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Original poster

Brussels - tell me about schools and things

56 replies

schprooz · 06/02/2009 08:00

If we move to Brussels where do I send the kids to school? Does anyone know what the difference is between European Schools 1,2,3 and 4? And what should I do with the 3 year old who's too young for European school? Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
LongtimeinBrussels · 06/02/2009 12:25

I would say it depends very much on how long you're planning to stay in Brussels. The level in the local schools from the age of 6 onwards is quite high and not worth stressing your child out for if you're not here for the long haul. However, from the age of 3 to the age of 6 you can send them to the maternelle or kindergarten of a local school (depends which language you choose) and there's no stress there as they don't actually start learning properly until 6 (when it gets really serious immediately!!). They will of course have to learn the language but they'll pick that up as they go.

The European Schools are only numbered according to when they were first opened. I presume you or your husband may have a contract with an EU institution for you to be enquiring about the European schools as they no longer have room for non EU officials' children.

If you want more details either about schools or where to live, feel free to ask away!

LongtimeinBrussels · 06/02/2009 13:09

I would say it depends very much on how long you're planning to stay in Brussels. The level in the local schools from the age of 6 onwards is quite high and not worth stressing your child out for if you're not here for the long haul. However, from the age of 3 to the age of 6 you can send them to the maternelle or kindergarten of a local school (depends which language you choose) and there's no stress there as they don't actually start learning properly until 6 (when it gets really serious immediately!!). They will of course have to learn the language but they'll pick that up as they go.

The European Schools are only numbered according to when they were first opened. I presume you or your husband may have a contract with an EU institution for you to be enquiring about the European schools as they no longer have room for non EU officials' children.

If you want more details either about schools or where to live, feel free to ask away!

LongtimeinBrussels · 06/02/2009 13:09

Sorry about that double post - my computer got stuck on loading for ages so I thought I'd try again!

BonsoirAnna · 06/02/2009 13:12

If you have the opportunity to send you children to the European School, go for it. I went to a European School.

monkeybumsmum · 06/02/2009 13:19

Hi schprooz,

Do you have any idea of where you might be moving to?
If you didn't want to put your child into the maternelle of a belgian school then there are international and english schools around. If you're pondering area's then I would find out about possible schools first.
Waterloo, for example, is a good place to live if you're looking to be outside of Brussels. It has the Brussels English Primary School (BEPS) and there's also Montessori House. Both these schools accept 3 year olds.
There are many other schools however - have a look at this link which should be helpful.

As for the European Schools - I work at Brussels 1 which is in Uccle. I presume you're right Longtime when you say it's the order in which they opened (I haven't a clue ). I just know them by the area that they're in. They do accept 3 year olds at the beginning of the school year (Sept), providing they will turn 4 by 31st December. However, if you want to put your child into the European School be warned that there are restrictions in place at the moment (at my school anyway), so you may not be able to get into the school you want. In Uccle I don't think they are accepting children into the maternelle (which is where I work actually) unless they have, or will have, older siblings in the school. That is for this academic year - the rules seem to constantly change though, so it may well be worth asking... Those restrictions are only in place in the maternelle, so if your other child/ren would be going directly into primary then I wouldn't have thought there would be a problem.

If you need any other help or information then as Longtime said ask away!

PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 06/02/2009 13:41

Will you /DH be working for the EU? Would your relocation package pay for schools? Where abouts would work be? How old are the dcs? Would it be short/long term?

My nearly 5 year old has been at local state maternelle for 2.5 years. As far as we know, we're staying here though, so I don't have the concerns about syllabus etc(or the cash) to put her in one of the international schools. She is now completely bilingual.

I understand that the European Schools are very heavily subscribed.

LongtimeinBrussels · 06/02/2009 13:58

Sorry to hijack the thread but monkeybumsmum, do you know how a friend of mine (maths teacher) could to go about applying for chargé de cours hours? I'm interested in doing the same for Bruxelles III in the future too.

Do you live in Uccle? If so, theren't aren't many of us townies around!

monkeybumsmum · 06/02/2009 16:46

Just a quicky as toast about to pop up but Longtime I'm not quite sure, but shall ask on Monday and let you know! Is your friend wanting to teach at Uccle? What does she teach? (Just me being nosey!) What do you teach too?
Unfortunately I don't live in Uccle - that would save me almost two hours of commuting in the mornings if I did . I live out in the country, between Jodoigne and Wavre... You in Uccle?

Have a good weekend!

monkeybumsmum · 06/02/2009 17:11

Duh, just read that she's a maths teacher Is she secondary then?

PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 06/02/2009 20:59

I'm pleased to see there are few more of us here than I knew about.

monkeybumsmum · 06/02/2009 21:17

Yes, it's nice isn't it Where are you living?

PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 06/02/2009 21:59

Zaventem - not that far from the airport. It's not very exciting, but handy for getting to everywhere else. DD goes to a french speaking school in Evere. I work for Belgacom!

PerArduaAdNauseum · 06/02/2009 22:01

Haven't a clue about schools, but two very important things to know about Brussels:

  1. All Belgian drivers are insane
  2. Pizzerias will try to put chicory on your pizza.

HTH

PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 06/02/2009 22:07

PerArdua PMSL

You are SOOO right!

PerArduaAdNauseum · 06/02/2009 22:46
Grin
PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 06/02/2009 23:12

What is it with this Chicory/Endive shite? They hide it in things, so even though you know you don't like it, and therefore avoid it, it always pops up in unexpected places. The stuff is vile!

LongtimeinBrussels · 06/02/2009 23:22

Not Uccle, Monkeybumsmum (great name by the way!) but Auderghem. We're on the border of Ixelles though and are just around the corner from the Ixelles European School.

My friend is indeed a secondary maths teacher. I'm not sure which school she could teach in because she's Italian (she's also my Italian teacher!) so it would depend which school has an Italian section.

To answer your question as to what I teach isn't exactly straightforward as I'm not actually a trained teacher and my academic background is a bit of a mishmash. I studied languages (French and German) at uni (which is why I ended up here nearly 24 years ago!!), learnt Dutch when I got here and then did an OU degree in maths. I also have a TESOL qualification. At the moment I'm tutoring English to French and Flemish speaking teenagers, French to a couple of groups of English-speaking mums and maths to GCSE, AS and A level students (though I have done some EB tutoring up to 7th year and some IB stuff). As maths is my favourite though I guess I'd like to try and find some hours doing that but could also do English support to non-anglophones (they have native speakers to do the French and Flemish teaching I believe).

PerArdua - no-one has ever tried to put chicory on my pizza! Belgian drivers are definitely insane though. Just the other day a lady was crossing at a zebra crossing. She was almost at the other side when a car came speeding along on that side and beeped her! How dare she get in his way, on a crossing of all places .

LongtimeinBrussels · 06/02/2009 23:23

PerArdua, where do you live?

Portofino, dare I admit, I actually like chicory!

PerArduaAdNauseum · 06/02/2009 23:45

England these days, but I worked at La Hulpe/Terhulpen for a while, while living in St Gilles [those were the days emoticon]

PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 07/02/2009 12:36

Maybe there's enough of us to a Belgian Meet Up at some point.

monkeybumsmum · 07/02/2009 13:24

Yes, great idea Porto I'd definately be up for that! Am with you on the chicory - it's disgusting!

I know of a couple more of us too - Ruthchan and Belgo... If we arrange a meet up then I'm sure we could get in touch with them. I see Ruthchan so will mention it when I next speak to her.

Longtime - you do loads! You must be very busy! Will definately find out who to get in touch with at Uccle for your friend. We do have an Italian section, but I'm not sure whether any of the other schools do.
It would be very handy for you to get some hours at Ixelles... Would you consider coming to Uccle? I think there may be some hours going at Uccle for next year - one of my colleagues is teaching SWALS (students without a language section) and I think she may be leaving in July. I taught English a few years ago, and all i have is a basic TEFL qualification, so am sure you would be in with a chance. Not sure about the maths. Good luck with whatever you try to do, and if I can be of help with a name/address then just shout

PerArdua you are so right about the driving. I am shocking myself now with what I fail to be surprised at - think I have seen everything! My FIL lives in La Hulpe, and dh grew up there. I love it! How long were you here for?

LongtimeinBrussels · 07/02/2009 18:38

Monkey, you see Ruthchan? I wrote to her on here a bit and also e-mailed before and after she arrived but haven't been to see her yet . Hope she's doing okay. There's also Scaryteacher who I do sometimes see.

I'm actually a SAHM (but don't want to shout that out too loudly as Porto might hear ). The other stuff I've always tried to do around the children.

Would be good to meet up (could ask you more school questions then too!).

corblimeymadam · 07/02/2009 18:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

monkeybumsmum · 07/02/2009 18:42

Hey Longtime, yes, Ruthchan is v lovely - yet another reason why I love MN, you get to meet wonderful friends . She's doing really well - will send her a link to this thread so she can tell you herself!

Shall we try and do a meet up then?

Have to dash as ds needs bathing... Have a good weekend!

monkeybumsmum · 07/02/2009 18:46

Hello belgianbun