Kingsworth primary/Leonardo Da Vinci/Paris primary schools

[Oriunda]

Brexit has bitten and husband has been offered a choice of moving to Paris or being made redundant.

We have all of 2 weeks to decide. Although I favour Fontainebleau, husband has decided it’s too far and he wants to be in central Paris. A friend has suggested the area around the 16th.

I’ve seen Kingsworth primary mentioned and fees don’t seem too astronomical. Any views or other suggestions for us?

There’s also an Italian state school, Leonardo Da Vinci, but their website is an unwieldy mess and I can’t see any clear info past the legalese. DS speaks some Italian so that’s another option.

Any help or advice appreciated!

Your husband is right about Fontainebleau. Don’t have too many regrets - life for you would be very dull indeed there!

What languages do you speak as a family? How old are your children?

Oh, and are you Catholic?

If you are going to be moving to Paris permanently, I suggest you put your children in a French school.

I’m CoE but DH and DS are Catholic. DS is 7, speaks some Italian and understands more but is reluctant to speak it. DH is Italian and I speak it fluently. Both DH and I have enough French to get by.

Why don’t you try the immersion programme at EJM or EIB Monceau for your DS? He and your family sound like a perfect fit.

Live as close to work as you can afford.

Why Fontainebleau?

Why would you move to France and choose an Italian school? How does that help? Life will be more than school.

Why would you not choose for your child to go to a French school in France?

Quite apart from anything else, the Italian school in Paris is not popular with Italians! It caters to a transient population. Most Italian families, or half-Italian families, send their DC to French schools or, if they can get a place, French-English bilingual schools.

A child who cannot speak French in Paris will be very restricted indeed when it comes to life beyond school: sports and other extracurricular activities.