches in German how on Earth are you to support him?

My children don't go to DSL, so I don't have any personal experience there. I think DSL is the best fit for children who return to Germany.

Also, it is not a good idea to move to Germany without German language skill. Most of teachers don't speak English, so how will you communicate with them? Yes, children stay at Kindergarten until 6 in Germany but primary school last only four years there, then children are allocated to different types of secondary schools just by their academic result at age of 9 or 10. It's very competitive environment and there are also lots of assessment as well. Also, your son won't be accepted from Gymnasium without German language and academic confidence and you don't have any chance to appeal if you don't speak German.

I didn't consider any international school here in UK mainly. At international school including DSL, children are often in and out and your son has to say goodbye to many friends. Yes, they should not be selective because they should open their doors for children who need them.(live abroad temporarily because of parents job etc)

I also have to say it is not possible to send him everyday to London from Brighton. I strongly recommend to find alternative solution for him. Probably Montessori or other state school. If you can afford, private is also a good option.

I understand your pain. My son was struggling when they started school in England at 5. Now he is 11 and thrilled to start secondary school. Also, he enjoys lots of activities such as sports and music. Definitely he gained some precious experience which he cannot do in Germany. Yes, I have same experience that I was surprised when I encountered lack of knowledge of people had good education here but at the same time, I also admire them because they know something what I'd never known. At the same time, I believe some British people might have been shocked by my lack of knowledge or experience etc but it is very common issue for everyone because each people have different backgrounds. Please don't be so nervous and negative.

My children went to German Saturday school when they were little. Maybe you can find one around your area? Then, you can meet German families and discuss your idea with them before you make a decision.

propagating almost feudal system in this ex colonial power

I can't decide if you are for real or not. Germany was also a colonial power btw....

I have to say that in my working life I dealt with a lot of very early career exchanges from Germany and I was really unimpressed with them. I found that the German system (through university as well as school) turned out some very academically blinkered students who were unable to think outside their own academic box and needed to have everything written down for them in a text book so that they could look the answer up.

At 5 interaction with an interested parent is likely to be of more use to your child than farming out your parenting to an au pair who may or may not engage with your child whilst you are miles away at work. Find a scholl you like near you and parent your child.

Do you mean the one in Ham in West London?
I don’t have up to date info to be fair, but my DH is German - we looked into it and discounted it mainly because -

• I heard it was a very transient school population with many kids attending for a few years then moving abroad/back to Germany
• I would be mainly supporting my kids with school and do not speak German so was concerned not only with helping them with work but also communicating with other parents, socialising and things like parents evening which I assumed would be conducted in German

Hi,
There is some misinformation in the thread.

The German School London does provisional Streaming after Y7 (that is Y8 in the British system). Parents can request that the school keeps the child in the top stream until the end of year 8 (=UK year 9). if the child achieves the necessary grades, they can stay in the top stream. Children of the middle stream can reenter the too stream after year 10.

We have only just transferred our children to the German school, but so far all communication has been bilingual. All teachers speak English as well as German. Maybe not at native speaker level, but they do speak it.

In international studies (PISA) the German and UK systems perform roughly equally well. That includes the top students.

There are more assessments in the German system but they count for less. Written assessments make up only 30-50% of the final grade depending on the subject, the rest is made up by quality of homework, oral presentations, oral participation. This also applies to the Abitur.

You have to carry through more subjects than in the UK system, but not all of them.

Dear @Yolande7Yolande7,

Thank you so much for your insightful comments. I am so excited to have my son start the school from the second semester. How old are your children? My son is 5 and will be starting the pre school year now. I am curious about the level of support available from teachers (I am studying a bit german myself, but my son will have to work mostly with teachers and tutors when it comes to german language, but I can help with all other subjects in our native language (which is serbian) or english...
I would be so greatful to hear any details you can offer with regards to your experience so far, how do you find the teachers, are you children happy there? When we visited, I had such a good feeling, and it seemed to foster international community (with the german slant to it)...I see this school as truly bilingual, as students are supposed to have exposure to both languages...what is your experience with it so far?
I very much hope to hear more from you,
Sincerely,
Snezana

Dear @Yolande7

Thank you so much for your insightful comments. I am so excited to have my son start the school from the second semester. How old are your children? My son is 5 and will be starting the pre school year now. I am curious about the level of support available from teachers (I am studying a bit german myself, but my son will have to work mostly with teachers and tutors when it comes to german language, but I can help with all other subjects in our native language (which is serbian) or english...
I would be so greatful to hear any details you can offer with regards to your experience so far, how do you find the teachers, are you children happy there? When we visited, I had such a good feeling, and it seemed to foster international community (with the german slant to it)...I see this school as truly bilingual, as students are supposed to have exposure to both languages...what is your experience with it so far?
I very much hope to hear more from you,
Sincerely,
Snezana

I wouldn't let the language be a barrier. My children go to school with alot of Eastern Europeans some whose parents speak little or no English. However the kids are thriving, we've had some of dcs friends over on playdates & their English is on a par with mine which is phenomenal considering Polish/Russian/Ukrainian is the language spoken at home & some of their parents speak little English.
However they are at such an advantage growing up bilingually especially in a global jobs market language's matter.
Also these kids are immersed in English in school, have access to English TV, books & friends.
I think the best educational gifts you can give your child are books & extra languages. Go for it!

We have only just transferred and my children are in secondary school, so there is little relevant knowledge I can share with you. However, I have gone through the German system myself and have a year's experience of the IB (though a long time ago).

My children are not native speaker level either (nowhere near...). If you can, I would try to spend as many holidays as possible in Germany, watch German films (you can find many on Netflix, you just need to change your settings), listen to German audiobooks and music and socialise with the German community. The school is clearly experienced in teaching children of different language ability. My children have most of their German lessons in their form groups, but also have weekly support lessons in which the children are grouped according to language proficiency.

I am not concerned about high mobility. My children went to a very international state primary school. Until Y6 over 1/3 of the class left and new children came. The class got on extremely well and the new children were quickly integrated.