Moving to EU, need suggestions on location/international schools please

[SpringSunshineinCannes]

We’ve been talking about moving to continental Europe as a family for quite a few years. This year we can finally do it due to DH’s work changing. I can also work there but plan to go very part time, maybe retire! We have EU passports.

Dd is in year 11 so it’s a good opportunity to move this summer as she will change schools anyway. Ds is in year 8 so prior to GCSEs. Eldest Dd already at university in uk but is planning a masters at a European university. Kids are excited and onboard, we have lived away from uk before and it just feels like the right time for us.

We can move anywhere but would prefer France or Netherlands because we have links to those countries (family live there).

I’ve been researching international schools and have submitted applications at a couple. Just wondering if anyone can recommend any International schools and/or areas. I’m planning to rent at first anyway.

Whereabouts in France? We’re in the western suburbs of Paris; plenty of international schools here, including the well known Lycée International in Saint Germain en Laye (equivalent of a state grammar, but super academic with sections for most nationalities whereby the children study in their own language, catch up in French and then join French section). There’s the British School of Paris in Croissy; I’ve got loads of friends there and it’s a great school. In Maisons Lafitte you’ve got Ermitage Int School where they study for the International Baccalaureate.

All these areas are lovely and easy connections into Paris (we live just 17 mins away by RER from Arc de Triomphe).

We moved here two years ago; my son is at a small bilingual school where he’s picking up the French. We love it. We get the beautiful greenery, access to the wonderful forests etc but it’s so easy to nip into Paris.

Thanks for replying Oriunder. Close to any city will do. We looked at a school near Nice but my dc didn’t get a good feel on the tour.

I will look at those schools. My younger two are academic and we would really prefer the IB as planning to stay in Europe and my older dc did the IB in uk and really enjoyed it.

Family are in northern France/southern NL so that works.

My other slight concern is rentals in France which seem tricky for people on a foreign income.

Great to hear you like living there so much. I have quite a few Brit friends in France who moved when their dc were tiny and have not looked back.

If your children speak French and are academic, the lycee international is the gold standard. They do expect a lot of the children. There are plenty of other international schools both in Paris itself and the outskirts. Most will offer the IB.

How about Brussels? Housing is quite reasonable and several good international schools plus between France and the Netherlands!

Lyon. Vibrant but so easy to access countryside/ mountains/ Italy/ the coast. I spent 4 years in Paris but the night I arrived in Lyon I felt I could finally breathe.

Thanks all. Have some time to research today.
@pinkhousesarebest I looked at the Lyon school a while ago but I seem to remember their results weren’t great. Will have another look, a lovely area definitely.
@catmack16 my in-laws are about 10 mins from the Belgium border! I will have a look but I read a recent thread on here and got the impression school places at international schools are scare.
@Oriunda my dc have conversational French and Dutch only so definitely not enough to go full French unfortunately. However, I’ve sent an enquiry off to one of the international schools. That area looks good, we love forests and cycling.

There's no issue with school places in international schools in Brussels. I think you're confusing with the European schools, which are reserved for the kids of EU officials and some diplomats serving here. They're impossibly full. There are plenty of other international schools around here where I'm sure you'd have no trouble getting places:
List of every International School in Brussels (international-schools-database.com)

Yes definitely not a shortage of places at international schools in/around Brussels depending on ages/ language background/ curriculum preferences. Completely different to the European schools in Brussels for which you would not be eligible.

https://today.rtl.lu/luxembourg-insider/family-and-school/a/1628314.html

If you are able to consider Luxembourg there are a number of free international schools with English sections (and more being established in the coming years) Rental market is very hot though!

Thank you anyhoo and catmack16 I definitely misunderstood the school situation there.

I can live anywhere really. I will look at Luxembourg thanks wavesandsmilesencore

I'm sorry to go against the grain here but many international schools in France aren't that good despite their reputation. I suspect it is the same in most countries. In both France and Italy (in Paris and Rome ) the international schools were poor despite extortionate fees and reputation.

If you decide on France they need to be in a good French school. I think it is the same with most countries . If you think your children will go on to live and work here that is very important. If you think they won't it still is important. If you really want them to learn the language and have good a bac at the end (not the international bac) that is valued I would really avoid international schools. It will be difficult initially for them but better long term.

I think they may be too old to do an immersion year in France, which is the best way to go. If they can't French school and extensive tutoring. Don't be fooled by the myth of kids just pick up the language. After about 3 years old they don't. They have to work and be helped if you really want them to speak the language. In an international school that won't matter but they will never really learn the language.

I say this having lived for 22 years in France and Italy. With DS who was born in France, moved to Italy at 5 years old and back to France at 11. A mixture of international and local schools. We have lived in Paris , Rome and Cannes. PM if you want to chat. In the end we realised international schools, even very good ones, were detrimental to him.

I'm not trying to decry other posters but it depends what you want from this move. A short term move, go with the international schools. A longer term one where your children can really benefit from the education system, really learn another language and have more choices in life going forward then I wouldn't look at international schools. Not now, with the benefit of hindsight.

Sorry that was a bit pessimistic. I don't meant to be like that , just realistic. If you can do it it is an amazing life full of opportunities for your children. DS is now studying in Paris at one of the most prestigious engineering schools in France. He is trilingual and has a great future. DH and I have a wonderful retired life in the quiet Loire valley with frequent trips to Paris. Just think about the initial decisions that can have long lasting consequences. We certainly made mistakes along the way. It has all turned out well but it hasn't been easy due to some ill thought out decisions.

Lycee international/bac international is absolutely not "gold standard" in France. Absolutely not

Thanks for your posts squillionaire.

It’s a permanent move, long over due. Would have loved to move earlier but work, lockdowns etc.

I know some International schools are not all that because my dc used to go to one. But they were younger and we weren’t paying then so it didn’t seem to matter as much.

We have visited quite a few International schools in France and have only found one we liked and I have now applied to. I made this thread to see if there are any other gems out there that I’ve missed.

I have looked at local bilingual schools but I’m not brave enough without having a back up international school. Perhaps for my younger dc. I’ll probably see how it goes once we are there.

I disagree on not becoming fluent if learning a language later. I know a few who have done it including my own dh. He first came to uk as a 25 yr old and wasn’t fluent. Now he’s a high-flyer engineer and helps out with mock university interviews. He has a slight accent, that’s all. People always ask him where’s he from

I moved my children from the local school
to a public international school: here in Luxembourg they are incredibly popular and are delivering amazing educational outcomes and with super pastoral care. They are still using three languages at school but the focus of the core academics is in our mother tongue which is a huge benefit. I suppose it is quite school and country specific though and Luxembourg is a special case with so many nationalities, 3 languages and English having increasing prominence, even at the university

That’s interesting. Would really like mine to have decent Dutch and French alongside their English.

I can't tell you how much it pisses me off that fucking Brexit it put a stop to this for my family.

It’s shit isn’t it despite people saying it will all be fine.

Hard disagree on not being able to learn a language as an adult. I learned Italian from scratch when I met DH. I'm fluent now.

The issue with French schools is that they can be very rigid. Great if your child is academic, but not if your child has any additional needs or simply needs a gentler approach. My son is at a French bilingual school. Follows French curriculum and approx 70% of the classes are in French. They just double up for core topics such as Maths, History and Science, plus obviously English. They make allowances for his dyslexia, and he's happy there. With a tutor on Weds, and extra French support, he's doing OK.

I never said international schools were the gold standard; they're not. The Lycee International in Saint-Germain en Laye is (despite its name), not an international school. It's a French state school and I'd equate it to a UK grammar school. Highly selective. Highly sought after (SGEL is a lovely town with great fast RER to Paris). The 'international' part comes from having a multitude of sections depending on what nationality or country you've come from. So, for eg, anglophones might try to get into the British or American section. They'll be expected to get up to speed in French very quickly, and finally transfer over to the fully French part. If OP children are academic and prepared to learn French quickly, it might be worth contacting them. They expect a lot from the kids (hence my child not going there).

If your children speak Dutch, they could apply for the Dutch section there.

Where are you thinking of moving to? I agree adults can move and with a real effort can learn the language. It doesn't really apply to kids in the same way.

I don't disagree at all with Oriandu regarding schools.. Sorry if I said anything before that implied that.

I think you have to think long term what you want for your children. A couple of years in a school abroad . Fine. Long term certainty in France the higher education system for the most gifted students is absolutely brutal. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. The whole school system is brutal in a way.

Your children may be excited about it now but that may go as soon as they are haven't fortnightly tests. International schools do that as well.

I'm not saying don't do it. Just plan it well and understand the reality of it for the children in school. I have seen so many immigrant children really struggle with school. Despite being enthusiastic about moving. You have to prepare yourselves and them.

Having tests. Sorry

I know where you are coming from squillion but we haven’t just woken up one day and thought ooh let’s move to France.

My dc have lived overseas in several countries, in fact two of them weren’t born in uk. Also we have dh’s family in Netherlands, France and a couple in Germany. They already see ‘Europe’ as home.

We came back to the uk for secondary and overall have been happy, rigorous grammar with plenty of tests.

My dc have been saying for a long time that they don’t want to live in uk long term. We spend a lot of time in France and love it but I’m aware from friends/family of the reality of the education system.

My dd wants to work in financial services in Europe. So improving her languages will be really useful. My dc will probably go to uni in Netherlands or Germany. Dh and are going to buy a house in the south of France with space for all dc to come back during uni holidays. We may buy a flat in Netherlands for staying near family. That’s the plan anyway

Also I asked dd two years ago what she wanted to do and she said stay in uk for gcse but move to France (international school) for sixth form. She has a hobby which she does every time we are in France and the instruction is in French. So she has okay French but not enough for a lycee.

Ds is far more happy go lucky and I think he’d be fine in an all French environment but as I said previously, I’d like an international back up option if not.

Thanks for all the suggestions, need to sit down with dh today and go through options.