these are the probs - so should I change school?

[SSSandy2]

We live in Germany. Dh will be here jobwise for the forseeable future, I would like to leave which would probably mean an English language school environment, if it ever happens.

Dd started school 2006 aged 6. She is very unhappy at school. Only thing she finds good is the 20 minute school break but says since they have no playground as such there is nothing much to do in the break. She doesn't like ANYTHING else about school.

My primary school(s) were all ok. I went happily enough.

Her behaviour has changed, she speaks a bit babylike, she bumps into me when she walks, rubs her head on my stomach on the way home. Seems regressive

don't know BIBIS tissy. Can't find it on google. Is that the State International School (SIS)? If so, that's the one I'm going to this afternoon, it's right near us - aimed at the DCs according to their website.

here

I had a similar problem with dd when she first started school in Spain. She became very introverted. We moved her to an international school. When she first went there she wouldn't speak and would only communicate in sign language.

She has now blossomed into a confident , socaiable and happy child. It is not what I envisaged for her but it is the best thing for her, with the added bonus that if we move back to the UK she will slot in easily. she also now has a much better social life because of the mixture of nationalities.

oh ok thanks for that tissy. THis one:

bbis

I'll have a look at the website now.

oh snap tissy!

Thanks for that Amapoleon, that sounds encouraging. Glad to hear she's thriving.

It's not very convenient for me to get to Tissy but I can't have everything I know.

I will call the principal tomorrow and see about arranging a tour. Always difficult to judge things from a website. As far as I understand it, the medium of instruction is solely English with German taught as a school subject. Is that right, do you know offhand?

Will also have a look at the Berlin British and go do the Aufnahmetest at PHORMS, admylin.

Dh will have a fit no doubt when he sees the fees (at least the BBritish) - and pack me off back to work! I am also going to really and truly have to drive which I try to avoid here...

If I'm considering going all the way out to the BBIS in Kleinmachnow, I suppose I should call the Quentin Blake bilingual school in Zehlendorf about open days. Would you be interested in going there admylin, if they have one coming up?

Yes they teach in English (my brother's German is worse than my 30 years ago German O level standard). Obviously, I have never been to the school, but from what 've heard them saying it sounds good- community spirit, but also excellent academic record. B and SIL are planning to stay at least another couple of years before moving on.

I don't think I would have the courage to do the travel across berlin at that time in the morning. I think we would move house if I was considering one of those schools on your side of Berlin !
My options are PHORMS or Berlin Metropolitan which I can get to easily but I would consider moving over to the west side of Berlin if dh got a contract in October for 2 or 3 years atleast. I'm still busy applying to every possible position abroad though.

you know the more I'm chewing this over, the more I think I would be happier with a non-German school because perhaps I would feel more comfortable with the teaching approach, the way the whole thing is done.

Would love to hear Berolina's thoughts on the German bilingual schools. I know she wrote once that she wouldn't put her dc in the German school system but I don't if she's heard good/bad of the bilingual ones.

Are these international schools generally very American-style or are they more British in their approach, the way they teach, organise the schoolday, does anyone know?

BBIS is british style, I think. Can email brother if you like- SIL is American, so woould know if it's like an American school!

Hi SSSandy

IME, and in full awareness of the good points about our primary here, I'd put our 3 in an International/Bilingual like a shot. It would have to have an awful reputation/police reports/riot police outside for me not to.

Ds2 is v like your dd (from earlier threads/convos) & you've nothing to lose by scouting around, open days, calling & talking to the head, ask if there are other parents you could chat to - and then go with your gut feeling. An international/bilingual may not be perfect but at the very least your dd will have more English input and may well blossom as a result of better pastoral care.

hello ssandy, just seen this thread, and very sorry to hear that your dd isnt enjoying the school.
I think there are big differences in teaching styles - my impression of the german way of teaching, is that there is far more blame and responsibility piled onto the children than in the UK or France. There's also definitely a far higher emphasis on repeating what the children have already done until it's perfect, rather than turning the page and starting something new.

One of the Montessori schools that I visited here, was a German speaking environment, but the teaching was pretty much like my primary school in England in the 70s - very laid back, no homework, each child working at their own pace. So I wouldnt necessarily rule German private schools out, you have to see them individually.

I would change schools rather than let the children drag on miserably, but try to mask the reason why you're changing. I get a bit worried sometimes that my children think we are going to move to France and solve all our problems.
Hope you can find a school that your dd will enjoy. If the school isnt OK, then the whole family isnt OK, really.

I like you on your soapbox fink! I had a look around the private British school and the bilingual option near us and pumped some of the parents. Still have to look at a couple of others and think hard.

I still want a crystal ball mind you...

It's complicated by the fact that we spend all weekend looking at houses these days and if we end up movings within Berlin, of course the school situation changes too!

Thanks NN for your thoughts. I think dd is ok with the idea of changing since she hates the school but I have told her I'd try and put her in a school where she does English since she's busy working on English at home and I did say we'd look for a school where the teachers don't scream at the class (!) She's a bit worried about what the dc in her new class would be like though