UK school for French children?

[guihailin]

Please can any mumsnettas give their views on UK primary (8 year+) & secondary schools for French DDs, now at Lycée overseas.
Always expected them to be in French system to Bac and undergrad level, and want them to be able to have a career in France if they choose. Never anticipated having to dive into UK ed, e.g. Oxbridge only for post-grad if at all.

Now read CDG London Lycee and CFBL are choc-a-bloc...

Prior Weston & St Pauls Girls / City of London Girls? Board at Leys Cambridge / Marlborough? Fees better saved for uni education (France and UK) rather than indie UK schools? Hattemer distance-learning program?

8 year olds? So that's year 3?

I'd advise not sending them to a French school or prep with high number of French pupils, but to a school that is pretty mixed but which does offer CNED.

Our old school was predominantly french and some parents pulled their kids out because their english was so apauling as the children spoke only french to each other. On the upside, DS now speaks french with a brilliant accent.

That was french parents moving their french kids on from a predoninantly french school! Unless you are all genuinely bilingual and speak english at home, I'd not go the french school route. DS (10) has friends that he has been at school with since Reception who still speak faltering english with very heavy accents.

Yes, bilingual, biliterate. Creative activities, sport, reasoning, we do in home time/holidays. Really want them to continue strong enough French links to work there one day if they wish.

I would suggest a school that offers CNED then. Where abouts would you be looking?

International schools are great as they give a bilingual child the support they need but don't give them the 'lazy' option of speaking their own language during the day (which our French friends found), so that they just didn't get the English skills/accent that they really needed to have.

I have just found this online:

www.oliviercadic.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/UK-Schools-offering-French-Mother-Tongue-Support-to-French-native-speakers.pdf

This CNED list is great. Thank you, nicename.

OP are you & your DH French? And how long do you anticipate to be in UK? What area are you looking to live? Does it have to be French system or just French language?

We have done exactly this several years ago, DD moved to UK school system mid year 3 with only spoken English as French was her predominant language. There are options for French but very limited options for Lycee education, however if you are a French national there are routes.