French Education

[alteredimages]

Hi,

I post here occasionally and see a lot of threads about French schools so am pretty sure someone will be able to help. I am having a late night wobble, so am probably overthinking, but I want to be sure!

DD has just started MS at the Lycee Francais here in Cairo, having done PS in a government school in Paris.

She absolutely loves it, now seems comfortable using French and is making new friends. The school is affordable now, but will be a stretch once DS starts in three years time unless I stop being lazy and find a good job.

I gather that the overall verdict on the French system isn't that positive here. Would love to hear more about why.

We have chosen it because we may go back to France at some point, because DH was educated in the French system and likes it, and because British schools here are all run as businesses, are vastly more expensive and offer very variable levels of education. I am also Scottish, so if truth be told, know next to nothing about the IGCE system.

My concern is that I understand things get pretty ruthless and demoralizing later on and that universities are really overcrowded and pressured. I also worry about DCs standard of English writing.

Am I making the right choice?

Anyone?

Sounds like it's the right choice for now. I think school angst is a pretty British thing -millions of French people go through the French system and come out fine, after all.

Hello alteredimages, I will echo what greatauntdinah said…if your DD is happy then I would leave well enough alone.

My DCs have been in the French system (we live in France) for three years, starting in MS and CP respectively, and they have just started CE1 and CM1. Yes, the French system is often criticized for being rigid and strict, but there are loads of positives, too…my DCs are getting an excellent, traditional foundation in reading, writing and maths, for one. Maternelle is (in my experience) a happy place with lots of craft and colour. Homework does start early (CP) but the amount is carefully controlled (a few spellings, some reading) and certainly no worse than UK prep schools!

So, French primary I am happy with, and there are pros and cons just as in a UK primary. However, collège and the years after, in the French system, worries me (for many reasons…) and thus we are looking at international/ bilingual schools for our DCs for the future. But you have got years and years before that's an issue (if it even is an issue for you which it may not be!).

Enjoy French school for maternelle and primary and nearer the time you can maybe think again for senior education…

One last thing, is there any way you can keep up your DCs English? My DCS go to English school for three hours a week as well…so they are keeping up their reading in English, spelling, grammar etc…thus they can slot into a more bilingual or international system later (hopefully). If there's some way you can keep up the English then you'll have more options later…that's just IMHO anyway! Good luck!

I like the French primaries but my limited experience of French college so far is not good. Like the pp we are considering our options because of it and these include breaking up our family to do so (that is how bad it is). This is only my opinion of course and I am sure there are many excellent colleges in France.

Having said that, if you plan to stay in France long term then my advice is stay french but choose the school wisely especially at college. I'd also consider bilingual schools or schools with an english section.

Thank you GreatAuntDinah, Raptorrethy and castlesintheair. Your responses are really appreciated.

DD is indeed super happy at school, so I think you are right about leaving things be for the moment. We are actually in Cairo, but in the Lycée here which is under direct management of the French Embassy and the Ministry of Education. I suppose I was worried about narrowing her options later on by not choosing an English medium school. As I said in the OP though, these are of a very variable standard here.

There are lots of English medium classes and activities but she is a bit young at the moment. Also, English here is not really the same as in the UK because it is so widely used as a second language which gives it a very different sense and leaves it quite functional and stripped down. I think just reading lots at home is a good start for now.

I hope you manage to sort things out castles, that must be really hard. Because it is an embassy school DD will remain in the same school right through to the end of the Bac. Hopefully she will still be as happy then!