Marie D'orliac / Holy Cross relocation

[ruki]

Apologies if this has been discussed before but I couldn't find any relevant threads.

I believe I am in the catchment area for the bilingual section of Marie d'orliac / holy Cross and thinking of applying for it but I heard that the school, or at least the bilingual section will be relocating by around 2014.

Does anyone have more information on this? has the school informed parents how the move will be handled, stages etc?

I'm trying to decide whether to apply as I'm concerned that it could be very unsettling for my DD to start primary (unsettling enough) and then after only one year relocate to another school which, although close by, will mean a lot of changes in two years.
At that young age I think that can affect her emotionally.
I have also seen that the bilingual section wear a different uniform than the rest and I'm worried that it could lead to them being looked at as different/ being picked on/bullied.

Do you have any views on this, has anyone gone through something similar?

Thanks in advance.

I thought I'd add to this thread rather than creating a new one to ask if anyone has experience/opinion about a L'Ecole des Petits in Fulham which is also nearby Marie D'orliac.
Can anyone offer their opinion? how does it compare to Marie D'orliac/Holy Cross bilingual section?

Thanks.

Bumped to see if anyone has any information regarding the relocation of this school, any info would be very appreciated.

Hi there, i had heard the same rumour about relocation to the holy cross school but nothing confirmed as far as i know. Why don't you call them up and ask? Did you apply for a place in the end?

I wouldn't worry too much about the relocation, it's very close by, and i think even now wed afternoons are taught at the HC site (as the french school is closed) and all afterschool care for the bilingual intake is at HC as well.

As to L'ecole des petits, i hear excellent things about them from other parents, but i've found them to be unresponsive, maybe bc they're so popular, i tried to get hold of the registrar for months and months to visit the school and register DC1 but in the end i gave up. Too bad ", it's supposed to be lovely.

Marie d'Orliac is AEFE and will get you into the lycée if you want to go. L'école des petits isn't. If imagine Marie d'Orliac will also have a higher proportion of native French speakers which is better for language acquisition but the educational style will probably be very French too.

I don't know anything about the relocation but it wouldn't really put me off.

Fraktion, l'ecole des petits only goes up to age 6/7 and the children then continue at the ecole de battersea until they're 11. They ARE guaranteed a place at the lycee for secondary school just like the marie d'orliac children. This is clearly stated on their website.

Hi ruki,

Just thought I give you some info: Marie d'Orliac is a kindergarden (maternelle) and Primary School and part of the Lycee Francais in South Ken (which means it is subsidised by France, hence the school fees are relatively low in comparison to English private schools). As such is follows the French school system which means: Kindergarden from 3 to 6 years of age, followed by Primary School until 10, followed by the Lycee until 18. They offer a purely french section and a bilingual section. The school is located on Clancarty Road in SW6. Once you are accepted there you get a place at the Lycee Francais in South Ken when your kids are older. But it is not easy to get into this if you or your husband is not French. The Holy Cross School is an English state school with a very good reputation located on Basuto Road, also SW6. I think what they are proposing of doing is bringing the bi-lingual part of Marie d'Orliac to the Holy Cross site because of space issues. Ecole des Petits is a private French kindergarden with a fantastic reputation which takes kids between the ages of 3 to 6 (Petite Section for 3-4, Moyenne Section for 4-5 and Grande Section for 5-6). After that they move on to a place at Marie d'Orliac or South Ken for Primary School (if you want, but you are guaranteed a place). Note: as this is a private School the fees are higher - about 15 000 pounds (Ecole des petits) versus 4000 pound (Marie d'Orliac). Hope this helps.

Sanam, when you say that you wouldn't worry too much about the relocation I am not sure you realise just how small the catchment area is! Pretty much everyone (other than siblings) who got a place this year through the Holy Cross Stream lives or applied from addresses in one of only three roads. Nobody who would get a place on the current location would also get one on the new location when the schools swap campus. To give you an idea of how small the catchment is, we are about 80 yards as the crow flies and it takes us about 4 mins to walk door to door from our house to the main school gate. We are 40 yards outside the catchment area and only 6th on the waiting list.
There is talk of changing the admissions criteria altogether and making it a lottery system so for entry for future years I would take nothing for granted.

One other thing to keep in mind for those with their eyes set on the Lycée - it is severely overcrowded now and a new Lycee is being built to relieve the capacity pressures, particularly as the numbers are only set to increase down the pipeline (those currently in CE1 and below). This new school is being built in Brent, and it is not clear how places are going to be allocated at the schools. Obviously those at primate in South Ken and at the schools directly linked (Wix, Ealing) will presumably get assured spots at the South Kensington site, but those in schools which are conventionee and homologue are currently having a turf battle. Yet to be decided how things will pan out.