Moving to Munich with 2 secondary age kids

[JTro]

Hi everyone, hope you'll be able to help me to decide what to do. We are planning to move to Munich with my DH and 2 teens (15yo and 11yo), as my DH has an opportunity to transfer to Munich office. We are very excited, except one thing - kids education. My eldest is in the Grammar school here, and youngest just got a place in another grammar too. As I understand, the only option for my Dc is internatioanla schools, as they do not speak German and probably would not be able to catch up with their german peers. Am i right or there is a chance for us to find a less expensive alternatives? Any advice is welcome!

Not a chance of catching up for the 25 year old I'm afraid, so international schools are the only option there. It's probably only worth doing if the company pays for the school fees as part of a relocation package. Otherwise, boarding school in the UK for the older one? For the younger one the German system is possible but will still be really, really hard, and probably result in fairly low achievement over the next six or seven years. Sorry! Best to look at international schools.

It said 15 when I typed it, honest!

Try joining the Brits in Germany Facebook group for local advice to Munich. I live in a different part of Germany and there are cheaper options than full on private school as we know it. There is a state run (free) international school near me. There is also a private bilingual school near me which has a nominal fee, the pupils there have very mixed levels of German ability and sit exams in English. Private school doesn’t always have the same meaning here and they’re either free or income based fees up to around €400 per month (tax deductible). There are of course also the very expensive private schools too.

@Ulelia

Not a chance of catching up for the 25 year old I'm afraid, so international schools are the only option there. It's probably only worth doing if the company pays for the school fees as part of a relocation package. Otherwise, boarding school in the UK for the older one? For the younger one the German system is possible but will still be really, really hard, and probably result in fairly low achievement over the next six or seven years. Sorry! Best to look at international schools.

Thanks a lot, that's what I thought. I tried to google International school fees around Munich, but all (3) of them keep their fees secret

@JE17

Try joining the Brits in Germany Facebook group for local advice to Munich. I live in a different part of Germany and there are cheaper options than full on private school as we know it. There is a state run (free) international school near me. There is also a private bilingual school near me which has a nominal fee, the pupils there have very mixed levels of German ability and sit exams in English. Private school doesn’t always have the same meaning here and they’re either free or income based fees up to around €400 per month (tax deductible). There are of course also the very expensive private schools too.

Thanks! Unfortunately (or fortunately) I don't have Facebook account. I googled bilingual school and did not get what kinf of diploma pupils get? A lot of people saying that their diplomas are not recognised in Germany. Could you give me a name of your state run international school (just to check if they have a branch near Munich)?

Hi, I support families in International moves.

To be honest? It is a crap time to move your kids.
Sorry, that is relaly blunt, but we tell families to think very very hard before moving kids aged 14 plus.

They cannot join the German system, they do not have and will not have enough German.
You need to find an International school, not only that, but you need one that runs the British system, as the jump is too big for your 15 year old.

If she is now in year 10, then moving to and International School, even with a British system, will probably mean she has to go back and redo year 10, as the syllabus is so different.

I would think very hard about this move.
Possible options - he goes, and you wait until your 15 year old has done GCSEs and then go.

• they go to boarding school in UK
• you move, 15 year old repeats a year in an international school and then take IGCSEs

you also need ot look at sixth form. Many International schools stop at 16. Do they do A levels? What is their 16-18 option.

The private bilingual school near me offers IB, as does the state international. I have no idea how the universities compare IB with Abitur unfortunately.
www.schuldorf.de/siss-secondary-home
This is the state international school which serves the Frankfurt area.

I’d really recommend temporarily getting a Facebook account just to join a Germany group. You’ll get lots of useful answers and advice from kind people in the right area.

Munich international school ( MIS) fees

www.state.gov/munich-international-school-fact-sheet/

Finances: In the 2020-2021 school year, all of MIS’ operating income is derived from tuition fees and government subsidies. Annual tuition fees are as follows: preschool/kindergarten: €14,170; grades 1-4: €14,950; grades 5-8: €17,110; grade 9: €18,770; grades 10-11: €21,170; and grade 12: €22,290. Additional fees might include MIS school bus transportation, athletics and cocurricular activities, and meal programs. (All fees payable in euros, as quoted.)

Well, you also have www.stgeorgesschool.com/munich
(which is a British school but seems to do IB for the higher years) and
www.bis-school.com/
as possible options.

The problem with the bilingual schools would be the lack of German. They usually don't accept children at that age without sufficient German language skills. I teach Year 1 at a bilingual school and some of ours already get refused a place because they don't know enough German (they usually don't know any English, either). A lack of English can be sorted out until about Year 2 entry...

Thank you all - the picture in my head is a bit clearer now:), so we need to focus only on Int. schools.
Yes, i was looking at MIS, BIS and St.George, and assume their fees are approximately the same (about 20 thousand per year per child). And straight away another question: could a child with IB diploma from International school go to German Unis (of course with additional German language lessons with a tutor) or German Unis require to have Arbitur?

Generally, yes. www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/plan-your-studies/recognition-ib-diploma/

Just read IB Diploma requirements, but did not get it regarding languages: my DC(15yo) is doing now English (native) and Latin (foreign? not sure), assuming he will have his GCSE here in his Grammar school, and will go to International school for IB Diploma. Will these 2 languages will count if he continues to take them?

I guess it depends on whether they offer Latin. It counts as a "foreign language" as part of the Abitur, so it would make sense for it to be ok as part of the IB, too.

There is a Facebook group called Parents in Munich, I would recommend joining.

There is also a forum called Toytown Germany which might help, but they can be a bit abrasive if you ask a question that has been asked before instead of searching first.

I'm pretty sure you are allowed to join German school for one year as a "guest" without having to fulfill normal requirements (you don't get given marks for your work, for example).
That might be enough for the younger one to catch up.

I know people with children at St George's, BIS and MIS. I think there is also Phorms.

St George's seems very popular in particular. Bear in mind BIS is not actually in Munich, it is quite far out of the city.

There is a Facebook group called Parents in Munich, I would recommend joining.

There is also a forum called Toytown Germany which might help, but they can be a bit abrasive if you ask a question that has been asked before instead of searching first.

I'm pretty sure you are allowed to join German school for one year as a "guest" without having to fulfill normal requirements (you don't get given marks for your work, for example).
That might be enough for the younger one to catch up.

I know people with children at St George's, BIS and MIS. I think there is also Phorms.

St George's seems very popular in particular. Bear in mind BIS is not actually in Munich, it is quite far out of the city.

@JTro

Just read IB Diploma requirements, but did not get it regarding languages: my DC(15yo) is doing now English (native) and Latin (foreign? not sure), assuming he will have his GCSE here in his Grammar school, and will go to International school for IB Diploma. Will these 2 languages will count if he continues to take them?

IB is very different form GCSE, you can't really go form one to the other, so she will need to repeat the year

Steppemum, if my DC passes all GCSE here and for A-level (or IB diplome) moves to International school, will it be possible to do without repeating the year?

@JTro

Steppemum, if my DC passes all GCSE here and for A-level (or IB diplome) moves to International school, will it be possible to do without repeating the year?

yes, if she finishes her GCSE here, and then moves she can do IB instead of A level. That would be a good way forward. The IB is different, if, for example, you hate maths and were planning on doing English/History/French A levels, the IB will not be to your advantage, as you have to continue maths. If you are a good all rounder, then it should be fine.

IB is a accepted in pretty much all countries as Uni entrance. There is no reason why she can't then come back to UK for uni, if your contract is for a certain time (even if 10 years) then you are considered to be a UK resident temporarily overseas, and most UK unis will accept you as a home student.
If she wants to go to German uni, I am guessing that she will need to pass a langauage test. But I would question if her German would be good enough for uni level after 2 years while studying in English. You may find some English courses at German uni, Holland certainly does this at quite a few, so best of both worlds, as she can study in English but get the international experience of being in Germany.

I am a big fan of taking kids overseas, and living internationally, but I would say again, it is a very difficult age to move, and I would only do it if the child in question was 100% on board.

your best source of detailed information is always other brits living in the country you are heading to, so use all those links people have suggested.
There is also a brilliant series of books called Cuture Shock (country name)

I don't know the German one specifically, but the others in the series are great, they give a good overview of the countyr and culture, for the foreigner living there.
This is the book
culture shock book

DH is from Munich and Bavaria is one of my favourite places in the world, I also have dd roughly the same age as yours.
This is going to be very very hard on your DC, especially the 15 year old. Can you wait until after GCSEs?
You really do need to find an International school putting them in the State system with no/little German would be too much for them

Thanks a lot everyone! We have decided to stay here, in the UK as it seems moving to Germany is not feasible due to DC's education.

It’s a shame, we wish we had done it when our DC were little but I think you have made the right decision

@JTro
I live 30 mins from Munich, although my children are kindergarten age. Feel free to pm me with any questions!

@JTro
If you change your mind!!

Ah, I see you've reached a decision now, but wanted to let you know that we moved to Baden-Württemberg when our eldest was 15...but we left him behind!
Not quite as bad as it sounds, he spent a year living with his aunty, and then went to a boarding sixth form in the UK. He's now out here with us and doing a German language course, and grateful that he wasn't pulled out of his exams and social life.