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Original poster

Brussels:ISF Tervuren/St Pauls

11 replies

Bishybarnabeee · 11/06/2018 10:52

Does anyone have any experience of the school that used to be St Pauls and is now ISF Tervuren? Am thinking of sending my children there and would be grateful for some insights.

OP posts:
midlandsprout · 11/06/2018 13:11

It's a small school but seems to be quite a happy environment with a good group of parents. How long are you likely to be in Belgium and how old are your children? Local schools can be a good option as well but where you live is an important factor due to the different language communities.

Original poster
Bishybarnabeee · 11/06/2018 14:03

We're lifers, currently at the European school but thinking seriously about other options. And that's why I'm not really considering local schools at this stage. They do both speak French but not well enough to be chucked into the middle of primary at a moment's notice, plus it's quite a cultural shift. So I was thinking that St Paul's (or similar) would make a smoother transition and at the end of primary we could then include local schools in our options for secondary and that would allow more time to prepare both psychologically and academically for the differences. Plus everyone would be changing schools at that age so it would be easier to fit in.

OP posts:
amyboo · 11/06/2018 14:05

I'd ask on the BCT schools facebook group. There are loads of people on there who can probably advise on ISF Tervuren.

lifeisunjust · 11/06/2018 16:24

If you are fully funded by EU tax payers at European school, do be aware for them to pay private schools, you have to go through quite a process. I know the owner of the new Courtyard school on the same street as ISF Tervuren spent many years dealing with this.

There are many other options in the area, I'd look around and also think about what you are going to do for secondary.

There are many children who don't get an option and have to go to French or Dutch school and do go at ages much older than primary, so if you are in Belgium long term, think about what might happen in the future. The local school system is not one system, you need to do quite a bit of research to find a compatible school I would think.

Very few children stay in ISF Tervuren for their whole primary years, so think about how your children will handle losing what is likely to be 1/3 of their friends every Summer.

As for quality of the school, absolutely don't worry in that respect.

lifeisunjust · 11/06/2018 16:25

PS local schools would be an awful lot harder to transition to if you wait till secondary, then it might be a huge shock. If you are facing having to move to local, better now than later.

amyboo · 11/06/2018 21:34

The EU institutions don't fund private school fees any more. Not since September 2017... They also don't pay for schools with semi-private fees or asbls any more. So even low fee schools like Le Verseau are no longer paid for by the institutions.

Original poster
Bishybarnabeee · 11/06/2018 23:07

Thanks for all your helpful comments. I'm not too concerned with the funding aspect for now. I know it is an issue I need to deal with but my first concern is whether ISF Tervuren is a good school or not.

I have had a look on the BCT schools page and haven't managed to find much and don't really want to post as I know quite a few people on there and would prefer to remain anonymous at this stage as nothing is decided yet.

Lifeisunjust, I would be interested to know why you think it would be easier to transition to local school mid-primary rather than at secondary?

I've seen adverts for the Courtyard school but don't know anything about it. Aren't they taking quite a risk opening up so close to BSB and St Pauls?

And would still be glad of any other views about ISF.

OP posts:
careerchange456 · 14/06/2018 12:22

I have looked around ISF and have to say I was very unimpressed. The building/classrooms etc obviously do them no favours but I was surprised at the curriculum and standards. However this was just a snapshot!

Parents seem happy there and fiercely loyal of the school. To me it's quite a clique but so long as you're an ISF parent you're in.

The Courtyard is a big unknown at the moment. It will be interesting to see what it's like and how many pupils they have in September.

scaryteacher · 17/06/2018 19:08

Is the Courtyard near what looks like a farm just past Aldi/Aveve? Was driving past there on Friday night to get to a friends and couldn't work out where it was.t

Nlds · 17/06/2018 19:22

The courtyard is the farm. It's owned by a former eeb employee who is very knowledgeable about how eeb students with special needs can be funded. It's only public schools with fees like le verseau and singelijn that Eu tax payers no longer fund since autumn 2017.

scaryteacher · 20/06/2018 20:23

I wondered where it was - thanks. We are thankfully through the BSB years, and very soon will be the other side of the university ones as well.

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